1910.147(a)(2)(ii): Lockout Coverage During Normal Production
Normal production operations are not covered by lockout/tagout. Servicing or maintenance during production is covered only if an employee must remove or bypass a guard or safety device, or place any body part into the point of operation or an associated danger zone. Minor routine, repetitive tool changes and adjustments integral to production are exempt if done with alternative measures that give effective protection.
Key takeaways
- 1910.147(a)(2)(ii) is part of OSHA's general industry standards (29 CFR Part 1910, Subpart J).
- OSHA cited it 25 times in the last 3 years, in 25 inspections, with $228,661 in current penalties.
- Most citations: GA (8), TX (2), FL (2).
- Related part: 1910.147(a) Scope, application, and purpose (56 citations).
- Free 5-minute toolbox talk for your crew below.
In this article
What this rule covers
29 CFR 1910.147(a)(2)(ii) is one requirement inside 1910.147 The control of hazardous energy (lockout/tagout), an OSHA general industry standard (Part 1910, Subpart J). It includes 2 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
(ii) Normal production operations are not covered by this standard (See subpart O of this part). Servicing and/or maintenance which takes place during normal production operations is covered by this standard only if;: 25 citations
(A) An employee is required to remove or bypass a guard or other safety device; or Open (a)(2)(ii)(a) 3 citations
(B) An employee is required to place any part of his or her body into an area on a machine or piece of equipment where work is actually performed upon the material being processed (point of operation) or where an associated danger zone exists during a machine operating cycle. Open (a)(2)(ii)(b) 19 citations
Exception to paragraph (a)(2)(ii): Minor tool changes and adjustments, and other minor servicing activities, which take place during normal production operations, are not covered by this standard if they are routine, repetitive, and integral to the use of the equipment for production, provided that the work is performed using alternative measures which provide effective protection (See subpart O of this part).
Source: eCFR, text current as of 2026-10-15. Read all of 1910.147.
Where and how often it was cited
| Year | Citations |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 11 |
| 2025 | 9 |
| 2026 | 5 |
Top states: GA (8), TX (2), FL (2), TN (1), NJ (1)
Largest penalties
| Employer | Location | Penalty for this rule |
|---|---|---|
| SMITHFIELD FOODS, INC. | WICHITA, KS | $16,550 |
| ROYAL METAL PRODUCTS, LLC | TEMPLE, GA | $16,131 |
| THE HERSHEY COMPANY | ROBINSON, IL | $16,131 |
| RPM INTERNATIONAL INC. | ELLAVILLE, GA | $14,895 |
| PACTIVEVERGREEN, INC. | TEMPLE, TX | $14,583 |
Free toolbox talk
A 5-minute crew talk on 1910.147(a)(2)(ii), plus alerts when this rule changes. Free.
OSHA interpretation letters
- Use of a PLC system as an alternative measure which provides effective protection for minor servicing activities. (2008-01-25)
- Lockout/Tagout and the provisions for testing or positioning of machines while they are energized. (2007-05-04)
- Evaluation of the ElectroGuard disconnect system for use as an energy isolating device. (2007-02-26)
- Application of the Lockout/Tagout standard to die-setting activities and other machine setup operations. (2006-12-28)
- Several questions regarding OSHA's LOTO and Bakery standards 29 CFR 1910.147 and 1910.263. (2006-08-25)
- Interlock requirements for access door(s) of trash compactor. (2006-01-18)
- Lockout/tagout requirements for servicing manually-controlled vertical/horizontal milling machine and drill press tool changes. (2005-08-24)
- Lock out/Tag out (LOTO) requirements for die-setting operations in hydraulic power presses. (2005-04-22)
- LOTO: minor servicing exemption and the use of a lockable on/off switch as an alternate measure to provide effective protection. (2004-10-20)
- Printing Industry: Lock Out/Tag Out and the essential elements of the inch-safe-service technique (2004-04-07)
- Motor-control-circuit switches and relays are prohibited from being used as energy isolating devices. (2003-07-15)
- Clarification on the USPS's lockout/tagout procedures and minor servicing operations for the multiple line optical character recognition sorter. (2003-06-11)
- Scenario of a tool change process applied to Lock Out/Tag Out's service and maintenance exception. (2002-06-21)
- Coverage of minor machine-servicing activities under the Lockout/Tagout standard. (2002-05-17)
- Use of Monitored Power Systems for lockout/tagout. (1999-12-16)
- OSHA enforcement policy on vertical food mixers. (1999-02-26)
- Application of 1910.147 to the change out of a grinding wheel. (1998-10-20)
Related parts of this rule
- 1910.147(a) Scope, application, and purpose 56 citations
- 1910.147(a)(2) Application 34 citations
- 1910.147(a)(3)(i) 20 citations
- 1910.147(a)(3) Purpose 20 citations
- 1910.147(a)(2)(ii)(B) 19 citations
- 1910.147(a)(2)(iii) 9 citations
- 1910.147(a)(2)(iii)(A) 9 citations
- 1910.147(a)(2)(ii)(A) 3 citations
- 1910.147(a)(1) Scope 2 citations
- 1910.147(a)(1)(i) 2 citations
- 1910.147(a)(1)(ii)
- 1910.147(a)(1)(ii)(D)
Get your crew competent
Trainers on Black Belt Safety: Marc Harvey, Dana Reyes
Trainers and suppliers: feature your business on this rule for $25/month.
Frequently asked questions
Does lockout apply during normal production?
Only when servicing or maintenance requires removing or bypassing a guard, or placing a body part into the point of operation or a danger zone.
Are minor tool changes exempt?
Yes, if routine, repetitive and integral to production, and done using alternative measures that provide effective protection.
What covers normal production?
Subpart O of Part 1910.
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 2026-10-24
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.