1910.303(g)(1): Clear working space at electrical panels
Enough access and working space must be kept around all electric equipment for safe operation and maintenance. Where equipment may be examined, adjusted or serviced while energized, the space must meet the Table S-1 depth, be at least 30 inches wide or as wide as the equipment, allow doors and hinged panels to open at least 90 degrees, and stay clear from the floor up. The space may not be used for storage, must be guarded if live parts are exposed in a passageway, and needs at least one entrance.
Key takeaways
- 1910.303(g)(1) is part of OSHA's general industry standards (29 CFR Part 1910, Subpart S).
- OSHA cited it 2,528 times in the last 3 years, in 2,483 inspections, with $3,583,747 in current penalties.
- 6 deaths are linked to inspections that cited this rule.
- Most citations: CT (188), VA (167), PA (152).
- Related part: 1910.303(g) 600 Volts, nominal, or less (3,265 citations).
- Free 5-minute toolbox talk for your crew below.
In this article
What this rule covers
29 CFR 1910.303(g)(1) ("Space about electric equipment") is one requirement inside 1910.303 General, an OSHA general industry standard (Part 1910, Subpart S). It includes 16 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
(1) Space about electric equipment. Sufficient access and working space shall be provided and maintained about all electric equipment to permit ready and safe operation and maintenance of such equipment. 2,528 citations
(i) Working space for equipment likely to require examination, adjustment, servicing, or maintenance while energized shall comply with the following dimensions, except as required or permitted elsewhere in this subpart: Open (g)(1)(i) 436 citations
(A) The depth of the working space in the direction of access to live parts may not be less than indicated in Table S-1. Distances shall be measured from the live parts if they are exposed or from the enclosure front or opening if they are enclosed; Open (g)(1)(i)(a) 176 citations
(B) The width of working space in front of the electric equipment shall be the width of the equipment or 762 mm (30 in.), whichever is greater. In all cases, the working space shall permit at least a 90-degree opening of equipment doors or hinged panels; and Open (g)(1)(i)(b) 87 citations
(C) The work space shall be clear and extend from the grade, floor, or platform to the height required by paragraph (g)(1)(vi) of this section. However, other equipment associated with the electrical installation and located above or below the electric equipment may extend not more than 153 mm (6 in.) beyond the front of the electric equipment. Open (g)(1)(i)(c) 24 citations
(ii) Working space required by this standard may not be used for storage. When normally enclosed live parts are exposed for inspection or servicing, the working space, if in a passageway or general open space, shall be suitably guarded. Open (g)(1)(ii) 817 citations
(iii) At least one entrance of sufficient area shall be provided to give access to the working space about electric equipment. Open (g)(1)(iii) 24 citations
(iv) For equipment rated 1200 amperes or more and over 1.83 m (6.0 ft) wide, containing overcurrent devices, switching devices, or control devices, there shall be one entrance not less than 610 mm (24 in.) wide and 1.98 m (6.5 ft) high at each end of the working space, except that:
(A) Where the location permits a continuous and unobstructed way of exit travel, one means of exit is permitted; or
(B) Where the working space required by paragraph (g)(1)(i) of this section is doubled, only one entrance to the working space is required; however, the entrance shall be located so that the edge of the entrance nearest the equipment is the minimum clear distance given in Table S-1 away from such equipment.
(v) Illumination shall be provided for all working spaces about service equipment, switchboards, panelboards, and motor control centers installed indoors. Additional lighting fixtures are not required where the working space is illuminated by an adjacent light source. In electric equipment rooms, the illumination may not be controlled by automatic means only. Open (g)(1)(v) 11 citations
(vi) The minimum headroom of working spaces about service equipment, switchboards, panelboards, or motor control centers shall be as follows: 2 citations
(A) For installations built before August 13, 2007, 1.91 m (6.25 ft); and
(B) For installations built on or after August 13, 2007, 1.98 m (6.5 ft), except that where the electrical equipment exceeds 1.98 m (6.5 ft) in height, the minimum headroom may not be less than the height of the equipment. 1 citations
| Nominal voltage to ground | Minimum clear distance for condition 2 3 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Condition A | Condition B | Condition C | ||||
| m | ft | m | ft | m | ft | |
| 0-150 | 1 0.9 | 1 3.0 | 1 0.9 | 1 3.0 | 0.9 | 3.0 |
| 151-600 | 1 0.9 | 1 3.0 | 1.0 | 3.5 | 1.2 | 4.0 |
| Notes to Table S-1: | ||||||
| 1. Minimum clear distances may be 0.7 m (2.5 ft) for installations built before April 16, 1981. | ||||||
| 2. Conditions A, B, and C are as follows: | ||||||
| Condition A—Exposed live parts on one side and no live or grounded parts on the other side of the working space, or exposed live parts on both sides effectively guarded by suitable wood or other insulating material. Insulated wire or insulated busbars operating at not over 300 volts are not considered live parts. | ||||||
