1910.147(f)(3): Group Lockout or Tagout
When a crew, craft, department or other group does servicing or maintenance, it must use a procedure that protects each employee as well as a personal lockout or tagout device would. One authorized employee holds primary responsibility for the group, checks each member's exposure status, coordinates when more than one group is involved, and each authorized employee puts a personal lock or tag on the group device when starting and removes it when done.
Key takeaways
- 1910.147(f)(3) is part of OSHA's general industry standards (29 CFR Part 1910, Subpart J).
- OSHA cited it 240 times in the last 3 years, in 233 inspections, with $820,499 in current penalties.
- 5 deaths are linked to inspections that cited this rule.
- Most citations: MI (35), IL (32), WI (31).
- 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) ("Group lockout or tagout") is one requirement inside 1910.147 The control of hazardous energy (lockout/tagout), an OSHA general industry standard (Part 1910, Subpart J). It includes 6 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
(3) Group lockout or tagout. 240 citations
(i) When servicing and/or maintenance is performed by a crew, craft, department or other group, they shall utilize a procedure which affords the employees a level of protection equivalent to that provided by the implementation of a personal lockout or tagout device. Open (f)(3)(i) 91 citations
(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: Open (f)(3)(ii) 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
5 deaths are linked to inspections where OSHA cited 1910.147(f)(3).
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 | 17 |
| 2024 | 83 |
| 2025 | 75 |
| 2026 | 65 |
Top states: MI (35), IL (32), WI (31), OH (17), TX (15)
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 |
| HILCORP ENERGY COMPANY | ANDREWS, TX | $16,550 |
| PRODUCTS UNLIMITED, INC. | OMAHA, NE | $16,550 |
Free toolbox talk
A 5-minute crew talk on 1910.147(f)(3), plus alerts when this rule changes. Free.
OSHA interpretation letters
- Group Lockout/Tagout (2023-07-27)
- Group Lockout or Tagout (2021-05-21)
- Clarification of "authorized" and "affected" employees and proper energy control procedures. (2004-02-10)
- Authorized employees may, but are not required to, verify energy isolation in group LO/TO. (2000-10-24)
- Control of Hazardous Energy Sources (Group Lockout/Tagout). (1991-01-29)
Related parts of this rule
- 1910.147(f) Additional requirements 493 citations
- 1910.147(f)(3)(ii) 147 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
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Frequently asked questions
What level of protection must group lockout give?
A level equivalent to that provided by a personal lockout or tagout device.
Who is responsible under a group lockout?
Primary responsibility is vested in an authorized employee for a set number of employees working under the group device.
When do I put my personal lock on the group lockbox?
When you begin work, and you remove it when you stop working on the machine or equipment.
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.