1926.403(i)(2): Guarding Live Electrical Parts in Construction
Employers must guard live parts of electric equipment at 50 volts or more against accidental contact with enclosures, or by locating them in rooms, behind partitions, on platforms or 8 feet or more above the floor where only qualified persons can reach them. Guards must resist physical damage where needed, and entrances to areas with exposed live parts must have warning signs keeping unqualified persons out.
Key takeaways
- 1926.403(i)(2) is part of OSHA's construction standards (29 CFR Part 1926, Subpart K).
- OSHA cited it 97 times in the last 3 years, in 96 inspections, with $241,457 in current penalties.
- Most citations: NY (21), MD (16), VA (16).
- Related part: 1926.403(i) 600 Volts, nominal, or less (100 citations).
- Free 5-minute toolbox talk for your crew below.
In this article
What this rule covers
29 CFR 1926.403(i)(2) ("Guarding of live parts") is one requirement inside 1926.403 General requirements, an OSHA construction standard (Part 1926, Subpart K). It includes 7 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
(2) Guarding of live parts. 97 citations
(i) Except as required or permitted elsewhere in this subpart, live parts of electric equipment operating at 50 volts or more shall be guarded against accidental contact by cabinets or other forms of enclosures, or by any of the following means: Open (i)(2)(i) 92 citations
(A) By location in a room, vault, or similar enclosure that is accessible only to qualified persons. 1 citations
(B) By partitions or screens so arranged that only qualified persons will have access to the space within reach of the live parts. Any openings in such partitions or screens shall be so sized and located that persons are not likely to come into accidental contact with the live parts or to bring conducting objects into contact with them. 2 citations
(C) By location on a balcony, gallery, or platform so elevated and arranged as to exclude unqualified persons.
(D) By elevation of 8 feet (2.44 m) or more above the floor or other working surface and so installed as to exclude unqualified persons. 5 citations
(ii) In locations where electric equipment would be exposed to physical damage, enclosures or guards shall be so arranged and of such strength as to prevent such damage. 2 citations
(iii) Entrances to rooms and other guarded locations containing exposed live parts shall be marked with conspicuous warning signs forbidding unqualified persons to enter. 3 citations
Source: eCFR, text current as of 2026-10-15. Read all of 1926.403.
Where and how often it was cited
| Year | Citations |
|---|---|
| 2023 | 9 |
| 2024 | 37 |
| 2025 | 29 |
| 2026 | 22 |
Top states: NY (21), MD (16), VA (16), IN (8), PA (6)
Largest penalties
| Employer | Location | Penalty for this rule |
|---|---|---|
| BENSON'S OLD HOME KITCHENS BAKERY, LLC | BOGART, GA | $11,823 |
| EDWIN L. HEIM COMPANY | HARRISBURG, PA | $10,000 |
| THE LEVY COMPANY | SAN ANTONIO, TX | $10,000 |
| LC CONSTRUCTION DELAWARE INC. | CAMDEN, DE | $8,873 |
| BEL-CON CONSTRUCTION SERVICES, INC | EDISON, NJ | $7,260 |
Free toolbox talk
A 5-minute crew talk on 1926.403(i)(2), plus alerts when this rule changes. Free.
OSHA interpretation letters
- Use of caution tape or rope to barricade a crane's swing radius; guarding of lug connectors on portable welders (2004-03-10)
Related parts of this rule
- 1926.403(i) 600 Volts, nominal, or less 100 citations
- 1926.403(i)(2)(i) 92 citations
Get your crew competent
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Frequently asked questions
Which live parts must be guarded?
Live parts of electric equipment operating at 50 volts or more.
Is elevation an acceptable guard?
Yes, elevation of 8 feet (2.44 m) or more above the floor or working surface, installed to exclude unqualified persons.
What signs are required?
Conspicuous warning signs forbidding unqualified persons to enter rooms and other guarded locations with exposed live parts.
About this page
Sources
- 29 CFR 1926.403 (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.