1910.120(m): Illumination
Key takeaways
- 1910.120(m) is part of OSHA's general industry standards (29 CFR Part 1910, Subpart H).
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What this rule covers
29 CFR 1910.120(m) ("Illumination") is one requirement inside 1910.120 Hazardous waste operations and emergency response, an OSHA general industry standard (Part 1910, Subpart H). 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
(m) Illumination. Areas accessible to employees shall be lighted to not less than the minimum illumination intensities listed in the following Table H-120.1 while any work is in progress:
| Foot-candles | Area or operations |
|---|---|
| 5 | General site areas. |
| 3 | Excavation and waste areas, accessways, active storage areas, loading platforms, refueling, and field maintenance areas. |
| 5 | Indoors: Warehouses, corridors, hallways, and exitways. |
| 5 | Tunnels, shafts, and general underground work areas. (Exception: Minimum of 10 foot-candles is required at tunnel and shaft heading during drilling mucking, and scaling. Mine Safety and Health Administration approved cap lights shall be acceptable for use in the tunnel heading.) |
| 10 | General shops (e.g., mechanical and electrical equipment rooms, active storerooms, barracks or living quarters, locker or dressing rooms, dining areas, and indoor toilets and workrooms.) |
| 30 | First aid stations, infirmaries, and offices. |
Source: eCFR, text current as of 2026-10-15. Read all of 1910.120.
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OSHA interpretation letters
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Sources
- 29 CFR 1910.120 (eCFR), text current as of 2026-10-15
- U.S. Department of Labor enforcement data: OSHA inspections, citations and accident records, copied nightly
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.