1910.213(s): Woodworking Machine Inspection and Upkeep
Employers must keep woodworking machines in good working order. Dull, badly set, cracked or improperly tensioned saws must come out of service, gummed saws must be cleaned, knives and cutting heads must be sharp, adjusted and secure, bearings lubricated, saw arbors free from play, and push sticks or push blocks provided. Only people of demonstrated skill may sharpen or tension blades, and wobble saws are not allowed.
Key takeaways
- 1910.213(s) is part of OSHA's general industry standards (29 CFR Part 1910, Subpart O).
- OSHA cited it 28 times in the last 3 years, in 28 inspections, with $50,679 in current penalties.
- Most citations: CT (10), WI (3), CA (3).
- Related part: 1910.213(s)(6) (20 citations).
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In this article
What this rule covers
29 CFR 1910.213(s) ("Inspection and maintenance of woodworking machinery") is one requirement inside 1910.213 Woodworking machinery requirements, an OSHA general industry standard (Part 1910, Subpart O). It includes 13 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
(s) Inspection and maintenance of woodworking machinery. 28 citations
(1) Dull, badly set, improperly filed, or improperly tensioned saws shall be immediately removed from service, before they begin to cause the material to stick, jam, or kick back when it is fed to the saw at normal speed. Saws to which gum has adhered on the sides shall be immediately cleaned. 1 citations
(2) All knives and cutting heads of woodworking machines shall be kept sharp, properly adjusted, and firmly secured. Where two or more knives are used in one head, they shall be properly balanced.
(3) Bearings shall be kept free from lost motion and shall be well lubricated.
(4) Arbors of all circular saws shall be free from play.
(5) Sharpening or tensioning of saw blades or cutters shall be done only by persons of demonstrated skill in this kind of work.
(6) Emphasis is placed upon the importance of maintaining cleanliness around woodworking machinery, particularly as regards the effective functioning of guards and the prevention of fire hazards in switch enclosures, bearings, and motors. Open (s)(6) 20 citations
(7) All cracked saws shall be removed from service.
(8) The practice of inserting wedges between the saw disk and the collar to form what is commonly known as a “wobble saw” shall not be permitted.
(9) Push sticks or push blocks shall be provided at the work place in the several sizes and types suitable for the work to be done. 5 citations
(10)-(11) [Reserved]
(12) The knife blade of jointers shall be so installed and adjusted that it does not protrude more than one-eighth inch beyond the cylindrical body of the head. Push sticks or push blocks shall be provided at the work place in the several sizes and types suitable for the work to be done. 1 citations
(13) Whenever veneer slicers or rotary veneer-cutting machines have been shutdown for the purpose of inserting logs or to make adjustments, operators shall make sure that machine is clear and other workmen are not in a hazardous position before starting the machine. 1 citations
(14) Operators shall not ride the carriage of a veneer slicer.
[39 FR 23502, June 27, 1974, as amended at 43 FR 49750, Oct. 24, 1978; 49 FR 5323, Feb. 10, 1984]
Source: eCFR, text current as of 2026-10-15. Read all of 1910.213.
Export the list: 28 inspections cited 1910.213(s) in the last 3 years, with employer, location, penalty and date.
Purple Belt, $59/moWhere and how often it was cited
| Year | Citations |
|---|---|
| 2023 | 1 |
| 2024 | 10 |
| 2025 | 6 |
| 2026 | 11 |
Top states: CT (10), WI (3), CA (3), PA (2), VA (2)
Largest penalties
| Employer | Location | Penalty for this rule |
|---|---|---|
| COLUMBIA ELEVATOR INC | BRIDGEPORT, CT | $8,296 |
| U. S. POSTAL SERVICE (USPS), PETALUMA P&DC | PETALUMA, CA | $8,227 |
| OAK HILL VENEER, INC. | TROY, PA | $8,121 |
| RINCON BAND OF LUISENO INDIANS | VALLEY CENTER, CA | $6,753 |
| NAUGATUCK STAIR COMPANY, INC. | NAUGATUCK, CT | $6,452 |
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OSHA interpretation letters
None exist. OSHA has not published a letter of interpretation for 1910.213(s).
Related parts of this rule
- 1910.213(s)(6) 20 citations
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Frequently asked questions
When must a saw be taken out of service?
Right away if it is dull, badly set, improperly filed or improperly tensioned, before it causes material to stick, jam or kick back. All cracked saws must also be removed from service.
Who may sharpen or tension saw blades?
Only persons of demonstrated skill in this kind of work.
How far may a jointer knife stick out?
The knife blade must not protrude more than one-eighth inch beyond the cylindrical body of the head.
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 2026-11-06
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.