Lockout/Tagout Training Requirements in Minnesota: MNOSHA Rules, AWAIR and Citation Data

Minnesota adopts federal 1910.147, cited 222 times by MNOSHA in fiscal 2025, second only to hazard communication. The rule, MNOSHA’s inspection directive, the AWAIR written-program requirement, and how online training fits.

Minnesota is an OSHA State Plan state. Minnesota OSHA (MNOSHA) incorporates federal 29 CFR 1910 by reference in Minnesota Rules 5205.0010, so lockout/tagout in Minnesota general industry is 1910.147 as written: energy control program, machine-specific procedures, annual periodic inspection, training for authorized, affected and other employees, retraining on changes, and a certification with each employee’s name and dates. Minnesota has no general-industry lockout rule of its own (the former 5205.0680 is repealed), but it does have a construction lockout rule, 5207.0600, applied alongside 1926.417. MNOSHA’s inspection directive STD 1-7.3A tells compliance officers to review the program and interview employees, and to cite missing written procedures, missing training and missing annual inspections. In fiscal 2025, 1910.147 was MNOSHA’s second most-cited standard with 222 citations. There is no Minnesota license or approved course.

The Rule in Minnesota

1910.147 as incorporated: energy control program and machine-specific procedures (c)(4); periodic inspection at least annually with certification (c)(6); training for authorized, affected and other employees (c)(7)(i); retraining triggers (c)(7)(iii); certification with each employee’s name and dates (c)(7)(iv).
MNOSHA STD 1-7.3A (reissued June 2021): inspectors review the written program and interview authorized and affected employees; citation guidance covers no written procedures (c)(4)(i), no training (c)(7)(i) and no annual inspection (c)(6)(i); paperwork-only gaps where procedures are effective are generally classified non-serious.
Construction: Minnesota Rules 5207.0600 (lockout) applies with 1926.417 and Subpart O.
AWAIR (Minn. Stat. 182.653 subd. 8; industries in Minnesota Rules 5208.1500): the written program’s hazard identification and control element is where the lockout program and training belong; reviewed annually.
Employee Right-to-Know (Minnesota Rules 5206): annual training on hazardous substances and physical agents with three-year records, a separate obligation that overlaps where lockout work involves chemicals, noise or heat.

Does Minnesota Require a Lockout/Tagout License or Approved Course?

No. MNOSHA does not approve or license lockout training. The documents its inspectors ask for are the written program and procedures, the annual inspection certification and the (c)(7)(iv) training certification.

How Online Lockout/Tagout Training Fits in Minnesota

MNOSHA does not approve or license lockout/tagout courses. The rule asks the employer to train authorized employees to recognize hazardous energy and apply the isolation methods, to teach affected employees the purpose and use of the procedure, and to tell everyone else not to restart locked-out equipment; then to keep a written certification of who was trained and when. Shield’s lockout/tagout course covers the knowledge portion in 40 to 55 minutes, in English or Spanish: energy sources, lockout devices, the six-step procedure, group lockout and shift change, with a 10-question exam, a certificate and a phone wallet card. The part no course can do is your site’s machine-specific procedures; walk the authorized employees through those, then log the training with our free certification tool.

Lockout/tagout step-by-step checklist (printable)

Free tool: fill in and print the lockout/tagout training certification (employee, role, procedures covered, trainer, date)

Penalties and Help

MNOSHA’s maximums match federal: up to $16,550 per serious violation and $165,514 per willful or repeated violation. MNOSHA Workplace Safety Consultation is free and separate from Compliance; the AWAIR employer guide is published in English and Spanish. See our Minnesota forklift guide for contact details.

Frequently asked questions

How often does MNOSHA cite lockout violations?

222 citations under 1910.147 in fiscal 2025, second only to hazard communication, per MNOSHA’s most-cited standards fact sheet. Missing procedures, missing training and missing annual inspections are the three the directive singles out.

What must the Minnesota training certification contain?

Each employee’s name and dates of training (1910.147(c)(7)(iv)). Our free tool adds the role, trainer and procedures covered.

Does my AWAIR program need to mention lockout?

If you are on the AWAIR list and have equipment that needs lockout, yes: the hazard identification and control element should reference the energy control program and the training it requires.

Does MNOSHA accept online lockout training?

For the knowledge portion. Authorized employees still need training on your site’s machine-specific procedures; STD 1-7.3A has inspectors interview employees to confirm they know them.

Lockout/tagout training in other states

Related Minnesota guides

Sources: Minnesota Rules 5205.0010, incorporation of 29 CFR 1910; MNOSHA Instruction STD 1-7.3A, 1910.147 inspection procedures and interpretive guidance; MNOSHA: differences between Minnesota and federal OSHA; MNOSHA most frequently cited standards, fiscal 2025, general industry; MNOSHA AWAIR program; OSHA 29 CFR 1910.147, The control of hazardous energy (lockout/tagout); OSHA Lockout/Tagout fact sheet (FS-3529); OSHA Lockout/Tagout fact sheet, Spanish (FS-4416)

Lockout/Tagout Safety Certification, $59, English and Spanish, for authorized and affected employees, training certification tool included.