1910.265(c)(4)(iv): Railings on Sawmill Elevated Walks
Sawmill employers must provide a standard railing on all elevated walks, runways or platforms 4 feet or more from the floor level, except on loading or unloading sides of platforms. If the height exceeds 6 feet, a standard toe board is also required to keep material from rolling or falling off.
Key takeaways
- 1910.265(c)(4)(iv) is part of OSHA's general industry standards (29 CFR Part 1910, Subpart R).
- OSHA cited it 21 times in the last 3 years, in 20 inspections, with $291,563 in current penalties.
- 3 deaths are linked to inspections that cited this rule.
- Most citations: WI (5), GA (4), VA (3).
- Related part: 1910.265(c) Building facilities, and isolated equipment (103 citations).
- Free 5-minute toolbox talk for your crew below.
In this article
What this rule covers
29 CFR 1910.265(c)(4)(iv) ("Elevated walks") is one requirement inside 1910.265 Sawmills, 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
(iv) Elevated walks. All elevated walks, runways, or platforms, if 4 feet or more from the floor level, shall be provided with a standard railing except on loading or unloading sides of platforms. If height exceeds 6 feet, a standard toe board also shall be provided to prevent material from rolling or falling off. 21 citations
Source: eCFR, text current as of 2026-10-15. Read all of 1910.265.
Injuries linked to this rule
3 deaths are linked to inspections where OSHA cited 1910.265(c)(4)(iv).
At 12:00 p.m. on December 5, 2024, Employee #1 was overseeing the sorter bay to ensure proper sorting of wood cant pieces. A wood cant became jammed in Sorter Bay 6, and the employee reached into the machine to clear the obstruction. The sorter bay…
Full case list with employer, penalty, filters and download is part of OSHA Data (Purple Belt).
Unlock with Purple BeltWhere and how often it was cited
| Year | Citations |
|---|---|
| 2023 | 2 |
| 2024 | 9 |
| 2025 | 7 |
| 2026 | 3 |
Top states: WI (5), GA (4), VA (3), AL (2), OR (2)
Largest penalties
| Employer | Location | Penalty for this rule |
|---|---|---|
| MDLG, INC. | PHENIX CITY, AL | $152,100 |
| THOMPSON HARDWOODS, INC. | HAZLEHURST, GA | $46,090 |
| MIDWEST HARDWOOD COMPANY, LLC. | PARK FALLS, WI | $28,371 |
| PUKALL LUMBER COMPANY, INC. | ARBOR VITAE, WI | $14,414 |
| FLORENCE HARDWOODS, LLC | FLORENCE, WI | $8,595 |
Free toolbox talk
A 5-minute crew talk on 1910.265(c)(4)(iv), plus alerts when this rule changes. Free.
OSHA interpretation letters
None exist. OSHA has not published a letter of interpretation for 1910.265(c)(4)(iv).
Related parts of this rule
- 1910.265(c) Building facilities, and isolated equipment 103 citations
- 1910.265(c)(18) Conveyors 34 citations
- 1910.265(c)(18)(i) Standards 34 citations
- 1910.265(c)(4) Walkways, docks, and platforms 30 citations
- 1910.265(c)(5) Stairways 13 citations
- 1910.265(c)(26) Mechanical stackers and unstackers 8 citations
- 1910.265(c)(5)(ii) Handrails 7 citations
- 1910.265(c)(4)(vi) Hazardous locations 2 citations
- 1910.265(c)(2) Work areas 1 citations
Get your crew competent
Trainers on Black Belt Safety: Marc Harvey, Dana Reyes
Trainers and suppliers: feature your business on this rule for $25/month.
Frequently asked questions
When are railings required on elevated walks?
When walks, runways or platforms are 4 feet or more from floor level, except loading or unloading sides of platforms.
When is a toe board required?
When the height exceeds 6 feet.
What is the toe board for?
To prevent material from rolling or falling off.
About this page
Sources
- 29 CFR 1910.265 (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 2026-10-21
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.