1926.404 GFCI and Grounding: citations, penalties and recently cited employers
Data as of October 5, 2026 · citations issued Oct 5, 2025 to Oct 5, 2026
Construction employers must protect workers from ground-fault hazards on temporary wiring by using ground-fault circuit interrupters or an assured equipment grounding conductor program. The section also covers proper use of grounded conductors, branch circuits, outside conductors, overcurrent protection, and grounding of systems and equipment. The path to ground from circuits, equipment, and enclosures must be permanent and continuous. It applies to all construction employers using electrical power on site.
What the standard requires
- Use GFCIs or an assured equipment grounding conductor program
- Protect 120-volt, 15- and 20-amp receptacles with GFCIs where required
- Maintain a permanent and continuous path to ground
- Ensure correct polarity and proper overcurrent protection
Hazards it addresses
- Electrocution from ground faults
- Shock from damaged cords and tools
- Burns from faulty wiring
Cited at construction sites using temporary power, extension cords, and portable generators.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1926.404(f)(6) | The path to ground from circuits, equipment, and enclosures must be permanent and continuous. | 64 | 64 | $0 |
| 1926.404(b)(1)(ii) | All 120-volt, single-phase 15- and 20-amp receptacle outlets not part of permanent wiring must have GFCI protection. | 15 | 15 | $2,400 |
| 1926.404(b)(1)(iii)(C) | 12 | 12 | $550 | |
| 1926.404(b)(1)(i) | Employer must use GFCIs or an assured equipment grounding conductor program to protect employees. | 6 | 6 | $2,294 |
| 1926.404(e)(1)(iv) | 1 | 1 | $0 | |
| 1926.404(f)(7)(iv)(C)(2) | 1 | 1 | $14,895 |
Penalties
Across 99 alleged items, OSHA and state-plan offices proposed $137,463 in initial penalties. The current total in the public data is $106,561, 22% lower after settlements, contests and amendments.
By violation type: Other-than-serious 61%; Serious 37%; Repeat 2%.
Citations by state
| State | Inspections cited | Items | Initial penalties | Current penalties |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| North Carolina | 18 | 18 | $3,300 | $2,760 |
| Virginia | 12 | 12 | $2,815 | $2,383 |
| Maryland | 11 | 11 | $3,150 | $2,550 |
| Puerto Rico | 10 | 11 | $30,741 | $24,079 |
| New York | 8 | 8 | $18,974 | $14,013 |
| South Carolina | 8 | 8 | $1,700 | $1,620 |
| Texas | 7 | 7 | $33,009 | $23,087 |
| Hawaii | 4 | 4 | $3,015 | $2,110 |
| Indiana | 3 | 3 | $900 | $900 |
| Tennessee | 3 | 3 | $325 | $325 |
| Guam | 2 | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| Illinois | 2 | 2 | $5,853 | $2,000 |
| Minnesota | 2 | 2 | $250 | $210 |
| Nevada | 2 | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| Pennsylvania | 2 | 3 | $22,934 | $22,934 |
| District of Columbia | 1 | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Delaware | 1 | 1 | $7,660 | $5,745 |
| Vermont | 1 | 1 | $2,837 | $1,844 |
By industry
- Construction: 90 inspections
- Manufacturing: 3 inspections
- Administrative & waste services: 2 inspections
- Mining, oil & gas: 1 inspections
- Professional & technical services: 1 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Manning Squires Hennig, Inc. | Buffalo, NY | Sep 2, 2026 | 1 | $3,587 | $3,587 | OpenContest deadline ~Sep 24, 2026 (est.) | osha.gov |
| Daniel Jaramillo LLC | Wendell, NC | Sep 2, 2026 | 1 | $0 | $0 | Final orderAbatement due Sep 8, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Junior's Framing, LLC | Kernersville, NC | Aug 25, 2026 | 1 | $0 | $0 | Final orderAbatement due Aug 31, 2026 | osha.gov |
