1926.951(b): First-Aid Trained Persons on Electrical Work
When employees work on or with exposed lines or equipment energized at 50 volts or more, first-aid trained persons must be available: at least two for field work with two or more employees, and at fixed locations enough so each exposed employee can be reached within 4 minutes, or every employee trained where that is not possible.
Key takeaways
- 1926.951(b) is part of OSHA's construction standards (29 CFR Part 1926, Subpart V).
- OSHA cited it 4 times in the last 3 years, in 4 inspections, with $19,764 in current penalties.
- 1 death is linked to inspections that cited this rule.
- Related part: 1926.951(b)(1) Field work (4 citations).
- Free 5-minute toolbox talk for your crew below.
In this article
What this rule covers
29 CFR 1926.951(b) ("First-aid training") is one requirement inside 1926.951 Medical services and first aid, an OSHA construction standard (Part 1926, Subpart V). It includes 2 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
(b) First-aid training. In addition to the requirements of § 1926.50, when employees are performing work on, or associated with, exposed lines or equipment energized at 50 volts or more, persons with first-aid training shall be available as follows: 4 citations
(1) Field work. For field work involving two or more employees at a work location, at least two trained persons shall be available. Open (b)(1) 4 citations
(2) Fixed work locations. For fixed work locations such as substations, the number of trained persons available shall be sufficient to ensure that each employee exposed to electric shock can be reached within 4 minutes by a trained person. However, where the existing number of employees is insufficient to meet this requirement (at a remote substation, for example), each employee at the work location shall be a trained employee. Open (b)(2)
Source: eCFR, text current as of 2026-10-15. Read all of 1926.951.
Injuries linked to this rule
1 death is linked to inspections where OSHA cited 1926.951(b).
At 11:30 a.m. on August 9, 2024, Employee #1 was working at a residential site and reached inside a handhole to perform tasks. The employee made contact with an exposed wire and was electrocuted by a live 208V electrical line. Emergency services were called, but…
Where and how often it was cited
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OSHA interpretation letters
- Payment for body belts, positioning straps, and pole and tree climbers. (2009-03-16)
- Payment for body belts, positioning straps, and pole and tree climbers. (2009-03-16)
- Body Belts for Climbing. (1992-10-01)
- Slip on tool hooks cannot be used because of a danger of electrical shock. (1980-06-06)
Related parts of this rule
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Frequently asked questions
At what voltage do these first aid rules apply?
Work on or associated with exposed lines or equipment energized at 50 volts or more.
How many trained persons for a two-person field crew?
At least two trained persons.
What if a fixed location cannot meet the 4 minute rule?
Each employee at the work location shall be a trained employee.
About this page
Sources
- 29 CFR 1926.951 (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.