1926.405 Temporary Wiring and Cords: citations, penalties and recently cited employers
Data as of October 5, 2026 · citations issued Oct 5, 2025 to Oct 5, 2026
This section sets requirements for wiring methods, cabinets, boxes, fittings, switches, and flexible cords used during construction. Temporary wiring is permitted with limits, and flexible cords must be protected from damage, used only for approved purposes, rated for hard or extra-hard usage, and connected with strain relief. Pull boxes and junction boxes must have covers, and cords may not substitute for fixed wiring.
What the standard requires
- Protect flexible cords from damage and sharp edges
- Provide covers on pull boxes, junction boxes, and fittings
- Use cords rated for hard or extra-hard usage
- Connect cords with strain relief, not knots or tape
- Avoid using flexible cords as a substitute for fixed wiring
Hazards it addresses
- Shock from damaged cord insulation
- Electrocution from exposed conductors in open boxes
- Fires from overloaded or misused cords
Cited heavily in construction where extension cords and temporary lighting are run through doorways and walkways.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1926.405(g)(2)(iv) | Flexible cords must be connected to devices and fittings so that strain relief is provided. | 94 | 94 | $0 |
| 1926.405(a)(2)(ii)(I) | Flexible cords and cables must be protected from damage, including sharp corners and pinch points. | 51 | 51 | $300 |
| 1926.405(b)(2) | Pull boxes, junction boxes, and fittings must have covers. | 37 | 37 | $750 |
| 1926.405(j)(1)(i) | 20 | 20 | $150 | |
| 1926.405(b)(1) | 19 | 19 | $690 | |
| 1926.405(g)(1)(iii) | Flexible cords may not be used as a substitute for fixed wiring or run through walls, ceilings, or floors. | 15 | 15 | $0 |
| 1926.405(a)(2)(ii)(J) | 13 | 13 | $0 | |
| 1926.405(g)(2)(iii) | 11 | 11 | $750 | |
| 1926.405(d) | 9 | 9 | $1,500 | |
| 1926.405(a)(2)(ii)(C) | 7 | 7 | $1,537 | |
| 1926.405(g)(1)(iii)(B) | Flexible cords may not be used as a substitute for fixed wiring or run through walls, ceilings, or floors. | 7 | 7 | $0 |
| 1926.405(a)(2)(ii)(B) | 4 | 4 | $4,288 | |
| 1926.405(a)(2)(ii)(A) | 2 | 2 | $0 | |
| 1926.405(a)(2)(ii)(E) | 2 | 2 | $0 | |
| 1926.405(a)(2)(ii)(F) | 2 | 2 | $5,574 |
Penalties
Across 304 alleged items, OSHA and state-plan offices proposed $404,358 in initial penalties. The current total in the public data is $307,264, 24% lower after settlements, contests and amendments.
By violation type: Serious 54%; Other-than-serious 46%; Repeat 0%.
Citations by state
| State | Inspections cited | Items | Initial penalties | Current penalties |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Virginia | 49 | 57 | $85,945 | $79,732 |
| Maryland | 29 | 38 | $6,675 | $5,266 |
| Puerto Rico | 22 | 32 | $36,029 | $33,185 |
| North Carolina | 21 | 23 | $2,250 | $1,950 |
| Tennessee | 21 | 23 | $4,750 | $4,630 |
| Minnesota | 18 | 19 | $10,000 | $7,650 |
| New York | 15 | 16 | $30,950 | $19,892 |
| Indiana | 10 | 13 | $1,300 | $1,300 |
| Texas | 10 | 10 | $59,300 | $36,029 |
| New Jersey | 5 | 6 | $22,415 | $18,271 |
| Nevada | 5 | 6 | $935 | $935 |
| California | 4 | 4 | $15,274 | $10,491 |
| Hawaii | 4 | 4 | $3,547 | $2,483 |
| Iowa | 4 | 6 | $6,738 | $7,359 |
| South Carolina | 4 | 5 | $4,625 | $3,889 |
| Georgia | 3 | 3 | $6,469 | $6,469 |
| Guam | 3 | 5 | $4,612 | $2,537 |
| Illinois | 3 | 4 | $3,376 | $3,376 |
| Kentucky | 3 | 3 | $14,700 | $12,740 |
| Missouri | 3 | 3 | $8,370 | $4,830 |
By industry
- Construction: 241 inspections
- Administrative & waste services: 3 inspections
- Mining, oil & gas: 2 inspections
- Agriculture, forestry & fishing: 1 inspections
- Accommodation & food services: 1 inspections
- Educational services: 1 inspections
- Health care & social assistance: 1 inspections
