General industry and construction, side by side
The same question has two answers because OSHA writes two sets of rules. A shop, plant, warehouse or office follows 29 CFR part 1910. A construction jobsite follows 29 CFR part 1926.
| Topic | General industry (29 CFR 1910) | Construction (29 CFR 1926) |
|---|---|---|
| Finding who is exposed | In electric power work the employer shall assess the workplace to identify employees exposed to hazards from flames or from electric arcs. For other PPE hazards the employer shall assess the workplace and verify the assessment with a written certification.29 CFR 1910.269(l)(8)(i), 29 CFR 1910.132(d) | In power transmission and distribution construction the employer shall assess the workplace to identify employees exposed to hazards from flames or from electric arcs.29 CFR 1926.960(g)(1) |
| Estimating the heat energy | For each employee exposed to electric arcs, the employer shall make a reasonable estimate of the incident heat energy. Appendix E to the section gives guidance, and OSHA deems an employer that follows it to comply.29 CFR 1910.269(l)(8)(ii) | For each employee exposed to electric arcs, the employer shall make a reasonable estimate of the incident heat energy. Appendix E to the subpart gives guidance, and OSHA deems an employer that follows it to comply.29 CFR 1926.960(g)(2) |
| Clothing | Clothing that could melt onto the skin or ignite and keep burning is not worn, which excludes acetate, nylon, polyester, rayon and polypropylene unless treated or worn as the paragraph allows. Where the estimate exceeds 2.0 cal/cm2, employees wear protective clothing and equipment with an arc rating at least equal to the estimate.29 CFR 1910.269(l)(8)(iii), 29 CFR 1910.269(l)(8)(v) | The same two rules apply in power transmission and distribution construction: no clothing that could melt or ignite, and arc-rated protection at least equal to the estimate whenever it exceeds 2.0 cal/cm2.29 CFR 1926.960(g)(3), 29 CFR 1926.960(g)(5) |
| Premises wiring and other electrical work | Employees shall wear protective equipment for the eyes or face wherever there is danger of injury from electric arcs or flashes, and nonconductive head protection where there is danger from electric shock or burns. Live parts shall be deenergized before work on or near them, unless the employer can demonstrate that deenergizing introduces additional hazards or is infeasible.29 CFR 1910.335(a)(1), 29 CFR 1910.333(a)(1) | Outside power transmission and distribution work, the construction electrical paragraphs name no incident energy estimate or arc rating. The employer is responsible for requiring appropriate PPE wherever employees are exposed to hazardous conditions.29 CFR 1926.28(a) |
| Labels, boundaries and incident energy tables | No paragraph of the general industry work practices (1910.331 to 1910.335) or of 1910.303 asks for an arc flash warning label. Approach boundaries and arc flash labels are provisions of NFPA 70E and the National Electrical Code, which are consensus standards.29 CFR 1910.335(a)(1) | |
What is OSHA's rule and what is not
| Level | What it says |
|---|---|
| OSHA requirement | The incident energy estimate and the arc rating paragraphs apply to the work covered by 1910.269 and by subpart V of part 1926, which is electric power generation, transmission and distribution work. A search of parts 1910 and 1926 finds the phrase incident energy only there.29 CFR 1910.269(l)(8) and 29 CFR 1926.960(g) |
| Consensus standard | NFPA 70E, the Standard for Electrical Safety in the Workplace, covers arc flash risk assessment, labels and boundaries. It is a consensus standard and not an OSHA requirement: it is not among the standards incorporated by reference in 1910.6 or 1926.6. |
| Recommended practice | Many employers follow NFPA 70E for premises wiring and label their equipment, as an employer policy. That practice is recommended, not required, by the OSHA paragraphs on this page.29 CFR 1910.335(a)(1) |
Does your state do it differently?
Some states run their own State Plan and write their own text, so the federal paragraphs above describe federal OSHA states. Look up your state on the State Plans page and read its rule before you rely on the federal wording.
What OSHA cited most under these standards in FY2025
| Paragraph | What it covers | FY2025 citations |
|---|---|---|
| 1910.335(a)(1)(i) | Electrical protective equipment suited to the body part and the work | 73 |
| 1910.335(a)(2)(i) | 14 | |
| 1910.335(a)(2)(ii) | 8 | |
| 1910.335(b)(1) | 5 | |
| 1910.335(b) | 3 | |
| 1910.335(b)(2) | 3 |
1910.335: 116 citations in FY2025 at 94 inspections, 11 of them at construction sites (NAICS 23). Citation items issued Oct 1, 2024 to Sep 30, 2025, counted by HazComFast on U.S. Department of Labor enforcement data (extracted Oct 13, 2026). Inspected establishments, not the whole industry.
Mistakes that turn up in inspections
- Calling NFPA 70E the OSHA rule. It is a consensus standard. The OSHA paragraphs that set an incident energy estimate and an arc rating are for electric power work.29 CFR 1910.269(l)(8) and 29 CFR 1926.960(g)
- Allowing polyester or nylon clothing where an arc is possible. In electric power work the paragraph prohibits clothing that could melt onto the skin or ignite and keep burning, including those fibers, unless treated or worn as the paragraph allows.29 CFR 1910.269(l)(8)(iii)
- Working on live parts because the job is routine. Live parts shall be deenergized unless the employer can demonstrate that deenergizing introduces additional hazards or is infeasible.29 CFR 1910.333(a)(1)
- Skipping the face protection for a breaker reset. Employees shall wear eye or face protection wherever there is danger of injury from electric arcs or flashes.29 CFR 1910.335(a)(1)
Free tool
Deenergizing is the first control. Build the written lockout procedure for the equipment, then print it.