1910.303(g)(2): Guarding Live Electrical Parts
Employers must guard live parts of electric equipment at 50 volts or more against accidental contact, using approved enclosures or by placing them in rooms, behind partitions, on elevated platforms, or 8 feet or more above the floor. Guards must resist physical damage where needed, and entrances to such areas must have warning signs forbidding unqualified persons.
Key takeaways
- 1910.303(g)(2) is part of OSHA's general industry standards (29 CFR Part 1910, Subpart S).
- OSHA cited it 737 times in the last 3 years, in 715 inspections, with $2,035,838 in current penalties.
- 2 deaths are linked to inspections that cited this rule.
- Most citations: MD (91), NY (83), VA (59).
- 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)(2) ("Guarding of live parts") is one requirement inside 1910.303 General, an OSHA general industry standard (Part 1910, Subpart S). It includes 7 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
(2) Guarding of live parts. 737 citations
(i) Except as elsewhere required or permitted by this standard, live parts of electric equipment operating at 50 volts or more shall be guarded against accidental contact by use of approved cabinets or other forms of approved enclosures or by any of the following means: Open (g)(2)(i) 587 citations
(A) By location in a room, vault, or similar enclosure that is accessible only to qualified persons; 3 citations
(B) By suitable permanent, substantial partitions or screens so arranged so that only qualified persons will have access to the space within reach of the live parts. Any openings in such partitions or screens shall be so sized and located that persons are not likely to come into accidental contact with the live parts or to bring conducting objects into contact with them; 6 citations
(C) By placement on a suitable balcony, gallery, or platform so elevated and otherwise located as to prevent access by unqualified persons; or
(D) By elevation of 2.44 m (8.0 ft) or more above the floor or other working surface. 4 citations
(ii) In locations where electric equipment is likely to be exposed to physical damage, enclosures or guards shall be so arranged and of such strength as to prevent such damage. Open (g)(2)(ii) 132 citations
(iii) Entrances to rooms and other guarded locations containing exposed live parts shall be marked with conspicuous warning signs forbidding unqualified persons to enter. 6 citations
Source: eCFR, text current as of 2026-10-15. Read all of 1910.303.
Injuries linked to this rule
2 deaths are linked to inspections where OSHA cited 1910.303(g)(2).
At 2:30 p.m. on November 12, 2024, Employee #1, employed by a recycling company,was attempting to clear debris below a conveyor belt when the machine unexpectedly activated, causing the employee to be crushed. The employee suffered blunt trauma from the crushing incident and was later…
Full case list with employer, penalty, filters and download is part of OSHA Data (Purple Belt).
Unlock with Purple BeltWhere and how often it was cited
| Year | Citations |
|---|---|
| 2023 | 55 |
| 2024 | 261 |
| 2025 | 243 |
| 2026 | 178 |
Top states: MD (91), NY (83), VA (59), MI (52), TX (30)
Largest penalties
| Employer | Location | Penalty for this rule |
|---|---|---|
| THE JAMES SKINNER LLC | OMAHA, NE | $127,500 |
| NEBRASKA BEEF, LTD | OMAHA, NE | $117,194 |
| KRISPY KREME DOUGHNUT CORPORATION | WEST ALLIS, WI | $70,938 |
| DAEHAN SOLUTION NEVADA, LLC. | FERNLEY, NV | $51,858 |
| DAEHAN SOLUTION NEVADA, LLC. | FERNLEY, NV | $50,229 |
Free toolbox talk
A 5-minute crew talk on 1910.303(g)(2), plus alerts when this rule changes. Free.
OSHA interpretation letters
- Guarding energized equipment at voltages below 60 volts DC. (2015-09-04)
- Guarding requirements for 50 volts or more DC. (2015-09-04)
- Guarding energized electrical parts within cable trays (H.D. Roberts Jr/DEP/GIE/Harvey/26006) (2015-07-01)
- Update to September 26, 2002 interpretation letter regrading the guarding of live parts electrical requirements. (2005-07-01)
- Requirements for working clearances and spaces around electrical equipment, e.g., ladder cable trays. (2004-07-26)
- Use of ANSI C2-1997 as guidance for protecting employees working near insulated shielded conductors (2002-09-26)
- Guidance on approval requirments for general circuit breaker panel swich lockouts in General Industry. (2002-06-24)
- "Approval" of flexible corrugated plastic covers and generic circuit breaker panel switch lockouts. (2000-06-28)
- Motor wiring connects. (1996-04-02)
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)(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)(B) 87 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
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Frequently asked questions
At what voltage must live parts be guarded?
At 50 volts or more.
What ways can live parts be guarded?
Approved cabinets or enclosures, a room or vault open only to qualified persons, permanent partitions or screens, an elevated balcony or platform, or elevation of 8 feet or more.
Do guarded rooms need signs?
Yes. Entrances must have conspicuous warning signs forbidding unqualified persons to enter.
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.