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For information related to construction, see OSHA's Electrical - Construction page.

Section 5(a)(1) of the OSH Act, often referred to as the General Duty Clause, requires employers to "furnish to each of his employees employment and a place of employment which are free from recognized hazards that are causing or are likely to cause death or serious physical harm to his employees". Section 5(a)(2) requires employers to "comply with occupational safety and health standards promulgated under this Act".

Note: Twenty-four states, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands have OSHA-approved State Plans and have adopted their own standards and enforcement policies. For the most part, these States adopt standards that are identical to Federal OSHA. However, some States have adopted different standards applicable to this topic or may have different enforcement policies.

General Industry (29 CFR 1910)

• 1910 Subpart I, Personal protective equipment [related topic page]
  • 1910.137, Electrical protective devices

• 1910 Subpart R, Special industries
  • 1910.269, Electric power generation, transmission, and distribution [related topic page]
• 1910 Subpart S, Electrical
  • 1910.302, Electric utilization systems
  • 1910.303, General requirements
  • 1910.304, Wiring design and protection
  • 1910.305, Wiring methods, components, and equipment for general use
  • 1910.306, Specific purpose equipment and installations
  • 1910.307, Hazardous (classified) locations
  • 1910.308, Special systems
  • 1910.331, Scope
  • 1910.332, Training
  • 1910.333, Selection and use of work practices
  • 1910.334, Use of equipment
  • 1910.335, Safeguards for personnel protection

Shipyard Employment (29 CFR 1915)

• 1915 Subpart L, Electrical machinery
  • 1915.181, Electrical circuits and distribution boards

Marine Terminals (29 CFR 1917)

• 1917 Subpart G, Related terminal operations and equipment
  • 1917.157, Battery charging and changing

• The OSHA Regulatory Agenda contains an entry related to electrical standards.

• Electrical Standard; Final Rule. Final Rules 72:7135-7221, (2007, February 14). Focuses on safety in the design and installation of electric equipment in the workplace. This revision provides the first update of the installation requirements in the general industry electrical installation standard since 1981.
• Electrical Standard; Proposed Rule. Proposed Rules 69:17773-17842, (2004, April 5). OSHA proposes to revise the general industry electrical installation standard found in 29 CFR 1910, Subpart S.
• Search all available Federal Registers.

• Enforcement of the Electrical Power Generation, Transmission, and Distribution Standard. CPL 02-01-038 [CPL 2-1.38], (2003, June 18). Provides information to assist compliance personnel in performing inspections in electric power generation, transmission, and installations, including that of distribution lines and other equipment.
• OSHA Technical Manual (OTM). TED 01-00-015 [TED 1-0.15A], (1999, January 20). Assists OSHA Compliance Safety and Health Officers (CSHOs) in hazard recognition and provides guidance in accident prevention. Serves as a source of advice for CSHOs on safety and health issues.
• Inspection Guidelines for 29 CFR 1910. Subpart I, the revised Personal Protective Equipment Standards for General Industry. STD 01-06-006 [STD 1-6.6], (1995, June 16). Provides inspection assistance which addresses the revised personal protective equipment (PPE) standards, (29 CFR 1910, Subpart I), to assist OSHA Compliance Safety and Health Officers (CSHOs) performing inspections in general industry.
• Electrical Safety-Related Work Practices -- Inspection Procedures and Interpretation Guidelines. STD 01-16-007 [STD 1-16.7], (1991, July 1). Establishes policies and provides interpretive guidelines to ensure uniform enforcement of the standard for electrical safety-related work practices, 29 CFR 1910.331 through 1910.335.
• Search all available directives.

• Training requirements for employees who perform non-electrical work on electrical equipment. (2002, May 17).
• Qualifications for resetting circuits or replacing fuses; electrical enclosures must be approved. (2001, November 19).
• Search all available standard interpretations.

Note: These are NOT OSHA regulations. However, they do provide guidance from their originating organizations related to worker protection.

• 70, National Electric Code, (2008).