1910.265(c)(4)(vi): Handrails in Elevated Hazardous Locations
Where required, sawmill walkways and stairways in elevated and hazardous locations must have standard handrails. Where such passageways are over walkways or work areas, standard toe boards must be provided.
Key takeaways
- 1910.265(c)(4)(vi) is part of OSHA's general industry standards (29 CFR Part 1910, Subpart R).
- OSHA cited it 2 times in the last 3 years, in 2 inspections, with $22,566 in current penalties.
- 1 death is linked to inspections that cited this rule.
- 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)(vi) ("Hazardous locations") 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
(vi) Hazardous locations. Where required, walkways and stairways with standard handrails shall be provided in elevated and hazardous locations. Where such passageways are over walkways or work areas, standard toe boards shall be provided. 2 citations
Source: eCFR, text current as of 2026-10-15. Read all of 1910.265.
Injuries linked to this rule
1 death is linked to inspections where OSHA cited 1910.265(c)(4)(vi).
At 2:15 p.m. on February 5, 2024, an employee working for a sawmill was watchinga conveyor/woodchipper machine to ensure that lumber pieces were moving through the machinery properly. The employee was watching as the pieces moved along the vibrating conveyors and onto the main conveyor…
Where and how often it was cited
Free toolbox talk
A 5-minute crew talk on 1910.265(c)(4)(vi), 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)(vi).
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)(4)(iv) Elevated walks 21 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)(2) Work areas 1 citations
Get your crew competent
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Frequently asked questions
What must elevated walkways have?
Standard handrails, where required.
When are toe boards needed?
Where the passageways are over walkways or work areas.
What locations does this cover?
Elevated and hazardous locations.
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.