Construction. OSHA eTool. Helps workers identify and control the hazards, including electrical hazards, that commonly cause the most serious construction injuries.
Electrical Incidents. Landing page for Electrical Incidents subpage of the Construction eTool, which identifies electrical hazards and recommends preventive measures.
Electric Power Generation, Transmission, and Distribution. OSHA eTool, (2010, January). Assists workers in identifying and controlling workplace hazards.
Electric Power Generation, Transmission, and Distribution Industry
Electrical
Pulp, Paper, and Paperboard Mills
LOTO is addressed in specific standards for the general industry, marine terminals, longshoring, and the construction industry. This section highlights OSHA standards, preambles to final rules (background to final rules), directives (instructions for compliance officers), standard interpretations (official letters of interpretation of the standards), and national consensus standards related to LOTO. Twenty-five states, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands have OSHA-approved State Plans, which are required to be at least as effective as Federal OSHA, and may have adopted their own standards and enforcement policies. For the most part, these States adopt standards that are identical to Federal OSHA. However, some States have adopted different standards applicable to this topic or may have different enforcement policies. Other federal standards and consensus standards related to control of hazardous energy are included for reference.
OSHA Standards
General Industry (29 CFR 1910)
- 1910.147, The control of hazardous energy (lockout/tagout)
- Appendix A, Typical minimal lockout procedures
- 1910.261, Pulp, paper, and paperboard mills [related topic page]
- 1910.269, Electric power generation, transmission, and distribution [related topic page]
- Appendix A, Flow charts
- 1910.306, Specific purpose equipment and installations
- 1910.333, Selection and use of work practices
Marine Terminals (29 CFR 1917)
- 1917.48, Conveyors
Longshoring (29 CFR 1918)
- 1918.64, Powered conveyors
Construction Industry (29 CFR 1926)
OSHA Preambles to Final Rules
- Control of Hazardous Energy Sources (Lockout/Tagout) (1989)
- Search all available preambles to final rules for control of hazardous energy.
OSHA Directives; Instructions to OSHA staff
- The Control of Hazardous Energy – Enforcement Policy and Inspection Procedures. CPL 02-00-147, (2008, February 11). Instructional manual that establishes OSHA's enforcement policy for its hazardous energy standards, and provides instruction for its enforcement personnel.
- Federal Program Change Summary Report – Control of Hazardous Energy (Lockout/Tagout). Indicates which states have adopted the LOTO standard, and whether the adoption is identical to the Federal standard.
- Federal Program Change Summary Report – Control of Hazardous Energy (Lockout/Tagout). Indicates which states have adopted the LOTO standard, and whether the adoption is identical to the Federal standard.
- Electrical Safety-Related Work Practices -- Inspection Procedures and Interpretation Guidelines. STD 01-16-007 [STD 1-16.7], (1991, July 1). Instruction that establishes policies and provides interpretive guidelines on the enforcement of the Electrical Safety-Related Work Practices standard.
- Enforcement of the Electric Power Generation, Transmission, and Distribution Standard. CPL 02-01-038 [CPL 02-1.38], (2003, June 18). Instruction that provides information on performing inspections at electric power generation,
transmission, and distribution lines and equipment and other installations.
- Search all available directives for control of hazardous energy.
OSHA Enforcement Standard Interpretations
- Use of a PLC system as an alternative measure which provides effective protection for minor servicing activities. (2008, January 1).
- Lockout/Tagout and the provisions for testing or positioning of machines while they are energized. (2007, May 4).
- Application of Control of Hazardous Energy (LOTO) requirements to compressed gas cylinders. (2007, April 23).
- PRCS and LOTO requirements for accumulation of stored energy in steam pits. (2007, April 18).
- Evaluation of the ElectroGuard disconnect system for use as an energy isolating device. (2007, February 26).
- Application of the Lockout/Tagout standard to die-setting activities and other machine setup operations. (2006, December 28).
- Use of LOTO device on equipment placed in "out of service" status not related to servicing or maintenance. (2006, October 11).
- Several questions regarding OSHA's LOTO and Bakery standards 29 CFR 1910.147 and 1910.263. (2006, August 25).
- Clarification about 29 CFR 1910.333 and 29 CFR 1910.147 as they relate to work inside an electrical panel and on related equipment. (2006, July 28). Provides interpretation of specific sections of 29 CFR 1910.137; 1910.147; 1910.333; 1910.333(a)(1); 1910.333(a)(2); 1910.333(b); 1910.333(b)(2); 1910.333(b)(2)(iii)(E); 1910.333(c)(2); 1910.335.
- PSM compliance for ammonia refrigeration systems. (2006, July 12).
- Use of additional lock on a conveyor and baler system exceeds one lockout device. (2006, May 9).
- Interlock requirements for access door(s) of trash compactor. (2006, January 18).
- Training programs for the Control of Hazardous Energy (LOTO) and for the Hazard Communication standard are not satisfied solely by merely providing employees written documentation. (2005, October 24).
- Lockout/tagout requirements for servicing manually-controlled vertical/horizontal milling machine and drill press tool changes. (2005, August 24).
- Machine guarding and exposure to hazards from robotic laundry shuttles. (2005, July 7).
- Lock out/Tag out (LOTO) requirements for die-setting operations in hydraulic power presses. (2005, April 22).
- Recognition of ANSI/ASSE Z244.1-2003 "Control of Hazardous Energy - Lockout/Tagout and Alternative Methods" consensus standard. (2004, November 10). Provides interpretation of specific sections of 29 CFR 1910.6; 1910.147; 1910.147(c)(4)(ii).
