1910.243(a): Guards and Switches on Portable Power Tools
Portable circular saws with a blade diameter greater than 2 inches must have upper and lower guards, with the lower guard returning automatically when the saw is withdrawn; meat-cutting saws are excluded. Listed hand-held tools must have constant pressure switches that shut off power when released, and some may have a lock-on control that turns off with a single motion.
Key takeaways
- 1910.243(a) is part of OSHA's general industry standards (29 CFR Part 1910, Subpart P).
- OSHA cited it 20 times in the last 3 years, in 20 inspections, with $90,422 in current penalties.
- Most citations: IN (4), TN (3), FL (2).
- Related part: 1910.243(a)(1)(i) (9 citations).
- Free 5-minute toolbox talk for your crew below.
In this article
What this rule covers
29 CFR 1910.243(a) ("Portable powered tool") is one requirement inside 1910.243 Guarding of portable powered tools, an OSHA general industry standard (Part 1910, Subpart P). It includes 12 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
(a) Portable powered tool — 20 citations
(1) Portable circular saws. Open (a)(1) 9 citations
(i) All portable, power-driven circular saws having a blade diameter greater than 2 in. shall be equipped with guards above and below the base plate or shoe. The upper guard shall cover the saw to the depth of the teeth, except for the minimum arc required to permit the base to be tilted for bevel cuts. The lower guard shall cover the saw to the depth of the teeth, except for the minimum arc required to allow proper retraction and contact with the work. When the tool is withdrawn from the work, the lower guard shall automatically and instantly return to covering position. Open (a)(1)(i) 9 citations
(ii) Paragraph (a)(1)(i) of this section does not apply to circular saws used in the meat industry for meat cutting purposes.
(2) Switches and controls. Open (a)(2) 7 citations
(i) All hand-held powered circular saws having a blade diameter greater than 2 inches, electric, hydraulic or pneumatic chain saws, and percussion tools without positive accessory holding means shall be equipped with a constant pressure switch or control that will shut off the power when the pressure is released. All hand-held gasoline powered chain saws shall be equipped with a constant pressure throttle control that will shut off the power to the saw chain when the pressure is released. 1 citations
(ii) All hand-held powered drills, tappers, fastener drivers, horizontal, vertical, and angle grinders with wheels greater than 2 inches in diameter, disc sanders with discs greater than 2 inches in diameter, belt sanders, reciprocating saws, saber, scroll, and jig saws with blade shanks greater than a nominal one-fourth inch, and other similarly operating powered tools shall be equipped with a constant pressure switch or control, and may have a lock-on control provided that turnoff can be accomplished by a single motion of the same finger or fingers that turn it on. Open (a)(2)(ii) 4 citations
(iii) 2 citations
(a) All other hand-held powered tools, such as, but not limited to, platen sanders, grinders with wheels 2 inches in diameter or less, disc sanders with discs 2 inches in diameter or less, routers, planers, laminate trimmers, nibblers, shears, saber, scroll, and jig saws with blade shanks a nominal one-fourth of an inch wide or less, may be equipped with either a positive “on-off” control, or other controls as described by paragraph (a)(2)(i) and (ii) of this section.
(b) Saber, scroll, and jig saws with nonstandard blade holders may use blades with shanks which are nonuniform in width, provided the narrowest portion of the blade shank is an integral part in mounting the blade.
(c) Blade shank width shall be measured at the narrowest portion of the blade shank when saber, scroll, and jig saws have nonstandard blade holders.
(d) Nominal in this subparagraph means ±0.05 inch.
(iv) The operating control on hand-held power tools shall be so located as to minimize the possibility of its accidental operation, if such accidental operation would constitute a hazard to employees.
(v) This subparagraph does not apply to concrete vibrators, concrete breakers, powered tampers, jack hammers, rock drills, garden appliances, household and kitchen appliances, personal care appliances, medical or dental equipment, or to fixed machinery.
(3) Portable belt sanding machines. Belt sanding machines shall be provided with guards at each nip point where the sanding belt runs onto a pulley. These guards shall effectively prevent the hands or fingers of the operator from coming in contact with the nip points. The unused run of the sanding belt shall be guarded against accidental contact. 3 citations
(4) Cracked saws. All cracked saws shall be removed from service. Open (a)(4) 1 citations
(5) Grounding. Portable electric powered tools shall meet the electrical requirements of subpart S of this part.
Source: eCFR, text current as of 2026-10-15. Read all of 1910.243.
Where and how often it was cited
| Year | Citations |
|---|---|
| 2023 | 3 |
| 2024 | 7 |
| 2025 | 5 |
| 2026 | 5 |
Top states: IN (4), TN (3), FL (2), AK (2), KS (1)
Largest penalties
| Employer | Location | Penalty for this rule |
|---|---|---|
| NATIONAL BEEF PACKING COMPANY, LLC | DODGE CITY, KS | $15,625 |
| BROAD STREET COMMONS LLC | GLENS FALLS, NY | $9,679 |
| PENSKE TRUCK COLLISION REPAIR TOLEDO | NORTHWOOD, OH | $8,066 |
| ALASKA DOT & PF | PALMER, AK | $8,066 |
| ALASKA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION | ANCHORAGE, AK | $7,448 |
Free toolbox talk
A 5-minute crew talk on 1910.243(a), plus alerts when this rule changes. Free.
OSHA interpretation letters
- Guarding/hazards of using woodcutting sawblades on a cut-off machine (1999-11-15)
- Standards applicable to Bell Industries "Carb-Cutter" powered tool. (1985-06-05)
- Applicability of 1910.212(a)(3)(ii) to Portable Pneumatic Powered Fastener Tools (1985-03-25)
- Handtools must be in a safe condition. (1981-09-11)
Related parts of this rule
- 1910.243(a)(1)(i) 9 citations
- 1910.243(a)(1) Portable circular saws 9 citations
- 1910.243(a)(2) Switches and controls 7 citations
- 1910.243(a)(2)(ii) 4 citations
- 1910.243(a)(4) Cracked saws 1 citations
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Frequently asked questions
What guards are needed on a portable circular saw?
Saws with a blade diameter greater than 2 inches need guards above and below the base plate, and the lower guard must automatically and instantly return when the saw is withdrawn.
Which tools need a constant pressure switch?
Hand-held circular saws with blades greater than 2 inches, electric, hydraulic or pneumatic chain saws, and percussion tools without positive accessory holding means, among others.
Are any saws excluded from the guard rule?
Yes. Circular saws used in the meat industry for meat cutting.
About this page
Sources
- 29 CFR 1910.243 (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 2026-10-22
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.