[Title 29 CFR 1910.213]
[Code of Federal Regulations (annual edition) - July 1, 2002 Edition]
[Title 29 - LABOR]
[Subtitle B - Regulations Relating to Labor (Continued)]
[Chapter Xvii - OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT]
[Part 1910 - OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH STANDARDS]
[Subpart O - Machinery and Machine Guarding]
[Sec. 1910.213 - Woodworking machinery requirements.]
[From the U.S. Government Printing Office]


29LABOR52002-07-012002-07-01false1910.213Sec. 1910.213LABORRegulations Relating to Labor (Continued)OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENTOCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH STANDARDSMachinery and Machine Guarding
Sec. 1910.213  Woodworking machinery requirements.

    (a) Machine construction general. (1) Each machine shall be so 
constructed as to be free from sensible vibration when the largest size 
tool is mounted and run idle at full speed.
    (2) Arbors and mandrels shall be constructed so as to have firm and 
secure bearing and be free from play.
    (3) [Reserved]
    (4) Any automatic cutoff saw that strokes continuously without the 
operator being able to control each stroke shall not be used.
    (5) Saw frames or tables shall be constructed with lugs cast on the 
frame or with an equivalent means to limit the size of the saw blade 
that can be mounted, so as to avoid overspeed caused by mounting a saw 
larger than intended.
    (6) Circular saw fences shall be so constructed that they can be 
firmly secured to the table or table assembly without changing their 
alignment with the saw. For saws with tilting tables or tilting arbors 
the fence shall be so constructed that it will remain in a line parallel 
with the saw, regardless of the angle of the saw with the table.
    (7) Circular saw gages shall be so constructed as to slide in 
grooves or tracks that are accurately machined, to insure exact 
alignment with the saw for all positions of the guide.
    (8) Hinged saw tables shall be so constructed that the table can be 
firmly secured in any position and in true alignment with the saw.
    (9) All belts, pulleys, gears, shafts, and moving parts shall be 
guarded in accordance with the specific requirements of Sec. 1910.219.
    (10) It is recommended that each power-driven woodworking machine be 
provided with a disconnect switch that can be locked in the off 
position.
    (11) The frames and all exposed, noncurrent-carrying metal parts of 
portable electric woodworking machinery operated at more than 90 volts 
to ground shall be grounded and other portable motors driving electric 
tools which are held in the hand while being operated shall be grounded 
if they operate at more than 90 volts to ground. The ground shall be 
provided through use of a separate ground wire and polarized plug and 
receptacle.
    (12) For all circular saws where conditions are such that there is a 
possibility of contact with the portion of the saw either beneath or 
behind the table, that portion of the saw shall be covered with an 
exhaust hood, or, if no exhaust system is required, with a guard that 
shall be so arranged as to prevent accidental contact with the saw.
    (13) Revolving double arbor saws shall be fully guarded in 
accordance

[[Page 613]]

