Lockout/Tagout Training Requirements in Washington State: WAC 296-803

Washington’s lockout rule, WAC 296-803, restates federal 1910.147 in plain language and tightens one point: lockout is mandatory whenever a device can be locked. Training, documentation, annual periodic reviews and the group-lockout coordinator rule.

Washington is an OSHA State Plan state, and its lockout/tagout rule is Chapter 296-803 WAC, Lockout/Tagout (Control of Hazardous Energy), enforced by the Department of Labor & Industries. It covers the same ground as federal 1910.147 in L&I’s “you must” style: a written program, machine-specific procedures, lockout devices, training for authorized, affected and other employees, documentation that training has been done and kept up to date, retraining triggers, and periodic reviews at least annually. Washington is stricter on one point: WAC 296-803-50005 requires a lockout system whenever an energy-isolating device can be locked out, so tagout alone is only for devices that cannot take a lock. It also spells out a coordinator rule when several groups work on one machine. There is no Washington license or approved course.

The Rule: WAC 296-803

Written program (296-803-20005) and procedures (500 series), including shift change (50045), group lockout (50050), multiple groups with a primary authorized employee first on and last off (50055), and outside employers (50060).
Lockout required where possible (50005): you must use a lockout system if an energy-isolating device can be locked out.
Training (60005): authorized employees on energy types and magnitudes, hazard recognition and isolation methods; affected employees on the purpose and use of the procedure; all others on the procedures and the restart prohibition. 60005(5): you must document that employee training has been done and kept up to date, with the employee’s name and training date.
Tagout training (60010): the added limitations of tags, which are warning devices and do not provide the physical restraint of a lock.
Retraining (60015): change of job assignment, new hazard, procedure change, or a periodic review finding deviations or inadequate knowledge.
Periodic review (70005): at least annually, by an authorized employee not using the procedure, documented with machine, date, employees and reviewer; procedures used less than once a year reviewed before use. Lockout reviews may be group meetings (70010); tagout reviews must be individual (70015).

What Is Different From Federal OSHA

Point	Federal 1910.147	Washington WAC 296-803
Lockout vs. tagout	Tagout allowed with full-protection demonstration even if lockable	Lockout mandatory whenever the device can be locked
Training record	(c)(7)(iv): name and dates	60005(5): name and training date; identical in substance
Annual check	(c)(6) “periodic inspection”	70005 “periodic review”; same content, same annual minimum
Multiple groups	Group lockout (f)(3)	Explicit coordinator rule, 50055
Retraining triggers	(c)(7)(iii)	60015; identical in substance

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

No. L&I expects the written program, the documentation under 60005(5) and the periodic review records. L&I publishes lockout/tagout training kits on its training materials page, and DOSH Consultation is free; see our Washington forklift guide.

How Online Lockout/Tagout Training Fits in Washington

L&I 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)

Frequently asked questions

Can I use tagout instead of lockout in Washington?

Only when the energy-isolating device cannot be locked out. WAC 296-803-50005 requires a lockout system whenever the device is capable of being locked, which is stricter than federal 1910.147.

What does L&I expect in the training record?

Documentation that training has been done and kept up to date, with each employee’s name and training date (296-803-60005(5)). Our free certification tool prints that plus the role, trainer and procedures covered.

How often are procedures reviewed in Washington?

At least annually under WAC 296-803-70005, by an authorized employee not using the procedure, with the review documented. Lockout reviews can be held as a group meeting; tagout reviews must be done individually.

Does L&I accept online lockout training?

For the knowledge portion. Authorized employees still need training on your site’s machine-specific procedures, and the retraining triggers in 60015 still apply.

Lockout/tagout training in other states

Related Washington guides

Sources: Chapter 296-803 WAC, Lockout/Tagout (Control of Hazardous Energy); WAC 296-803-20005, Written energy control program; L&I safety training materials (lockout/tagout kits); OSHA 29 CFR 1910.147, The control of hazardous energy (lockout/tagout); OSHA Lockout/Tagout fact sheet (FS-3529)

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