Working near energized parts

This rule applies to any work on exposed live parts or near enough to them to expose an employee to hazards. See Application in 1926.960(a).

Only qualified employees are allowed to work on or with exposed energized lines or parts and to work in areas with unguarded, uninsulated energized parts operating at 50 volts or more. See Qualified employees only in 1926.960(b)(1).

Electric lines and equipment must be considered and treated as energized unless they have been deenergized in accordance with 1926.961. See Treat as energized in 1926.960(b)(2).

At least two employees must be present for specified high-hazard work involving parts energized above 600 volts, including installation, removal, or repair of such lines or equipment, work with mechanical equipment near those parts, and other work with equivalent electrical hazards. See At least two employees listed in 1926.960(b)(3)(i).

The two-employee requirement does not apply to routine circuit switching where the employer can demonstrate safe conditions, to work done with live-line tools when the worker cannot reach or be exposed to energized parts, or to emergency repairs needed to protect the public. See Exceptions in 1926.960(b)(3)(ii).

Employers must establish minimum approach distances at least as large as those computed by Table V-2 for AC systems or Table V-7 for DC systems. See Minimum approach distances in 1926.960(c)(1)(i).

For voltages over 72.5 kV, the employer must determine the maximum anticipated per‑unit transient overvoltage, phase‑to‑ground, by engineering analysis or assume a value per Table V‑8 no later than April 1, 2015. See Transient overvoltage requirement in 1926.960(c)(1)(ii).

When portable protective gaps are used, the employer must size the maximum anticipated per‑unit transient overvoltage so there are five standard deviations between the gap's statistical sparkover voltage and the statistical withstand voltage used for the electrical component of the minimum approach distance, and must make any engineering analysis available upon request. See Transient overvoltage and analysis availability in 1926.960(c)(1)(ii).

An employee may approach closer than the minimum approach distance only if the employee is insulated from the energized part by rubber insulating gloves (with sleeves), the energized part is insulated from the employee and other conductive objects, or the employee is insulated from other conductive objects in accordance with live‑line barehand work requirements in 1926.964(c). See Conditions allowing closer approach in 1926.960(c)(1)(iii).

Rubber insulating sleeves are not required if exposed energized parts on which the employee is not working are insulated from the employee, and the insulation is installed from a position that does not expose the employee's upper arm to contact with other energized parts. See Exceptions in 1926.960(c)(2)(i)(A)–(B).

The employee must put on rubber insulating gloves and sleeves in a position where they cannot reach into the employer's established minimum approach distance and must not remove them until they are again in a position where they cannot reach into that minimum approach distance. See Donning and removing requirements in 1926.960(c)(2)(ii)(A)–(B).

The employer must ensure each employee, as worksite conditions allow, works from a position where a slip or shock will not bring the employee's body into contact with exposed, uninsulated parts energized at a different potential. See Working from below in 1926.960(d)(1).

When an employee performs such work without rubber insulating gloves, without insulating equipment covering energized parts, not using live‑line tools, and not performing live‑line barehand work under 1926.964(c), the employer must ensure the employee works from a position where they cannot reach into the employer's established minimum approach distance. See Requirements in 1926.960(d)(2).

When connecting to an energized circuit, the employee must first attach the conductor to the deenergized part; when disconnecting, the employee must remove the source end first; and employees must keep loose conductors away from exposed energized parts. See Making connections in 1926.960(e)(1)–(3).

Employees must remove or render nonconductive all exposed conductive articles (for example, keychains, watchbands, rings) when performing work within reaching distance of exposed energized parts, unless the employer determines those articles do not increase the hazard. See Conductive articles in 1926.960(f).