with all the requirements for circular crosscut saws or with all the 
requirements for circular ripsaws, according to the kind of saws mounted 
on the arbors.
    (14) No saw, cutter head, or tool collar shall be placed or mounted 
on a machine arbor unless the tool has been accurately machined to size 
and shape to fit the arbor.
    (15) Combs (featherboards) or suitable jigs shall be provided at the 
workplace for use when a standard guard cannot be used, as in dadoing, 
grooving, jointing, moulding, and rabbeting.
    (b) Machine controls and equipment. (1) A mechanical or electrical 
power control shall be provided on each machine to make it possible for 
the operator to cut off the power from each machine without leaving his 
position at the point of operation.
    (2) On machines driven by belts and shafting, a locking-type belt 
shifter or an equivalent positive device shall be used.
    (3) On applications where injury to the operator might result if 
motors were to restart after power failures, provision shall be made to 
prevent machines from automatically restarting upon restoration of 
power.
    (4) Power controls and operating controls should be located within 
easy reach of the operator while he is at his regular work location, 
making it unnecessary for him to reach over the cutter to make 
adjustments. This does not apply to constant pressure controls used only 
for setup purposes.
    (5) On each machine operated by electric motors, positive means 
shall be provided for rendering such controls or devices inoperative 
while repairs or adjustments are being made to the machines they 
control.
    (6) Each operating treadle shall be protected against unexpected or 
accidental tripping.
    (7) Feeder attachments shall have the feed rolls or other moving 
parts so covered or guarded as to protect the operator from hazardous 
points.
    (c) Hand-fed ripsaws. (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.
    (2) Each hand-fed circular ripsaw shall be furnished with a spreader 
to prevent material from squeezing the saw or being thrown back on the 
operator. The spreader shall be made of hard tempered steel, or its 
equivalent, and shall be thinner than the saw kerf. It shall be of 
sufficient width to provide adequate stiffness or rigidity to resist any 
reasonable side thrust or blow tending to bend or throw it out of 
position. The spreader shall be attached so that it will remain in true 
alignment with the saw even when either the saw or table is tilted. The 
provision of a spreader in connection with grooving, dadoing, or 
rabbeting is not required. On the completion of such operations, the 
spreader shall be immediately replaced.
    (3) Each hand-fed circular ripsaw shall be provided with nonkickback 
fingers or dogs so located as to oppose the thrust or tendency of the 
saw to pick up the material or to throw it back toward the operator. 
They shall be designed to provide adequate holding power for all the 
thicknesses of materials being cut.
    (d) Hand-fed crosscut table saws. (1) Each circular crosscut table 
saw shall be guarded by a hood which shall meet all the requirements of 
paragraph (c)(1) of this section for hoods for circular ripsaws.
    (2) [Reserved]

[[Page 614]]

    (e) Circular resaws. (1) Each circular resaw shall be guarded by a 
hood or shield of metal above the saw. This hood or shield shall be so 
designed as to guard against danger from flying splinters or broken saw 
teeth.
    (2) Each circular resaw (other than self-feed saws with a roller or 
wheel at back of the saw) shall be provided with a spreader fastened 
securely behind the saw. The spreader shall be slightly thinner than the 
saw kerf and slightly thicker than the saw disk.
    (f) Self-feed circular saws. (1) Feed rolls and saws shall be 
protected by a hood or guard to prevent the hands of the operator from 
coming in contact with the in-running rolls at any point. The guard 
shall be constructed of heavy material, preferably metal, and the bottom 
of the guard shall come down to within three-eighths inch of the plane 
formed by the bottom or working surfaces of the feed rolls. This 
distance (three-eighths inch) may be increased to three-fourths inch, 
provided the lead edge of the hood is extended to be not less than 5\1/
2\ inches in front of the nip point between the front roll and the work.
    (2) Each self-feed circular ripsaw shall be provided with sectional 
non-kickback fingers for the full width of the feed rolls. They shall be 
located in front of the saw and so arranged as to be in continual 
contact with the wood being fed.
    (g) Swing cutoff saws. The requirements of this paragraph are also 
applicable to sliding cutoff saws mounted above the table.
    (1) Each swing cutoff saw shall be provided with a hood that will 
completely enclose the upper half of the saw, the arbor end, and the 
point of operation at all positions of the saw. The hood shall be 
constructed in such a manner and of such material that it will protect 
the operator from flying splinters and broken saw teeth. Its hood shall 
be so designed that it will automatically cover the lower portion of the 
blade, so that when the saw is returned to the back of the table the 
hood will rise on top of the fence, and when the saw is moved forward 
the hood will drop on top of and remain in contact with the table or 
material being cut.
    (2) Each swing cutoff saw shall be provided with an effective device 
to return the saw automatically to the back of the table when released 
at any point of its travel. Such a device shall not depend for its 
proper functioning upon any rope, cord, or spring. If there is a 
counterweight, the bolts supporting the bar and counterweight shall be 
provided with cotter pins; and the counterweight shall be prevented from 
dropping by either a bolt passing through both the bar and 
counterweight, or a bolt put through the extreme end of the bar, or, 
where the counterweight does not encircle the bar, a safety chain 
attached to it.
    (3) Limit chains or other equally effective devices shall be 
provided to prevent the saw from swinging beyond the front or back edges 
of the table, or beyond a forward position where the gullets of the 
lowest saw teeth will rise above the table top.
    (4) Inverted swing cutoff saws shall be provided with a hood that 
will cover the part of the saw that protrudes above the top of the table 
or above the material being cut. It shall automatically adjust itself to 
the thickness of and remain in contact with the material being cut.
    (h) Radial saws. (1) The upper hood shall completely enclose the 
upper portion of the blade down to a point that will include the end of 
the saw arbor. The upper hood shall be constructed in such a manner and 
of such material that it will protect the operator from flying 
splinters, broken saw teeth, etc., and will deflect sawdust away from 
the operator. The sides of the lower exposed portion of the blade shall 
be guarded to the full diameter of the blade by a device that will 
automatically adjust itself to the thickness of the stock and remain in 
contact with stock being cut to give maximum protection possible for the 
operation being performed.
    (2) Each radial saw used for ripping shall be provided with 
nonkickback fingers or dogs located on both sides of the saw so as to 
oppose the thrust or tendency of the saw to pick up the material or to 
throw it back toward the operator. They shall be designed to provide 
adequate holding power for all the thicknesses of material being cut.