- Printing Industry: Lock Out/Tag Out and the essential elements of the inch-safe-service technique. (2004, April 7). Provides interpretation of specific sections of 29 CFR 1910.147; 29 CFR 1910.147(f)(1); 29 CFR 1910.147(a)(2)(ii); 29 CFR 1910.147(a)(3)(ii).
- Clarification of "authorized" and "affected" employees and proper energy control procedures. (2004, February 10). Provides interpretation of specific sections of 29 CFR 1910.147(b); 1910.147(c)(4); 1910.147(c)(7)(i); 1910.147(d); 1910.147(d)(4)(i); 1910.147(f)(3)(ii); 1910.147(f)(3).
- Response to Exelon Generation's concerns regarding draft Instruction CPL 2-1.18A, "Enforcement of the Electric Power Generation, Transmission and Distribution Standard". (2003, June 13). Provides interpretation of specific sections of 29 CFR 1910.269; 1910.269(d); 1910.269(d)(8)(v); 1910.147.
- Response to Edison Electric Institute's concerns regarding draft Instruction CPL 2-1.18A, "Enforcement of the Electric Power Generation, Transmission and Distribution Standard". (2003, June 13). Provides interpretation of specific sections of 29 CFR 1910.269; 1910.269(d); 1910.269(d)(8)(v); 1910.146; 1910.147.
- Acceptability of modifying a standard on/off switch to provide lockout capability to a machine. (2003, May 13). Provides interpretation of specific sections of 29 CFR 1910.147; 1910.147(c)(3); 1910.147(c)(2)(iii); 1910.303(a); 1910.399; 1910.303.
- Color is not the only prescribed factor for the standardization of LOTO devices. (2002, August 30). Provides interpretation of specific sections of 29 CFR 1910.147; 29 CFR 1910.147(c)(5)(ii)(B).
- Use of verification tags for lockout. (2002, July 8). Provides interpretation of specific sections of 29 CFR 1910.147; 29 CFR 1910.147(c)(5); 1910.333.
- Authorized employees must have the opportunity to verify energy isolation in group lockout/tagout. (2002, January 29). Provides interpretation of specific sections of 29 CFR 1910.269; 1910.147(c)(2); 1910.147(d).
- Use of Electro Sensitive Protection Equipment as point of operation guarding devices. (2001, June 5). Provides interpretation of specific sections of 29 CFR 1910.212(a)(3)(ii).
- Clarification of system operator exclusive control provisions. (2000, November 21). Provides interpretation of specific sections of 29 CFR 1910.269(d)(8)(ii); 29 CFR 1910.269(d)(8)(v); 29 CFR 1910.269(x).
- Applicability of OSHA's LOTO standards; isolation and verification procedures. (2000, November 16). Provides interpretation of specific sections of 29 CFR 1910.147; 1910.333(b); 1910.399.
- Construction Standard Interpretations
- Lockout and tagging of circuits. (2006, September 28). Provides interpretation of section 29 CFR 1926.417.
- Lockout and tagging of circuits. (2006, September 28). Provides interpretation of section 29 CFR 1926.417.
- Search all available standard interpretations for control of hazardous energy.
Other State Standards and Guidance
- Lockout/Tagout (LOTO) (Control of Hazardous Energy). Washington State Department of Labor & Industries. Landing page for LOTO resources.
- Hazardous Energy - Oregon OSHA's guide to controlling hazardous energy [3 MB PDF, 32 pages]. Oregon OSHA Publication 440-3326 (12/09/OR-OSHA). This guide is based on the requirements in Oregon OSHA's standard for
hazardous energy control — Subdivision 2/J, 1910.147. Lockout and tagout are the primary methods of controlling hazardous energy.
- A Guide to the Control of Hazardous Energy (Lockout/Tagout) [412 KB PDF, 34 pages]. North Carolina Department of Labor Industry Guide 27. Examines the threat workers face from hazardous energy and explains OSH Act rules regarding such dangers. Includes sections to help employers devise lockout/tagout safety procedures and plans at their companies.
- Sample Written Program for Control of Hazardous Energy (Lockout/Tagout) [95 KB DOC, 17 pages]. Texas Department of Insurance. Sample lockout/tagout program provided as a guide to assist employers and employees in complying with the requirements of 29 CFR 1910.147, as well as to provide other helpful information. It is not intended to supersede the requirements of the standard.
- Control of Hazardous Energy (Lockout/Tagout) --- 29 CFR 1910.147 - Sample Program [47 KB DOC, 5 pages]. Maine Department of Labor. Sample hazardous energy control program provided by SafetyWorks! as a guide to help employers implement OSHA's Control of Hazardous Energy (Lockout/Tagout) standard (29 CFR 1910.147) in their workplace.
Consensus Standards and Recommendations from other Professional Organizations
Note: These are NOT OSHA regulations. However, they do provide guidance from their originating organizations related to worker protection.
American National Standards Institute (ANSI)
- Z244.1-2003, Control of Hazardous Energy - Lockout/Tagout and Alternative Methods, (2004, November 10). Note: Compliance with the requirements of this consensus standard does not ensure compliance with the OSHA Lockout/Tagout Standard. For additional information, see Recognition of ANSI/ASSE Z244.1-2003 "Control of Hazardous Energy -- Lockout/Tagout and Alternative Methods" consensus standard.
- Z244 Committee Information. American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE).
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