OSHA term · Glossary
Affected Employee
Verified vs OSHA sources · 2026-10-05
In OSHA's Lockout/Tagout standard (29 CFR 1910.147(b)), an affected employee is one whose job requires operating or using a machine that's being serviced under lockout/tagout, or whose job requires working in the area where that servicing is performed. Affected employees do not apply the locks — that's the authorized employee's role — but they must be notified before lockout begins and trained on the purpose and use of the procedures.
Also known as: LOTO affected employee
Affected Employee at a glance
- Operates/uses the equipment being serviced, or works in the area where servicing occurs.
- Does not apply or remove locks — that's the authorized employee's role.
- Must be notified before lockout is applied and after it's removed.
- Receives training on the purpose and use of the LOTO procedure (less in-depth than an authorized employee).
In plain English
The worker who normally runs the machine, or works right next to it, while someone else has it locked out for repair. They don't put the lock on, but they need to be told it's happening and know not to try to start the machine.
What the source says, in summary
Affected employee. An employee whose job requires him/her to operate or use a machine or equipment on which servicing or maintenance is being performed under lockout or tagout, or whose job requires him/her to work in an area in which such servicing or maintenance is being performed.
In context
An enforcement, recordkeeping, or general-duty concept under the Occupational Safety and Health Act and 29 CFR. These terms define how OSHA inspects, cites, and penalizes employers.
Where this is written in OSHA's rules
- 29 CFR 1910.147(b)Read on eCFR / OSHA.gov
Example
When a technician locks out a packaging machine for repair, the operators who normally run that machine are affected employees. They can't restart it, must be notified the lockout is in place, and must be told again once it's cleared — but they never touch the locks themselves.
Why it matters
Many LOTO injuries happen when an affected employee — not knowing a machine is being serviced — tries to start it or reaches in. Requiring notification and awareness training for affected employees closes that gap, protecting both them and the authorized employee working on the equipment.
Affected vs. authorized employee
The affected employee runs or works around the equipment; the authorized employee locks it out and services it. The key limit: an affected employee must never apply or remove a lock, or attempt to operate locked-out equipment. If their duties expand to performing the servicing, they must be retrained as an authorized employee first.
Affected vs. authorized employee
| Attribute | Affected employee | Authorized employee |
|---|---|---|
| Applies the lock? | No | Yes |
| Main duty | Operates/uses the machine | Services it under lockout |
| Training depth | Awareness (purpose & use) | Full procedure & energy control |
Affected Employee: frequently asked questions
- What is an affected employee in LOTO?
- An employee who operates or uses a machine being serviced under lockout/tagout, or who works in the area where that servicing occurs (1910.147(b)). They don't apply locks but must be notified and trained on the procedures.
- Can an affected employee apply a lockout device?
- No. Applying and removing locks is the authorized employee's role. An affected employee must never lock out equipment or try to operate equipment that's locked out.
- What training does an affected employee need?
- Awareness-level training on the purpose and use of the lockout/tagout procedure — enough to understand what a lockout means and why they must not restart or interfere with locked-out equipment.
Related terms
Free tools for this
More OSHA terms
The action an employer takes to fix a cited violation or eliminate a hazard OSHA identified during an inspection. The citation sets an abatement date, the deadline to correct the hazard, and within 10 calendar days after that date the employer must certify to OSHA that the violation was abated. Failure to abate accrues additional penalties of up to $16,550 per day.
Area DirectorThe senior OSHA official in charge of a specific OSHA Area Office — the local unit that runs inspections and enforcement in its geographic territory. The Area Director has the authority to issue citations, propose penalties, hold informal conferences with employers, and approve settlement agreements. When a Compliance Safety and Health Officer (CSHO) completes an inspection, it's the Area Director who ultimately issues the citation.
Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS)The federal statistical agency within the U.S. Department of Labor that collects, analyzes, and publishes data on workplace injuries, illnesses, and fatalities. BLS conducts the annual Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII) — compiled from employer OSHA 300 logs — and the Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI). SOII data drives OSHA's Site-Specific Targeting (SST) program: establishments whose DART rates significantly exceed their BLS industry average are placed on the SST inspection list.
Competent PersonUnder OSHA's construction standards, a person who is capable of identifying existing and predictable hazards in the surroundings or working conditions, and who has the authorization to take prompt corrective measures to eliminate them. The role requires both knowledge and the authority to act, and is mandated by name in many specific standards — excavations, scaffolds, fall protection, asbestos, and more.
CitationThe formal written notice OSHA issues to an employer after an inspection, describing each alleged violation, the standard cited, the proposed penalty, and the date by which the hazard must be corrected (abated). OSHA must issue a citation with reasonable promptness and no later than six months after the violation occurred.
Closing ConferenceThe meeting at the end of an OSHA inspection where the compliance officer confers with the employer and informally advises them of any apparent violations found. Importantly, the closing conference discusses what was observed and the employer's rights — but it does NOT state final citations or penalties, which come later in the written Citation and Notification of Penalty.
Compliance Officer (CSHO)An OSHA Compliance Safety and Health Officer — the inspector who conducts workplace inspections. A CSHO presents credentials (a photo ID and a serial number), holds the opening conference, performs the walkaround, collects evidence, interviews employees, and recommends citations. CSHOs are either safety specialists or industrial hygienists.
ContestAn employer's formal challenge to an OSHA citation, penalty, or abatement date. To contest, the employer must file a written Notice of Contest with the OSHA Area Director within 15 working days of receiving the Citation and Notification of Penalty. Filing sends the case to the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission (OSHRC); missing the deadline makes the citation a final, un-appealable order.
Sources & verification
- 29 CFR 1910.147(b) (eCFR / OSHA.gov)
- OSHA — 1910.147 (The Control of Hazardous Energy)
- OSHA — Lockout/Tagout (Safety and Health Topics)
Reviewed by HazComFast against eCFR, OSHA.gov, NIOSH, and the Federal Register. Last reviewed 2026-10-05. This glossary is general information, not legal advice; OSHA State-Plan states (e.g. California, Michigan) may adopt stricter requirements.
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