What is the proper action if you discover a hydraulic fluid leak during inspection?

• A. Continue operation
• B. Ignore leak if small
• C. Tighten fittings and resume
• D. Stop machine, tag out, report leak, and do not operate until repaired

Answer: (D)

When a hydraulic fluid leak is found, the system must be shut down and isolated before any work is done. Hydraulic lines operate under high pressure, and a leak can suddenly worsen, spray fluid, or cause a loss of control. Stopping the machine, tagging out the controls to prevent restart, and reporting the leak to maintenance ensures safe de-energization and that a qualified person repairs it. The machine must not be operated again until the leak is repaired and the system is verified safe.

Continuing to run the machine, ignoring a small leak, or just tightening fittings and resuming operations all ignore the potential for a bigger failure. A leak can indicate damaged hoses, seals, or fittings, and simply tightening can hide a serious issue or make the problem worse. Safety and environmental concerns require proper shutdown and repair before reuse.