Patent ID: 7311247

Claim:
A system that electronically controls a physical operation of dangerous equipment comprising: an electronic key that stores electronic key data separately from the dangerous equipment, the electronic key data comprises at least one of key holder identity information, key holder task, and estimated time to complete the key holder task; an electronic key reader that reads the electronic key data from the electronic key, the electronic key reader performs at least one of logging electronic key data, logging times when the operation of the piece of dangerous equipment is disabled, logging times when the operation of the piece of dangerous equipment is enabled, logging electronic key holder medical information, logging electronic key holder tasks, logging electronic key holder identity, scheduling dangerous equipment operation, scheduling related equipment operation, or performing electronic data interchange; an electronic key data analyzer that is associated with the electronic key reader, the electronic key data analyzer analyzes the read electronic key data by determining parameters for disabling the dangerous equipment and generates disconnect control data based, at least in part, on the electronic key data; and a disconnector that is associated with the electronic key data analyzer and the dangerous equipment, the disconnector disables and re-enables operation of the dangerous equipment, based at least in part on the disconnect control data.