1910.268 Telecommunications: citations, penalties and recently cited employers
Data as of October 5, 2026 · citations issued Oct 5, 2025 to Oct 5, 2026
Applies to work at telecommunications centers and field installations, including installing and maintaining communication lines, equipment, and cable on poles, towers, and underground. It addresses training, protective equipment, ladders and climbing, aerial lifts, underground vaults and manholes, tree trimming near lines, and working near power conductors. Employees must be trained in procedures for the hazards they face, and specific safeguards apply to entering manholes and working near energized electric supply lines.
What the standard requires
- Train employees in telecommunications work practices and hazards
- Test atmospheres and protect openings when entering manholes and vaults
- Inspect poles, ladders, and climbing equipment before use
- Maintain safe distances from electric power conductors
Hazards it addresses
- Falls from poles and towers
- Electrocution from power line contact
- Hazardous atmospheres in manholes
Cited among telecommunications carriers, cable installers, and line contractors.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1910.268(c) | 10 | 10 | $3,128 | |
| 1910.268(b)(7) | 7 | 7 | $7,000 | |
| 1910.268(g)(1) | 5 | 5 | $4,965 | |
| 1910.268(c)(3) | 3 | 3 | $3,500 | |
| 1910.268(d)(1) | 3 | 3 | $3,500 | |
| 1910.268(e) | 3 | 3 | $4,250 | |
| 1910.268(j)(3) | 3 | 3 | $7,000 | |
| 1910.268(c)(2) | 2 | 2 | $7,000 | |
| 1910.268(g)(2)(iv)(C) | 2 | 2 | $3,500 | |
| 1910.268(i)(1) | 2 | 2 | $3,500 | |
| 1910.268(j)(1)(i) | 2 | 2 | $3,500 | |
| 1910.268(b)(6) | 1 | 1 | $4,900 | |
| 1910.268(j)(4)(iv)(F) | 1 | 1 | $2,500 |
Penalties
Across 44 alleged items, OSHA and state-plan offices proposed $363,515 in initial penalties. The current total in the public data is $337,135, 7% lower after settlements, contests and amendments.
By violation type: Serious 86%; Other-than-serious 9%; Willful 5%.
Citations by state
| State | Inspections cited | Items | Initial penalties | Current penalties |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Texas | 4 | 8 | $69,510 | $54,615 |
| Kentucky | 3 | 19 | $221,900 | $221,900 |
| Puerto Rico | 3 | 4 | $26,800 | $18,905 |
| Virginia | 2 | 4 | $19,040 | $19,040 |
| Wisconsin | 2 | 2 | $8,937 | $8,937 |
| Georgia | 1 | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Illinois | 1 | 1 | $4,965 | $3,475 |
| Michigan | 1 | 3 | $7,000 | $4,900 |
| Ohio | 1 | 2 | $5,363 | $5,363 |
By industry
- Construction: 8 inspections
- Information: 8 inspections
- Other services: 1 inspections
- Wholesale trade: 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Acon, LLC | Katy, TX | Aug 27, 2026 | 3 | $14,895 | $0 | Informal settlementAbatement due Sep 16, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Puerto Rico Telephone Company Inc. | Penuelas, PR | Aug 14, 2026 | 1 | $16,550 | $9,930 | Informal settlement | osha.gov |
| Harlan Community Television Incorporated | Holmes Mill, KY | Jul 27, 2026 | 9 | $108,500 | $108,500 | ContestedAbatement due Aug 14, 2026Contested Aug 13, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Apex Fiber Optics LLC | Holmes Mill, KY | Jul 27, 2026 | 9 | $108,500 | $108,500 | ContestedAbatement due Aug 14, 2026Contested Aug 14, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Alvarado Telecom, LLC | Menasha, WI | Jul 2, 2026 | 1 | $4,965 | $4,965 | Final order | osha.gov |
| Cross Communications, LLC | Lake Nebagamon, WI | May 15, 2026 | 1 | $3,972 | $3,972 | Informal settlementAbatement due Jun 1, 2026 | osha.gov |