| E Electrical Contractor LLC | San German, PR | Aug 25, 2026 | 1 | $4,019 | $2,210 | Informal settlement | osha.gov |
| AS Caribe Drywall Inc. | Mayaguez, PR | Aug 18, 2026 | 1 | $5,627 | $5,627 | ContestedAbatement due Aug 24, 2026Contested Sep 7, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Cotton International Inc. | Ponce, PR | Aug 12, 2026 | 1 | $4,613 | $4,613 | OpenAbatement due Sep 7, 2026Contest deadline ~Sep 2, 2026 (est.) | osha.gov |
| Anchorstone Builders LLC | Ponce, PR | Aug 7, 2026 | 1 | $5,382 | $3,229 | Informal settlementAbatement due Sep 2, 2026 | osha.gov |
| On Track Construction Inc. | Orchard Park, NY | Aug 4, 2026 | 1 | $1,537 | $1,153 | Informal settlement | osha.gov |
| Jeff's Westside Plumbing, LLC | El Paso, TX | Jul 28, 2026 | 1 | $319 | $300 | Informal settlementAbatement due Sep 30, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Great City Mechanical Inc. | Bronx, NY | Jul 28, 2026 | 1 | $2,894 | $2,894 | Final order | osha.gov |
| Name withheld (individual) | Forney, TX | Jul 24, 2026 | 1 | $3,972 | $3,972 | OpenAbatement due Aug 19, 2026Contest deadline ~Aug 14, 2026 (est.) | osha.gov |
| Kemati Painting, LLC | Baltimore, MD | Jul 8, 2026 | 1 | $1,350 | $1,350 | Final orderAbatement due Jul 16, 2026 | osha.gov |
| D & R Tank | Pecos, TX | Jul 8, 2026 | 1 | $7,945 | $4,000 | Informal settlementAbatement due Jul 27, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Agama Construction LLC | Winston Salem, NC | Jul 6, 2026 | 1 | $0 | $0 | Informal settlementAbatement due Jul 10, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Aztech Plastering, LLC | Las Vegas, NV | Jun 26, 2026 | 1 | $0 | $0 | Final order | osha.gov |
| Premier Fire Protection, LLC | Kingsport, TN | Jun 18, 2026 | 1 | $100 | $100 | Final orderAbatement due Jul 6, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Russell Construction Services | Rutland, VT | Jun 15, 2026 | 1 | $2,837 | $1,844 | Informal settlement | osha.gov |
| OLD Dominion Environmental, Inc. | Milford, VA | Jun 12, 2026 | 1 | $1,375 | $1,375 | Final orderAbatement due Jul 30, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Name withheld (individual) | Haslet, TX | Jun 11, 2026 | 1 | $203 | $203 | Final orderAbatement due Jul 13, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Rainbow Construction Services LLC | Honolulu, HI | Jun 10, 2026 | 1 | $0 | $0 | Informal settlement | osha.gov |
| Century Cabinets | Greensboro, NC | Jun 8, 2026 | 1 | $0 | $0 | Final orderAbatement due Jun 12, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Element Development and Real Estate | Niagara Falls, NY | Jun 8, 2026 | 1 | $1,230 | $1,230 | Final order | osha.gov |
| A & F Drywall, LLC | West Seneca, NY | Jun 4, 2026 | 1 | $1,230 | $1,230 | Final order | osha.gov |
| Best Bid, Inc. | Madison Heights, VA | Jun 3, 2026 | 1 | $0 | $0 | ContestedAbatement due Jun 29, 2026Contested Jun 19, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Unified Maintenance and Construction, Inc. | Amherst, NY | May 28, 2026 | 1 | $339 | $254 | Informal settlement | osha.gov |
| Jca Unlimited Construction LLC | Winston Salem, NC | May 26, 2026 | 1 | $0 | $0 | Final orderAbatement due Jun 1, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Allied Roofing Company, Inc. | Winston Salem, NC | May 22, 2026 | 1 | $0 | $0 | Final orderAbatement due May 26, 2026 | osha.gov |
| R & a Construction of Illinois, Inc. | Mount Prospect, IL | May 21, 2026 | 1 | $3,015 | $2,000 | Informal settlement | osha.gov |
