1910.147(c)(5)(ii)(D): Lockout Devices Must Identify the User
Lockout devices and tagout devices must show the identity of the employee who applied them.
Key takeaways
- 1910.147(c)(5)(ii)(D) is part of OSHA's general industry standards (29 CFR Part 1910, Subpart J).
- OSHA cited it 121 times in the last 3 years, in 121 inspections, with $232,235 in current penalties.
- 3 deaths are linked to inspections that cited this rule.
- Most citations: NC (13), VA (12), WI (10).
- Related part: 1910.147(c) General (11,187 citations).
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In this article
What this rule covers
29 CFR 1910.147(c)(5)(ii)(D) ("Identifiable") is one requirement inside 1910.147 The control of hazardous energy (lockout/tagout), an OSHA general industry standard (Part 1910, Subpart J). The official text below is copied word for word from the Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (eCFR). The numbers, injury cases and training on this page show how OSHA enforces it on real job sites.
Official text
(D) Identifiable. Lockout devices and tagout devices shall indicate the identity of the employee applying the device(s). 121 citations
Source: eCFR, text current as of 2026-10-15. Read all of 1910.147.
Injuries linked to this rule
3 deaths are linked to inspections where OSHA cited 1910.147(c)(5)(ii)(D).
At 12:00 p.m. on December 5, 2024, Employee #1 was overseeing the sorter bay to ensure proper sorting of wood cant pieces. A wood cant became jammed in Sorter Bay 6, and the employee reached into the machine to clear the obstruction. The sorter bay…
Full case list with employer, penalty, filters and download is part of OSHA Data (Purple Belt).
Unlock with Purple BeltWhere and how often it was cited
| Year | Citations |
|---|---|
| 2023 | 7 |
| 2024 | 41 |
| 2025 | 44 |
| 2026 | 29 |
Top states: NC (13), VA (12), WI (10), TN (10), IA (9)
Largest penalties
| Employer | Location | Penalty for this rule |
|---|---|---|
| SARTORI COMPANY | ANTIGO, WI | $15,625 |
| 154906 - WESTLAKE ROYAL BUILDING PRODUCTS INC | SALISBURY, NC | $15,625 |
| MAR-JAC POULTRY MS, LLC | HATTIESBURG, MS | $14,062 |
| PURINA MILLS | SIOUX CITY, IA | $12,055 |
| SAPUTO CHEESE USA INC. | ALMENA, WI | $11,585 |
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OSHA interpretation letters
Related parts of this rule
- 1910.147(c) General 11,187 citations
- 1910.147(c)(4) Energy control procedure 4,087 citations
- 1910.147(c)(4)(i) 2,952 citations
- 1910.147(c)(7) Training and communication 2,758 citations
- 1910.147(c)(6) Periodic inspection 2,446 citations
- 1910.147(c)(7)(i) 2,347 citations
- 1910.147(c)(6)(i) 2,024 citations
- 1910.147(c)(1) Energy control program 1,454 citations
- 1910.147(c)(4)(ii) 1,131 citations
- 1910.147(c)(7)(i)(A) 938 citations
- 1910.147(c)(6)(ii) 408 citations
- 1910.147(c)(5) Protective materials and hardware 350 citations
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Frequently asked questions
Do lockout locks need to be labeled?
Yes. They must indicate the identity of the employee applying the device.
Does this apply to tags too?
Yes. Both lockout and tagout devices must identify the employee.
Why identify the user?
So everyone knows who applied the device.
About this page
Sources
- 29 CFR 1910.147 (eCFR), text current as of 2026-10-15
- U.S. Department of Labor enforcement data: OSHA inspections, citations and accident records, copied nightly; data as of 2026-10-20
3-year window. Federal OSHA only; state-plan rules are not counted. Plain-language text is a summary, not legal advice; the official text controls. Black Belt Safety is not part of OSHA or the Department of Labor.