1910.303(b)(8)(i): Electric Equipment Must Be Firmly Secured
Employers must make sure electric equipment is firmly secured to the surface it is mounted on. Wooden plugs driven into holes in masonry, concrete, plaster or similar materials are not considered a secure way to fasten it.
Key takeaways
- 1910.303(b)(8)(i) is part of OSHA's general industry standards (29 CFR Part 1910, Subpart S).
- OSHA cited it 143 times in the last 3 years, in 143 inspections, with $301,587 in current penalties.
- 1 death is linked to inspections that cited this rule.
- Most citations: VA (26), MI (18), NY (11).
- Related part: 1910.303(b) Examination, installation, and use of equipment (3,837 citations).
- Free 5-minute toolbox talk for your crew below.
In this article
What this rule covers
29 CFR 1910.303(b)(8)(i) is one requirement inside 1910.303 General, an OSHA general industry standard (Part 1910, Subpart S). 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) Electric equipment shall be firmly secured to the surface on which it is mounted. 143 citations
Wooden plugs driven into holes in masonry, concrete, plaster, or similar materials are not considered secure means of fastening electric equipment.
Source: eCFR, text current as of 2026-10-15. Read all of 1910.303.
Injuries linked to this rule
1 death is linked to inspections where OSHA cited 1910.303(b)(8)(i).
At 9:00 a.m. on January 19, 2024, two employees (Employee #1 and Employee #2) were setting up the site to create another stack of steel pipes (30 inches in diameter by 40 feet long, weighing over 2,000 pounds each.) The employees removed the chock block…
Where and how often it was cited
| Year | Citations |
|---|---|
| 2023 | 7 |
| 2024 | 46 |
| 2025 | 57 |
| 2026 | 33 |
Top states: VA (26), MI (18), NY (11), FL (10), NJ (7)
Largest penalties
| Employer | Location | Penalty for this rule |
|---|---|---|
| ABC SUPPLY CO. INC. | KANSAS CITY, KS | $35,765 |
| JINDAL TUBULAR USA LLC | BAY SAINT LOUIS, MS | $15,211 |
| LIGNETICS INC | KENBRIDGE, VA | $14,660 |
| SEM MINERALS, L.P. | QUINCY, IL | $11,585 |
| ARTCO-BELL CORPORATION | TEMPLE, TX | $10,372 |
Free toolbox talk
A 5-minute crew talk on 1910.303(b)(8)(i), plus alerts when this rule changes. Free.
OSHA interpretation letters
None exist. OSHA has not published a letter of interpretation for 1910.303(b)(8)(i).
Related parts of this rule
- 1910.303(b) Examination, installation, and use of equipment 3,837 citations
- 1910.303(b)(2) Installation and use 2,289 citations
- 1910.303(b)(7) Mechanical execution of work 827 citations
- 1910.303(b)(1) Examination 489 citations
- 1910.303(b)(7)(iv) 398 citations
- 1910.303(b)(7)(i) 349 citations
- 1910.303(b)(8) Mounting and cooling of equipment 145 citations
- 1910.303(b)(6) Deteriorating agents 75 citations
- 1910.303(b)(1)(iv) 47 citations
- 1910.303(b)(1)(ii) 38 citations
- 1910.303(b)(1)(i) 24 citations
- 1910.303(b)(1)(viii) 20 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
What does 1910.303(b)(8)(i) require?
Electric equipment must be firmly secured to the surface on which it is mounted.
Are wooden plugs an acceptable anchor?
No. Wooden plugs driven into holes in masonry, concrete, plaster or similar materials are not considered secure.
Does this apply to all electric equipment?
The rule says electric equipment shall be firmly secured to its mounting surface.
About this page
Sources
- 29 CFR 1910.303 (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.