1926.403(i): Working Space Around Electrical Equipment (600 V or Less)
Employers must provide and keep enough access and working space around electric equipment of 600 volts or less for safe operation and maintenance. Working space in front of live parts that may be serviced while energized must meet Table K-1 depths, such as 3 feet for 0-150 volts, and must be at least 30 inches wide.
Key takeaways
- 1926.403(i) is part of OSHA's construction standards (29 CFR Part 1926, Subpart K).
- OSHA cited it 100 times in the last 3 years, in 99 inspections, with $243,231 in current penalties.
- Most citations: NY (21), MD (17), VA (16).
- Related part: 1926.403(i)(2) Guarding of live parts (97 citations).
- Free 5-minute toolbox talk for your crew below.
In this article
What this rule covers
29 CFR 1926.403(i) ("600 Volts, nominal, or less") is one requirement inside 1926.403 General requirements, an OSHA construction standard (Part 1926, Subpart K). It includes 14 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
(i) 600 Volts, nominal, or less. This paragraph applies to equipment operating at 600 volts, nominal, or less. 100 citations
(1) Working 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. 3 citations
(i) Working clearances. Except as required or permitted elsewhere in this subpart, the dimension of the working space in the direction of access to live parts operating at 600 volts or less and likely to require examination, adjustment, servicing, or maintenance while alive shall not be less than indicated in Table K-1. In addition to the dimensions shown in Table K-1, workspace shall not be less than 30 inches (762 mm) wide in front of the electric equipment. Distances shall be measured from the live parts if they are exposed, or from the enclosure front or opening if the live parts are enclosed. Walls constructed of concrete, brick, or tile are considered to be grounded. 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. 2 citations
| Nominal voltage to ground | Minimum clear distance for conditions 1 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| (a) | (b) | (c) | |
| Feet 2 | Feet 2 | Feet 2 | |
| 0-150 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| 151-600 | 3 | 31⁄2 | 4 |
| 1 Conditions (a), (b), and (c) are as follows: (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 insulating material. Insulated wire or insulated busbars operating at not over 300 volts are not considered live parts. (b) Exposed live parts on one side and grounded parts on the other side. (c) Exposed live parts on both sides of the workspace [not guarded as provided in Condition (a)] with the operator between. | |||
| 2 Note: For International System of Units (SI): one foot = 0.3048m. | |||
(ii) Clear spaces. Working space required by this subpart shall 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 guarded.
(iii) Access and entrance to working space. At least one entrance shall be provided to give access to the working space about electric equipment.
(iv) Front working space. Where there are live parts normally exposed on the front of switchboards or motor control centers, the working space in front of such equipment shall not be less than 3 feet (914 mm).
(v) Headroom. The minimum headroom of working spaces about service equipment, switchboards, panelboards, or motor control centers shall be 6 feet 3 inches (1.91 m).
(2) Guarding of live parts. Open (i)(2) 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 | 30 |
| 2026 | 24 |
Top states: NY (21), MD (17), 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), 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)(2) Guarding of live parts 97 citations
- 1926.403(i)(2)(i) 92 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
How wide must working space be?
Not less than 30 inches (762 mm) wide in front of the electric equipment.
How deep must working space be?
At least the distance in Table K-1, for example 3 feet for 0-150 volts and 3 to 4 feet for 151-600 volts, depending on conditions.
Where are distances measured from?
From the live parts if exposed, or from the enclosure front or opening if enclosed.
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.