Certified Maintenance and Reliability Technician (CMRT) Practice Test

Before aligning machines, it is crucial to lock out and tag out the machines. This step is fundamental in ensuring the safety of personnel who will be working on or near the equipment. Lockout/tagout procedures are essential to prevent accidental energization or start-up of the machines, which could pose serious risks of injury. By properly locking out and tagging out the machines, technicians can ensure that the equipment is completely isolated from any energy sources, creating a safe working environment before any further maintenance tasks, such as alignment, can proceed.

Ensuring a safe environment not only protects workers but also allows for more accurate measurements and adjustments during the alignment process, as technicians can focus on the task without the risk of unexpected machine movement. This step effectively establishes a safe baseline from which to conduct subsequent procedures, such as those involving vibration analysis or making adjustments based on alignment offsets.