| Conway-Phillips Holding, LLC | Petrolia, PA | May 19, 2026 | 2 | $16,550 | $16,550 | ContestedAbatement due Jun 15, 2026Contested Jun 11, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Four Seasons Construction | Kingsport, TN | May 18, 2026 | 1 | $100 | $100 | Final orderAbatement due Jun 1, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Toledo Construction - Framing, LLC | Summerfield, NC | May 15, 2026 | 1 | $0 | $0 | Informal settlementAbatement due May 19, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Springhill Construction LLC | Orangeburg, SC | May 15, 2026 | 1 | $100 | $100 | Final orderAbatement due May 19, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Vissepo & Diez Construction Corp. | Cabo Rojo, PR | May 15, 2026 | 2 | $0 | $0 | Informal settlement | osha.gov |
| B&M Erectors LLC | Danville, VA | May 15, 2026 | 1 | $0 | $0 | Final order | osha.gov |
| Hod Investment, Inc. | Moca, PR | May 14, 2026 | 1 | $3,000 | $1,500 | Formal settlementAbatement due May 26, 2026Contested Aug 28, 2026 | osha.gov |
| H & V Contractors LLC | Baltimore, MD | May 5, 2026 | 1 | $0 | $0 | Final orderAbatement due May 13, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Reliable Framing, Inc. | Reno, NV | May 1, 2026 | 1 | $0 | $0 | Final order | osha.gov |
| RGM Services | Abingdon, VA | May 1, 2026 | 1 | $0 | $0 | Final order | osha.gov |
| Crossroad Construction Inc. | Minneapolis, MN | May 1, 2026 | 1 | $100 | $60 | Informal settlementAbatement due May 5, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Top Sector Communications, LLC | Kernersville, NC | Apr 20, 2026 | 1 | $0 | $0 | Final orderAbatement due Apr 24, 2026 | osha.gov |
Often cited together
- 1926.405 Temporary Wiring and Cords (36 shared inspections)
- 1926.501 Fall Protection (35 shared inspections)
- 1926.1053 Ladder Safety (23 shared inspections)
- 1926.403 Electrical Equipment Installation (23 shared inspections)
- 1926.503 Fall Protection Training (21 shared inspections)
- 1926.102 Eye and Face Protection (21 shared inspections)
- 1926.100 Hard Hats (16 shared inspections)
- 1926.416 Electrical Work Practices (14 shared inspections)
Questions
What does OSHA standard 1926.404 require?
Construction employers must protect workers from ground-fault hazards on temporary wiring by using ground-fault circuit interrupters or an assured equipment grounding conductor program. The section also covers proper use of grounded conductors, branch circuits, outside conductors, overcurrent protection, and grounding of systems and equipment. The path to ground from circuits, equipment, and enclosures must be permanent and continuous. It applies to all construction employers using electrical power on site.
How often was 1926.404 cited in the last 12 months?
In the public data as of October 5, 2026, 1926.404 (GFCI and Grounding) appeared in 97 inspections with citations issued between Oct 5, 2025 and Oct 5, 2026, covering 99 alleged violation items.
Which part of 1926.404 is cited most?
1926.404(f)(6) was the most-cited paragraph, with 64 items: The path to ground from circuits, equipment, and enclosures must be permanent and continuous.
Which states cite 1926.404 most often?
The most citations under 1926.404 in this period were issued in North Carolina, Virginia, Maryland.
What is the typical penalty for a 1926.404 violation?
The median initial (proposed) penalty per item was $100; the median current penalty after settlements and amendments was $100. Totals: $137,463 proposed, $106,561 current. Penalties vary by violation type, employer size and history, and State Plans set their own amounts.
Are 1926.404 citations final?
Not necessarily. A citation is an allegation until it becomes a final order. 11% 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.