1910.265(c)(5)(ii): Stair Handrails in Sawmills
Sawmill stairways must have a standard handrail on at least one side or on any open side. Stairs more than four feet wide need a handrail on each side, and stairs more than eight feet wide need a third handrail in the center.
Key takeaways
- 1910.265(c)(5)(ii) is part of OSHA's general industry standards (29 CFR Part 1910, Subpart R).
- OSHA cited it 7 times in the last 3 years, in 7 inspections, with $24,318 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)(5)(ii) ("Handrails") 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
(ii) Handrails. Stairways shall be provided with a standard handrail on at least one side or on any open side. Where stairs are more than four feet wide there shall be a standard handrail at each side, and where more than eight feet wide, a third standard handrail shall be erected in the center of the stairway. 7 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)(5)(ii).
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)(5)(ii), plus alerts when this rule changes. Free.
OSHA interpretation letters
None exist. OSHA has not published a letter of interpretation for 1910.265(c)(5)(ii).
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)(4)(vi) Hazardous locations 2 citations
- 1910.265(c)(2) Work areas 1 citations
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Frequently asked questions
How many handrails does a stairway need?
At least one side or any open side; each side if more than four feet wide.
When is a center handrail needed?
When stairs are more than eight feet wide.
What kind of handrail is required?
A standard handrail.
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.