29 CFR § 1910.147 — The control of hazardous energy (lockout/tagout)
29 CFR — Labor · OSHA / DOL
29 CFR 1910.147 is the Lockout/Tagout (LOTO) standard — controlling hazardous energy during machine servicing and maintenance. Required elements: written procedures for each machine, training for authorized/affected/other employees, annual procedure audits, lockout devices, group lockout coordination, and (rarely) tagout-only procedures. LOTO violations are among OSHA's top-10 most-cited standards every year. Common citations: no written procedures, inadequate training, missing or generic procedures (one procedure cannot cover all machines), no annual audit. Severe LOTO violations carry willful classification penalties ($161,323/violation) due to the catastrophic injury potential.
Regulation summary
29 CFR 1910.147 requires employers to establish an energy control program for the servicing and maintenance of machines and equipment where the unexpected energization, startup, or release of stored energy could harm employees. The program must include: (a) written energy control procedures specific to each machine type; (b) training for all authorized employees who perform lockout/tagout, affected employees who work near locked-out equipment, and other employees who could be affected; (c) annual inspections of the procedures; (d) provision of lockout/tagout devices; (e) coordination procedures for group lockouts; and (f) tagout-only procedures only where lockout is infeasible.
Who must comply
All general industry employers whose employees service or maintain machines and equipment. The standard does not apply to construction, agriculture, maritime, or oil and gas well drilling (those have their own LOTO requirements under different standards). Applies to any general-industry maintenance task where unexpected energization could harm employees.
What happens if violated
LOTO is OSHA's top-10 cited standard annually. Serious violation penalties: up to $16,131. Willful or repeat violations involving LOTO: up to $161,323. Failure-to-train fatalities frequently result in willful classifications and 6-figure penalties. Civil litigation exposure is amplified when LOTO procedures are missing or inadequate.
Implementation checklist
- Develop written LOTO procedures for each piece of equipment (or group of identical equipment).
- Identify all energy sources for each procedure (electrical, mechanical, hydraulic, pneumatic, thermal, chemical, gravitational).
- Train authorized employees on procedure execution.
- Train affected employees on what LOTO means and not to attempt to start locked-out equipment.
- Train other employees on awareness.
- Conduct annual procedure inspections by an authorized employee not involved in the procedure being audited.
- Document inspection results and corrective actions.
- Provide lockout devices that are durable, standardized, substantial, and identifiable.
- Establish group lockout coordination procedures for jobs requiring multiple workers.
- Retrain when job assignments, equipment, or procedures change.
Common misinterpretations
- Misinterpretation: 'A single LOTO procedure covers all our machines.' Reality: 29 CFR 1910.147(c)(4)(i) requires SPECIFIC written procedures for each piece of equipment (or for groups of identical equipment). Generic procedures are citable. Each procedure must identify the energy sources, isolation methods, and energy-release/dissipation steps for that specific machine.
- Misinterpretation: 'Pulling the plug counts as LOTO.' Reality: Cord-and-plug-connected equipment can be exempt from LOTO procedures IF (a) servicing is done by the same person whose hand is on the cord, (b) the plug is under exclusive control of the person doing the servicing, AND (c) the equipment is unplugged during the entire service. Otherwise, formal LOTO is required.
- Misinterpretation: 'Tagout is good enough.' Reality: 29 CFR 1910.147(c)(2)(ii) requires LOCKOUT (not just tagout) for any equipment installed or significantly modified after January 2, 1990. Tagout-only is allowed only when lockout is physically infeasible.
- Misinterpretation: 'Annual training is enough.' Reality: 29 CFR 1910.147(c)(7)(ii)(C) requires re-training when there's a change in job assignments, machines/equipment, procedures, a new hazard, or when inspection reveals inadequate knowledge or use of procedures. Initial training plus periodic retraining are both required.
Frequently asked questions
What is Lockout/Tagout (LOTO)?
An energy-control program required by 29 CFR 1910.147 for machine servicing and maintenance. LOTO ensures hazardous energy (electrical, mechanical, hydraulic, pneumatic, thermal, chemical) is isolated and dissipated before employees service equipment, preventing unexpected startup that could injure or kill them.
Do I need a separate LOTO procedure for each machine?
Generally yes. Each procedure must identify specific energy sources, isolation methods, and release steps for that machine. Groups of identical equipment can share one procedure if they have identical isolation requirements. Generic 'one-procedure-fits-all' approaches fail audits.
What's the difference between lockout and tagout?
LOCKOUT = physical lock on the energy-isolating device. TAGOUT = warning tag on the device without a lock. LOTO standard prefers lockout; tagout-only is allowed only when lockout is physically infeasible (e.g., on equipment installed pre-1990 without lockout capability and not modified). For equipment installed or significantly modified after January 2, 1990, lockout is required.
Who needs LOTO training?
AUTHORIZED employees — those who perform LOTO; AFFECTED employees — those who operate equipment that gets locked out (need to recognize when LOTO is in use); OTHER employees — general awareness training so they don't attempt to start locked-out equipment.
How often must LOTO procedures be inspected?
At least annually per 29 CFR 1910.147(c)(6). An authorized employee other than the one performing the procedure must observe and verify procedure adequacy. Inspection results must be documented and corrective actions taken for deficiencies.
Does cord-and-plug equipment require LOTO?
Generally no — if servicing is done by the same person whose hand is on the cord, the plug is under their exclusive control, and the equipment is unplugged during the entire service. Otherwise (e.g., another worker could plug it back in), formal LOTO procedures are required.
What's the penalty for LOTO violations?
Serious violations: up to $16,131. Willful or repeat: up to $161,323. LOTO is in OSHA's top-10 most-cited standards annually. Fatal incidents frequently result in willful classifications.
Cross-references: 29 CFR 1910.132 · 29 CFR 1910.146 · 29 CFR 1910.178 · 29 CFR 1910.212
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