The employer must assess the workplace to identify employees exposed to hazards from flames or electric arcs, estimate the incident heat energy to which those employees would be exposed, and prohibit clothing that could melt onto skin or ignite (like untreated acetate, nylon, polyester, rayon, and polypropylene) unless treated to withstand the conditions or worn to eliminate the hazard. See Protection from flames and electric arcs in 1926.960(g). For guidance on performing PPE hazard assessments, see OSHA's interpretation on PPE hazard assessment responsibilities at https://www.osha.gov/laws-regs/standardinterpretations/2024-03-28.

Yes — the employer may make reasonable, broad estimates that cover multiple system areas provided the estimates use reasonable assumptions about energy‑exposure distribution and represent the maximum employee exposure for those areas; following Appendix E to the subpart is deemed compliance. See Estimate of available heat energy in 1926.960(g)(2).

Clothing made from acetate, nylon, polyester, rayon, and polypropylene (alone or in blends) is prohibited for employees exposed to flames or electric arcs unless the employer demonstrates the fabric has been treated to withstand the conditions or the clothing is worn in a manner that eliminates the hazard. See Prohibited clothing in 1926.960(g)(3).

The exception applies when work is performed with live‑line tools and the employee's position is such that they are neither within reach of nor otherwise exposed to contact with energized parts; in that case the two‑employee presence requirement does not apply. See Live‑line tools exception in 1926.960(b)(3)(ii)(B).

When work involves mechanical equipment (other than insulated aerial lifts) near parts energized above 600 volts, at least two employees shall be present while the work is performed, unless an applicable exception applies. See Mechanical equipment staffing requirement in 1926.960(b)(3)(i)(D).

Rubber insulating gloves together with rubber insulating sleeves constitute insulation from the energized part provided the employee has control of the part in a manner that prevents exposure of any uninsulated portions of the employee's body. See Glove and sleeve insulation condition in 1926.960(c)(1)(iii)(A).

Equipment must be considered energized unless it has been deenergized in accordance with [1926.961], so employers must follow 1926.961 procedures to take equipment out of the "treated as energized" status. See Treat as energized in 1926.960(b)(2).

When connecting deenergized equipment or lines to an energized circuit by means of a conducting wire or device, the employee must first attach the wire to the deenergized part, then to the energized circuit. See Connecting procedure in 1926.960(e)(1).

You must determine the minimum approach distance (MAD) using the formulas and tables in 1926.960(c)(1)(ii) or use the alternative tables in Appendix B if you follow the notes to those tables.

• Use the equations in 1926.960(c)(1)(ii) for the voltage range applicable to your work and factors such as inadvertent movement (M), electrical component (D), altitude correction (A), and any overvoltage/transient factors (T) specified there.
• Employers may instead use the MAD values from Table V-5 through Table V-8 in Appendix B when the employer follows the tables’ notes (1926.960(c)(1)(ii)).

The employer’s obligation to make reasonable incident-energy estimates began on January 1, 2015, under 1926.960(g)(6)(i).

• These reasonable estimates are used to select appropriate arc-rated clothing and PPE under paragraph (g) of the standard.
• See 1926.960(g) for requirements on incident energy estimates and PPE selection.

Under 1926.960(g)(4), the employer must ensure the outer layer of clothing is flame resistant when any of these apply: the worker may contact energized parts above 600 volts; an electric arc could ignite flammable material that could then ignite the worker’s clothing; molten metal or arcs from faulted conductors could ignite clothing (with a noted exception for conductors that can carry the available fault current without failure); or the estimated incident heat energy exceeds 2.0 cal/cm2.

• The requirement to ensure flame-resistant outerwear when incident energy exceeds 2.0 cal/cm2 began on April 1, 2015 (1926.960(g)(6)(ii)).

Arc-rated protection for hands is not required when the employee is wearing rubber insulating gloves with protectors, or when the estimated incident energy is at most 14 cal/cm2 and the employee wears heavy-duty leather work gloves of at least 407 g/m2 (12 oz/yd2), per 1926.960(g)(5)(i).

• If using leather work gloves under the 14 cal/cm2 allowance, ensure the gloves meet the stated weight.
• For higher estimated incident energies, provide arc-rated hand protection as required in 1926.960(g).