| Condition B—Exposed live parts on one side and grounded parts on the other side. | ||||||
| Condition C—Exposed live parts on both sides of the work space (not guarded as provided in Condition A) with the operator between. | ||||||
| 3. Working space is not required in back of assemblies such as dead-front switchboards or motor control centers where there are no renewable or adjustable parts (such as fuses or switches) on the back and where all connections are accessible from locations other than the back. Where rear access is required to work on deenergized parts on the back of enclosed equipment, a minimum working space of 762 mm (30 in.) horizontally shall be provided. | ||||||
(vii) Switchboards, panelboards, and distribution boards installed for the control of light and power circuits, and motor control centers shall be located in dedicated spaces and protected from damage. 7 citations
(A) For indoor installation, the dedicated space shall comply with the following: 1 citations
(1) The space equal to the width and depth of the equipment and extending from the floor to a height of 1.83 m (6.0 ft) above the equipment or to the structural ceiling, whichever is lower, shall be dedicated to the electrical installation. Unless isolated from equipment by height or physical enclosures or covers that will afford adequate mechanical protection from vehicular traffic or accidental contact by unauthorized personnel or that complies with paragraph (g)(1)(vii)(A)(2) of this section, piping, ducts, or equipment foreign to the electrical installation may not be located in this area;
(2) The space equal to the width and depth of the equipment shall be kept clear of foreign systems unless protection is provided to avoid damage from condensation, leaks, or breaks in such foreign systems. This area shall extend from the top of the electric equipment to the structural ceiling;
(3) Sprinkler protection is permitted for the dedicated space where the piping complies with this section; and
(4) Control equipment that by its very nature or because of other requirements in this subpart must be adjacent to or within sight of its operating machinery is permitted in the dedicated space.
A dropped, suspended, or similar ceiling that does not add strength to the building structure is not considered a structural ceiling.
(B) Outdoor electric equipment shall be installed in suitable enclosures and shall be protected from accidental contact by unauthorized personnel, or by vehicular traffic, or by accidental spillage or leakage from piping systems. No architectural appurtenance or other equipment may be located in the working space required by paragraph (g)(1)(i) of this section. 2 citations
Source: eCFR, text current as of 2026-10-15. Read all of 1910.303.
Injuries linked to this rule
6 deaths are linked to inspections where OSHA cited 1910.303(g)(1).
At 3:20 p.m. on December 27, 2024, an employee returned from lunch and entered the water purifying system room (utility room) inside the establishment. Minuteslater, the employee was found unresponsive on the floor by a coworker. The medical examiner determined the cause of death as…
Full case list with employer, penalty, filters and download is part of OSHA Data (Purple Belt).
Unlock with Purple BeltWhere and how often it was cited
| Year | Citations |
|---|---|
| 2023 | 181 |
| 2024 | 942 |
| 2025 | 888 |
| 2026 | 517 |
Top states: CT (188), VA (167), PA (152), TN (142), NV (135)
Largest penalties
| Employer | Location | Penalty for this rule |
|---|---|---|
| FUYAO GLASS AMERICA INC. | MORAINE, OH | $99,300 |
| THE KROGER COMPANY | STOCKBRIDGE, GA | $76,043 |
| CIRCLE K STORES INC | AUSTIN, TX | $65,027 |
| TRADER JOE'S COMPANY | GREENWOOD VILLAGE, CO | $60,000 |
| UNITED PARCEL SERVICE, INC. D/B/A UPS (VT) | BARRE, VT | $57,620 |
Free toolbox talk
A 5-minute crew talk on 1910.303(g)(1), plus alerts when this rule changes. Free.
OSHA interpretation letters
- Update to September 26, 2002 interpretation letter regrading the guarding of live parts electrical requirements. (2005-07-01)
- Electrical equipment grounding requirements on concrete floors. (2003-11-26)
- Access and working space requirements for electric equipment (600V or less). (1999-05-28)
- Safety electrical work practices; motor disconnects;work clearances. (1996-02-07)
Related parts of this rule
- 1910.303(g) 600 Volts, nominal, or less 3,265 citations
- 1910.303(g)(1)(ii) 817 citations
- 1910.303(g)(2) Guarding of live parts 737 citations
- 1910.303(g)(2)(i) 587 citations
- 1910.303(g)(1)(i) 436 citations
- 1910.303(g)(1)(i)(A) 176 citations
- 1910.303(g)(2)(ii) 132 citations
- 1910.303(g)(1)(i)(B) 87 citations
- 1910.303(g)(1)(i)(C) 24 citations
- 1910.303(g)(1)(iii) 24 citations
- 1910.303(g)(1)(v) 11 citations
Get your crew competent
Trainers on Black Belt Safety: Marc Harvey, Dana Reyes
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Frequently asked questions
Can boxes or carts be parked in front of an electrical panel?
No. Working space required by this standard may not be used for storage.
What if the panel is in a hallway and opened for service?
When normally enclosed live parts are exposed for inspection or servicing in a passageway or open space, the working space must be suitably guarded.
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.