Ezel / Labor Guidance / US
Back to Federal guidance

Power transmission repair and construction rule coverage

Summary A regional administrator asked whether the construction power transmission rule covered repair work. OSHA said the provision should not then be used to cite repair hazards; staff should assess the general duty clause and, if its elements could not be shown, send a hazard letter describing corrective action. OSHA now archives the memo as potentially outdated.
Document
Federal opinion letter
Agency
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
Document number
1985-09-30-0
Date issued
September 30, 1985
Status
Archived by the agency
OSHA archives this memorandum and says it may no longer represent OSHA policy.
Status last verified October 10, 2026
Topics
Workplace Safety OSHA 1926 Electric Power Enforcement
Source
View the official document

Apply this to your situation

This page explains the general guidance. Ask about your specific situation and see what current federal labor law says, with citations.

The current status of this document is unclear
OSHA archives this memorandum and says it may no longer represent OSHA policy. It may no longer reflect the agency's current position. Treat this page as historical context, not current guidance, and verify current law before relying on anything here.
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.

NOTICE: This is an OSHA Archive Document, and may no longer represent OSHA Policy. It is presented here as historical content, for research and review purposes only.

September 30, 1985

MEMORANDUM FOR: BYRON R. CHADWICK Regional Administrator-VIII

FROM: JOHN B. MILES, Jr., Director
Directorate of Field Operations

SUBJECT: Interpretation of 29 CFR 1926.950(a).

This reply is in response to your memorandum of September 5, on the same subject.

As presently constituted under Subpart V-Power Transmission and Distribution, 1926.950(a) is not to be used to cite hazards involving repair of these systems. The OSHRC Decision dated May 2, 1977 Docket No. 11107 is attached for further information on this subject.

It is suggested that under similar circumstances Chapter IV of the FOM be consulted for the evaluation of a potential 5(a)(1) situation. If the four elements of a 5(a)(1) violation cannot be established, a letter will be sent to the employer and the employee representative (with a copy to the Directorate or Field Operations through the Regional Administrator) describing the hazard and suggesting corrective action. See: FOM Chapter IV, A. 2. f. (2)(b) and Appendix C-1 of the IMIS Forms Manual.

It is important that the letter be utilized in this type of situation to indicate to the National Office the need for a standard covering repair of power transmission and distribution systems.

Attachment

Related guidance

Permanently labeled locks for electrical lockout Opinion Letter · August 17, 2026 Helmet selection for lateral head-impact hazards Opinion Letter · August 17, 2026 Asbestos precautions when restoring drywall after flood damage Opinion Letter · May 7, 2026 Enforcement policy for recording and reporting COVID-19 cases Guidance · March 31, 2026

What does federal law require in your situation?

Ezel checks current federal labor law against your facts and answers with citations.

Opens in Ezel Pro.

  • Checks the law as it stands today, not only this page
  • Cites every source it relies on, so you can verify it
  • Chat, drafting and research in one workspace