Final answer:
Lockout/tagout procedures protect employees from electrical shock and physical injuries during machine maintenance, and can also help prevent thermal hazards. They are not primarily used for preventing chemical exposure or general fire hazards.
Step-by-step explanation:
Lockout/tagout procedures are designed to safeguard employees from numerous hazards while they are performing service or maintenance on machines or equipment. One of the primary risks these procedures protect against is electrical shock. An electrical shock occurs when electric current passes through a person, which can range from a mildly painful experience to a potentially lethal encounter. Lockout/tagout ensures that machines are properly shut off and not able to be started up again prior to the completion of maintenance, which prevents unintended electrical discharge that could lead to shock. These procedures also help protect against physical injuries, such as those caused by unexpected machine startup or release of stored energy.
While lockout/tagout is instrumental in preventing electrical shock and physical injuries, it is also worth noting that these procedures can mitigate hazards related to thermal risks, like electrical overheating that might otherwise start a fire. However, they are not primarily used for the prevention of chemical exposure or fire hazards unrelated to the electrical systems of the equipment.