1910.147(c)(7)(i)(C): Lockout Awareness for Other Employees
Employers must instruct all other employees who work, or may work, in areas where energy control procedures may be used about the procedure and about the ban on trying to restart or reenergize locked out or tagged out machines or equipment.
Key takeaways
- 1910.147(c)(7)(i)(C) is part of OSHA's general industry standards (29 CFR Part 1910, Subpart J).
- OSHA cited it 23 times in the last 3 years, in 23 inspections, with $39,223 in current penalties.
- 1 death is linked to inspections that cited this rule.
- Most citations: PA (3), NC (3), TX (2).
- Related part: 1910.147(c) General (11,187 citations).
- Free 5-minute toolbox talk for your crew below.
In this article
What this rule covers
29 CFR 1910.147(c)(7)(i)(C) 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
(C) All other employees whose work operations are or may be in an area where energy control procedures may be utilized, shall be instructed about the procedure, and about the prohibition relating to attempts to restart or reenergize machines or equipment which are locked out or tagged out. 23 citations
Source: eCFR, text current as of 2026-10-15. Read all of 1910.147.
Injuries linked to this rule
1 death is linked to inspections where OSHA cited 1910.147(c)(7)(i)(C).
At 7:37 p.m. on August 22, 2024, Employee #1, employed at a VRT freezer facility, was checking the chains on the gears of the Variable Rate Temperature (VRT) freezer conveyor (Equipment #444). While a coworker was making radio contact with the VRT Operator in the…
Where and how often it was cited
| Year | Citations |
|---|---|
| 2023 | 2 |
| 2024 | 11 |
| 2025 | 4 |
| 2026 | 6 |
Top states: PA (3), NC (3), TX (2), GA (2), AZ (2)
Largest penalties
| Employer | Location | Penalty for this rule |
|---|---|---|
| TH SEARCY LLC | SEARCY, AR | $9,930 |
| FRESH UNLIMITED, INC. | SIDNEY, OH | $8,000 |
| RFX2024XTN976X0034 - REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS CONSTRUCTION AND SERVICE COMPANY, INC. | MESA, AZ | $6,641 |
| SALT AND SMOKE CORPORATE LLC | SAINT LOUIS, MO | $6,000 |
| 67925 - CHUHATSU NORTH AMERICA INC | LAMB, KY | $4,000 |
Free toolbox talk
A 5-minute crew talk on 1910.147(c)(7)(i)(C), plus alerts when this rule changes. Free.
OSHA interpretation letters
None exist. OSHA has not published a letter of interpretation for 1910.147(c)(7)(i)(C).
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
Get your crew competent
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Frequently asked questions
Who are other employees under lockout/tagout?
Employees whose work operations are or may be in an area where energy control procedures may be used.
What must other employees be told?
About the energy control procedure and the prohibition on attempts to restart or reenergize locked or tagged out equipment.
Can another employee remove a lock or restart equipment?
No. They must be instructed that attempts to restart or reenergize locked out or tagged out equipment are prohibited.
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.