1910.243(e)(1): Power Lawnmower General Safety
Employers must guard walk-behind, riding-rotary and reel power lawnmowers under the general machine guarding rules, and position or guard power-driven chains, belts and gears so the operator cannot accidentally touch them. Mowers must have a shutoff device that requires manual, intentional reactivation to restart, clearly identified control positions, and a visible caution about putting controls in neutral before starting on self-propelled mowers.
Key takeaways
- 1910.243(e)(1) is part of OSHA's general industry standards (29 CFR Part 1910, Subpart P).
- OSHA cited it 25 times in the last 3 years, in 23 inspections, with $60,308 in current penalties.
- 1 death is linked to inspections that cited this rule.
- Most citations: IL (6), TX (3), TN (3).
- Related part: 1910.243(e) Power lawnmowers (30 citations).
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In this article
What this rule covers
29 CFR 1910.243(e)(1) ("General requirements") is one requirement inside 1910.243 Guarding of portable powered tools, an OSHA general industry standard (Part 1910, Subpart P). It includes 5 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
(1) General requirements. 25 citations
(i) Power lawnmowers of the walk-behind, riding-rotary, and reel power lawnmowers shall be guarded in accordance with the machine guarding requirements in 29 CFR 1910.212, General requirements for all machines. 8 citations
(ii) All power-driven chains, belts, and gears shall be so positioned or otherwise guarded to prevent the operator's accidental contact therewith, during normal starting, mounting, and operation of the machine. Open (e)(1)(ii) 14 citations
(iii) A shutoff device shall be provided to stop operation of the motor or engine. This device shall require manual and intentional reactivation to restart the motor or engine. 3 citations
(iv) All positions of the operating controls shall be clearly identified.
(v) The words, “Caution. Be sure the operating control(s) is in neutral before starting the engine,” or similar wording shall be clearly visible at an engine starting control point on self-propelled mowers.
Source: eCFR, text current as of 2026-10-15. Read all of 1910.243.
Export the list: 23 inspections cited 1910.243(e)(1) 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 1910.243(e)(1).
At 7:00 a.m. on June 2, 2024, an employee working for a landscaping service was tasked with mowing the side of a public land with a Gravely Pro-Turn 260 KAW lawnmower. The mower lost traction and fell into a retention pond pinning the employee under…
Where and how often it was cited
| Year | Citations |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 4 |
| 2025 | 12 |
| 2026 | 9 |
Top states: IL (6), TX (3), TN (3), NJ (2), MA (2)
Largest penalties
| Employer | Location | Penalty for this rule |
|---|---|---|
| BELLERIVE COUNTRY CLUB | SAINT LOUIS, MO | $14,895 |
| TEXASCAPES INC. | AUSTIN, TX | $14,000 |
| H & O INVESTMENTS, LLC | ELMWOOD, LA | $7,467 |
| ATLANTIC CITY DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS | ATLANTIC CITY, NJ | $7,000 |
| PREMIER LAWN MAINTENANCE LLC | LONGWOOD, FL | $5,793 |
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A 5-minute crew talk on 1910.243(e)(1), plus alerts when this rule changes. Free.
OSHA interpretation letters
None exist. OSHA has not published a letter of interpretation for 1910.243(e)(1).
Related parts of this rule
- 1910.243(e) Power lawnmowers 30 citations
- 1910.243(e)(1)(ii) 14 citations
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Frequently asked questions
What guarding rules apply to power lawnmowers?
They must be guarded under 29 CFR 1910.212, and chains, belts and gears must be positioned or guarded to prevent accidental operator contact.
What kind of shutoff device is required?
A device that stops the motor or engine and requires manual and intentional reactivation to restart.
What warning is required on self-propelled mowers?
"Caution. Be sure the operating control(s) is in neutral before starting the engine," or similar wording, clearly visible at an engine starting control point.
About this page
Sources
- 29 CFR 1910.243 (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.