1910.266(h)(2)(vi): Backcut and Hinge Wood When Felling
A backcut must be made in each tree being felled. It must leave enough hinge wood to hold the tree to the stump during most of its fall so the hinge can guide the tree in the intended direction.
Key takeaways
- 1910.266(h)(2)(vi) is part of OSHA's general industry standards (29 CFR Part 1910, Subpart R).
- OSHA cited it 5 times in the last 3 years, in 5 inspections, with $8,232 in current penalties.
- 1 death is linked to inspections that cited this rule.
- Related part: 1910.266(h) Tree harvesting (63 citations).
- Free 5-minute toolbox talk for your crew below.
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In this article
What this rule covers
29 CFR 1910.266(h)(2)(vi) is one requirement inside 1910.266 Logging operations, 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
(vi) A backcut shall be made in each tree being felled. The backcut shall leave sufficient hinge wood to hold the tree to the stump during most of its fall so that the hinge is able to guide the tree's fall in the intended direction. 5 citations
Source: eCFR, text current as of 2026-10-15. Read all of 1910.266.
Export the list: 5 inspections cited 1910.266(h)(2)(vi) in the last 3 years, with employer, location, penalty and date.
Purple Belt, $59/moInjuries linked to this rule
1 death is linked to inspections where OSHA cited 1910.266(h)(2)(vi).
At 12:00 p.m. on December 12, 2023, Employee #1 was working for a landscaping contractor. Employee #1 was manually felling trees with a chainsaw to create visibility for planes approaching an adjacent runway. On the day of the accident, Employee #1 had cut approximately 10…
Where and how often it was cited
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A 5-minute crew talk on 1910.266(h)(2)(vi), plus alerts when this rule changes. Free.
OSHA interpretation letters
None exist. OSHA has not published a letter of interpretation for 1910.266(h)(2)(vi).
Related parts of this rule
- 1910.266(h) Tree harvesting 63 citations
- 1910.266(h)(2) Manual felling 33 citations
- 1910.266(h)(1) General requirements 23 citations
- 1910.266(h)(2)(ii) 12 citations
- 1910.266(h)(2)(i) 9 citations
- 1910.266(h)(1)(iv) 5 citations
- 1910.266(h)(1)(i) 4 citations
- 1910.266(h)(6) Loading and unloading 4 citations
- 1910.266(h)(1)(viii) 2 citations
- 1910.266(h)(2)(vii) 2 citations
- 1910.266(h)(6)(vii) 2 citations
- 1910.266(h)(1)(vii) 1 citations
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Frequently asked questions
Is a backcut required?
Yes, in each tree being felled.
How much hinge wood must be left?
Sufficient hinge wood to hold the tree to the stump during most of its fall.
What does the hinge do?
It guides the tree's fall in the intended direction.
About this page
Sources
- 29 CFR 1910.266 (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 2026-11-05
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.