- Manufacturing: 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division 6-10 LLC | Minneapolis, MN | Sep 2, 2026 | 1 | $750 | $450 | Informal settlementAbatement due Sep 8, 2026 | osha.gov |
| A. A. Electric Co., Inc. | Baltimore, MD | Sep 1, 2026 | 2 | $0 | $0 | OpenContest deadline ~Sep 23, 2026 (est.) | osha.gov |
| Veritas Managed Solutions, Inc. | Sparks, NV | Sep 1, 2026 | 1 | $0 | $0 | Final order | osha.gov |
| Name withheld (individual) | Grand Prairie, TX | Aug 31, 2026 | 1 | $2,270 | $1,077 | Informal settlementAbatement due Sep 25, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Soumis Construction Inc. | Duluth, MN | Aug 27, 2026 | 1 | $750 | $450 | Informal settlementAbatement due Sep 3, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Interior Specialty Contractor Corp. | Manati, PR | Aug 27, 2026 | 2 | $8,275 | $8,275 | OpenAbatement due Sep 2, 2026Contest deadline ~Sep 18, 2026 (est.) | osha.gov |
| Freestate Electric, LLC | Laurel, MD | Aug 25, 2026 | 1 | $0 | $0 | OpenContest deadline ~Sep 16, 2026 (est.) | osha.gov |
| A-G Quality Construction 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 | 2 | $0 | $0 | Informal settlement | osha.gov |
| The Power Source, Inc. | Parkville, MD | Aug 19, 2026 | 1 | $0 | $0 | ContestedAbatement due Aug 27, 2026Contested Sep 8, 2026 | osha.gov |
| AS Caribe Drywall Inc. | Mayaguez, PR | Aug 18, 2026 | 1 | $0 | $0 | ContestedAbatement due Aug 24, 2026Contested Sep 7, 2026 | osha.gov |
| EJ Construction SE | Mayaguez, PR | Aug 18, 2026 | 1 | $0 | $0 | Informal settlementAbatement due Aug 24, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Joseph J. Magnolia, Inc. | Laurel, MD | Aug 17, 2026 | 1 | $0 | $0 | ContestedAbatement due Sep 18, 2026Contested Sep 4, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Tongue - Groove LLC | Wrightsville Beach, NC | Aug 14, 2026 | 1 | $0 | $0 | Informal settlementAbatement due Aug 18, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Acco Engineered Systems Inc. | Sparks, NV | Aug 10, 2026 | 1 | $0 | $0 | Final order | osha.gov |
| Gorham Town Water Department | Canandaigua, NY | Aug 10, 2026 | 1 | $0 | $0 | Final orderAbatement due Aug 20, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Anchorstone Builders LLC | Ponce, PR | Aug 7, 2026 | 1 | $0 | $0 | Informal settlementAbatement due Sep 2, 2026 | osha.gov |
| GM Construction, Inc. | Kailua Kona, HI | Aug 6, 2026 | 1 | $0 | $0 | Informal settlementAbatement due Aug 12, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Name withheld (individual) | Leander, TX | Aug 6, 2026 | 1 | $2,128 | $2,128 | Final orderAbatement due Sep 1, 2026 | osha.gov |
| JMS Rentals, LLC | Abingdon, VA | Aug 6, 2026 | 1 | $0 | $0 | ContestedAbatement due Sep 25, 2026Contested Aug 20, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Cedar Park Austin Hospitality LLC | Leander, TX | Aug 6, 2026 | 1 | $2,128 | $1,040 | Informal settlementAbatement due Sep 1, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Simoncelli Electric | Orchard Park, NY | Aug 4, 2026 | 1 | $1,537 | $1,153 | Informal settlement | osha.gov |
| JRH Electrical | Tonawanda, NY | Aug 4, 2026 | 1 | $1,230 | $1,230 | OpenContest deadline ~Aug 25, 2026 (est.) | osha.gov |
| Freestate Baltimore, LLC | Baltimore, MD | Aug 4, 2026 | 1 | $0 | $0 | ContestedAbatement due Aug 12, 2026Contested Aug 12, 2026 | osha.gov |
| EMC Mechanical Services LLC | Chesterfield, VA | Aug 3, 2026 | 1 | $8,715 | $8,715 | OpenContest deadline ~Aug 24, 2026 (est.) | osha.gov |
| Hitt Contracting Inc. | Chesterfield, VA | Aug 3, 2026 | 1 | $8,715 | $8,715 | ContestedContested Aug 18, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Paradise Luxe Homes LLC | Kamuela, HI | Jul 31, 2026 | 1 | $3,547 | $2,483 | Informal settlementAbatement due Aug 6, 2026 | osha.gov |
| White Electrical Services LLC | Vinton, VA | Jul 29, 2026 | 1 | $2,095 | $2,095 | Final order | osha.gov |
