1910.147(f)(3)(ii): Group Lockout or Tagout
When group lockout or tagout devices are used, primary responsibility goes to an authorized employee for the group, who must be able to confirm each member's exposure status. When more than one crew, craft or department is involved, an authorized employee must coordinate overall lockout control. Each authorized employee must attach a personal lock or tag to the group device or lockbox when starting work and remove it when done.
Key takeaways
- 1910.147(f)(3)(ii) is part of OSHA's general industry standards (29 CFR Part 1910, Subpart J).
- OSHA cited it 147 times in the last 3 years, in 147 inspections, with $524,808 in current penalties.
- 4 deaths are linked to inspections that cited this rule.
- Most citations: MI (24), WI (20), IL (18).
- Related part: 1910.147(f) Additional requirements (493 citations).
- Free 5-minute toolbox talk for your crew below.
In this article
What this rule covers
29 CFR 1910.147(f)(3)(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 4 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) Group lockout or tagout devices shall be used in accordance with the procedures required by paragraph (c)(4) of this section including, but not necessarily limited to, the following specific requirements: 147 citations
(A) Primary responsibility is vested in an authorized employee for a set number of employees working under the protection of a group lockout or tagout device (such as an operations lock); 1 citations
(B) Provision for the authorized employee to ascertain the exposure status of individual group members with regard to the lockout or tagout of the machine or equipment and 1 citations
(C) When more than one crew, craft, department, etc. is involved, assignment of overall job-associated lockout or tagout control responsibility to an authorized employee designated to coordinate affected work forces and ensure continuity of protection; and 4 citations
(D) Each authorized employee shall affix a personal lockout or tagout device to the group lockout device, group lockbox, or comparable mechanism when he or she begins work, and shall remove those devices when he or she stops working on the machine or equipment being serviced or maintained. Open (f)(3)(ii)(d) 125 citations
Source: eCFR, text current as of 2026-10-15. Read all of 1910.147.
Injuries linked to this rule
4 deaths are linked to inspections where OSHA cited 1910.147(f)(3)(ii).
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 | 8 |
| 2024 | 42 |
| 2025 | 53 |
| 2026 | 44 |
Top states: MI (24), WI (20), IL (18), OH (9), CO (8)
Largest penalties
| Employer | Location | Penalty for this rule |
|---|---|---|
| MICHIGAN SUGAR COMPANY | CROSWELL, MI | $70,000 |
| PRECISION BUILD SOLUTIONS, LLC | TAMPA, FL | $16,550 |
| GILSTER-MARY LEE CORPORATION | PERRYVILLE, MO | $16,550 |
| PRODUCTS UNLIMITED, INC. | OMAHA, NE | $16,550 |
| MODWASH LLC | SICKLERVILLE, NJ | $16,550 |
Free toolbox talk
A 5-minute crew talk on 1910.147(f)(3)(ii), plus alerts when this rule changes. Free.
OSHA interpretation letters
- Clarification of "authorized" and "affected" employees and proper energy control procedures. (2004-02-10)
Related parts of this rule
- 1910.147(f) Additional requirements 493 citations
- 1910.147(f)(3) Group lockout or tagout 240 citations
- 1910.147(f)(1) Testing or positioning of machines, equipment or components thereof 140 citations
- 1910.147(f)(3)(ii)(D) 125 citations
- 1910.147(f)(2) Outside personnel (contractors, etc.) 96 citations
- 1910.147(f)(2)(i) 92 citations
- 1910.147(f)(3)(i) 91 citations
- 1910.147(f)(1)(ii) 73 citations
- 1910.147(f)(4) Shift or personnel changes 17 citations
- 1910.147(f)(1)(v) 14 citations
Get your crew competent
Trainers on Black Belt Safety: Marc Harvey, Dana Reyes
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Frequently asked questions
Who is responsible in a group lockout?
An authorized employee holds primary responsibility for a set number of employees working under the group device.
Does each worker need their own lock?
Yes. Each authorized employee shall affix a personal lockout or tagout device to the group device or lockbox when beginning work.
What if several crews are involved?
An authorized employee is assigned overall lockout or tagout control to coordinate the work forces and ensure continuity of protection.
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.