Patent US 6,609,082

The present invention is directed to a control system device that forces a machine operator to comply with the regulation by not allowing the machine to operate until the maintenance log has been completed. By disabling the equipment, the control unit prevents an operator from starting or operating the equipment prior to performing the required checks and documenting his/her identification number for verification purposes. Once the log has been entered, the system provides numerous methods for downloading of the data for long-term storage and retrieval. The system also has provisions to alert the managerial staff if the equipment is operated beyond the minimum check period while providing for a means to notify the operator that the required check interval has been reached.