1910.333(a)(1): Deenergize Live Parts Before Work
Employers must deenergize live parts a worker may be exposed to before work on or near them, unless they can show deenergizing creates more or greater hazards or is not feasible due to equipment design or operating limits. Parts under 50 volts to ground need not be deenergized if there is no increased risk of burns or arc explosion.
Key takeaways
- 1910.333(a)(1) is part of OSHA's general industry standards (29 CFR Part 1910, Subpart S).
- OSHA cited it 113 times in the last 3 years, in 113 inspections, with $620,453 in current penalties.
- 8 deaths are linked to inspections that cited this rule.
- Most citations: MI (14), TX (11), PA (7).
- Related part: 1910.333(a) General (190 citations).
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In this article
What this rule covers
29 CFR 1910.333(a)(1) ("Deenergized parts") is one requirement inside 1910.333 Selection and use of work practices, 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
(1) Deenergized parts. Live parts to which an employee may be exposed shall be deenergized before the employee works on or near them, unless the employer can demonstrate that deenergizing introduces additional or increased hazards or is infeasible due to equipment design or operational limitations. Live parts that operate at less than 50 volts to ground need not be deenergized if there will be no increased exposure to electrical burns or to explosion due to electric arcs. 113 citations
Examples of increased or additional hazards include interruption of life support equipment, deactivation of emergency alarm systems, shutdown of hazardous location ventilation equipment, or removal of illumination for an area.
Examples of work that may be performed on or near energized circuit parts because of infeasibility due to equipment design or operational limitations include testing of electric circuits that can only be performed with the circuit energized and work on circuits that form an integral part of a continuous industrial process in a chemical plant that would otherwise need to be completely shut down in order to permit work on one circuit or piece of equipment.
Work on or near deenergized parts is covered by paragraph (b) of this section.
Source: eCFR, text current as of 2026-10-15. Read all of 1910.333.
Injuries linked to this rule
8 deaths are linked to inspections where OSHA cited 1910.333(a)(1).
At approximately 4:20 a.m. on February 25, 2025, Employee #1 was working on an AirTrain switch electrical panel, attempting to replace blown fuses. During the task, the employee came into contact with energized components and received a 600-volt electric shock. Employee #1 was fatally electrocuted.
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 | 7 |
| 2024 | 45 |
| 2025 | 41 |
| 2026 | 20 |
Top states: MI (14), TX (11), PA (7), MA (7), NY (6)
Largest penalties
| Employer | Location | Penalty for this rule |
|---|---|---|
| WESTERN EXTRUSIONS CORPORATION | CARROLLTON, TX | $16,550 |
| ALSTOM TRANSPORTATION USA INC. | NEWARK, NJ | $16,550 |
| MIDDLETON INC. | LITTLE ROCK, AR | $16,550 |
| DOLPHIN HOTEL ASSOCIATES | LAKE BUENA VISTA, FL | $16,550 |
| 157152 - CITY OF ROCKY MOUNT - TAR WATER TREATMENT PLANT | WESLEYAN COLLEGE, NC | $16,131 |
Free toolbox talk
A 5-minute crew talk on 1910.333(a)(1), plus alerts when this rule changes. Free.
OSHA interpretation letters
- Electrical Busway Hot Swappable Plug-In Units (2025-08-25)
- "Continuous industrial processes" and the infeasibility of de-energizing equipment under 29 CFR 1910.333. (2006-12-19)
- OSHA requirements for warning signs and protection from electric-arc-flash hazards and compliance with NFPA 70E-2004. (2006-11-14)
- Clarification about 29 CFR 1910.333 and 29 CFR 1910.147 as they relate to work inside an electrical panel and on related equipment. (2006-07-28)
- Evaluation of proposed modifications to the Bureau of Prisons' Lockout/Tagout (LOTO) procedures. (2000-07-10)
- Training and PPE for employees performing tests on equipment. (1998-06-22)
- Safety electrical work practices; motor disconnects;work clearances. (1996-02-07)
Related parts of this rule
- 1910.333(a) General 190 citations
- 1910.333(a)(2) Energized parts 30 citations
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Frequently asked questions
When can work be done on energized parts?
Only when the employer can show deenergizing introduces additional or increased hazards or is infeasible due to equipment design or operational limitations.
What is an example of an increased hazard?
Interrupting life support equipment, deactivating emergency alarms, shutting down hazardous location ventilation, or removing lighting for an area.
Do parts under 50 volts need to be deenergized?
Not if there will be no increased exposure to electrical burns or to explosion due to electric arcs.
About this page
Sources
- 29 CFR 1910.333 (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.