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) |
|---|---|---|
| Depth of the working space | The depth of the working space in the direction of access to live parts may not be less than Table S-1. For 0 to 150 volts to ground it is 3.0 feet under every condition. For 151 to 600 volts it is 3.0 feet, 3.5 feet or 4.0 feet for Conditions A, B and C.29 CFR 1910.303(g)(1)(i), Table S-1 | The dimension of the working space shall not be less than Table K-1: 3 feet for 0 to 150 volts under every condition, and for 151 to 600 volts 3 feet, 3 1/2 feet or 4 feet for conditions (a), (b) and (c).29 CFR 1926.403(i)(1)(i), Table K-1 |
| Width and door swing | The working space is the width of the equipment or 30 inches, whichever is greater, and permits at least a 90-degree opening of equipment doors or hinged panels.29 CFR 1910.303(g)(1)(i) | In addition to the Table K-1 depth, the workspace shall not be less than 30 inches wide in front of the electric equipment.29 CFR 1926.403(i)(1)(i) |
| Headroom | The minimum headroom is 6.5 feet for installations built on or after August 13, 2007, and 6.25 feet for installations built before that date. Where the equipment is taller than 6.5 feet, the headroom is not less than the height of the equipment.29 CFR 1910.303(g)(1)(vi) | The minimum headroom of working spaces about service equipment, switchboards, panelboards or motor control centers shall be 6 feet 3 inches.29 CFR 1926.403(i)(1)(v) |
| Storage in the space | The working space may not be used for storage. When normally enclosed live parts are exposed for inspection or servicing, the space in a passageway or general open space is suitably guarded.29 CFR 1910.303(g)(1)(ii) | Working space required by the subpart shall not be used for storage. When normally enclosed live parts are exposed for inspection or servicing, the space in a passageway or general open space shall be guarded.29 CFR 1926.403(i)(1)(ii) |
| Getting in and out | At least one entrance of sufficient area gives access to the working space. For equipment rated 1200 amperes or more and over 6.0 feet wide, with overcurrent, switching or control devices, one entrance not less than 24 inches wide and 6.5 feet high is needed at each end, with two exceptions.29 CFR 1910.303(g)(1)(iii), 29 CFR 1910.303(g)(1)(iv) | At least one entrance shall be provided to give access to the working space about electric equipment.29 CFR 1926.403(i)(1)(iii) |
| Lighting and the space above | Illumination is provided for working spaces about indoor service equipment, switchboards, panelboards and motor control centers. Panelboards are installed in a dedicated space from the floor to 6.0 feet above the equipment or to the structural ceiling, kept free of piping, ducts and foreign equipment.29 CFR 1910.303(g)(1)(v), 29 CFR 1910.303(g)(1)(vii) | Subpart K carries no dedicated-space paragraph for panelboards and no illumination paragraph for the working space in 1926.403(i)(1). Jobsite lighting follows Table D-3 of 1926.56.29 CFR 1926.403(i)(1) |
What is OSHA's rule and what is not
| Level | What it says |
|---|---|
| OSHA requirement | The figures above are the minimums in the two paragraphs. Installations built before April 16, 1981 may use a clear distance of 2.5 feet in general industry, under note 1 to Table S-1.29 CFR 1910.303(g)(1)(i), Table S-1 |
| Consensus standard | The National Electrical Code (NFPA 70) has its own working space article, and NFPA 70E covers work on energized parts. They are consensus standards and not OSHA requirements, unless a paragraph incorporates them by reference. Local electrical codes adopted by your jurisdiction apply in addition. |
| Recommended practice | Floor marking around the clear space, and a sign that says to keep it clear, make the rule visible. They are recommended, not required, by the paragraphs above.29 CFR 1910.303(g)(1)(ii) and 29 CFR 1926.403(i)(1)(ii) |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| 1910.303(b)(2) | Equipment installed and used following its listing or labeling | 778 |
| 1910.303(g)(1) | Sufficient access and working space about electric equipment | 408 |
| 1910.303(g)(1)(ii) | Working space not used for storage | 290 |
| 1910.303(f)(2) | 220 | |
| 1910.303(g)(2)(i) | 174 | |
| 1910.303(b)(7)(iv) | 129 | |
| 1926.403(b)(2) | 113 | |
| 1926.403(b)(1) | 83 | |
| 1926.403(i)(2)(i) | 21 | |
| 1926.403(h) | 13 | |
| 1926.403(d)(1) | 12 | |
| 1926.403(b)(1)(iii) | 10 |
1910.303: 2,745 citations in FY2025 at 2,130 inspections, 170 of them at construction sites (NAICS 23). 1926.403: 276 citations in FY2025 at 252 inspections, 262 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
- Storing boxes, a hand truck or a ladder against the panel because the aisle is free. The working space may not be used for storage in either part, and 30 inches wide and the depth in the table are measured from the panel.29 CFR 1910.303(g)(1)(ii) and 29 CFR 1926.403(i)(1)(ii)
- Measuring the depth from the wall instead of from the live parts or the enclosure front. The distance is measured from the live parts if they are exposed, or from the enclosure front or opening if they are enclosed.29 CFR 1910.303(g)(1)(i) and 29 CFR 1926.403(i)(1)(i)
- Quoting the general industry 6.5 feet of headroom on a jobsite, or the construction 6 feet 3 inches in a plant. The two paragraphs set different figures.29 CFR 1910.303(g)(1)(vi) and 29 CFR 1926.403(i)(1)(v)
Free tool
Servicing a panel starts with energy control. Build the written lockout procedure for the equipment, then print it.