1910.213(i): Bandsaws and Band Resaws
Employers must enclose or guard all of a bandsaw blade except the working part between the guide rolls and the table, fully encase the wheels, and provide a self-adjusting guard between the sliding guide and upper wheel guard. Each bandsaw needs a tension control device to show proper tension, and band resaw feed rolls need a heavy guard that keeps the operator's hands from the in-running rolls.
Key takeaways
- 1910.213(i) is part of OSHA's general industry standards (29 CFR Part 1910, Subpart O).
- OSHA cited it 91 times in the last 3 years, in 90 inspections, with $272,926 in current penalties.
- 1 death is linked to inspections that cited this rule.
- Most citations: NC (13), VA (9), IL (8).
- Related part: 1910.213(i)(1) (87 citations).
- Free 5-minute toolbox talk for your crew below.
In this article
What this rule covers
29 CFR 1910.213(i) ("Bandsaws and band resaws") is one requirement inside 1910.213 Woodworking machinery requirements, an OSHA general industry standard (Part 1910, Subpart O). It includes 3 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
(i) Bandsaws and band resaws. 91 citations
(1) All portions of the saw blade shall be enclosed or guarded, except for the working portion of the blade between the bottom of the guide rolls and the table. Bandsaw wheels shall be fully encased. The outside periphery of the enclosure shall be solid. The front and back of the band wheels shall be either enclosed by solid material or by wire mesh or perforated metal. Such mesh or perforated metal shall be not less than 0.037 inch (U.S. Gage No. 20), and the openings shall be not greater than three-eighths inch. Solid material used for this purpose shall be of an equivalent strength and firmness. The guard for the portion of the blade between the sliding guide and the upper-saw-wheel guard shall protect the saw blade at the front and outer side. This portion of the guard shall be self-adjusting to raise and lower with the guide. The upper-wheel guard shall be made to conform to the travel of the saw on the wheel. Open (i)(1) 87 citations
(2) Each bandsaw machine shall be provided with a tension control device to indicate a proper tension for the standard saws used on the machine, in order to assist in the elimination of saw breakage due to improper tension.
(3) Feed rolls of band resaws shall be protected with a suitable guard to prevent the hands of the operator from coming in contact with the in-running rolls at any point. The guard shall be constructed of heavy material, preferably metal, and the edge of the guard shall come to within three-eighths inch of the plane formed by the inside face of the feed roll in contact with the stock being cut. 4 citations
Source: eCFR, text current as of 2026-10-15. Read all of 1910.213.
Injuries linked to this rule
1 death is linked to inspections where OSHA cited 1910.213(i).
At 3:45 a.m. on December 5, 2023, three employees were operating a resaw stacker. Coworker #1 was operating the infeed side, while Coworker #2 trained Employee #1 on operating the stacker side. The resaw stacker takes pre-cut boards and rips them down to smaller sizes…
Where and how often it was cited
| Year | Citations |
|---|---|
| 2023 | 6 |
| 2024 | 35 |
| 2025 | 37 |
| 2026 | 13 |
Top states: NC (13), VA (9), IL (8), OR (6), GA (4)
Largest penalties
| Employer | Location | Penalty for this rule |
|---|---|---|
| XPO MANUFACTURING, LLC | SEARCY, AR | $16,131 |
| THE GOODYEAR TIRE & RUBBER COMPANY | DANVILLE, VA | $13,415 |
| SMITH-MIDLAND CORPORATION | MIDLAND, VA | $13,415 |
| HIGGINS PALLET CO INC. | LAMAR, MO | $11,585 |
| MENZNER HARDWOODS CO | WAUSAU, WI | $11,524 |
Free toolbox talk
A 5-minute crew talk on 1910.213(i), plus alerts when this rule changes. Free.
OSHA interpretation letters
None exist. OSHA has not published a letter of interpretation for 1910.213(i).
Related parts of this rule
- 1910.213(i)(1) 87 citations
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Frequently asked questions
Which part of the blade may be exposed?
Only the working portion between the bottom of the guide rolls and the table.
What is the tension control device for?
To indicate proper tension for the standard saws used, helping eliminate saw breakage due to improper tension.
How must resaw feed rolls be guarded?
With a guard of heavy material, preferably metal, with its edge within three-eighths inch of the plane of the inside face of the feed roll in contact with the stock.
About this page
Sources
- 29 CFR 1910.213 (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 2026-10-20
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.