An electric motor having a shaft access cover. The electric motor includes a housing that defines an aperture, a stator fixed relative to the housing, a shaft rotatable relative to the housing so the aperture provides access to an end portion of the shaft, and a rotor connected to the shaft for rotation therewith relative to the stator. The end portion of the shaft has a surface adapted for engagement by a tool so a load drivingly connected to the electric motor can be manipulated with respect to the electric motor. The shaft access cover is attachable to the housing for pivotable movement between an unlocked position and a locked position where the shaft access cover substantially covers the aperture. The pivotable movement between the locked and the unlocked positions includes less 360 degrees of pivotable movement.