1926.304(i): Guarding Hand-Fed Ripsaws
Employers must guard each circular hand-fed ripsaw with a hood that completely encloses the saw above the table and above the material being cut. The hood must self-adjust to material thickness, stay in contact with it, resist blows and strains, protect against flying splinters and broken teeth, and be mounted in true alignment with the saw.
Key takeaways
- 1926.304(i) is part of OSHA's construction standards (29 CFR Part 1926, Subpart I).
- OSHA cited it 60 times in the last 3 years, in 60 inspections, with $148,537 in current penalties.
- Most citations: IL (8), NY (5), OR (5).
- Related part: 1926.304(i)(1) (58 citations).
- Free 5-minute toolbox talk for your crew below.
In this article
What this rule covers
29 CFR 1926.304(i) ("Hand-fed ripsaws") is one requirement inside 1926.304 Woodworking tools, an OSHA construction standard (Part 1926, Subpart I). It includes 1 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
(i) Hand-fed ripsaws. 60 citations
(1) Each circular hand-fed ripsaw shall be guarded by a hood which shall completely enclose that portion of the saw above the table and that portion of the saw above the material being cut. The hood and mounting shall be arranged so that the hood will automatically adjust itself to the thickness of and remain in contact with the material being cut but it shall not offer any considerable resistance to insertion of material to saw or to passage of the material being sawed. The hood shall be made of adequate strength to resist blows and strains incidental to reasonable operation, adjusting, and handling, and shall be so designed as to protect the operator from flying splinters and broken saw teeth. It shall be made of material that is soft enough so that it will be unlikely to cause tooth breakage. The hood shall be so mounted as to insure that its operation will be positive, reliable, and in true alignment with the saw; and the mounting shall be adequate in strength to resist any reasonable side thrust or other force tending to throw it out of line. Open (i)(1) 58 citations
[44 FR 8577, Feb. 9, 1979; 44 FR 20940, Apr. 6, 1979, as amended at 58 FR 35175, June 30, 1993; 61 FR 9251, Mar. 7, 1996]
Source: eCFR, text current as of 2026-10-15. Read all of 1926.304.
Where and how often it was cited
| Year | Citations |
|---|---|
| 2023 | 6 |
| 2024 | 20 |
| 2025 | 16 |
| 2026 | 18 |
Top states: IL (8), NY (5), OR (5), MD (4), VT (4)
Largest penalties
| Employer | Location | Penalty for this rule |
|---|---|---|
| UNITED CONTRACTORS MIDWEST, INC. | SHERMAN, IL | $16,550 |
| MARIO OLVERA ORTEGA | CROZET, VA | $12,300 |
| HAUSMANN CONSTRUCTION INC. | FORT COLLINS, CO | $10,000 |
| H.J. MARTIN & SON, INC. | KEWAUNEE, WI | $9,268 |
| CASTAWAY CONSTRUCTION AND RESTORATION LLC | KIHEI, HI | $7,657 |
Free toolbox talk
A 5-minute crew talk on 1926.304(i), plus alerts when this rule changes. Free.
OSHA interpretation letters
None exist. OSHA has not published a letter of interpretation for 1926.304(i).
Related parts of this rule
- 1926.304(i)(1) 58 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
What part of the ripsaw must the hood cover?
The portion of the saw above the table and the portion above the material being cut.
Must the hood adjust?
Yes. It must automatically adjust to the thickness of the material and remain in contact with it.
What should the hood protect against?
Flying splinters and broken saw teeth.
About this page
Sources
- 29 CFR 1926.304 (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 2026-10-19
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.