1910.269(o)(3)(i): Control Access to Test Areas
Employers must provide safeguarding in test areas to control access to test equipment or apparatus under test that could become energized by direct or inductive coupling, and to prevent accidental employee contact with energized parts.
Key takeaways
- 1910.269(o)(3)(i) is part of OSHA's general industry standards (29 CFR Part 1910, Subpart R).
- OSHA cited it 1 times in the last 3 years, in 1 inspections, with $4,839 in current penalties.
- 1 death is linked to inspections that cited this rule.
- Related part: 1910.269(o) Testing and test facilities (6 citations).
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In this article
What this rule covers
29 CFR 1910.269(o)(3)(i) is one requirement inside 1910.269 Electric power generation, transmission, and distribution, an OSHA general industry standard (Part 1910, Subpart R). 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) The employer shall provide safeguarding within test areas to control access to test equipment or to apparatus under test that could become energized as part of the testing by either direct or inductive coupling and to prevent accidental employee contact with energized parts. 1 citations
Source: eCFR, text current as of 2026-10-15. Read all of 1910.269.
Export the list: 1 inspections cited 1910.269(o)(3)(i) in the last 3 years, with employer, location, penalty and date.
Purple Belt, $59/moInjuries linked to this rule
1 death is linked to inspections where OSHA cited 1910.269(o)(3)(i).
At 7:00 p.m. on November 12, 2023, an employee climbed a ladder to access the top of an electrical transformer. The employee was verifying the test equipmentwas hooked up appropriately and turned around to exit on the ladder. The employee came into contact with electricity,…
Where and how often it was cited
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OSHA interpretation letters
None exist. OSHA has not published a letter of interpretation for 1910.269(o)(3)(i).
Related parts of this rule
- 1910.269(o) Testing and test facilities 6 citations
- 1910.269(o)(3) Safeguarding of test areas 1 citations
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Frequently asked questions
What must the safeguarding do?
Control access to test equipment or apparatus under test and prevent accidental contact with energized parts.
How can apparatus become energized during testing?
By either direct or inductive coupling.
Who must provide the safeguarding?
The employer.
About this page
Sources
- 29 CFR 1910.269 (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 2026-11-06
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.