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29 CFR 1910.334: Using electrical equipment

Subpart S—Electrical · official heading: Use of equipment

Cords and portable electrical equipment must be checked before use and taken out of service when damaged, and a circuit that trips may not be reset by hand until it is known to be safe.

4,772citations since 2015
4,104employers cited
64%serious, willful or repeat
$0median penalty per item

OSHA has cited 29 CFR 1910.334 4,772 times since 2015, against 4,104 employers. Penalties on these items add up to $3,948,958 at their current amounts.

Citations per year

The parts of the rule cited most

1910.334(a)(2)(ii) · 2,154 citations

(ii) If there is a defect or evidence of damage that might expose an employee to injury, the defective or damaged item shall be removed from service, and no employee may use it until repairs and tests necessary to render the equipment safe have been made.

1910.334(a)(2)(i) · 1,701 citations

(2) Visual inspection. (i) Portable cord- and plug-connected equipment and flexible cord sets (extension cords) shall be visually inspected before use on any shift for external defects (such as loose parts, deformed and missing pins, or damage to outer jacket or insulation) and for evidence of possible internal damage (such as pinched or crushed outer jacket). Cord- and plug-connected equipment and flexible cord sets (extension cords) which remain connected once they are put in place and are not exposed to damage need not be visually inspected until they are relocated.

1910.334(a)(3)(i) · 278 citations

(3) Grounding-type equipment. (i) A flexible cord used with grounding-type equipment shall contain an equipment grounding conductor.

1910.334(a)(3)(ii) · 265 citations

(ii) Attachment plugs and receptacles may not be connected or altered in a manner which would prevent proper continuity of the equipment grounding conductor at the point where plugs are attached to receptacles. Additionally, these devices may not be altered to allow the grounding pole of a plug to be inserted into slots intended for connection to the current-carrying conductors.

1910.334(a)(1) · 93 citations

(1) Handling. Portable equipment shall be handled in a manner which will not cause damage. Flexible electric cords connected to equipment may not be used for raising or lowering the equipment. Flexible cords may not be fastened with staples or otherwise hung in such a fashion as could damage the outer jacket or insulation.

1910.334(a)(4) · 75 citations

(4) Conductive work locations. Portable electric equipment and flexible cords used in highly conductive work locations (such as those inundated with water or other conductive liquids), or in job locations where employees are likely to contact water or conductive liquids, shall be approved for those locations.

1910.334(a)(3)(iii) · 50 citations

(iii) Adapters which interrupt the continuity of the equipment grounding connection may not be used.

1910.334(c)(1) · 32 citations

(c) Test instruments and equipment—(1) Use. Only qualified persons may perform testing work on electric circuits or equipment.

Industries cited most

  • Manufacturing 1,905
  • Construction 362
  • Public Administration 332
  • Other Services (except Public Administration) 295
  • Educational Services 275
  • Retail Trade 267

States cited most

Recently cited employers