Yes—under 1926.960(g)(5)(ii), arc-rated protection is not required for feet if the employee wears heavy-duty work shoes or boots.

• Employers must still evaluate hazards and provide other required arc-rated PPE when incident energy estimates exceed applicable thresholds per 1926.960(g).

Under 1926.960(g)(5)(iii)–(iv), head protection that meets 1926.100(b)(2) can be acceptable without arc-rated clothing for the head when the estimated incident energy is below 9 cal/cm2 for single-phase open-air arcs or below 5 cal/cm2 for other exposures; alternatively, a helmet plus a faceshield with at least an 8 cal/cm2 arc rating can be used where the estimated incident energy is less than 13 cal/cm2 for single-phase open-air arcs or less than 9 cal/cm2 for other exposures.

• Determine the correct threshold by the exposure type (single-phase open air vs. other exposures) and the estimated incident energy from 1926.960(g)(2).

Under 1926.960(g)(5)(v), for single-phase arcs in open air the arc rating for an employee’s head and face protection may be up to 4 cal/cm2 less than the estimated incident energy.

• This is a limited allowance; employers must still ensure overall PPE selection meets the standard and that the reduction applies only to single-phase open-air exposures.

The employer’s obligation to ensure employees exposed to electric arcs wear the required arc-rated protective equipment began on April 1, 2015, as stated in 1926.960(g)(6)(iii).

• After that date, employers needed to provide employees with the arc-rated gear required by paragraph (g) when exposures warrant it.

When installing or removing fuses with one or both terminals energized above 300 volts, you must use tools and gloves rated for the voltage and wear eye protection and be clear of the fuse exhaust path for expulsion-type fuses per 1926.960(h) and the expulsion-fuse requirement in the same section.

• For expulsion-type fuses with energized terminals above 300 volts, the employer must ensure the employee wears eye protection meeting subpart E, uses a voltage-rated tool, and stands clear of the fuse barrel’s exhaust path (1926.960).
• Devices used to open circuits under load must be designed to interrupt the current involved (1926.960(k)(1)).

Yes—1926.960(i) says that the requirements for hazards from exposed live parts also apply when work is performed near covered (noninsulated) conductors.

• Treat covered but noninsulated wires with the same proximity and protection precautions as exposed live parts.

Under 1926.960(j), non-current-carrying metal parts (like transformer cases or circuit-breaker housings) must be treated as energized at the highest voltage they may be exposed to unless the employer inspects and determines they are grounded before work begins.

• Employers can avoid treating them as energized only after inspecting and verifying a grounded condition before employees perform the work.

For phase-to-phase voltages of 50 V to 300 V, the table instructs to 'Avoid contact,' meaning employees must avoid touching energized parts and maintain safe work practices to prevent contact, per the guidance in [1926.960] and its tables (Table V-5) in Appendix B (1926.960(c)(1)(ii)).

• In practice, "avoid contact" requires controls such as insulating barriers, insulating tools, or keeping the worker outside the MAD for that voltage range.

If employees will work above 900 meters (3,000 feet), you must multiply the distances in the tables (such as Table V-5) by the altitude correction factor from Table V-4 that corresponds to the worksite altitude, per [1926.960] and its notes in Appendix B ([1926.960] and Tables V-4/V-5).

• Table V-4 lists the altitude correction factor (A) to use for different altitude bands; apply that factor to the MAD values in the alternative-distance tables.

Under 1926.960(g)(4)(iv), the outer layer must be flame resistant when the estimated incident heat energy exceeds 2.0 cal/cm2.

• Employers were required to comply with that obligation starting April 1, 2015 (1926.960(g)(6)(ii)).

Before selecting arc-rated PPE, the employer must estimate the incident energy and then select PPE with arc ratings adequate to protect employees for the estimated energy exposure under 1926.960(g).

