OSHA 1926.417: lockout and tagging of electrical circuits
Under 29 CFR 1926.417, controls to be deactivated during work on energized or deenergized equipment or circuits must be tagged, and deenergized equipment or circuits must be rendered inoperative and tagged at all points where they can be energized.
Official text
(a) Controls. Controls that are to be deactivated during the course of work on energized or deenergized equipment or circuits shall be tagged.Read the full section on eCFR
(b) Equipment and circuits. Equipment or circuits that are deenergized shall be rendered inoperative and shall have tags attached at all points where such equipment or circuits can be energized.Read the full section on eCFR
(c) Tags. Tags shall be placed to identify plainly the equipment or circuits being worked on.Read the full section on eCFR
What it requires, in plain English
- Controls deactivated during work on energized or deenergized equipment or circuits are tagged.
- Deenergized equipment or circuits are rendered inoperative, not just switched off.
- Tags are attached at all points where the equipment or circuit can be energized.
- Tags plainly identify the equipment or circuits being worked on.
Where it shows up on site
- A breaker switched off in a temporary panel with no tag while an electrician works downstream
- A tag on the panel but a second feed or generator that can still energize the circuit
- Tags that don’t say which circuit or equipment is being worked on
Verify on site before you call it
A photo rarely shows every fact a standard depends on. Confirm these in person before treating the condition as a violation:
- Is anyone working on the equipment or circuit, and is it supposed to be deenergized?
- Are there other points, such as a second panel, a generator or a backfeed, where it could be energized?
- Has the circuit been rendered inoperative, or only switched off?
- Does each tag identify the specific equipment or circuit being worked on?
Typical corrective actions
- Stop work on the circuit until it is rendered inoperative and tagged at every point where it can be energized.
- Replace blank or unclear tags with tags that identify the equipment or circuit being worked on.
- Lock the disconnect or breaker where it can be locked, so the circuit can’t be re-energized while work is underway.
- Trace the circuit with the crew to confirm every energy source before work resumes.
Common questions
Does OSHA 1926.417 require locks or just tags?
The text of 1926.417 requires tags on deactivated controls, and requires deenergized equipment or circuits to be rendered inoperative and tagged at all points where they can be energized. It doesn’t name a lock, but the equipment has to be made inoperative, not only switched off.
Where do tags go when a circuit is deenergized?
At all points where the equipment or circuit can be energized, under 1926.417(b). Under 1926.417(c), tags are placed to identify plainly the equipment or circuits being worked on.
Turn the observation into a notice
Record what the photo shows, confirm the on-site checks above, and identify the responsible company and due date. Use the fillable construction safety notice template or follow aworked example from observation to verified fix. Cirqify can draft the notice from your circled photo for you to review.
Related standards
This guide summarizes federal OSHA construction standards for general information. It is not legal advice. States with their own OSHA-approved plans may set different or additional requirements; see federal and state coverage.