1910.334 Electrical Equipment Use: citations, penalties and recently cited employers
Data as of October 5, 2026 · citations issued Oct 5, 2025 to Oct 5, 2026
Governs safe use of portable electrical equipment, electrical test instruments, and protective devices. Portable cord-and-plug connected equipment and extension cords must be handled without damage and visually inspected before use on any shift, with defective items removed from service. Grounding-type plugs must not be altered to defeat the grounding pin, and circuits may not be manually reenergized after a protective device trips until it is determined safe. Test instruments must be suitable and inspected.
What the standard requires
- Visually inspect portable cord-and-plug equipment before use each shift
- Remove damaged or defective cords and equipment from service
- Do not alter plugs or bypass grounding connections
- Do not reset tripped circuits until it is safe to do so
- Use test instruments rated and suitable for the circuit
Hazards it addresses
- Electric shock from damaged cords
- Fires from overloaded or defective equipment
Cited in manufacturing, warehousing, and maintenance work using portable electrical equipment.
Plain-language summary written for this site; it is not the regulatory text and not legal advice. Read the official text at eCFR.
Citations by month
Inspections with citations issued, by month of issuance. Hatched months are incomplete: citations reach the public data about a month after issuance.
Most-cited paragraphs
| Paragraph | What it covers | Items | Inspections | Median initial penalty |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1910.334(a)(2)(ii) | Visual inspection of portable cord-and-plug equipment and removal of defective items | 140 | 140 | $0 |
| 1910.334(a)(2)(i) | Visual inspection of portable cord-and-plug equipment and removal of defective items | 80 | 80 | $0 |
| 1910.334(a)(3)(i) | 12 | 12 | $0 | |
| 1910.334(a)(3)(ii) | 8 | 8 | $0 | |
| 1910.334(a)(1) | 5 | 5 | $788 | |
| 1910.334(a)(4) | 4 | 4 | $1,182 | |
| 1910.334(b)(1) | 3 | 3 | $0 | |
| 1910.334(b)(2) | Reclosing circuits after protective device operation | 3 | 3 | $2,100 |
| 1910.334(c)(3) | Test instruments and equipment | 2 | 2 | $16,550 |
| 1910.334(a)(2) | Visual inspection of portable cord-and-plug equipment and removal of defective items | 1 | 1 | $0 |
| 1910.334(a)(2)(iii) | Visual inspection of portable cord-and-plug equipment and removal of defective items | 1 | 1 | $0 |
| 1910.334(a)(5)(ii) | 1 | 1 | $0 | |
| 1910.334(c)(1) | Test instruments and equipment | 1 | 1 | $0 |
Penalties
Across 261 alleged items, OSHA and state-plan offices proposed $394,829 in initial penalties. The current total in the public data is $268,223, 32% lower after settlements, contests and amendments.
By violation type: Other-than-serious 54%; Serious 45%; Repeat 2%.
Citations by state
| State | Inspections cited | Items | Initial penalties | Current penalties |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Virginia | 27 | 31 | $29,715 | $13,039 |
| North Carolina | 19 | 23 | $18,050 | $17,597 |
| Minnesota | 17 | 17 | $10,050 | $6,020 |
| Tennessee | 16 | 17 | $1,225 | $1,225 |
| Maryland | 13 | 14 | $437 | $0 |
| New York | 13 | 14 | $2,870 | $2,870 |
| Texas | 13 | 14 | $92,760 | $51,796 |
| Connecticut | 12 | 13 | $7,997 | $4,602 |
| Michigan | 12 | 12 | $6,100 | $5,100 |
| New Jersey | 8 | 8 | $37,559 | $34,711 |
| Hawaii | 7 | 7 | $0 | $0 |
| Massachusetts | 7 | 7 | $0 | $0 |
| Florida | 6 | 9 | $14,034 | $10,630 |
| Iowa | 6 | 7 | $37,086 | $19,402 |
| Nevada | 6 | 6 | $904 | $452 |
| Colorado | 5 | 6 | $14,157 | $14,157 |
| Oregon | 5 | 5 | $1,177 | $1,177 |
| South Carolina | 5 | 5 | $4,150 | $3,277 |
| Maine | 4 | 4 | $0 | $0 |
| Nebraska | 4 | 4 | $1,355 | $11,813 |
By industry
- Manufacturing: 94 inspections
- Educational services: 18 inspections
- Wholesale trade: 18 inspections
- Retail trade: 17 inspections
- Other services: 15 inspections
- Public administration: 13 inspections
- Construction: 13 inspections
- Transportation & warehousing: 13 inspections
Recently cited establishments
About these records. Citations list alleged violations and proposed penalties. Employers can contest them, and many are reduced or withdrawn in settlement. Each row shows the original and the current penalty and a status label derived from the public data as of October 5, 2026. Check the linked osha.gov page for the official record.
