Annual LOTO Audits That Satisfy 1910.147(c)(6) on Inspection

OSHA requires a documented annual review of every machine-specific LOTO procedure. The certification has to name the machine, the date, the employees involved, and the person who performed the inspection. Most facilities know the rule. Most facilities also miss the documentation. We close that gap two ways: we run the audit for you, or your team runs it inside LockStep auditing software.

1910.147(c)(6) Compliant Written Certification Full-Service or LockStep
Cell-by-Cell Procedure Review
Authorized Employee Verification
Written Certification on File
LockStep Software Option
Audit-Ready

1910.147(c)(6) in Plain Language

OSHA 1910.147(c)(6) requires the employer to conduct a periodic inspection of energy control procedures at least annually. The inspection has to verify that the procedure is being followed as written and that authorized employees know their responsibilities. The result has to be a written certification identifying the machine, the date, the employees, and the person performing the inspection.

It is not optional. It is not a recommendation. And the moment a compliance officer asks for the certification and the facility cannot produce it, that is a citation regardless of how good the procedures themselves are.

  • Per-cell verification of the written procedure against actual practice
  • Interview with at least one authorized employee per procedure
  • Review of training records and authorization roster
  • Documented findings and corrective actions where deficiencies are noted
  • Written certification signed and dated, retained on file

Two Ways to Get It Done

Full-service audit. We come on-site. We walk every cell, verify procedures against practice, interview authorized employees, and deliver the written certification. You file it. Inspector finds it.

LockStep self-audit. Your team runs the audit inside LockStep auditing software. The software walks them through each cell, captures findings, and generates the written certification automatically.

The Self-Audit Path That Actually Gets Used

If your team has the bandwidth to run audits internally, LockStep is the path most facilities prefer. It enforces the documentation OSHA expects without making your team write it from scratch every year.

Cell-by-Cell Walkthrough

Software walks the auditor through each cell in your facility. Procedure displayed alongside the verification questions. Photos and findings get logged in place.

Authorized Employee Interview Script

Standardized interview prompts that satisfy the verification step. Responses captured directly into the audit record.

Automatic Certification

Once the cell is complete, the software generates the written certification with the required fields. Sign, file, done.

Centralized Records

Every cell's audit history lives in one place. Pull a single procedure or the whole facility for an inspector or insurance carrier in seconds.

What Manufacturers Ask About the Annual Audit

Does every cell need its own audit, or can I do one annual review for the whole facility?

Per cell. The certification has to identify the machine specifically. A facility-wide attestation does not satisfy 1910.147(c)(6). It is one of the most common citation grounds we see during follow-up inspections.

What happens if we miss a year?

The procedure is technically out of compliance from the missed anniversary forward. Get the audit done immediately, document the gap, and resume the annual cadence. If an inspector asks, an honest record of a one-year miss followed by corrective action is better than a falsified certification.

Can the same person who wrote the procedure run the audit?

Yes, but they cannot be the only authorized employee for that procedure. The audit has to verify that authorized employees know their responsibilities, which means interviewing someone other than the procedure author.

Do you handle the audit for facilities outside Michigan?

Full-service audit is West Michigan focused with on-site availability across the broader Midwest. LockStep self-audit works anywhere the facility has internet. Many multi-state manufacturers use both: full-service at the headquarters facility, LockStep at the satellite plants.

Get the Annual Audit Off Your Plate

Free walkthrough first. We will tell you which path fits your facility and what either one would cost.

Schedule My Walkthrough