1926.960(g)(5): Arc rating
Key takeaways
- 1926.960(g)(5) is part of OSHA's construction standards (29 CFR Part 1926, Subpart V).
- OSHA cited it 1 times in the last 3 years, in 1 inspections, with $1,400 in current penalties.
- Related part: 1926.960(g) Protection from flames and electric arcs (4 citations).
- Free 5-minute toolbox talk for your crew below.
In this article
What this rule covers
29 CFR 1926.960(g)(5) ("Arc rating") is one requirement inside 1926.960 Working on or near exposed energized parts, an OSHA construction standard (Part 1926, Subpart V). It includes 5 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
(5) Arc rating. The employer shall ensure that each employee exposed to hazards from electric arcs wears protective clothing and other protective equipment with an arc rating greater than or equal to the heat energy estimated under paragraph (g)(2) of this section whenever that estimate exceeds 2.0 cal/cm2. This protective equipment shall cover the employee's entire body, except as follows: 1 citations
(i) Arc-rated protection is not necessary for the employee's hands when the employee is wearing rubber insulating gloves with protectors or, if the estimated incident energy is no more than 14 cal/cm2, heavy-duty leather work gloves with a weight of at least 407 gm/m2 (12 oz/yd2),
(ii) Arc-rated protection is not necessary for the employee's feet when the employee is wearing heavy-duty work shoes or boots,
(iii) Arc-rated protection is not necessary for the employee's head when the employee is wearing head protection meeting § 1926.100(b)(2) if the estimated incident energy is less than 9 cal/cm2 for exposures involving single-phase arcs in open air or 5 cal/cm2 for other exposures,
(iv) The protection for the employee's head may consist of head protection meeting § 1926.100(b)(2) and a faceshield with a minimum arc rating of 8 cal/cm2 if the estimated incident-energy exposure is less than 13 cal/cm2 for exposures involving single-phase arcs in open air or 9 cal/cm2 for other exposures, and
(v) For exposures involving single-phase arcs in open air, the arc rating for the employee's head and face protection may be 4 cal/cm2 less than the estimated incident energy.
See appendix E to this subpart for further information on the selection of appropriate protection.
Source: eCFR, text current as of 2026-10-15. Read all of 1926.960.
Where and how often it was cited
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OSHA interpretation letters
- Selecting protective clothing based on the IEEE National Electrical Safety Code, C-2, 2012, Table 410-1 (2015-07-13)
- Requirements for protective clothing and equipment in the Electric Power Generation, Transmission and Distribution Standard. (2015-07-13)
Related parts of this rule
- 1926.960(g) Protection from flames and electric arcs 4 citations
- 1926.960(g)(2) Estimate of available heat energy
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Sources
- 29 CFR 1926.960 (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 2026-10-25
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.