[[Page 615]]

    (3) An adjustable stop shall be provided to prevent the forward 
travel of the blade beyond the position necessary to complete the cut in 
repetitive operations.
    (4) Installation shall be in such a manner that the front end of the 
unit will be slightly higher than the rear, so as to cause the cutting 
head to return gently to the starting position when released by the 
operator.
    (5) Ripping and ploughing shall be against the direction in which 
the saw turns. The direction of the saw rotation shall be conspicuously 
marked on the hood. In addition, a permanent label not less than 1\1/2\ 
inches by \3/4\ inch shall be affixed to the rear of the guard at 
approximately the level of the arbor, reading as follows: ``Danger: Do 
Not Rip or Plough From This End''.
    (i) Bandsaws and band resaws. (1) All portions of the saw blade 
shall be enclosed or guarded, except for the working portion of the 
blade between the bottom of the guide rolls and the table. Bandsaw 
wheels shall be fully encased. The outside periphery of the enclosure 
shall be solid. The front and back of the band wheels shall be either 
enclosed by solid material or by wire mesh or perforated metal. Such 
mesh or perforated metal shall be not less than 0.037 inch (U.S. Gage 
No. 20), and the openings shall be not greater than three-eighths inch. 
Solid material used for this purpose shall be of an equivalent strength 
and firmness. The guard for the portion of the blade between the sliding 
guide and the upper-saw-wheel guard shall protect the saw blade at the 
front and outer side. This portion of the guard shall be self-adjusting 
to raise and lower with the guide. The upper-wheel guard shall be made 
to conform to the travel of the saw on the wheel.
    (2) Each bandsaw machine shall be provided with a tension control 
device to indicate a proper tension for the standard saws used on the 
machine, in order to assist in the elimination of saw breakage due to 
improper tension.
    (3) Feed rolls of band resaws shall be protected with a suitable 
guard to prevent the hands of the operator from coming in contact with 
the in-running rolls at any point. The guard shall be constructed of 
heavy material, preferably metal, and the edge of the guard shall come 
to within three-eighths inch of the plane formed by the inside face of 
the feed roll in contact with the stock being cut.
    (j) Jointers. (1) Each hand-fed planer and jointer with horizontal 
head shall be equipped with a cylindrical cutting head, the knife 
projection of which shall not exceed one-eighth inch beyond the 
cylindrical body of the head.
    (2) The opening in the table shall be kept as small as possible. The 
clearance between the edge of the rear table and the cutter head shall 
be not more than one-eighth inch. The table throat opening shall be not 
more than 2\1/2\ inches when tables are set or aligned with each other 
for zero cut.
    (3) Each hand-fed jointer with a horizontal cutting head shall have 
an automatic guard which will cover all the section of the head on the 
working side of the fence or gage. The guard shall effectively keep the 
operator's hand from coming in contact with the revolving knives. The 
guard shall automatically adjust itself to cover the unused portion of 
the head and shall remain in contact with the material at all times.
    (4) Each hand-fed jointer with horizontal cutting head shall have a 
guard which will cover the section of the head back of the gage or 
fence.
    (5) Each wood jointer with vertical head shall have either an 
exhaust hood or other guard so arranged as to enclose completely the 
revolving head, except for a slot of such width as may be necessary and 
convenient for the application of the material to be jointed.
    (k) Tenoning machines. (1) Feed chains and sprockets of all double 
end tenoning machines shall be completely enclosed, except for that 
portion of chain used for conveying the stock.
    (2) At the rear ends of frames over which feed conveyors run, 
sprockets and chains shall be guarded at the sides by plates projecting 
beyond the periphery of sprockets and the ends of lugs.
    (3) Each tenoning machine shall have all cutting heads, and saws if 
used, covered by metal guards. These guards shall cover at least the 
unused part of the periphery of the cutting head. If such a guard is 
constructed of sheet metal, the material used shall be not

