The Bottom Line – Live Parts to which an Employee may be Exposed shall be Deenergized

This paper not only identifies the conditions in which deenergized equipment is mandated by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) in 29 CFR 1910.333(A)(1); it also identifies when energized work is allowed by OSHA under the same standard, and where energization is not allowed based on letters of interpretation and other OSHA standards. OSHA and the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), as well as others, require employers to protect their employees from electrical hazards in the workplace. In order to protect workers, there must be a strong emphasis on performing work on equipment in a deenergized state. This paper will focus on the conditions listed in 29 CFR 1910.333(A)(1) which allow equipment to be worked on in an energized state when deenergizaton: Introduces additional or increased hazards. Is infeasible due to equipment design or Operational limitations. Once the disclaimers are removed from deenergized work, the only requirement left is to work on equipment in an electrically safe work condition - off and controlled.