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Reversed polarity in electrical receptacles

Summary An OSHA region asked how to cite receptacles wired with reversed polarity. OSHA said the incorporated 1971 electrical code required grounded conductors to be properly identified and barred using grounded-conductor markings for ungrounded conductors. Miswiring the conductors to the wrong terminals violated those identification provisions.
Document
Federal opinion letter
Agency
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
Document number
1980-02-18
Date issued
February 18, 1980
Status
Active
Status last verified October 10, 2026
Topics
Workplace Safety OSHA 1910 Electrical Safety
Source
View the official document

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About this page: The full text below is the official document from Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). Ezel adds the plain-English summary and tracks the document's status. The official source linked on this page is authoritative for any reliance.

February 18, 1980

MEMORANDUM FOR: GILBERT J. SAULTER
Regional Administrator

ATTENTION: HERBERT M. KURTZ

THRU: ROGER CLARK
Field Coordinator

FROM: GROVER C. WRENN
Director Federal Compliance and State Programs

SUBJECT: Citing of Reversed Polarity

In response to your inquiry on reversed polarity in requirement for correct polarity in receptacles is indicated by the 1971 National Electrical Code sections 200-2, 200-9, and 200-10(b). These sections require the grounded conductor to be properly identified. If the grounded conductor is connected to the wrong terminal in a receptacle, it is no longer correctly identified. Also, Sections 200-7 generally prohibits ungrounded conductors from being identified with a white or natural gray color. This requirement would be violated if the ungrounded conductor were connected to the identified terminal. In the 1978 NEC and in the Office of Standards Development proposed revision of Subpart S, there is a new requirement covering reversed polarity specifically.

The hazards of reversed polarity are discussed in the two enclosures.

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