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29 CFR 1910.333: Working near live electrical parts

Subpart S—Electrical · official heading: Selection and use of work practices

Before working on exposed electrical parts, de-energize and lock them out unless that would create a greater hazard, and keep unqualified workers away from overhead lines.

2,608citations since 2015
1,890employers cited
90%serious, willful or repeat
$2,000median penalty per item

OSHA has cited 29 CFR 1910.333 2,608 times since 2015, against 1,890 employers. Penalties on these items add up to $9,788,209 at their current amounts.

Citations per year

The parts of the rule cited most

1910.333(a)(1) · 466 citations

(1) Deenergized parts. Live parts to which an employee may be exposed shall be deenergized before the employee works on or near them, unless the employer can demonstrate that deenergizing introduces additional or increased hazards or is infeasible due to equipment design or operational limitations. Live parts that operate at less than 50 volts to ground need not be deenergized if there will be no increased exposure to electrical burns or to explosion due to electric arcs.

1910.333(b)(2)(i) · 304 citations

(i) Procedures. The employer shall maintain a written copy of the procedures outlined in paragraph (b)(2) and shall make it available for inspection by employees and by the Assistant Secretary of Labor and his or her authorized representatives.

1910.333(b)(2) · 294 citations

(2) The procedures also incorporate the requirements of paragraphs (b)(2)(iii)(D) and (b)(2)(iv)(B) of this section.

1910.333(a) · 291 citations

(a) General. Safety-related work practices shall be employed to prevent electric shock or other injuries resulting from either direct or indirect electrical contacts, when work is performed near or on equipment or circuits which are or may be energized. The specific safety-related work practices shall be consistent with the nature and extent of the associated electrical hazards.

1910.333(c)(2) · 231 citations

(2) Work on energized equipment. Only qualified persons may work on electric circuit parts or equipment that have not been deenergized under the procedures of paragraph (b) of this section. Such persons shall be capable of working safely on energized circuits and shall be familiar with the proper use of special precautionary techniques, personal protective equipment, insulating and shielding materials, and insulated tools.

1910.333(a)(2) · 149 citations

(2) Energized parts. If the exposed live parts are not deenergized (i.e., for reasons of increased or additional hazards or infeasibility), other safety-related work practices shall be used to protect employees who may be exposed to the electrical hazards involved. Such work practices shall protect employees against contact with energized circuit parts directly with any part of their body or indirectly through some other conductive object. The work practices that are used shall be suitable for the conditions under which the work is to be performed and for the voltage level of the exposed electric conductors or circuit parts. Specific work practice requirements are detailed in paragraph (c) of this section.

1910.333(c)(3) · 114 citations

(3) Overhead lines. If work is to be performed near overhead lines, the lines shall be deenergized and grounded, or other protective measures shall be provided before work is started. If the lines are to be deenergized, arrangements shall be made with the person or organization that operates or controls the electric circuits involved to deenergize and ground them. If protective measures, such as guarding, isolating, or insulating are provided, these precautions shall prevent employees from contacting such lines directly with any part of their body or indirectly through conductive materials, tools, or equipment.

1910.333(c)(3)(ia)(1) · 110 citations

(i) Unqualified persons. (A) When an unqualified person is working in an elevated position near overhead lines, the location shall be such that the person and the longest conductive object he or she may contact cannot come closer to any unguarded, energized overhead line than the following distances:

Industries cited most

  • Manufacturing 785
  • Construction 402
  • Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services 391
  • Wholesale Trade 120
  • Public Administration 102
  • Health Care and Social Assistance 99

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Recently cited employers