1910.303(b)(8): Mounting and Cooling of Electric Equipment
Employers must make sure electric equipment is firmly secured to the surface it is mounted on; wooden plugs driven into holes in masonry, concrete, plaster or similar materials do not count as secure fastening. Equipment cooled by natural airflow or with ventilation openings must be installed so walls or nearby equipment do not block the air it needs, and floor-mounted equipment needs clearance above it for rising warm air.
Key takeaways
- 1910.303(b)(8) is part of OSHA's general industry standards (29 CFR Part 1910, Subpart S).
- OSHA cited it 145 times in the last 3 years, in 143 inspections, with $311,807 in current penalties.
- 1 death is linked to inspections that cited this rule.
- Most citations: VA (27), MI (18), NY (11).
- 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)(8) ("Mounting and cooling of equipment") is one requirement inside 1910.303 General, an OSHA general industry standard (Part 1910, Subpart S). It includes 3 sub-paragraphs. 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
(8) Mounting and cooling of equipment. 145 citations
(i) Electric equipment shall be firmly secured to the surface on which it is mounted. Open (b)(8)(i) 143 citations
Wooden plugs driven into holes in masonry, concrete, plaster, or similar materials are not considered secure means of fastening electric equipment.
(ii) Electric equipment that depends on the natural circulation of air and convection principles for cooling of exposed surfaces shall be installed so that room airflow over such surfaces is not prevented by walls or by adjacent installed equipment. For equipment designed for floor mounting, clearance between top surfaces and adjacent surfaces shall be provided to dissipate rising warm air.
(iii) Electric equipment provided with ventilating openings shall be installed so that walls or other obstructions do not prevent the free circulation of air through the equipment. 2 citations
Source: eCFR, text current as of 2026-10-15. Read all of 1910.303.
Injuries linked to this rule
1 death is linked to inspections where OSHA cited 1910.303(b)(8).
At 9:00 a.m. on January 19, 2024, two employees (Employee #1 and Employee #2) were setting up the site to create another stack of steel pipes (30 inches in diameter by 40 feet long, weighing over 2,000 pounds each.) The employees removed the chock block…
Where and how often it was cited
| Year | Citations |
|---|---|
| 2023 | 8 |
| 2024 | 46 |
| 2025 | 58 |
| 2026 | 33 |
Top states: VA (27), MI (18), NY (11), FL (10), NJ (7)
Largest penalties
| Employer | Location | Penalty for this rule |
|---|---|---|
| ABC SUPPLY CO. INC. | KANSAS CITY, KS | $35,765 |
| THE GOODYEAR TIRE & RUBBER COMPANY | DANVILLE, VA | $20,440 |
| JINDAL TUBULAR USA LLC | BAY SAINT LOUIS, MS | $15,211 |
| LIGNETICS INC | KENBRIDGE, VA | $14,660 |
| SEM MINERALS, L.P. | QUINCY, IL | $11,585 |
Free toolbox talk
A 5-minute crew talk on 1910.303(b)(8), plus alerts when this rule changes. Free.
OSHA interpretation letters
None exist. OSHA has not published a letter of interpretation for 1910.303(b)(8).
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)(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
- 1910.303(b)(1)(viii) 20 citations
Get your crew competent
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Frequently asked questions
Can I mount electrical equipment using wooden plugs in concrete?
No. Wooden plugs driven into holes in masonry, concrete, plaster or similar materials are not considered a secure way to fasten electric equipment.
What does the rule say about equipment with vents?
Equipment with ventilating openings must be installed so walls or other obstructions do not block free air circulation through it.
What about floor-mounted equipment that cools by natural air?
Clearance must be provided between its top surfaces and nearby surfaces so rising warm air can escape.
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.