Before clearing a jam inside automated equipment, what is the BEST safety practice?

Reaching into running or unsecured machinery is one of the most serious hazards in a processing facility. The best practice is to make sure the equipment is properly stopped and secured (following lockout or equivalent trained procedures) before reaching inside, so it cannot start while your hands are in it. Reaching into a running machine, relying on a coworker to hold moving parts, or rushing to clear a jam unsafely can cause severe injuries. The VEA rewards a strict safety-first approach to equipment, and following proper stop/secure procedures before servicing a machine is exactly that.