1910.217(b)(4): Press Foot Pedal Protection
Mechanical power press foot pedals must be protected against unintended operation from falling or moving objects or accidental stepping. A nonslip pad must be firmly attached, return springs must be the compression type on a rod or in a hole or tube, or designed to prevent coils interleaving if broken, and any counterweight's path of travel must be enclosed.
Key takeaways
- 1910.217(b)(4) is part of OSHA's general industry standards (29 CFR Part 1910, Subpart O).
- OSHA cited it 39 times in the last 3 years, in 33 inspections, with $82,469 in current penalties.
- Most citations: CT (3), MS (3), OR (3).
- Related part: 1910.217(b) Mechanical power press guarding and construction, general (93 citations).
- Free 5-minute toolbox talk for your crew below.
In this article
What this rule covers
29 CFR 1910.217(b)(4) ("Foot pedals (treadle)") is one requirement inside 1910.217 Mechanical power presses, an OSHA general industry standard (Part 1910, Subpart O). It includes 4 sub-paragraphs. 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
(4) Foot pedals (treadle). 39 citations
(i) The pedal mechanism shall be protected to prevent unintended operation from falling or moving objects or by accidental stepping onto the pedal. Open (b)(4)(i) 30 citations
(ii) A pad with a nonslip contact area shall be firmly attached to the pedal. 9 citations
(iii) The pedal return spring(s) shall be of the compression type, operating on a rod or guided within a hole or tube, or designed to prevent interleaving of spring coils in event of breakage. Open (b)(4)(iii)
(iv) If pedal counterweights are provided, the path of the travel of the weight shall be enclosed.
Source: eCFR, text current as of 2026-10-15. Read all of 1910.217.
Where and how often it was cited
| Year | Citations |
|---|---|
| 2023 | 2 |
| 2024 | 16 |
| 2025 | 16 |
| 2026 | 5 |
Top states: CT (3), MS (3), OR (3), PA (3), TN (2)
Largest penalties
| Employer | Location | Penalty for this rule |
|---|---|---|
| JUNE JACOBS LABS, LLC. | MOONACHIE, NJ | $8,935 |
| JOB CONNECTION SERVICES, INC. | MOONACHIE, NJ | $7,530 |
| COLUMBIA INDUSTRIES INC | BERWICK, PA | $7,000 |
| INTERSTATE HIGHWAY SIGNS | LITTLE ROCK, AR | $5,646 |
| OSHKOSH COIL SPRING, INC. | OSHKOSH, WI | $5,186 |
Free toolbox talk
A 5-minute crew talk on 1910.217(b)(4), plus alerts when this rule changes. Free.
OSHA interpretation letters
Related parts of this rule
- 1910.217(b) Mechanical power press guarding and construction, general 93 citations
- 1910.217(b)(4)(i) 30 citations
- 1910.217(b)(7) Machines using part revolution clutches 29 citations
- 1910.217(b)(7)(iii) 14 citations
- 1910.217(b)(7)(v) 10 citations
- 1910.217(b)(3) Machines using full revolution positive clutches 4 citations
- 1910.217(b)(13) Control reliability 3 citations
- 1910.217(b)(3)(ii) 1 citations
- 1910.217(b)(1) Hazards to personnel associated with broken or falling machine components 1 citations
- 1910.217(b)(4)(iii)
Get your crew competent
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Frequently asked questions
Why must a press foot pedal be protected?
To prevent unintended operation from falling or moving objects or by accidental stepping onto the pedal.
What must be on the pedal surface?
A pad with a nonslip contact area firmly attached to the pedal.
What about pedal counterweights?
If provided, the path of travel of the weight shall be enclosed.
About this page
Sources
- 29 CFR 1910.217 (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.