1910.265(e): Sawmill Log Carriages and Head Saws
Sawmill employers must equip log carriage runways with shock-absorbing bumpers, secure footing for rider carriages, guarded sheaves, a positive means to stop unintended carriage movement, barriers and warning signs along the runway, overhead clearance, track sweepers and adequate dogs. Band head saws must not exceed manufacturer speeds and must be inspected, and a saw with a crack greater than one-tenth its width cannot be used until repaired.
Key takeaways
- 1910.265(e) is part of OSHA's general industry standards (29 CFR Part 1910, Subpart R).
- OSHA cited it 21 times in the last 3 years, in 17 inspections, with $49,924 in current penalties.
- Most citations: WI (6), TX (5), PA (2).
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In this article
What this rule covers
29 CFR 1910.265(e) ("Log breakdown and related machinery and facilities") is one requirement inside 1910.265 Sawmills, an OSHA general industry standard (Part 1910, Subpart R). It includes 30 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
(e) Log breakdown and related machinery and facilities — 21 citations
(1) Log carriages and carriage runways — 4 citations
(i) Bumpers. A substantial stop or bumper with adequate shock-absorptive qualities shall be installed at each end of the carriage runway.
(ii) Footing. Rider-type carriages shall be floored to provide secure footing and a firm working platform for the block setter.
(iii) Sheave housing. Sheaves on rope-driven carriages shall be guarded at floor line with substantial housings.
(iv) Carriage control. A positive means shall be provided to prevent unintended movement of the carriage. This may involve a control locking device, a carriage tie-down, or both.
(v) Barriers and warning signs. A barrier shall be provided to prevent employees from entering the space necessary for travel of the carriage, with headblocks fully receded, for the full length and extreme ends of carriage runways. Warning signs shall be posted at possible entry points to this area. 4 citations
(vi) Overhead clearance. For a rider-type carriage adequate overhead clear space above the carriage deck shall be provided for the full carriage runway length.
(vii) Sweeping devices. Carriage track sweeping devices shall be used to keep track rails clear of debris.
(viii) Dogs. Dogging devices shall be adequate to secure logs, cants, or boards, during sawing operations.
(2) Head saws — 2 citations
(i) Band head saws.
(a) Band head saws shall not be operated at speeds in excess of those recommended by the manufacturer
(b) Band head saws shall be thoroughly inspected for cracks, splits, broken teeth, and other defects. A bandsaw with a crack greater than one-tenth the width of the saw shall not be placed in service until width of saw is reduced to eliminate crack, until cracked section is removed, or crack development is stopped.
(c) Provisions shall be made for alerting and warning employees before starting band head saws, and measures shall be taken to insure that all persons are in the clear.
(ii) Bandsaw wheels. 1 citations
(a) No bandsaw wheel shall be run at a peripheral speed in excess of that recommended by the manufacturer. The manufacturer's recommended maximum speed shall be stamped in plainly legible figures on some portion of the wheel.
(b) Band head saw wheels shall be subjected to monthly inspections. Hubs, spokes, rims, bolts, and rivets shall be thoroughly examined in the course of such inspections. A loose or damaged hub, a rim crack, or loose spokes shall make the wheel unfit for service.
(c) Band wheels shall be completely encased or guarded, except for a portion of the upper wheel immediately around the point where the blade leaves the wheel, to permit operator to observe movement of equipment. Necessary ventilating and observation ports may be permitted. Substantial doors or gates are allowed for repair, lubrication, and saw changes; such doors or gates shall be closed securely during operation. Band head rigs shall be equipped with a saw catcher or guard of substantial construction.
(iii) Single circular head saws. 1 citations
(a) Circular head saws shall not be operated at speeds in excess of those specified by the manufacturer. Maximum speed shall be etched on the saw.
(b) Circular head saws shall be equipped with safety guides which can be readily adjusted without use of hand tools.
(c) The upper saw of a double circular mill shall be provided with a substantial hood or guard. A screen or other suitable device shall be placed so as to protect the sawyer from flying particles.
(d) All circular sawmills where live rolls are not used behind the head saw shall be equipped with a spreader wheel or splitter.
(iv) Twin circular head saws. Twin circular head saws rigs such as scrag saws shall meet the specifications for single circular head saws in paragraph (e)(2)(iii) of this section where applicable.
(v) Whole-log sash gang saws (Swedish gangs).
(a) Cranks, pitman rods, and other moving parts shall be adequately guarded.
(b) Feed rolls shall be enclosed by a cover over the top, front, and open ends except where guarded by location. Drive mechanism to feed rolls shall be enclosed.
