1926.702(j): Lockout for Concrete Equipment
No employee may do maintenance or repair on concrete and masonry equipment, such as compressors, mixers, screens or pumps, where unexpected operation could cause injury, unless all potentially hazardous energy sources are locked out and tagged. Tags must read Do Not Start or similar language.
Key takeaways
- 1926.702(j) 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)(1) (5 citations).
- Free 5-minute toolbox talk for your crew below.
In this article
What this rule covers
29 CFR 1926.702(j) ("Lockout/Tagout Procedures") is one requirement inside 1926.702 Requirements for equipment and tools, an OSHA construction standard (Part 1926, Subpart Q). 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
(j) Lockout/Tagout Procedures. 5 citations
(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. Open (j)(1) 5 citations
(2) Tags shall read Do Not Start or similar language to indicate that the equipment is not to be operated.
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).
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), plus alerts when this rule changes. Free.
OSHA interpretation letters
None exist. OSHA has not published a letter of interpretation for 1926.702(j).
Related parts of this rule
- 1926.702(j)(1) 5 citations
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Frequently asked questions
When must concrete equipment be locked out?
Before maintenance or repair where inadvertent operation could occur and cause injury.
What must the tag say?
Do Not Start or similar language showing the equipment is not to be operated.
What kinds of equipment are covered?
Equipment such as compressors, mixers, screens or pumps used for concrete and masonry construction.
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 2026-10-19
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.