1910.265(c)(18): Sawmill Conveyor Standards and Guarding
In sawmills, employers must build, operate and maintain conveyors according to American National Standard B20.1-1957. Spiked live rolls must be guarded.
Key takeaways
- 1910.265(c)(18) is part of OSHA's general industry standards (29 CFR Part 1910, Subpart R).
- OSHA cited it 34 times in the last 3 years, in 32 inspections, with $324,902 in current penalties.
- 2 deaths are linked to inspections that cited this rule.
- Most citations: WI (12), PA (4), AL (3).
- Related part: 1910.265(c) Building facilities, and isolated equipment (103 citations).
- Free 5-minute toolbox talk for your crew below.
In this article
What this rule covers
29 CFR 1910.265(c)(18) ("Conveyors") is one requirement inside 1910.265 Sawmills, an OSHA general industry standard (Part 1910, Subpart R). It includes 2 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
(18) Conveyors — 34 citations
(i) Standards. Construction, operation, and maintenance of conveyors shall be in accordance with American National Standard B20.1—1957, which is incorporated by reference as specified in § 1910.6. Open (c)(18)(i) 34 citations
(ii) Guarding. Spiked live rolls shall be guarded.
Source: eCFR, text current as of 2026-10-15. Read all of 1910.265.
Injuries linked to this rule
2 deaths are linked to inspections where OSHA cited 1910.265(c)(18).
At 7:45 p.m. on September 27, 2024, Employee #1 was operating a dual-hopper log shaver when the employee made contact with the cutter heads of the machine. The employee was caught in the machine and sustained fatal injuries. The employee's body above the legs was…
Full case list with employer, penalty, filters and download is part of OSHA Data (Purple Belt).
Unlock with Purple BeltWhere and how often it was cited
| Year | Citations |
|---|---|
| 2023 | 4 |
| 2024 | 15 |
| 2025 | 6 |
| 2026 | 9 |
Top states: WI (12), PA (4), AL (3), OR (3), GA (3)
Largest penalties
| Employer | Location | Penalty for this rule |
|---|---|---|
| MDLG, INC. | PHENIX CITY, AL | $161,323 |
| FLORENCE HARDWOODS, LLC | FLORENCE, WI | $24,063 |
| THOMPSON HARDWOODS, INC. | HAZLEHURST, GA | $16,131 |
| WEABER, INC. | LEBANON, PA | $16,000 |
| HANCOCK LUMBER COMPANY, INC. | PITTSFIELD, ME | $15,000 |
Free toolbox talk
A 5-minute crew talk on 1910.265(c)(18), plus alerts when this rule changes. Free.
OSHA interpretation letters
Related parts of this rule
- 1910.265(c) Building facilities, and isolated equipment 103 citations
- 1910.265(c)(18)(i) Standards 34 citations
- 1910.265(c)(4) Walkways, docks, and platforms 30 citations
- 1910.265(c)(4)(iv) Elevated walks 21 citations
- 1910.265(c)(5) Stairways 13 citations
- 1910.265(c)(26) Mechanical stackers and unstackers 8 citations
- 1910.265(c)(5)(ii) Handrails 7 citations
- 1910.265(c)(4)(vi) Hazardous locations 2 citations
- 1910.265(c)(2) Work areas 1 citations
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Frequently asked questions
What standard applies to sawmill conveyors?
Construction, operation and maintenance must follow American National Standard B20.1-1957.
Do spiked live rolls need guards?
Yes. Spiked live rolls must be guarded.
Does this cover conveyor maintenance too?
Yes. The rule covers construction, operation and maintenance of conveyors.
About this page
Sources
- 29 CFR 1910.265 (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 2026-10-21
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.