1910.303(b)(1)(viii): Other Factors in Judging Electrical Equipment Safety
When judging whether electrical equipment is free from hazards, the employer must also consider other factors that contribute to the practical safeguarding of people using or likely to contact the equipment.
Key takeaways
- 1910.303(b)(1)(viii) is part of OSHA's general industry standards (29 CFR Part 1910, Subpart S).
- OSHA cited it 20 times in the last 3 years, in 20 inspections, with $58,837 in current penalties.
- Most citations: NJ (3), IL (2), PR (2).
- Related part: 1910.303(b) Examination, installation, and use of equipment (3,837 citations).
- Free 5-minute toolbox talk for your crew below.
In this article
What this rule covers
29 CFR 1910.303(b)(1)(viii) is one requirement inside 1910.303 General, an OSHA general industry standard (Part 1910, Subpart S). The official text below is copied word for word from the Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (eCFR). The numbers, injury cases and training on this page show how OSHA enforces it on real job sites.
Official text
(viii) Other factors that contribute to the practical safeguarding of persons using or likely to come in contact with the equipment. 20 citations
Source: eCFR, text current as of 2026-10-15. Read all of 1910.303.
Where and how often it was cited
| Year | Citations |
|---|---|
| 2023 | 1 |
| 2024 | 9 |
| 2025 | 7 |
| 2026 | 3 |
Top states: NJ (3), IL (2), PR (2), TX (2), MO (2)
Largest penalties
| Employer | Location | Penalty for this rule |
|---|---|---|
| SYMBOTIC, LLC DBA SYMBOTIC TECHNOLOGIES | MELROSE PARK, IL | $10,641 |
| GREATER OMAHA PACKING COMPANY, INC. | OMAHA, NE | $8,239 |
| VALMONT UTILITY | EL DORADO, KS | $7,093 |
| ATLANTIC CITY DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS | ATLANTIC CITY, NJ | $7,000 |
| BOROUGH OF KEYPORT POLICE DEPARTMENT | KEYPORT, NJ | $6,300 |
Free toolbox talk
A 5-minute crew talk on 1910.303(b)(1)(viii), plus alerts when this rule changes. Free.
OSHA interpretation letters
None exist. OSHA has not published a letter of interpretation for 1910.303(b)(1)(viii).
Related parts of this rule
- 1910.303(b) Examination, installation, and use of equipment 3,837 citations
- 1910.303(b)(2) Installation and use 2,289 citations
- 1910.303(b)(7) Mechanical execution of work 827 citations
- 1910.303(b)(1) Examination 489 citations
- 1910.303(b)(7)(iv) 398 citations
- 1910.303(b)(7)(i) 349 citations
- 1910.303(b)(8) Mounting and cooling of equipment 145 citations
- 1910.303(b)(8)(i) 143 citations
- 1910.303(b)(6) Deteriorating agents 75 citations
- 1910.303(b)(1)(iv) 47 citations
- 1910.303(b)(1)(ii) 38 citations
- 1910.303(b)(1)(i) 24 citations
Get your crew competent
Trainers on Black Belt Safety: Marc Harvey, Dana Reyes
Trainers and suppliers: feature your business on this rule for $25/month.
Frequently asked questions
What does this item add to the equipment safety review?
Other factors that contribute to the practical safeguarding of persons using or likely to come in contact with the equipment.
Who is protected?
People using the equipment or likely to come in contact with it.
Is this a standalone requirement?
It is one item in a list of things considered when evaluating equipment safety.
About this page
Sources
- 29 CFR 1910.303 (eCFR), text current as of 2026-10-15
- U.S. Department of Labor enforcement data: OSHA inspections, citations and accident records, copied nightly; data as of 2026-10-20
3-year window. Federal OSHA only; state-plan rules are not counted. Plain-language text is a summary, not legal advice; the official text controls. Black Belt Safety is not part of OSHA or the Department of Labor.