1926.702(j)(1): Lock Out Before Repairs
No employee may do maintenance or repair on equipment such as compressors, mixers, screens or pumps used in concrete and masonry work, where inadvertent operation could cause injury, unless all potentially hazardous energy sources have been locked out and tagged.
Key takeaways
- 1926.702(j)(1) is part of OSHA's construction standards (29 CFR Part 1926, Subpart Q).
- OSHA cited it 5 times in the last 3 years, in 5 inspections, with $31,918 in current penalties.
- 1 death is linked to inspections that cited this rule.
- Related part: 1926.702(j) Lockout/Tagout Procedures (5 citations).
- Free 5-minute toolbox talk for your crew below.
In this article
What this rule covers
29 CFR 1926.702(j)(1) is one requirement inside 1926.702 Requirements for equipment and tools, an OSHA construction standard (Part 1926, Subpart Q). 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
(1) No employee shall be permitted to perform maintenance or repair activity on equipment (such as compressors, mixers, screens or pumps used for concrete and masonry construction activities) where the inadvertent operation of the equipment could occur and cause injury, unless all potentially hazardous energy sources have been locked out and tagged. 5 citations
Source: eCFR, text current as of 2026-10-15. Read all of 1926.702.
Injuries linked to this rule
1 death is linked to inspections where OSHA cited 1926.702(j)(1).
At 3:45 a.m. on December 3, 2024, an employee working as a construction laborer for a building contractor was cleaning out a concrete mixer at the end of the shift. The employee was caught by the auger paddles and pulled into the mixer when it…
Where and how often it was cited
Free toolbox talk
A 5-minute crew talk on 1926.702(j)(1), plus alerts when this rule changes. Free.
OSHA interpretation letters
None exist. OSHA has not published a letter of interpretation for 1926.702(j)(1).
Related parts of this rule
- 1926.702(j) Lockout/Tagout Procedures 5 citations
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Frequently asked questions
What must be done before repairing a concrete pump?
All potentially hazardous energy sources must be locked out and tagged if inadvertent operation could cause injury.
Does this cover maintenance too?
Yes. It applies to both maintenance and repair activity.
Is locking out alone enough?
The rule requires energy sources to be both locked out and tagged.
About this page
Sources
- 29 CFR 1926.702 (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.