29 CFR 1910 · General Industry · Subpart R

1910.266(f): Logging Machines

By Black Belt Safety Editorial Team Official text as of octubre 15, 2026 Data updated noviembre 6, 2026 10 min read

In plain words:

Employers in logging must keep each machine, including any machine provided by an employee, in serviceable condition, inspect it before initial use during each workshift, and keep operating and maintenance instructions available. Machines must be started and run only by a designated person, kept within rated capacity and manufacturer limits, and operated so no one is in the machine's path or put at risk.

Key takeaways

  • 1910.266(f) is part of OSHA's general industry standards (29 CFR Part 1910, Subpart R).
  • OSHA cited it 18 times in the last 3 years, in 15 inspections, with $90,689 in current penalties.
  • 1 death is linked to inspections that cited this rule.
  • Most citations: NC (5), WV (3), NY (2).
  • Related part: 1910.266(f)(1) General requirements (10 citations).
  • Free 5-minute toolbox talk for your crew below.

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18citations, 3 years
$90,689current penalties
15inspections
1linked deaths
In this article
  1. What this rule covers
  2. Official text
  3. Injuries linked to this rule
  4. Where and how often it was cited
  5. Free toolbox talk
  6. OSHA interpretation letters
  7. Related parts of this rule
  8. Get your crew competent
  9. Frequently asked questions
  10. About this page

What this rule covers

29 CFR 1910.266(f) ("Machines") is one requirement inside 1910.266 Logging operations, an OSHA general industry standard (Part 1910, Subpart R). It includes 62 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

(f) Machines — 18 citations

(1) General requirements. Open (f)(1) 10 citations

(i) The employer shall assure that each machine, including any machine provided by an employee, is maintained in serviceable condition. 2 citations

(ii) The employer shall assure that each machine, including any machine provided by an employee, is inspected before initial use during each workshift. Defects or damage shall be repaired or the unserviceable machine shall be replaced before work is commenced. 5 citations

(iii) The employer shall assure that operating and maintenance instructions are available on the machine or in the area where the machine is being operated. Each machine operator and maintenance employee shall comply with the operating and maintenance instructions. 3 citations

(2) Machine operation. Open (f)(2) 7 citations

(i) The machine shall be started and operated only by a designated person.

(ii) Stationary logging machines and their components shall be anchored or otherwise stabilized to prevent movement during operation. 1 citations

(iii) The rated capacity of any machine shall not be exceeded.

(iv) To maintain stability, the machine must be operated within the limitations imposed by the manufacturer as described in the operating and maintenance instructions for that machine.

(v) Before starting or moving any machine, the operator shall determine that no employee is in the path of the machine. 1 citations

(vi) The machine shall be operated only from the operator's station or as otherwise recommended by the manufacturer.

(vii) The machine shall be operated at such a distance from employees and other machines such that operation will not create a hazard for an employee. 2 citations

(viii) No employee other than the operator shall ride on any mobile machine unless seating, seat belts and other protection equivalent to that provided for the operator are provided. Open (f)(2)(viii) 1 citations

(ix) No employee shall ride on any load. 1 citations

(x) Before the operator leaves the operator's station of a machine, it shall be secured as follows: 1 citations

(A) The parking brake or brake locks shall be applied;

(B) The transmission shall be placed in the manufacturer's specified park position; and

(C) Each moving element such as, but not limited to blades, buckets, saws and shears, shall be lowered to the ground or otherwise secured. 1 citations

(xi) If a hydraulic or pneumatic storage device can move the moving elements such as, but not limited to, blades, buckets, saws and shears, after the machine is shut down, the pressure or stored energy from the element shall be discharged as specified by the manufacturer.

(xii) The rated capacity of any vehicle transporting a machine shall not be exceeded.

(xiii) The machine shall be loaded, secured and unloaded so that it will not create a hazard for any employee.

(3) Protective structures. Open (f)(3) 1 citations

(i) Each tractor, skidder, swing yarder, log stacker, log loader and mechanical felling device, such as tree shears or feller-buncher, placed into initial service after February 9, 1995, shall be equipped with falling object protective structure (FOPS) and/or rollover protective structure (ROPS). The employer shall replace FOPS or ROPS which have been removed from any machine. Exception: This requirement does not apply to machines which are capable of 360 degree rotation.