(c) Carriage cradles of whole-log sash gang saws (Swedish gangs), shall be of adequate height to prevent logs from kicking out while being loaded.
(3) Resaws — 1 citations
(i) Band resaws. Band resaws shall meet the specifications for band head saws as required by paragraph (e)(2)(i) of this section. 1 citations
(ii) Circular gang resaws.
(a) Banks of circular gang resaws shall be guarded by a hood.
(b) Circular gang resaws shall be provided with safety fingers or other antikickback devices.
(c) Circular gang resaws shall not be operated at speeds exceeding those recommended by the manufacturer.
(d) [Reserved]
(e) Feed rolls shall be guarded.
(f) Each circular gang resaw, except self-feed saws with a live roll or wheel at back of saw, shall be provided with spreaders.
(iii) Sash gang resaws. Sash gang resaws shall meet the safety specifications of whole-log sash gang saws in accordance with the requirements of paragraph (e)(2)(v) of this section.
(4) Trimmer saws — 9 citations
(i) Maximum speed. Trimmer saws shall not be run at peripheral speeds in excess of those recommended by the manufacturer.
(ii) Guards. 9 citations
(a) Trimmer saws shall be guarded in front by adequate baffles to protect against flying debris and they shall be securely bolted to a substantial frame. These guards for a series of saws shall be set as close to the top of the trimmer table as is practical.
(b) The end saws on trimmer shall be guarded.
(c) The rear of trimmer saws shall have a guard the full width of the saws and as much wider as practical.
(iii) Safety stops. Automatic trimmer saws shall be provided with safety stops or hangers to prevent saws from dropping on table.
(5) Edgers — 3 citations
(i) Location.
(a) Where vertical arbor edger saws are located ahead of the main saw, they shall be so guarded that an employee cannot contact any part of the edger saw from his normal position.
(b) Edgers shall not be located in the main roll case behind the head saws.
(ii) Guards. 2 citations
(a) The top and the openings in end and side frames of edgers shall be adequately guarded and gears and chains shall be fully housed. Guards may be hinged or otherwise arranged to permit oiling and the removal of saws.
(b) All edgers shall be equipped with pressure feed rolls.
(c) Pressure feed rolls on edgers shall be guarded against accidental contact.
(iii) Antikickback devices. 1 citations
(a) Edgers shall be provided with safety fingers or other approved methods of preventing kickbacks or guarding against them. A barricade in line with the edger, if properly fenced off, may be used if safety fingers are not feasible to install.
(b) A controlling device shall be installed and located so that the operator can stop the feed mechanism without releasing the tension of the pressure rolls.
(iv) Operating speed of live rolls. Live rolls and tailing devices in back of edger shall operate at a speed not less than the speed of the edger feed rolls.
(6) Planers — 2 citations
(i) Guards. 2 citations
(a) All cutting heads shall be guarded.
(b) Side head hoods shall be of sufficient height to safeguard the head setscrew.
(c) Pressure feed rolls and “pineapples” shall be guarded.
(d) Levers or controls shall be so arranged or guarded as to reduce the possibility of accidental operation.
Source: eCFR, text current as of 2026-10-15. Read all of 1910.265.
Export the list: 17 inspections cited 1910.265(e) in the last 3 years, with employer, location, penalty and date.
Purple Belt, $59/moWhere and how often it was cited
| Year | Citations |
|---|---|
| 2023 | 2 |
| 2024 | 13 |
| 2025 | 5 |
| 2026 | 1 |
Top states: WI (6), TX (5), PA (2), NC (2), WV (2)
Largest penalties
| Employer | Location | Penalty for this rule |
|---|---|---|
| PLEASANT RIVER LUMBER COMPANY | DOVER FOXCROFT, ME | $11,179 |
| FLORENCE HARDWOODS, LLC | FLORENCE, WI | $6,875 |
| G&S LUMBER CO., INC. | NACOGDOCHES, TX | $6,454 |
| TIGERTON LUMBER COMPANY | TIGERTON, WI | $6,016 |
| J & J LUMBER, LLC | CLEVELAND, TX | $3,485 |
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OSHA interpretation letters
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Frequently asked questions
What must be at each end of a carriage runway?
A substantial stop or bumper with adequate shock-absorptive qualities.
How is unintended carriage movement prevented?
With a positive means such as a control locking device, a carriage tie-down, or both.
When can a cracked band head saw not be used?
When it has a crack greater than one-tenth the width of the saw, until the crack is removed, the width reduced, or crack development stopped.
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 2026-11-06
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.