System and method to control access to hazardous machines

A system for controlling usage of a machine by a human operator comprising:

• a card containing identity information related to the human operator;
• an access control device selectively in communication with the card, wherein the identity information is communicated to the access control device, the access control device in signal communication with a machine operator control;
• an access control computer in communication with the access control device, wherein the access control computer is in signal communication with a data storage device having machine operation control information for at least one human operator;
• wherein identity information from the card is communicated to the access control computer from the access control device and the access control computer compares the identity information to the machine operation control information;
• wherein the access control computer performs at least one of (i) communicates to the access control device that the human operator is enabled to operate the machine, (ii) communicates the access control device that the human operator is denied access to operate the machine and (iii) does not communicate to the access control device wherein the human operator is denied access to operate the machine.