Portable electrical equipment use

Portable equipment must be handled so cords and jackets are not damaged, and cords must never be used to raise or lower equipment. Employers and employees should follow the handling rules in 1910.334(a)(1).

• Do not use a flexible cord to hoist or lower tools or equipment.
• Do not staple, nail, or hang cords in ways that pinch, crush, or abrade the outer jacket.
• Protect cords from sharp edges, heat sources, and moving machinery that can cut or wear the insulation.

Portable cord- and plug-connected equipment and extension cords must be visually inspected before use on each shift for external defects and signs of internal damage. See 1910.334(a)(2)(i).

• Look for loose parts, deformed or missing pins, cuts, cracks, or crushed jackets.
• Check for pinched or crushed sections that could indicate internal conductor damage.
• Remove any defective item from service immediately until repaired and tested.

No—cords and cord-connected equipment that remain in place and are not exposed to damage need not be inspected each shift until they are relocated. This is stated in 1910.334(a)(2).

• Inspect before use on a shift if the item is moved or exposed to a new hazard.
• Continue periodic inspections based on workplace conditions and manufacturer guidance.

If a defect could expose an employee to injury, the item must be removed from service and not used until it has been repaired and tested to be safe. See 1910.334(a)(2)(ii).

• Tag or mark the equipment as defective and cordon it off so no one uses it by mistake.
• Have a qualified person perform repairs and tests before returning it to service.

Before connecting a plug to a receptacle, check that the plug and receptacle contacts are of the proper mating configuration. This requirement is in 1910.334(a)(2)(iii).

• Ensure voltage, number of poles, and grounding connections match.
• Do not force mismatched plugs into receptacles; use the correct plug or a properly installed receptacle.

Grounding-type flexible cords must contain an equipment grounding conductor, and plugs/receptacles must not be altered or adapterized in a way that breaks grounding continuity. See 1910.334(a)(3)(i) and 1910.334(a)(3)(ii)-(iii).

• Use 3-conductor cords for grounding-type equipment; the third conductor must be continuous back to the grounding point.
• Do not remove or bend back the grounding pin, or modify receptacles or plugs in a manner that defeats grounding.
• Do not use adapters that interrupt the grounding path.

Portable electric equipment and flexible cords used in wet or highly conductive locations must be approved for those environments. See 1910.334(a)(4).

• Use equipment rated for wet locations (e.g., with appropriate NEMA or IP ratings) or specifically designed for immersion or splash hazards.
• Consider GFCI protection and double insulation where appropriate.

Employees must not have wet hands when plugging or unplugging energized equipment, and energized connectors that could provide a conducting path to the hand must be handled only with insulating protective equipment; locking connectors must be secured. See 1910.334(a)(5)(i)-(iii).

• Do not plug/unplug with wet hands or while standing on wet surfaces if the equipment is energized.
• Use insulating gloves or tools when connectors are wet or immersed.
• Ensure locking-type connectors are properly engaged and secured after connection.

Load-rated switches, circuit breakers, or other devices specifically designed as disconnecting means must be used for opening, reversing, or closing circuits under load. See 1910.334(b)(1).

• Do not use cable connectors, non–load-break splices, or fuses for routine load switching except in emergencies.
• Use equipment designed to break current safely under the expected load.

A circuit may not be manually reenergized after a protective device operation until it is determined that the equipment and circuit can be safely energized; repetitive manual reclosing is prohibited. See 1910.334(b)(2).

• If the protective device operated automatically for an overload (by design), an examination may not be necessary before reenergizing.
• Do not repeatedly reset breakers or replace fuses without diagnosing and correcting the underlying problem.

No—overcurrent protection may not be modified beyond what 1910.304(e) allows, and employers generally may not alter overcurrent protection even temporarily. See 1910.334(b)(3) and 1910.304(e).

• Follow the installation and overcurrent protection rules in 1910.304(e) when selecting or changing protective devices.
• Do not oversize fuses or bypass protection to keep equipment running.

Only qualified persons may perform testing work on electric circuits or equipment. See 1910.334(c)(1).

• ‘Qualified person’ means someone with the training and knowledge to perform the job safely and recognize hazards.
• Employers must ensure testers have appropriate training, PPE, and follow safe testing procedures.

Test instruments and all associated test leads, cables, power cords, probes, and connectors must be visually inspected for defects before use and be rated for the circuits and environments in which they will be used. See 1910.334(c)(2) and 1910.334(c)(3).

• Inspect for damaged insulation, cracked probes, loose connections, or exposed conductors.
• Use instruments with appropriate voltage/current ratings and environmental protections (e.g., CAT ratings, IP or NEMA wet location ratings) for the work being performed.

If a test instrument or accessory is defective and might expose an employee to injury, it must be removed from service and not used until repaired and tested to be safe. See 1910.334(c)(2).

• Tag the item and store it separately to prevent accidental use.
• Have a qualified person repair and verify the instrument before return to service.

No—where flammable or ignitable materials are present only occasionally, electrical equipment capable of igniting them must not be used unless measures are taken to prevent hazardous conditions. See 1910.334(d).

• Take controls such as intrinsic safety-rated tools, enclosures, ventilation, or elimination of ignition sources before using standard electrical equipment.
• For locations where flammable materials are present regularly, follow the detailed installation rules in 1910.307.

Insulating protective equipment must be used when the energized plug/receptacle connection could provide a conducting path to the employee's hand — for example, if the connector is wet or immersed. See 1910.334(a)(5)(ii).

• Use appropriate insulating gloves, mats, and tools rated for the voltage and environment.
• If practical, deenergize and isolate the circuit before handling connectors.

No—attachment plugs and receptacles may not be connected or altered in a way that prevents proper continuity of the equipment grounding conductor, nor altered to allow the grounding pin to fit into current-carrying slots. See 1910.334(a)(3)(ii).

• Do not cut off or bend the ground pin; do not install 2-prong receptacles where 3-prong grounding is required.
• Use approved grounding adapters only where they maintain grounding continuity and are permitted by the standard (but 1910.334(a)(3)(iii) prohibits adapters that interrupt grounding).

Choose test instruments and accessories that are rated for the voltage, current, and category of the circuit and designed for the environment in which they will be used. See 1910.334(c)(3).

• Select instruments with appropriate overvoltage/CAT ratings, insulation, and environmental (water, dust) protection.
• Match probe and lead ratings to the highest energy level expected in the circuit and use PPE accordingly.

Locking-type connectors must be properly secured after connection so they cannot become partially disconnected and create hazards. See 1910.334(a)(5)(iii).

• Engage all latches or locking mechanisms fully and verify a firm mechanical and electrical connection.
• Inspect locking mechanisms for wear or damage during routine inspections.

No—if a defect or damage might expose an employee to injury, the item must be removed from service and no employee may use it until it has been repaired and tested to be safe. See 1910.334(a)(2)(ii).

• Temporary or informal fixes by non‑qualified personnel are not permitted; only proper repairs that restore safety are allowed.
• Employers should provide replacement equipment so work can continue safely while defective items are repaired.