1910.265(c)(2): Work Areas Under Sawmills
Work areas under sawmills must be as evenly surfaced as local conditions permit, free from unnecessary obstructions, and lit in accordance with American National Standard for Industrial Lighting A11.1-1965.
Key takeaways
- 1910.265(c)(2) is part of OSHA's general industry standards (29 CFR Part 1910, Subpart R).
- OSHA cited it 1 times in the last 3 years, in 1 inspections, with $15,000 in current penalties.
- 1 death is linked to inspections that cited this rule.
- 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)(2) ("Work areas") is one requirement inside 1910.265 Sawmills, an OSHA general industry standard (Part 1910, Subpart R). 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
(2) Work areas. Work areas under mills shall be as evenly surfaced as local conditions permit. They shall be free from unnecessary obstructions and provided with lighting facilities in accordance with American National Standard for Industrial Lighting A11.1—1965, which is incorporated by reference as specified in § 1910.6. 1 citations
Source: eCFR, text current as of 2026-10-15. Read all of 1910.265.
Injuries linked to this rule
1 death is linked to inspections where OSHA cited 1910.265(c)(2).
At 2:15 p.m. on February 5, 2024, an employee working for a sawmill was watchinga conveyor/woodchipper machine to ensure that lumber pieces were moving through the machinery properly. The employee was watching as the pieces moved along the vibrating conveyors and onto the main conveyor…
Where and how often it was cited
Free toolbox talk
A 5-minute crew talk on 1910.265(c)(2), plus alerts when this rule changes. Free.
OSHA interpretation letters
None exist. OSHA has not published a letter of interpretation for 1910.265(c)(2).
Related parts of this rule
- 1910.265(c) Building facilities, and isolated equipment 103 citations
- 1910.265(c)(18) Conveyors 34 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
Get your crew competent
Trainers on Black Belt Safety: Marc Harvey, Dana Reyes
Trainers and suppliers: feature your business on this rule for $25/month.
Frequently asked questions
How even must the surface be?
As evenly surfaced as local conditions permit.
What about obstructions?
Work areas shall be free from unnecessary obstructions.
What lighting standard applies?
American National Standard for Industrial Lighting A11.1-1965.
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.