• The incident-energy estimate obligation began on January 1, 2015 (1926.960(g)(6)(i)).
• Employers should use appendix E for further information on selecting appropriate PPE as noted in the standard.
• For selecting PPE generally and performing hazard assessments prior to PPE selection, refer to OSHA’s PPE hazard assessment interpretation (https://www.osha.gov/laws-regs/standardinterpretations/2024-03-28).

Under 1926.960(k)(1), any device used by employees to open circuits under load must be designed to interrupt the current involved.

• That means use tools/devices rated and intended to safely break the expected current without causing uncontrolled arcing or hazard.

If an employer uses the alternative MAD tables in Appendix B (Tables V-5 through V-8), the employer must follow the notes to those tables and ensure any site-specific corrections (like altitude or overvoltage factors) are applied as required; the standard does not prescribe a specific form of documentation, but employers should keep records showing they followed the table notes and applied required corrections.

• The employer may also use the equations in 1926.960(c)(1)(ii) instead of the tables.
• Maintain whatever documentation is necessary to demonstrate compliance during inspections (calculations, table selections, altitude corrections, and rationale).

The note to 1926.960(g)(4)(iii) clarifies that the molten metal or arcs provision does not apply to conductors that can carry the maximum available fault current without failing for the time it takes circuit protective devices to interrupt the fault.

• In other words, if a conductor will not fault (melt/open) during an expected fault current until the protective device clears the fault, you do not use that paragraph’s ignition criterion for clothing selection.

Employers must assess hazards and make reasonable incident-energy estimates to select appropriate arc-rated clothing and equipment, and they should document the assessment as part of PPE selection; OSHA’s PPE hazard assessment guidance stresses that employers must assess the workplace to determine needed PPE before selection (OSHA LOI on PPE hazard assessment).

• For arc-flash, use 1926.960(g) to estimate incident energy and choose PPE with adequate arc ratings.
• Keep records, such as estimates and rationale, to demonstrate compliance and informed PPE selection.

For expulsion-type fuses with one or both terminals energized above 300 volts, the employer must ensure the employee wears eye protection meeting subpart E, uses a tool rated for the voltage, and stands clear of the fuse barrel’s exhaust path, per the expulsion-fuse provision in 1926.960.

• This protects against flying debris and hot gases that some expulsion fuses eject when they operate.

Employers may use the alternative minimum approach distances in Tables V-6 and V-7 (and other Appendix B tables) provided the worksite meets the conditions listed in the notes for those tables—most commonly that the worksite elevation is 900 meters (3,000 feet) or less unless you apply altitude correction—and, for some tables, that no insulated tool spans the gap and no large conductive object is in the gap, as explained in Appendix B and 1926.960(c)(1)(ii).

• Read and follow the specific notes to each table before using the tabulated distances.

When an employee must install or remove fuses with exposed parts energized above 50 volts, the employer must ensure the employee uses tools or gloves rated for the voltage, per 1926.960(h).

• For fuses with terminals energized above 300 volts, additional measures apply (eye protection and avoiding the exhaust path for expulsion-type fuses).

The standard requires the outer layer of clothing to be flame resistant under the conditions in 1926.960(g)(4), except for clothing categories listed as not required to be arc-rated in 1926.960(g)(5)(i)–(v).

• Paragraph (g)(5) lists limited exceptions for hands, feet, head and face gear under specific estimated-energy thresholds.
• Employers should follow the selection guidance in appendix E and perform hazard assessments before relying on exceptions.

When calculating MAD for higher voltages under 1926.960(c)(1)(ii), the overvoltage (T) factor accounts for the maximum anticipated transient overvoltage and the altitude (A) factor corrects distances for reduced air density at higher elevations; both adjust the calculated MAD to reflect increased flashover risk.

• Use the assumed maximum per-unit transient overvoltage values from Table V-8 where applicable, and the altitude correction factors in Table V-4.