1910.303(g)(1)(i)(B): Width of Working Space at Electrical Equipment
Employers must keep the working space in front of electric equipment at least as wide as the equipment or 762 mm (30 in.), whichever is greater. In all cases, the space must allow equipment doors or hinged panels to open at least 90 degrees.
Key takeaways
- 1910.303(g)(1)(i)(B) is part of OSHA's general industry standards (29 CFR Part 1910, Subpart S).
- OSHA cited it 87 times in the last 3 years, in 87 inspections, with $115,227 in current penalties.
- 1 death is linked to inspections that cited this rule.
- Most citations: AK (18), VA (11), UT (6).
- Related part: 1910.303(g) 600 Volts, nominal, or less (3,265 citations).
- Free 5-minute toolbox talk for your crew below.
In this article
What this rule covers
29 CFR 1910.303(g)(1)(i)(B) 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
(B) The width of working space in front of the electric equipment shall be the width of the equipment or 762 mm (30 in.), whichever is greater. In all cases, the working space shall permit at least a 90-degree opening of equipment doors or hinged panels; and 87 citations
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(g)(1)(i)(B).
At approximately 12:42 p.m. on April 25, 2024, an employee was attempting to attach a loaded, but unsecured, flatbed trailer to a semi-truck. During the connection process, the kingpin rode over the top of the 5th wheel plate and slammed down onto it. For reasons…
Where and how often it was cited
| Year | Citations |
|---|---|
| 2023 | 8 |
| 2024 | 45 |
| 2025 | 26 |
| 2026 | 8 |
Top states: AK (18), VA (11), UT (6), TX (4), PA (4)
Largest penalties
| Employer | Location | Penalty for this rule |
|---|---|---|
| CASE FARMS PROCESSING, INC. | WINESBURG, OH | $16,550 |
| SOCORRO, CITY OF, VEHICLE MAINTENANCE DEPARTMENT | SOCORRO, NM | $11,250 |
| OZARK AUTOMOTIVE DISTRIBUTORS, INC. | MANASSAS, VA | $7,995 |
| SAN MIGUEL COUNTY, SHERIFF'S OFFICE | LAS VEGAS, NM | $6,509 |
| COMPASS GROUP USA, INC | ROCKVILLE, VA | $5,505 |
Free toolbox talk
A 5-minute crew talk on 1910.303(g)(1)(i)(B), plus alerts when this rule changes. Free.
OSHA interpretation letters
None exist. OSHA has not published a letter of interpretation for 1910.303(g)(1)(i)(B).
Related parts of this rule
- 1910.303(g) 600 Volts, nominal, or less 3,265 citations
- 1910.303(g)(1) Space about electric equipment 2,528 citations
- 1910.303(g)(1)(ii) 817 citations
- 1910.303(g)(2) Guarding of live parts 737 citations
- 1910.303(g)(2)(i) 587 citations
- 1910.303(g)(1)(i) 436 citations
- 1910.303(g)(1)(i)(A) 176 citations
- 1910.303(g)(2)(ii) 132 citations
- 1910.303(g)(1)(i)(C) 24 citations
- 1910.303(g)(1)(iii) 24 citations
- 1910.303(g)(1)(v) 11 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 the working space in front of electrical equipment be?
The width of the equipment or 762 mm (30 in.), whichever is greater.
How far must equipment doors be able to open?
The working space must permit at least a 90-degree opening of equipment doors or hinged panels.
Does a narrow panel get a narrow working space?
No. The space must be at least 30 inches wide even if the equipment is narrower.
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.