| Establishment | Location | Issued | Alleged items | Initial penalty | Current penalty | Status and deadlines | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brenntag Great Lakes, LLC | Des Moines, IA | Aug 28, 2026 | 1 | $14,068 | $7,034 | Informal settlementAbatement due Sep 24, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Advanced Technology Institute L.C | Virginia Beach, VA | Aug 27, 2026 | 1 | $0 | $0 | OpenAbatement due Sep 23, 2026Contest deadline ~Sep 18, 2026 (est.) | osha.gov |
| Nestle Purina Petcare Company | Denver, CO | Aug 26, 2026 | 1 | $5,125 | $5,125 | OpenContest deadline ~Sep 17, 2026 (est.) | osha.gov |
| Growers' Co.-Operative Grape Juice Co., Inc. | Westfield, NY | Aug 26, 2026 | 1 | $2,870 | $2,870 | OpenContest deadline ~Sep 17, 2026 (est.) | osha.gov |
| Association of Apartment Owners of TK Resort Condominium | Lihue, HI | Aug 25, 2026 | 1 | $0 | $0 | Informal settlementAbatement due Sep 4, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Borroughs LLC | Kalamazoo, MI | Aug 21, 2026 | 1 | $0 | $0 | Informal settlementAbatement due Sep 24, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Perdue Foods LLC | Cofield, NC | Aug 19, 2026 | 1 | $16,550 | $16,550 | Final orderAbatement due Aug 27, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Latino's Meat Distributors | Houston, TX | Aug 14, 2026 | 1 | $1,702 | $0 | Informal settlementAbatement due Aug 20, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Tigre USA Inc. | Celina, TN | Aug 13, 2026 | 1 | $250 | $250 | Final orderAbatement due Aug 28, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Go Plastics LLC | Ball Ground, GA | Aug 11, 2026 | 1 | $0 | $0 | Informal settlement | osha.gov |
| Motivational Systems, Inc. | Las Vegas, NV | Aug 11, 2026 | 1 | $452 | $226 | Informal settlement | osha.gov |
| Golden Gate Petroleum of Colorado, LLC | Fruita, CO | Aug 7, 2026 | 2 | $6,620 | $6,620 | ContestedAbatement due Sep 14, 2026Contested Aug 28, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Excel Machine & Fabrication, Inc. | Baltimore, MD | Aug 5, 2026 | 1 | $0 | $0 | OpenAbatement due Aug 13, 2026Contest deadline ~Aug 26, 2026 (est.) | osha.gov |
| Filter-Fab Corporation | Cookeville, TN | Aug 5, 2026 | 1 | $200 | $200 | Final orderAbatement due Aug 20, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art | Hartford, CT | Aug 3, 2026 | 1 | $0 | $0 | Informal settlementAbatement due Sep 18, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Acorn Industries Inc. | Livonia, MI | Aug 3, 2026 | 1 | $0 | $0 | Informal settlementAbatement due Sep 3, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Dot-Harbors, Oahu Custodial Grounds | Honolulu, HI | Aug 3, 2026 | 1 | $0 | $0 | OpenAbatement due Sep 21, 2026Contest deadline ~Aug 24, 2026 (est.) | osha.gov |
| Tindall Corporation | San Antonio, TX | Jul 31, 2026 | 1 | $14,187 | $14,187 | ContestedAbatement due Aug 20, 2026Contested Aug 11, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Allendan Seed Company | Truro, IA | Jul 31, 2026 | 1 | $4,965 | $2,482 | Informal settlementAbatement due Sep 17, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Dot-Harbors, Facility Maintenance | Honolulu, HI | Jul 30, 2026 | 1 | $0 | $0 | Informal settlementAbatement due Sep 3, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Lasership, Inc. | Orlando, FL | Jul 30, 2026 | 1 | $0 | $0 | Informal settlementAbatement due Aug 25, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Peppermill Casinos, Inc. | Sparks, NV | Jul 29, 2026 | 1 | $0 | $0 | Final order | osha.gov |
| Coastal Granite Countertops, Inc. | Venice, FL | Aug 25, 2026 | 2 | $6,809 | $3,404 | Informal settlementAbatement due Sep 15, 2026 | osha.gov |
| East Point Metal Recycling | Snellville, GA | Jul 28, 2026 | 1 | $0 | $0 | Final order | osha.gov |