| Jeff's Westside Plumbing, LLC | El Paso, TX | Jul 28, 2026 | 1 | $2,270 | $1,100 | Informal settlementAbatement due Sep 30, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Tba Construction LLC | Aiken, SC | Jul 28, 2026 | 2 | $2,100 | $1,364 | Informal settlementAbatement due Aug 3, 2026 | osha.gov |
| CMR Interior Contractors, Inc. | Vega Baja, PR | Jul 28, 2026 | 1 | $0 | $0 | OpenAbatement due Aug 21, 2026Contest deadline ~Aug 18, 2026 (est.) | osha.gov |
| J - L Electrical Contractors LLC | Glendale, KY | Jul 28, 2026 | 1 | $4,900 | $4,900 | Final orderAbatement due Aug 21, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Johnson Electric Company Inc. | Greenville, SC | Jul 28, 2026 | 1 | $750 | $750 | Final orderAbatement due Aug 3, 2026 | osha.gov |
| MD Electric Co. | Glendale, KY | Jul 27, 2026 | 1 | $4,900 | $3,920 | Informal settlementAbatement due Aug 14, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Name withheld (individual) | Forney, TX | Jul 27, 2026 | 1 | $3,405 | $3,405 | OpenAbatement due Aug 20, 2026Contest deadline ~Aug 17, 2026 (est.) | osha.gov |
| Collins and Arnold Construction Company LLC | Glendale, KY | Jul 27, 2026 | 1 | $4,900 | $3,920 | Informal settlementAbatement due Aug 20, 2026 | osha.gov |
| J-V Painting & Drywall, Inc. | Baltimore, MD | Jul 24, 2026 | 1 | $0 | $0 | Final orderAbatement due Aug 3, 2026 | osha.gov |
| LJ Framing LLC | Jackson, NJ | Jul 23, 2026 | 2 | $6,384 | $2,240 | Informal settlementAbatement due Sep 14, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Arrow Services Contractor & More LLC | Morovis, PR | Jul 22, 2026 | 2 | $4,019 | $4,019 | OpenAbatement due Aug 17, 2026Contest deadline ~Aug 12, 2026 (est.) | osha.gov |
| TD Properties LLC | Washington, DC | Jul 17, 2026 | 1 | $0 | $0 | OpenAbatement due Jul 27, 2026Contest deadline ~Aug 7, 2026 (est.) | osha.gov |
Often cited together
- 1926.501 Fall Protection (72 shared inspections)
- 1926.403 Electrical Equipment Installation (69 shared inspections)
- 1926.416 Electrical Work Practices (43 shared inspections)
- 1926.1053 Ladder Safety (41 shared inspections)
- 1926.102 Eye and Face Protection (38 shared inspections)
- 1926.404 GFCI and Grounding (36 shared inspections)
- 1926.503 Fall Protection Training (35 shared inspections)
- 1926.451 Scaffold Safety (30 shared inspections)
Questions
What does OSHA standard 1926.405 require?
This section sets requirements for wiring methods, cabinets, boxes, fittings, switches, and flexible cords used during construction. Temporary wiring is permitted with limits, and flexible cords must be protected from damage, used only for approved purposes, rated for hard or extra-hard usage, and connected with strain relief. Pull boxes and junction boxes must have covers, and cords may not substitute for fixed wiring.
How often was 1926.405 cited in the last 12 months?
In the public data as of October 5, 2026, 1926.405 (Temporary Wiring and Cords) appeared in 256 inspections with citations issued between Oct 5, 2025 and Oct 5, 2026, covering 304 alleged violation items.
Which part of 1926.405 is cited most?
1926.405(g)(2)(iv) was the most-cited paragraph, with 94 items: Flexible cords must be connected to devices and fittings so that strain relief is provided.
Which states cite 1926.405 most often?
The most citations under 1926.405 in this period were issued in Virginia, Maryland, Puerto Rico.
What is the typical penalty for a 1926.405 violation?
The median initial (proposed) penalty per item was $100; the median current penalty after settlements and amendments was $45. Totals: $404,358 proposed, $307,264 current. Penalties vary by violation type, employer size and history, and State Plans set their own amounts.
Are 1926.405 citations final?
Not necessarily. A citation is an allegation until it becomes a final order. 15% 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.