Sure, you’ve done it a thousand times. You’ve got the whole lockout/tagout thing down, so why bother reading the procedure or the work order notes? Rather than waste time going through all that, you can just get the job done and move on to the next one. Right?
This is a classic example of the “been there, done that” attitude or maybe the “if you’ve seen one, you’ve seen them all” mentality.
For example, you’ve worked on Press Number Seven countless times. You’ve never worked on Press Number Three, which is on the other side of the plant and normally cared for by your buddy Jim. But Jim’s on vacation this week, and the work order came to you.
This press is different from the one you normally work on. While it has the same frame and the ram looks the same, it has an additional energy source. Failure to lock that out could prove fatal.
Treat the lockout/tagout procedures for any given job as unique. Even if the equipment seems familiar, it might hold a hidden surprise. Carefully read the work documentation so that you’re not surprised. Make the effort to identify all possible hazards.