(ii)

(A) ROPS shall be tested, installed, and maintained in serviceable condition.

(B) Each machine manufactured after August 1, 1996, shall have ROPS tested, installed, and maintained in accordance with the Society of Automotive Engineers SAE J1040, April 1988, “Performance Criteria for Rollover Protective Structures (ROPS) for Construction, Earthmoving, Forestry, and Mining Machines”, which is incorporated by reference as specified in § 1910.6.

(C) This incorporation by reference was approved by the Director of the Federal Register in accordance with 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51. Copies may be obtained from the Society of Automotive Engineers, 400 Commonwealth Drive, Warrendale, PA 15096. Copies may be inspected at the Docket Office, Occupational Safety and Health Administration, U.S. Department of Labor, 200 Constitution Avenue NW., room N2625, Washington, DC 20210, or at the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). For information on the availability of this material at NARA, call 202-741-6030, or go to: http://www.archives.gov/federal_register/code_of_federal_regulations/ibr_locations.html.

(iii) FOPS shall be installed, tested and maintained in accordance with the Society of Automotive Engineers SAE J231, January 1981, “Minimum Performance Criteria for Falling Object Protective Structures (FOPS)”, which is incorporated by reference as specified in § 1910.6.

(iv) ROPS and FOPS shall meet the requirements of the Society of Automotive Engineers SAE J397, April 1988, “Deflection Limiting Volume-ROPS/FOPS Laboratory Evaluation”, which is incorporated by reference as specified in § 1910.6.

(v) Each protective structure shall be of a size that does not impede the operator's normal movements.

(vi) The overhead covering of each cab shall be of solid material and shall extend over the entire canopy.

(vii) Each machine manufactured after August 1, 1996, shall have a cab that is fully enclosed with mesh material with openings no greater than 2 inches (5.08 cm) at its least dimension. The cab may be enclosed with other material(s) where the employer demonstrates such material(s) provides equivalent protection and visibility. Exception: Equivalent visibility is not required for the lower portion of the cab where there are control panels or similar obstructions in the cab, or where visibility is not necessary for safe operation of the machine. 1 citations

(viii) Each machine manufactured on or before August 1, 1996 shall have a cab which meets the requirements specified in paragraph (f)(3)(vii) or a protective canopy for the operator which meets the following requirements:

(A) The protective canopy shall be constructed to protect the operator from injury due to falling trees, limbs, saplings or branches which might enter the compartment side areas and from snapping winch lines or other objects;

(B) The lower portion of the cab shall be fully enclosed with solid material, except at entrances, to prevent the operator from being injured from obstacles entering the cab;

(C) The upper rear portion of the cab shall be fully enclosed with open mesh material with openings of such size as to reject the entrance of an object larger than 2 inches in diameter. It shall provide maximum rearward visibility; and

(D) Open mesh shall be extended forward as far as possible from the rear corners of the cab sides so as to give the maximum protection against obstacles, branches, etc., entering the cab area.

(ix) The enclosure of the upper portion of each cab shall allow maximum visibility.

(x) When transparent material is used to enclose the upper portion of the cab, it shall be made of safety glass or other material that the employer demonstrates provides equivalent protection and visibility.

(xi) Transparent material shall be kept clean to assure operator visibility.

(xii) Transparent material that may create a hazard for the operator, such as but not limited to, cracked, broken or scratched safety glass, shall be replaced.

(xiii) Deflectors shall be installed in front of each cab to deflect whipping saplings and branches. Deflectors shall be located so as not to impede visibility and access to the cab.

(xiv) The height of each cab entrance shall be at least 52 inches (1.3 meters) from the floor of the cab. Open (f)(3)(xiv)

(xv) Each machine operated near cable yarding operations shall be equipped with sheds or roofs of sufficient strength to provide protection from breaking lines.

(4) Overhead guards. Each forklift shall be equipped with an overhead guard meeting the requirements of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, ASME B56.6-1992 (with addenda), “Safety Standard for Rough Terrain Forklift Trucks”, which is incorporated by reference as specified in § 1910.6.

