1910.269(m)(2): Employee in Charge of Clearance
The employer must designate one employee in the crew to be in charge of the clearance, following paragraph (m)(3) in order, whether or not a system operator controls the lines. If one crew has sole, visible control of the disconnect, some steps and tags are not needed. When two or more crews work the same lines, they must coordinate under one person or each comply independently with separate tags.
Key takeaways
- 1910.269(m)(2) is part of OSHA's general industry standards (29 CFR Part 1910, Subpart R).
- OSHA cited it 4 times in the last 3 years, in 3 inspections, with $6,300 in current penalties.
- 1 death is linked to inspections that cited this rule.
- Related part: 1910.269(m) Deenergizing lines and equipment for employee protection (24 citations).
- Free 5-minute toolbox talk for your crew below.
In this article
What this rule covers
29 CFR 1910.269(m)(2) ("General") is one requirement inside 1910.269 Electric power generation, transmission, and distribution, an OSHA general industry standard (Part 1910, Subpart R). It includes 7 sub-paragraphs. 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
(2) General. 4 citations
(i) If a system operator is in charge of the lines or equipment and their means of disconnection, the employer shall designate one employee in the crew to be in charge of the clearance and shall comply with all of the requirements of paragraph (m)(3) of this section in the order specified. 1 citations
(ii) If no system operator is in charge of the lines or equipment and their means of disconnection, the employer shall designate one employee in the crew to be in charge of the clearance and to perform the functions that the system operator would otherwise perform under paragraph (m) of this section. All of the requirements of paragraph (m)(3) of this section apply, in the order specified, except as provided in paragraph (m)(2)(iii) of this section. Open (m)(2)(ii) 2 citations
(iii) If only one crew will be working on the lines or equipment and if the means of disconnection is accessible and visible to, and under the sole control of, the employee in charge of the clearance, paragraphs (m)(3)(i), (m)(3)(iii), and (m)(3)(v) of this section do not apply. Additionally, the employer does not need to use the tags required by the remaining provisions of paragraph (m)(3) of this section.
(iv) If two or more crews will be working on the same lines or equipment, then: 1 citations
(A) The crews shall coordinate their activities under paragraph (m) of this section with a single employee in charge of the clearance for all of the crews and follow the requirements of paragraph (m) of this section as if all of the employees formed a single crew, or 1 citations
(B) Each crew shall independently comply with paragraph (m) of this section and, if there is no system operator in charge of the lines or equipment, shall have separate tags and coordinate deenergizing and reenergizing the lines and equipment with the other crews.
(v) The employer shall render any disconnecting means that are accessible to individuals outside the employer's control (for example, the general public) inoperable while the disconnecting means are open for the purpose of protecting employees.
Source: eCFR, text current as of 2026-10-15. Read all of 1910.269.
Injuries linked to this rule
1 death is linked to inspections where OSHA cited 1910.269(m)(2).
On July 31, 2024, an employee working for an electrical contractor was shocked while replacing flood-damaged electrical cable. The employee died due to electrocution.
Where and how often it was cited
Free toolbox talk
A 5-minute crew talk on 1910.269(m)(2), plus alerts when this rule changes. Free.
OSHA interpretation letters
None exist. OSHA has not published a letter of interpretation for 1910.269(m)(2).
Related parts of this rule
- 1910.269(m) Deenergizing lines and equipment for employee protection 24 citations
- 1910.269(m)(3) Deenergizing lines and equipment 20 citations
- 1910.269(m)(3)(vi) 8 citations
- 1910.269(m)(3)(ii) 7 citations
- 1910.269(m)(2)(ii) 2 citations
- 1910.269(m)(1) Application
- 1910.269(m)(3)(viii)
- 1910.269(m)(3)(ix)
Get your crew competent
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Frequently asked questions
Who is in charge of the clearance?
One employee in the crew designated by the employer.
What if no system operator is in charge?
The designated employee performs the functions the system operator would otherwise perform.
What if two or more crews work the same lines?
They either coordinate under a single employee in charge for all crews, or each crew independently complies with separate tags and coordinates with the others.
About this page
Sources
- 29 CFR 1910.269 (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 2026-10-21
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.