1910.334(a)(2)(ii): Remove Damaged Portable Electrical Equipment
If portable electrical equipment, such as a cord set or cord-and-plug tool, has a defect or damage that could hurt someone, it must be taken out of service. No employee may use it again until the repairs and tests needed to make it safe have been made. This stops damaged cords and tools from shocking the next person who picks them up.
Key takeaways
- 1910.334(a)(2)(ii) is part of OSHA's general industry standards (29 CFR Part 1910, Subpart S).
- OSHA cited it 484 times in the last 3 years, in 484 inspections, with $365,670 in current penalties.
- 4 deaths are linked to inspections that cited this rule.
- Most citations: CT (54), VA (50), MD (38).
- Related part: 1910.334(a) Portable electric equipment (956 citations).
- Free 5-minute toolbox talk for your crew below.
In this article
What this rule covers
29 CFR 1910.334(a)(2)(ii) is one requirement inside 1910.334 Use of equipment, 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
(ii) If there is a defect or evidence of damage that might expose an employee to injury, the defective or damaged item shall be removed from service, and no employee may use it until repairs and tests necessary to render the equipment safe have been made. 484 citations
Source: eCFR, text current as of 2026-10-15. Read all of 1910.334.
Injuries linked to this rule
4 deaths are linked to inspections where OSHA cited 1910.334(a)(2)(ii).
At 3:54 p.m. on June 6, 2024, an employee working as a machine operator for a sheet metal manufacturer was working alongside a coworker. The pair were settingup and operating a Bodor CNC Laser cutting machine cutting 4-foot by 8-foot pieces of sheet metal. They…
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 | 34 |
| 2024 | 183 |
| 2025 | 167 |
| 2026 | 100 |
Top states: CT (54), VA (50), MD (38), TN (35), NC (33)
Largest penalties
| Employer | Location | Penalty for this rule |
|---|---|---|
| TINDALL CORPORATION | SAN ANTONIO, TX | $14,187 |
| VTCU, CORP. | POCATELLO, ID | $11,348 |
| MOAPA PAIUTE TRAVEL PLAZA | MOAPA, NV | $10,046 |
| US LEADER RESTAURANTS OPCO, LLC | WINTER PARK, FL | $9,679 |
| CENTRAL TRANSPORT LLC | DALLAS, TX | $8,500 |
Free toolbox talk
A 5-minute crew talk on 1910.334(a)(2)(ii), plus alerts when this rule changes. Free.
OSHA interpretation letters
None exist. OSHA has not published a letter of interpretation for 1910.334(a)(2)(ii).
Related parts of this rule
- 1910.334(a) Portable electric equipment 956 citations
- 1910.334(a)(2) Visual inspection 830 citations
- 1910.334(a)(2)(i) 344 citations
- 1910.334(a)(3) Grounding-type equipment 80 citations
- 1910.334(a)(3)(i) 52 citations
- 1910.334(a)(1) Handling 29 citations
- 1910.334(a)(3)(ii) 26 citations
- 1910.334(a)(4) Conductive work locations 15 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 must happen to damaged portable electrical equipment?
It must be removed from service and not used until repairs and tests make it safe.
Who may use a damaged cord once it is tagged?
No employee may use it until the necessary repairs and tests are done.
What kind of damage counts?
Any defect or evidence of damage that might expose an employee to injury.
About this page
Sources
- 29 CFR 1910.334 (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.