(5) Machine access.

(i) Machine access systems, meeting the specifications of the Society of Automotive Engineers, SAE J185, June 1988, “Recommended Practice for Access Systems for Off-Road Machines”, which is incorporated by reference as specified in § 1910.6, shall be provided for each machine where the operator or any other employee must climb onto the machine to enter the cab or to perform maintenance.

(ii) Each machine cab shall have a second means of egress.

(iii) Walking and working surfaces of each machine and machine work station shall have a slip resistant surface to assure safe footing.

(iv) The walking and working surface of each machine shall be kept free of waste, debris and any other material which might result in fire, slipping, or falling.

(6) Exhaust systems.

(i) The exhaust pipes on each machine shall be located so exhaust gases are directed away from the operator.

(ii) The exhaust pipes on each machine shall be mounted or guarded to protect each employee from accidental contact.

(iii) The exhaust pipes shall be equipped with spark arresters. Engines equipped with turbochargers do not require spark arresters.

(iv) Each machine muffler provided by the manufacturer, or their equivalent, shall be in place at all times the machine is in operation.

(7) Brakes.

(i) Service brakes shall be sufficient to stop and hold each machine and its rated load capacity on the slopes over which it is being operated.

(ii) Each machine placed into initial service on or after September 8, 1995 shall also be equipped with: back-up or secondary brakes that are capable of stopping the machine regardless of the direction of travel or whether the engine is running; and parking brakes that are capable of continuously holding a stopped machine stationary.

(8) Guarding.

(i) Each machine shall be equipped with guarding to protect employees from exposed moving elements, such as but not limited to, shafts, pulleys, belts on conveyors, and gears, in accordance with the requirements of subpart O of part 1910.

(ii) Each machine used for debarking, limbing and chipping shall be equipped with guarding to protect employees from flying wood chunks, logs, chips, bark, limbs and other material in accordance with the requirements of subpart O of part 1910.

(iii) The guarding on each machine shall be in place at all times the machine is in operation.

Source: eCFR, text current as of 2026-10-15. Read all of 1910.266.

See every company cited for this rule.

Export the list: 15 inspections cited 1910.266(f) in the last 3 years, with employer, location, penalty and date.

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Injuries linked to this rule

1 death is linked to inspections where OSHA cited 1910.266(f).

One employee dies, another is injured when crushed by equipm
2024-04-16 · Fatal · WATSON, AR

At 8:03 a.m. on April 16, 2024, an Employee #1, Employee #2 and a coworker were topping felled trees in a cleared-out area of a logging site. The coworker was operating the John Deere 843L a Feller Buncher while Employee #1 and Employee #2were riding…

Where and how often it was cited

YearCitations
20231
20242
20257
20268

Top states: NC (5), WV (3), NY (2), AK (2), HI (1)

Largest penalties

EmployerLocationPenalty for this rule
109598 - SGF INC DBA SKAURUD GRAIN FARMSGARY, MN$25,000
J&B LOGGING, LLPWATSON, AR$21,700
H.C. HAYNES INC.SMYRNA MILLS, ME$10,000
PINE CREEK LOGGING, LLCHARVARD, ID$9,034
VIKING LUMBER COMPANY, INC.NAUKATI BAY, AK$8,341

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OSHA interpretation letters

None exist. OSHA has not published a letter of interpretation for 1910.266(f).

Related parts of this rule

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Frequently asked questions

How often must logging machines be inspected?

Before initial use during each workshift, with defects repaired or the machine replaced before work starts.

Who may operate a logging machine?

Only a designated person may start and operate the machine.

Can workers ride on a mobile machine?

No employee other than the operator may ride unless seating, seat belts and protection equal to the operator's are provided, and no employee may ride on any load.

About this page

Sources

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.

Written and reviewed by

Black Belt Safety Editorial Team

Site Safety Officer and Safety Professional

OSHA 30 · CPR · USACE CQM

Written and reviewed by the Black Belt Safety team. Every post is checked against the OSHA standard or agency source it cites.

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