1910.218(a)(3): Hammers and presses
Key takeaways
- 1910.218(a)(3) is part of OSHA's general industry standards (29 CFR Part 1910, Subpart O).
- Related part: 1910.218(a) General requirements (9 citations).
- Free 5-minute toolbox talk for your crew below.
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What this rule covers
29 CFR 1910.218(a)(3) ("Hammers and presses") is one requirement inside 1910.218 Forging machines, an OSHA general industry standard (Part 1910, Subpart O). It includes 9 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
(3) Hammers and presses.
(i) All hammers shall be positioned or installed in such a manner that they remain on or are anchored to foundations sufficient to support them according to applicable engineering standards.
(ii) All presses shall be installed in such a manner that they remain where they are positioned or they are anchored to foundations sufficient to support them according to applicable engineering standards.
| Size of timber, inches 1 | Square inches in cross section | Minimum allowable crushing strength parallel to grain, p.s.i. 2 | Maximum static load within short column range 3 | Safety factor | Maximum recommended weight of forging hammer for timber used | Maximum allowable length of timber, inches |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 × 4 | 16 | 5,000 | 80,000 | 10 | 8,000 | 44 |
| 6 × 6 | 36 | 5,000 | 180,000 | 10 | 18,000 | 66 |
| 8 × 8 | 64 | 5,000 | 320,000 | 10 | 32,000 | 88 |
| 10 × 10 | 100 | 5,000 | 500,000 | 10 | 50,000 | 100 |
| 12 × 12 | 144 | 5,000 | 720,000 | 10 | 72,000 | 132 |
| 1 Actual dimension. | ||||||
| 2 Adapted from U.S. Department of Agriculture Technical Bulletin 479. Hardwoods recommended are those whose ultimate crushing strengths in compression parallel to grain are 5,000 p.s.i. (pounds per square inch) or greater. | ||||||
| 3 Slenderness ratio formula for short columns is L/d = 11, where L = length of timber in inches and d = least dimension in inches; this ratio should not exceed 11. | ||||||
(iii) Means shall be provided for disconnecting the power to the machine and for locking out or rendering cycling controls inoperable.
(iv) The ram shall be blocked when dies are being changed or other work is being done on the hammer. Blocks or wedges shall be made of material the strength and construction of which should meet or exceed the specifications and dimensions shown in Table O-11.
(v) Tongs shall be of sufficient length to clear the body of the worker in case of kickback, and shall not have sharp handle ends.
(vi) Oil swabs, or scale removers, or other devices to remove scale shall be provided. These devices shall be long enough to enable a man to reach the full length of the die without placing his hand or arm between the dies.
(vii) Material handling equipment shall be of adequate strength, size, and dimension to handle diesetting operations safely.
(viii) A scale guard of substantial construction shall be provided at the back of every hammer, so arranged as to stop flying scale. Open (a)(3)(viii)
(ix) A scale guard of substantial construction shall be provided at the back of every press, so arranged as to stop flying scale.
Source: eCFR, text current as of 2026-10-15. Read all of 1910.218.
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OSHA interpretation letters
- Scale guard requirements for forging hammers. (1975-02-14)
Related parts of this rule
- 1910.218(a) General requirements 9 citations
- 1910.218(a)(3)(viii)
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Sources
- 29 CFR 1910.218 (eCFR), text current as of 2026-10-15
- U.S. Department of Labor enforcement data: OSHA inspections, citations and accident records, copied nightly
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.