Construction (29 CFR 1926)

General Requirements for Power Transmission (Construction)

Verified vs OSHA sources · 2026-10-05

29 CFR 1926.950

29 CFR 1926.950 sets the general requirements for the construction of electric power transmission and distribution lines and equipment: the opening section of Subpart V, the construction counterpart to the general-industry 1910.269. It establishes the safety framework for building power lines: qualified workers, host and contract employer coordination, job briefings, and the de-energizing, grounding, and minimum-approach-distance protections applied throughout Subpart V.

29 CFR 1926.950 at a glance

What it covers: Construction of electric power transmission and distribution lines and equipment
The framework: Subpart V: the construction counterpart to 1910.269
Who: Qualified electrical workers
Key protections: De-energizing, grounding, and minimum approach distances
Coordination: Host and contract employer information-sharing and job briefings
Max penalty (2026): $16,550 per serious violation; $165,514 per willful

What 29 CFR 1926.950 requires (plain English)

29 CFR 1926.950 opens Subpart V, Electric Power Transmission and Distribution, which covers the CONSTRUCTION of electric power transmission and distribution lines and equipment. This includes erecting new lines and equipment and the alteration, conversion, and improvement of existing installations. It is the construction parallel to the general-industry standard 1910.269 (which covers operation and maintenance of the same systems).

1926.950 sets the general requirements that run through Subpart V: only qualified employees perform the work on or near energized lines and equipment; host employers and contract employers must exchange information about hazards and coordinate their work; job briefings must be held before work so the crew understands the hazards, procedures, and precautions; and the fundamental electrical protections apply, de-energizing and grounding lines and equipment where required, maintaining minimum approach distances to energized parts scaled to the voltage, and protecting against electric arcs. The section also addresses the existing conditions that must be determined before work begins.

A major 2014 rulemaking aligned Subpart V (construction) with 1910.269 (general industry), so the two now share the same approach distances, arc-flash requirements, and host/contractor rules. 1926.950 is the doorway to that framework: it ensures that building a power line is governed by the same qualified-worker, de-energize-and-ground, and approach-distance protections that govern maintaining one.

What the source requires, in summary

This subpart, except for paragraph (a)(3) of this section, covers the construction of electric power transmission and distribution lines and equipment.

29 CFR 1926.950(a)(1)(i)Summarized, not quoted: read the source for its operative wording.

Key facts about 29 CFR 1926.950

1926.950 covers the construction of electric power transmission and distribution lines and equipment (1926.950(a)(1)(i)).
It is Subpart V: the construction counterpart to 1910.269.
Only qualified employees work on or near energized lines and equipment.
Host and contract employers must share information and coordinate.
Job briefings are required before the work.
De-energizing, grounding, and minimum approach distances apply.
A 2014 rulemaking aligned Subpart V with 1910.269.

Scope: who 29 CFR 1926.950 applies to

Regulatory framework: Construction (29 CFR 1926)
Citation reference: 29 CFR 1926.950
Enforcement status: In force and enforced
Jurisdiction: Federal OSHA (29 State-Plan jurisdictions may be stricter)

State-Plan states (e.g. California, Washington, Michigan) operate OSHA-approved programs that must be at least as effective as federal OSHA and frequently impose higher penalties or additional requirements. Confirm the rule as adopted in your state.

Key requirements of 29 CFR 1926.950

#	Employer obligation
1	Conduct job briefings before each job
2	Maintain minimum approach distances
3	De-energize lines when possible
4	Use proper grounding procedures
5	Provide qualified line clearance workers

Summarized from the text of 29 CFR 1926.950. Always read the full regulation for the binding language.

Common Power Transmission (Construction) violations

Deficiencies OSHA cites under 29 CFR 1926.950 include the ones below, in no particular order. Distinct deficiencies can be cited as separate items, and each serious item carries up to $16,550 (2026). Broader per-instance stacking exists but is a discretionary, case-by-case OSHA enforcement policy, not an automatic multiplier.

Unqualified employees working on or near energized power lines (1926.950(a)/1926.968).
Lines or equipment not de-energized and grounded where required (1926.954/1926.962).
Workers within the minimum approach distance of energized parts (1926.960).
No job briefing before the work (1926.952).
Host and contract employers not sharing information or coordinating (1926.950(c)).

Building power lines is Subpart V, not the general construction electrical rules

A source of confusion is which electrical standard governs power-line construction. The general construction electrical rules (Subpart K, e.g., 1926.416) cover ordinary electrical work on a construction site. Building and modifying electric power TRANSMISSION and DISTRIBUTION lines and equipment is governed by SUBPART V (starting at 1926.950): a specialized framework for the high voltages of utility line work, with its own minimum approach distances, grounding rules, arc-flash requirements, and host/contractor coordination. It parallels 1910.269, which covers operation and maintenance of the same systems. Applying only the general construction electrical rules to power-line construction misses the specialized approach-distance, grounding, and qualified-worker protections that the voltages demand.

What OSHA inspectors look for

A compliance officer checks that power-line construction workers are qualified, that job briefings are held, that lines and equipment are de-energized and grounded where required, that minimum approach distances are maintained, and that host and contract employers coordinate. Working energized lines without qualified workers, clearances, or grounding is the classic finding.

Example: how a violation is cited

A line-construction crew erects conductors near an energized distribution line without maintaining the minimum approach distance, and a worker contacts the energized line and is electrocuted. OSHA cites 1926.950 (with the Subpart V clearance and grounding requirements) for the approach-distance and qualification failures, with penalties from $16,550.

