1926.404(b)(1)(i): GFCIs or Assured Grounding Program
Employers must protect construction workers by using either ground fault circuit interrupters (GFCIs) or an assured equipment grounding conductor program, as described in this section. These requirements are in addition to any other requirements for equipment grounding conductors.
Key takeaways
- 1926.404(b)(1)(i) is part of OSHA's construction standards (29 CFR Part 1926, Subpart K).
- OSHA cited it 41 times in the last 3 years, in 41 inspections, with $101,607 in current penalties.
- Most citations: PR (13), NY (6), IL (5).
- Related part: 1926.404(b) Branch circuits (138 citations).
- Free 5-minute toolbox talk for your crew below.
In this article
What this rule covers
29 CFR 1926.404(b)(1)(i) ("General") is one requirement inside 1926.404 Wiring design and protection, an OSHA construction standard (Part 1926, Subpart K). 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
(i) General. The employer shall use either ground fault circuit interrupters as specified in paragraph (b)(1)(ii) of this section or an assured equipment grounding conductor program as specified in paragraph (b)(1)(iii) of this section to protect employees on construction sites. These requirements are in addition to any other requirements for equipment grounding conductors. 41 citations
Source: eCFR, text current as of 2026-10-15. Read all of 1926.404.
Where and how often it was cited
| Year | Citations |
|---|---|
| 2023 | 2 |
| 2024 | 20 |
| 2025 | 16 |
| 2026 | 3 |
Top states: PR (13), NY (6), IL (5), NH (4), HI (3)
Largest penalties
| Employer | Location | Penalty for this rule |
|---|---|---|
| RFX2024XAM866X0034 - REFRIGERATION UNLIMITED, LLC | GOODYEAR, AZ | $16,131 |
| GENERA PR LLC | GUAYANILLA, PR | $7,000 |
| URX2024XAM866X0035 - ELEVEN WESTERN BUILDERS INC. | GOODYEAR, AZ | $6,452 |
| FUN CITY LLC | HARRISBURG, PA | $6,384 |
| DBR DEVELOPMENT MANAGEMENT LLC | DORADO, PR | $4,250 |
Free toolbox talk
A 5-minute crew talk on 1926.404(b)(1)(i), plus alerts when this rule changes. Free.
OSHA interpretation letters
- Application of 1926.404(b)(1) to 208-volt branch circuits; requirement for electrical subcontractor under 1926.404(b)(1) to provide ground-fault circuit interrupters on circuits used by other subcontractors (2005-03-22)
- Requirements of 1926.404(b)(1) application to 208-volt branch circuits; electrical subcontractor requirements under 1926.404(b)(1) to monitor other on-site subcontractors. (2005-02-07)
- CSHO use of external GFCI testers to enforce 29 CFR 1926.404(b)(1) (2003-07-09)
- Use of approved GFCI's that do not have open-neutral protection. (2003-07-07)
- Ground fault protection requirements for 120-volt and/or 240-volt circuits. (2002-05-15)
- Ground fault protection for a construction job-site trailer. (1993-02-16)
- Marking recognition, regulations and policy of double insulated power tools (1985-11-08)
Related parts of this rule
- 1926.404(b) Branch circuits 138 citations
- 1926.404(b)(1) Ground-fault protection 137 citations
- 1926.404(b)(1)(ii) Ground-fault circuit interrupters 50 citations
- 1926.404(b)(1)(iii)(C) 42 citations
- 1926.404(b)(1)(iii) Assured equipment grounding conductor program 42 citations
- 1926.404(b)(2) Outlet devices 1 citations
- 1926.404(b)(1)(iii)(G)
- 1926.404(b)(1)(iii)(E)
- 1926.404(b)(1)(iii)(D)
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 are the two options for ground-fault protection on construction sites?
Ground fault circuit interrupters as specified in 1926.404(b)(1)(ii), or an assured equipment grounding conductor program as specified in 1926.404(b)(1)(iii).
Who must provide this protection?
The employer must use one of the two methods to protect employees on construction sites.
Does this replace other grounding rules?
No. These requirements are in addition to any other requirements for equipment grounding conductors.
About this page
Sources
- 29 CFR 1926.404 (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 2026-10-19
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.