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USPS · Safety and Procedures

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

Reviewed by Jordan Morley, Editorial Lead at 247SimpleTests. Written by the 247SimpleTests Editorial Team from the official source material cited on every question.

Correct answer

Ensure the equipment is properly stopped/locked out as you were trained before reaching in, so the machine cannot start while your hands are inside

  1. A Clear it quickly before anyone notices
  2. B Ensure the equipment is properly stopped/locked out as you were trained before reaching in, so the machine cannot start while your hands are inside
  3. C Reach in while the machine is still running
  4. D Have a coworker hold the parts still

Why this is the answer

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.
Source: USPS 476 VEA — Equipment Safety Procedures

Practice more questions

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About this topic: Safety and Procedures

Safety and procedure items for mail processing cover lockout rules, clearing jams, lifting and reporting hazards. The procedural, report-it answer is always the expected one. This is one of 8 VEA 476 (Mail Processing) questions on safety and procedures, each with a full explanation on a single study page.

New to this exam? Our USPS exam guide explains the format, scoring, and how to prepare.

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