Illustrative example, not a specific OSHA case.

Power Transmission (Construction) compliance checklist

Use this to evaluate your compliance with 29 CFR 1926.950. Each item is a key requirement OSHA may verify during an inspection.

Ensure only qualified employees work on or near energized lines and equipment.
Hold a job briefing before the work covering hazards and procedures.
De-energize and ground lines and equipment where required.
Maintain minimum approach distances to energized parts by voltage.
Provide arc-flash protection based on the incident energy.
Coordinate information and duties between host and contract employers.

2026 penalties for 29 CFR 1926.950

Maximums set by 29 CFR 1903.15(d). 2026 amounts unchanged from 2025 (no CPI adjustment; OMB M-26-11). Not an increase. The 2025 OSHA penalty levels remain in effect for 2026; OSHA made no inflation adjustment for 2026. 29 CFR 1903.15 identifies January 15, 2025 as the effective reference for these amounts, while OSHA's public penalties page currently references penalties assessed after Jan. 15, 2026.

Violation type	Minimum	Maximum	When it applies
Serious	$1,085	$16,550	Substantial probability of death or serious physical harm.
Other-Than-Serious	$0	$16,550	Relates to safety/health but unlikely to cause death or serious harm.
Willful	$11,823	$165,514	Intentional, knowing, or voluntary disregard of the requirement.
Repeated	$4,256	$165,514	A substantially similar violation cited within the last 5 years.
Failure to Abate	None	$16,550/day	up to $16,550 per day; total capped at 30x the daily amount (FOM Ch.6)

Power-line construction (Subpart V) violations follow electrocution and arc-flash incidents. Serious violations reach $16,550 and willful or repeat violations $165,514.

Maximums and the willful minimum are set by 29 CFR 1903.15(d); the serious and repeated minimums are OSHA policy floors from its annual penalty adjustment memo. OSHA applies gravity-based and size, good-faith and history reductions (FOM CPL 02-00-164 Ch.6). Estimates only, not legal advice.

The business case for Power Transmission (Construction) compliance

Building power lines means working around some of the highest voltages in construction, where a clearance error, an ungrounded line, or an unqualified worker can be instantly fatal by electrocution or arc flash. 1926.950 is the construction framework for that work (qualified workers, job briefings, de-energizing and grounding, and minimum approach distances) mirroring the general-industry 1910.269 so that the same rigorous protections apply whether a power line is being built or maintained.

Free compliance tools for 29 CFR 1926.950

LOTO Procedure Generator PPE Selector Job Hazard Analysis Builder

Power Transmission (Construction) penalties by state

Penalties and enforcement vary by state. State-Plan states may impose higher penalties and additional requirements beyond federal 29 CFR 1926.950.

Alabama Arkansas Colorado Connecticut Delaware District of Columbia

View all 50 states + DC →

Frequently asked questions about 29 CFR 1926.950

What does OSHA 1926.950 cover?

1926.950 is the general-requirements section of Subpart V, which covers the construction of electric power transmission and distribution lines and equipment: erecting new lines and equipment and altering, converting, or improving existing ones. It sets the framework of qualified workers, job briefings, de-energizing and grounding, minimum approach distances, and host/contractor coordination for power-line construction.

What is the difference between Subpart V and 1910.269?

1926 Subpart V (starting at 1926.950) covers the CONSTRUCTION of electric power transmission and distribution systems, while 1910.269 covers the OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE of the same systems in general industry. A 2014 rulemaking aligned the two, so they share common minimum approach distances, arc-flash requirements, and host/contractor rules: the same protections apply whether a line is being built or maintained.

Is power-line construction covered by the general construction electrical rules?

No: it has its own standard. Building electric power transmission and distribution lines and equipment is governed by Subpart V (1926.950 and following), not the general construction electrical rules in Subpart K (like 1926.416). Subpart V has specialized minimum approach distances, grounding, arc-flash, and qualified-worker requirements for the high voltages of utility line work.

Who can build power lines under 1926.950?

Only qualified employees may work on or near the energized lines and equipment. Under Subpart V, a qualified employee is trained and knowledgeable in the construction and operation of the equipment and the associated hazards, and demonstrates the required skills. Host and contract employers must also coordinate and share hazard information, and a job briefing must be held before the work.

Regulatory history of 29 CFR 1926.950

Subpart V's construction requirements, including 1926.950, were substantially revised in 2014 (79 FR 20316) to align the construction standard with the general-industry 1910.269: adopting common minimum approach distances, arc-flash (incident-energy) requirements, and host/contractor coordination rules for power transmission and distribution work.

Related glossary terms

Key terms that appear in 29 CFR 1926.950, each with a full plain-English explainer.

Hazardous Energy Electrocution Qualified Person Competent Person

Related guides & articles

Electrical Safety in Construction: OSHA & NFPA 70E OSHA Safety Training Requirements 2026

Related OSHA standards

29 CFR 1910.137

Electrical PPE

29 CFR 1910.268

Telecommunications

29 CFR 1910.269

Electric Power Operations

29 CFR 1910.303

Electrical General

Primary sources

OSHA figures on this page are imported from HazComFast's verified regulatory module (verified 2026-10-05 against eCFR, OSHA.gov, and the Federal Register).

This page is an educational summary, not legal advice. OSHA standards and penalty amounts change; confirm requirements against the current regulation and your applicable State-Plan before acting.

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OSHA does not give advance notice of inspections (29 CFR 1903.6). Get the binder in order before the opening conference, not during it.

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