| Lasership, Inc. | East Hartford, CT | Jul 24, 2026 | 1 | $0 | $0 | Informal settlementAbatement due Sep 10, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Champion Homes Builders Inc. | Athens, TX | Jul 22, 2026 | 1 | $14,895 | $7,447 | Informal settlementAbatement due Aug 17, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Johnsonville, LLC | Sheboygan Falls, WI | Jul 21, 2026 | 1 | $0 | $0 | Informal settlementAbatement due Aug 18, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Hisco, Inc. | Bloomfield, CT | Jul 21, 2026 | 1 | $4,502 | $2,251 | Informal settlement | osha.gov |
| Gerber Collision & Glass | Las Vegas, NV | Jul 21, 2026 | 1 | $0 | $0 | Informal settlement | osha.gov |
| Western Valley Cutstock Inc. | White City, OR | Jul 17, 2026 | 1 | $0 | $0 | Final orderAbatement due Jul 25, 2026 | osha.gov |
| North East Machine & Tool | Janesville, IA | Jul 17, 2026 | 1 | $7,094 | $3,547 | Informal settlement | osha.gov |
| Anderson International Foods Inc. | Jersey City, NJ | Jul 17, 2026 | 1 | $5,296 | $5,296 | Final order | osha.gov |
| Capital Sanitary Supply Co., Inc. | Omaha, NE | Jul 16, 2026 | 1 | $0 | $0 | Informal settlementAbatement due Aug 11, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Torres Automotive Group LLC | Orem, UT | Jul 16, 2026 | 1 | $788 | $394 | Informal settlementAbatement due Aug 5, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Mayville Village DPW | Mayville, NY | Jul 16, 2026 | 1 | $0 | $0 | Final orderAbatement due Aug 4, 2026 | osha.gov |
| The Auto Store LLC | Camden, NJ | Jul 10, 2026 | 1 | $7,660 | $7,660 | Informal settlement | osha.gov |
| Finn-Kool, Inc. | Beloit, KS | Jul 9, 2026 | 2 | $4,220 | $2,532 | Informal settlement | osha.gov |
| American Truck & Bus, Inc. | Annapolis, MD | Jul 8, 2026 | 1 | $0 | $0 | Informal settlementAbatement due Jul 16, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Rotella's Italian Bakery, Inc. | Lavista, NE | Jul 8, 2026 | 1 | $1,355 | $813 | Informal settlementAbatement due Aug 3, 2026 | osha.gov |
| U.S. Dept of Veterans Affairs | Florence, SC | Jul 8, 2026 | 1 | $0 | $0 | Final orderAbatement due Aug 24, 2026 | osha.gov |
Often cited together
- 1910.305 Wiring Methods (113 shared inspections)
- 1910.303 Electrical General (100 shared inspections)
- 1910.1200 Hazard Communication (71 shared inspections)
- 1910.178 Forklifts (53 shared inspections)
- 1910.212 Machine Guarding (47 shared inspections)
- 1910.157 Fire Extinguishers (46 shared inspections)
- 1910.147 Lockout/Tagout (40 shared inspections)
- 1910.37 Exit Route Maintenance (39 shared inspections)
Questions
What does OSHA standard 1910.334 require?
Governs safe use of portable electrical equipment, electrical test instruments, and protective devices. Portable cord-and-plug connected equipment and extension cords must be handled without damage and visually inspected before use on any shift, with defective items removed from service. Grounding-type plugs must not be altered to defeat the grounding pin, and circuits may not be manually reenergized after a protective device trips until it is determined safe. Test instruments must be suitable and inspected.
How often was 1910.334 cited in the last 12 months?
In the public data as of October 5, 2026, 1910.334 (Electrical Equipment Use) appeared in 241 inspections with citations issued between Oct 5, 2025 and Oct 5, 2026, covering 261 alleged violation items.
Which part of 1910.334 is cited most?
1910.334(a)(2)(ii) was the most-cited paragraph, with 140 items: Visual inspection of portable cord-and-plug equipment and removal of defective items
Which states cite 1910.334 most often?
The most citations under 1910.334 in this period were issued in Virginia, North Carolina, Minnesota.
What is the typical penalty for a 1910.334 violation?
The median initial (proposed) penalty per item was $0; the median current penalty after settlements and amendments was $0. Totals: $394,829 proposed, $268,223 current. Penalties vary by violation type, employer size and history, and State Plans set their own amounts.
Are 1910.334 citations final?
Not necessarily. A citation is an allegation until it becomes a final order. 14% of these items were contested, and many others were changed in settlements. Each listing shows its current status and a link to the official record.