1910.213(c)(3): Nonkickback Fingers on Hand-Fed Ripsaws
Employers must equip each hand-fed circular ripsaw with nonkickback fingers or dogs placed to oppose the saw's tendency to pick up the material or throw it back toward the operator. They must hold well enough for all thicknesses of material being cut.
Key takeaways
- 1910.213(c)(3) is part of OSHA's general industry standards (29 CFR Part 1910, Subpart O).
- OSHA cited it 248 times in the last 3 years, in 248 inspections, with $307,636 in current penalties.
- 1 death is linked to inspections that cited this rule.
- Most citations: MN (43), CT (21), NC (19).
- Related part: 1910.213(c) Hand-fed ripsaws (799 citations).
- Free 5-minute toolbox talk for your crew below.
In this article
What this rule covers
29 CFR 1910.213(c)(3) is one requirement inside 1910.213 Woodworking machinery requirements, an OSHA general industry standard (Part 1910, Subpart O). The official text below is copied word for word from the Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (eCFR). The numbers, injury cases and training on this page show how OSHA enforces it on real job sites.
Official text
(3) Each hand-fed circular ripsaw shall be provided with nonkickback fingers or dogs so located as to oppose the thrust or tendency of the saw to pick up the material or to throw it back toward the operator. They shall be designed to provide adequate holding power for all the thicknesses of materials being cut. 248 citations
Source: eCFR, text current as of 2026-10-15. Read all of 1910.213.
Injuries linked to this rule
1 death is linked to inspections where OSHA cited 1910.213(c)(3).
At 3:45 a.m. on December 5, 2023, three employees were operating a resaw stacker. Coworker #1 was operating the infeed side, while Coworker #2 trained Employee #1 on operating the stacker side. The resaw stacker takes pre-cut boards and rips them down to smaller sizes…
Where and how often it was cited
| Year | Citations |
|---|---|
| 2023 | 12 |
| 2024 | 115 |
| 2025 | 75 |
| 2026 | 46 |
Top states: MN (43), CT (21), NC (19), FL (16), UT (15)
Largest penalties
| Employer | Location | Penalty for this rule |
|---|---|---|
| LOUDOUN STAIRS INC. | PURCELLVILLE, VA | $158,725 |
| FIXTURE CONCEPTS INC | SAINT PETERS, MO | $9,268 |
| DESERT PALACE LLC | LAS VEGAS, NV | $9,041 |
| MANUFACTURED HOUSING ENTERPRISES, INC. | BRYAN, OH | $7,022 |
| ELITE BOOTH LLC | RAYTOWN, MO | $6,951 |
Free toolbox talk
A 5-minute crew talk on 1910.213(c)(3), plus alerts when this rule changes. Free.
OSHA interpretation letters
Related parts of this rule
- 1910.213(c) Hand-fed ripsaws 799 citations
- 1910.213(c)(1) 346 citations
- 1910.213(c)(2) 205 citations
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Frequently asked questions
What must a hand-fed circular ripsaw have?
Nonkickback fingers or dogs.
What do the nonkickback fingers do?
They oppose the thrust or tendency of the saw to pick up the material or throw it back toward the operator.
Do they need to work for thick and thin material?
Yes. They must provide adequate holding power for all the thicknesses of materials being cut.
About this page
Sources
- 29 CFR 1910.213 (eCFR), text current as of 2026-10-15
- U.S. Department of Labor enforcement data: OSHA inspections, citations and accident records, copied nightly; data as of 2026-10-20
3-year window. Federal OSHA only; state-plan rules are not counted. Plain-language text is a summary, not legal advice; the official text controls. Black Belt Safety is not part of OSHA or the Department of Labor.