1910.264: Laundry Machinery Guarding
Employers running laundries must guard moving parts and points of operation on laundry equipment; this does not cover dry-cleaning. Washing machines, drying tumblers and double-cylinder shakers must have a way to hold doors or covers open during loading and unloading, and steam pipes within 7 feet of the floor or work platform that workers may touch must be insulated, covered or guarded.
Key takeaways
- 1910.264 is part of OSHA's general industry standards (29 CFR Part 1910, Subpart R).
- OSHA cited it 10 times in the last 3 years, in 8 inspections, with $61,263 in current penalties.
- Most citations: NY (3), NV (2), CT (1).
- Free 5-minute toolbox talk for your crew below.
In this article
What this rule covers
29 CFR 1910.264, "Laundry machinery and operations", is an OSHA general industry standard (Part 1910, Subpart R). It has 23 numbered 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
Show the full text of 1910.264 (23 paragraphs)
(a) [Reserved]
(b) General requirements. This section applies to moving parts of equipment used in laundries and to conditions peculiar to this industry, with special reference to the point of operation of laundry machines. This section does not apply to dry-cleaning operations.
(c) Point-of-operation guards — 4 citations
(1) Washroom machines.
(i) [Reserved]
(ii) Washing machine.
(a) [Reserved]
(b) Each washing machine shall be provided with means for holding open the doors or covers of inner and outer cylinders or shells while being loaded or unloaded.
(2) Starching and drying machines.
(i)-(ii) [Reserved]
(iii) Drying tumbler.
(a) [Reserved]
(b) Each drying tumbler shall be provided with means for holding open the doors or covers of inner and outer cylinders or shells while being loaded or unloaded.
(iv) Shaker (clothes tumbler).
(a) through (b)
(1) [Reserved]
(2) Each shaker or clothes tumbler of the double-cylinder type shall be provided with means for holding open the doors or covers of inner and outer cylinders or shells while being loaded or unloaded.
(v) Exception. Provisions of paragraph (c)(2) (iii), (iv)(a)(1), and (iv)(b) of this section shall not apply to shakeout or conditioning tumblers where the clothes are loaded into the open end of the revolving cylinder and are automatically discharged out of the opposite end.
(3) [Reserved]
(4) Miscellaneous machines and equipment. 4 citations
(i)-(ii) [Reserved]
(iii) Steam pipes. 4 citations
(a) All steam pipes that are within 7 feet of the floor or working platform, and with which the worker may come into contact, shall be insulated or covered with a heat-resistive material or shall be otherwise properly guarded.
(b) Where pressure-reducing valves are used, one or more relief or safety valves shall be provided on the low-pressure side of the reducing valve, in case the piping or equipment on the low-pressure side does not meet the requirements for full initial pressure. The relief or safety valve shall be located adjacent to, or as close as possible to, the reducing valve. Proper protection shall be provided to prevent injury or damage caused by fluid escaping from relief or safety valves if vented to the atmosphere. The vents shall be of ample size and as short and direct as possible. The combined discharge capacity of the relief valves shall be such that the pressure rating of the lower-pressure piping and equipment will not be exceeded if the reducing valve sticks or fails to open.
(d) Operating rules — 6 citations
(1) General. 1 citations
(i)-(ii) [Reserved]
(iii) Markers. Markers and others handling soiled clothes shall be warned against touching the eyes, mouth, or any part of the body on which the skin has been broken by a scratch or abrasion; and they shall be cautioned not to touch or eat food until their hands have been thoroughly washed.
(iv) [Reserved]
(v) Instruction of employees. Employees shall be properly instructed as to the hazards of their work and be instructed in safe practices, by bulletins, printed rules, and verbal instructions. 1 citations
(2) Mechanical — 5 citations
(i) Safety guards. 5 citations
(a) No safeguard, safety appliance, or device attached to, or forming an integral part of any machinery shall be removed or made ineffective except for the purpose of making immediate repairs or adjustments. Any such safeguard, safety appliance, or device removed or made ineffective during the repair or adjustment of such machinery shall be replaced immediately upon the completion of such repairs or adjustments.
(b) [Reserved]
[39 FR 23502, June 27, 1974, as amended at 43 FR 49767, Oct. 24, 1978; 43 FR 51760, Nov. 7, 1978]
Source: eCFR, text current as of 2026-10-15.
Where and how often it was cited
| Year | Citations |
|---|---|
| 2023 | 1 |
| 2024 | 2 |
| 2025 | 5 |
| 2026 | 2 |
Top states: NY (3), NV (2), CT (1), OH (1), TX (1)
Largest penalties
| Employer | Location | Penalty for this rule |
|---|---|---|
| MATS, ETC. | LAS VEGAS, NV | $17,389 |
| HANDCRAFT CLEANERS & LAUNDERERS, INC. | RICHMOND, VA | $12,390 |
| CLEAN TEXTILE SYSTEMS, LP | BUFFALO, NY | $12,000 |
| MIDDLESEX HEALTH | MIDDLETOWN, CT | $8,929 |
| VESTIS SERVICES, LLC | AMARILLO, TX | $5,000 |
Free toolbox talk
A 5-minute crew talk on 1910.264, plus alerts when this rule changes. Free.
OSHA interpretation letters
- Flatwork ironers. (1992-05-15)
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Frequently asked questions
Does this rule apply to dry cleaning?
No. The section does not apply to dry-cleaning operations.
What must washing machines and drying tumblers have?
A means for holding open the doors or covers of inner and outer cylinders or shells while being loaded or unloaded.
Which steam pipes must be covered?
Steam pipes within 7 feet of the floor or working platform that a worker may contact must be insulated, covered with heat-resistive material or otherwise guarded.
About this page
Sources
- 29 CFR 1910.264 (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.