1910.147(c)(8): Only Authorized Employees Apply Locks
Lockout or tagout must be performed only by the authorized employees who are performing the servicing or maintenance.
Key takeaways
- 1910.147(c)(8) is part of OSHA's general industry standards (29 CFR Part 1910, Subpart J).
- OSHA cited it 39 times in the last 3 years, in 39 inspections, with $126,851 in current penalties.
- 2 deaths are linked to inspections that cited this rule.
- Most citations: NY (8), TN (6), IL (3).
- 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)(8) ("Energy isolation") 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
(8) Energy isolation. Lockout or tagout shall be performed only by the authorized employees who are performing the servicing or maintenance. 39 citations
Source: eCFR, text current as of 2026-10-15. Read all of 1910.147.
Injuries linked to this rule
2 deaths are linked to inspections where OSHA cited 1910.147(c)(8).
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 | 4 |
| 2024 | 19 |
| 2025 | 8 |
| 2026 | 8 |
Top states: NY (8), TN (6), IL (3), OH (3), TX (2)
Largest penalties
| Employer | Location | Penalty for this rule |
|---|---|---|
| LIPARI FOODS OPERATING COMPANY, LLC DBA THE DELI SOURCE LLC | ANTIOCH, IL | $11,446 |
| CJ TMI MANUFACTURING AMERICA, LLC | ROBBINSVILLE, NJ | $10,227 |
| AZTECA FOODS, INC. | CHICAGO, IL | $9,900 |
| GREEN PLAINS SHENANDOAH LLC | SHENANDOAH, IA | $9,844 |
| WIND RIVER ENVIRONMENTAL, LLC | MILLERTON, NY | $9,679 |
Free toolbox talk
A 5-minute crew talk on 1910.147(c)(8), plus alerts when this rule changes. Free.
OSHA interpretation letters
None exist. OSHA has not published a letter of interpretation for 1910.147(c)(8).
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 can put on a lockout or tagout device?
Only the authorized employees who are performing the servicing or maintenance.
Can a supervisor lock out a machine for me?
The rule says lockout or tagout shall be performed only by the authorized employees doing the servicing or maintenance.
Why does this matter?
The person exposed to the hazard controls the lock that protects them.
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.