Operator care is explicitly assigned

Operator care can include external cleaning, inspection, simple setup, replacement of consumables, checking visible connections, or other tasks that the equipment manual and site SOP assign to the operator.

The key phrase is assigned to the operator. Technician I should not expand the task because the repair looks simple.

Servicing changes the hazard picture

Tasks can move into servicing when they require:

• removing/bypassing guards;
• reaching into hazardous motion areas;
• disassembling powered equipment;
• opening protected electrical components;
• releasing pressure/stored energy;
• clearing jams where unexpected startup is possible;
• other maintenance covered by the employer’s energy-control procedure.

OSHA 1910.147 requires appropriate energy-control procedures for covered servicing and distinguishes authorized employees from affected workers. Course completion does not make the learner an authorized lockout/tagout worker.

Worked case

An irrigation filter appears clogged. The operator procedure allows an external pressure reading and visual leak inspection. Clearing the suspected blockage requires disassembling a pressurized component. The technician stops at the assigned operator checks and refers the service task.

Guided practice — find the boundary

For ten equipment scenarios, draw a line between operator care and servicing. For each servicing task, state what information should be passed to maintenance instead of attempting the repair.

Retrieval check

1. Why is “I know how” different from “I am authorized”?
2. Give two examples of stored or hazardous energy.
3. When can an operator check become a servicing task?