1910.305(d): Switchboards and Panelboards
Employers must locate switchboards with exposed live parts in permanently dry places accessible only to qualified persons. Panelboards must be mounted in cabinets or enclosures designed for the purpose and be dead front, unless only qualified persons can reach them, and exposed knife switch blades must be dead when open.
Key takeaways
- 1910.305(d) is part of OSHA's general industry standards (29 CFR Part 1910, Subpart S).
- OSHA cited it 98 times in the last 3 years, in 98 inspections, with $187,103 in current penalties.
- 1 death is linked to inspections that cited this rule.
- Most citations: VA (12), HI (11), NY (9).
- Related part: 1910.305(d)(2) Panelboard enclosures (93 citations).
- Free 5-minute toolbox talk for your crew below.
In this article
What this rule covers
29 CFR 1910.305(d) ("Switchboards and panelboards") is one requirement inside 1910.305 Wiring methods, components, and equipment for general use, an OSHA general industry standard (Part 1910, Subpart S). It includes 3 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
(d) Switchboards and panelboards — 98 citations
(1) Switchboards with exposed live parts. Switchboards that have any exposed live parts shall be located in permanently dry locations and shall be accessible only to qualified persons. 3 citations
(2) Panelboard enclosures. Panelboards shall be mounted in cabinets, cutout boxes, or enclosures designed for the purpose and shall be dead front. However, panelboards other than the dead front externally-operable type are permitted where accessible only to qualified persons. Open (d)(2) 93 citations
(3) Knife switches mounted in switchboards or panelboards. Exposed blades of knife switches mounted in switchboards or panelboards shall be dead when open.
Source: eCFR, text current as of 2026-10-15. Read all of 1910.305.
Injuries linked to this rule
1 death is linked to inspections where OSHA cited 1910.305(d).
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 | 9 |
| 2024 | 34 |
| 2025 | 33 |
| 2026 | 22 |
Top states: VA (12), HI (11), NY (9), TX (7), PR (6)
Largest penalties
| Employer | Location | Penalty for this rule |
|---|---|---|
| JINDAL TUBULAR USA LLC | BAY SAINT LOUIS, MS | $16,131 |
| MOUNT CARMEL HEALTH SYSTEM | NEW ALBANY, OH | $15,625 |
| CREATIVE MODULAR CONSTRUCTION | SPRINGFIELD, MO | $10,000 |
| PCI ENTERPRISES INC | QUITMAN, TX | $9,578 |
| ACME BRICK COMPANY | EL PASO, TX | $9,000 |
Free toolbox talk
A 5-minute crew talk on 1910.305(d), plus alerts when this rule changes. Free.
OSHA interpretation letters
None exist. OSHA has not published a letter of interpretation for 1910.305(d).
Related parts of this rule
- 1910.305(d)(2) Panelboard enclosures 93 citations
Get your crew competent
Trainers on Black Belt Safety: Marc Harvey, Dana Reyes
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Frequently asked questions
Where can switchboards with exposed live parts be located?
In permanently dry locations, accessible only to qualified persons.
Must panelboards be dead front?
Yes, except panelboards other than the dead front externally-operable type are permitted where accessible only to qualified persons.
What about knife switches?
Exposed blades of knife switches in switchboards or panelboards must be dead when open.
About this page
Sources
- 29 CFR 1910.305 (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 2026-10-21
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.