| City Communications LLC | San Juan, PR | May 13, 2026 | 2 | $6,000 | $6,000 | ContestedAbatement due Jun 8, 2026Contested Jun 10, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Thacker Grigsby Telephone Company Inc. | Wolverine, KY | Mar 18, 2026 | 1 | $4,900 | $4,900 | ContestedAbatement due Apr 6, 2026Contested Mar 26, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Alex Tower XI Inc. | Pekin, IL | Mar 17, 2026 | 1 | $4,965 | $3,475 | Informal settlementAbatement due Apr 1, 2026 | osha.gov |
| CK Contractors and Development, LLC | Lebanon, VA | Mar 6, 2026 | 1 | $0 | $0 | Final orderAbatement due Apr 1, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Broadband Telecom Services, Inc. | Farmersville, TX | Jan 28, 2026 | 1 | $14,895 | $14,895 | Informal settlementAbatement due Mar 13, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Puerto Rico Telephone Company Inc. | Camuy, PR | Jan 16, 2026 | 1 | $4,250 | $2,975 | OpenAbatement due Feb 11, 2026Contest deadline ~Feb 9, 2026 (est.) | osha.gov |
| Trace Wireless, LLC | Trinity, TX | Jan 14, 2026 | 2 | $9,930 | $9,930 | ContestedAbatement due Jan 29, 2026Contested Mar 30, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Name withheld (individual) | Washington Court House, OH | Jan 7, 2026 | 2 | $5,363 | $5,363 | Final orderAbatement due Feb 11, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Moldcable, Inc. | Liberty Hill, TX | Jan 6, 2026 | 2 | $29,790 | $29,790 | ContestedAbatement due Feb 2, 2026Contested Feb 3, 2026 | osha.gov |
| J B Nasser Inc. | Front Royal, VA | Dec 31, 2025 | 3 | $19,040 | $19,040 | ContestedAbatement due Feb 20, 2026Contested Jan 20, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Bigham Cable Construction, Inc. | Reynolds, GA | Nov 18, 2025 | 1 | $0 | $0 | Informal settlementAbatement due Dec 16, 2025 | osha.gov |
| Ipmoviles LLC | Brighton, MI | Oct 27, 2025 | 3 | $7,000 | $4,900 | Formal settlementAbatement due Dec 1, 2025Contested Dec 22, 2025 | osha.gov |
Often cited together
- 1910.23 Ladders (2 shared inspections)
- 1910.132 PPE General Requirements (2 shared inspections)
- 1910.67 Aerial Lifts (2 shared inspections)
- 1910.178 Forklifts (1 shared inspections)
- 1910.1200 Hazard Communication (1 shared inspections)
- 1910.30 Fall Hazard Training (1 shared inspections)
Questions
What does OSHA standard 1910.268 require?
Applies to work at telecommunications centers and field installations, including installing and maintaining communication lines, equipment, and cable on poles, towers, and underground. It addresses training, protective equipment, ladders and climbing, aerial lifts, underground vaults and manholes, tree trimming near lines, and working near power conductors. Employees must be trained in procedures for the hazards they face, and specific safeguards apply to entering manholes and working near energized electric supply lines.
How often was 1910.268 cited in the last 12 months?
In the public data as of October 5, 2026, 1910.268 (Telecommunications) appeared in 18 inspections with citations issued between Oct 5, 2025 and Oct 5, 2026, covering 44 alleged violation items.
Which part of 1910.268 is cited most?
1910.268(c) was the most-cited paragraph, with 10 items.
Which states cite 1910.268 most often?
The most citations under 1910.268 in this period were issued in Texas, Kentucky, Puerto Rico.
What is the typical penalty for a 1910.268 violation?
The median initial (proposed) penalty per item was $4,575; the median current penalty after settlements and amendments was $3,500. Totals: $363,515 proposed, $337,135 current. Penalties vary by violation type, employer size and history, and State Plans set their own amounts.
Are 1910.268 citations final?
Not necessarily. A citation is an allegation until it becomes a final order. 70% 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.