[[Page 616]]

less than one-sixteenth inch in thickness, and if cast iron is used, it 
shall be not less than three-sixteenths inch in thickness.
    (4) Where an exhaust system is used, the guard shall form part or 
all of the exhaust hood and shall be constructed of metal of a thickness 
not less than that specified in subparagraph (3) of this paragraph.
    (l) Boring and mortising machines. (1) Safety-bit chucks with no 
projecting set screws shall be used.
    (2) Boring bits should be provided with a guard that will enclose 
all portions of the bit and chuck above the material being worked.
    (3) The top of the cutting chain and driving mechanism shall be 
enclosed.
    (4) If there is a counterweight, one of the following or equivalent 
means shall be used to prevent its dropping:
    (i) It shall be bolted to the bar by means of a bolt passing through 
both bar and counterweight;
    (ii) A bolt shall be put through the extreme end of the bar;
    (iii) Where the counterweight does not encircle the bar, a safety 
chain shall be attached to it;
    (iv) Other types of counterweights shall be suspended by chain or 
wire rope and shall travel in a pipe or other suitable enclosure 
wherever they might fall and cause injury.
    (5) Universal joints on spindles of boring machines shall be 
completely enclosed in such a way as to prevent accidental contact by 
the operator.
    (6) Each operating treadle shall be covered by an inverted U-shaped 
metal guard, fastened to the floor, and of adequate size to prevent 
accidental tripping.
    (m) Wood shapers and similar equipment. (1) The cutting heads of 
each wood shaper, hand-fed panel raiser, or other similar machine not 
automatically fed, shall be enclosed with a cage or adjustable guard so 
designed as to keep the operator's hand away from the cutting edge. The 
diameter of circular shaper guards shall be not less than the greatest 
diameter of the cutter. In no case shall a warning device of leather or 
other material attached to the spindle be acceptable.
    (2) [Reserved]
    (3) All double-spindle shapers shall be provided with a spindle 
starting and stopping device for each spindle.
    (n) Planing, molding, sticking, and matching machines. (1) Each 
planing, molding, sticking, and matching machine shall have all cutting 
heads, and saws if used, covered by a metal guard. If such guard is 
constructed of sheet metal, the material used shall be not less than \1/
16\ inch in thickness, and if cast iron is used, it shall be not less 
than three-sixteenths inch in thickness.
    (2) Where an exhaust system is used, the guards shall form part or 
all of the exhaust hood and shall be constructed of metal of a thickness 
not less than that specified in paragraph (h)(1) of this section.
    (3) Feed rolls shall be guarded by a hood or suitable guard to 
prevent the hands of the operator from coming in contact with the in-
running rolls at any point. The guard shall be fastened to the frame 
carrying the rolls so as to remain in adjustment for any thickness of 
stock.
    (4) Surfacers or planers used in thicknessing multiple pieces of 
material simultaneously shall be provided with sectional infeed rolls 
having sufficient yield in the construction of the sections to provide 
feeding contact pressure on the stock, over the permissible range of 
variation in stock thickness specified or for which the machine is 
designed. In lieu of such yielding sectional rolls, suitable section 
kickback finger devices shall be provided at the infeed end.
    (o) Profile and swing-head lathes and wood heel turning machine. (1) 
Each profile and swing-head lathe shall have all cutting heads covered 
by a metal guard. If such a guard is constructed of sheet metal, the 
material used shall be not less than one-sixteenth inch in thickness; 
and if cast iron is used, it shall not be less than three-sixteenths 
inch in thickness.
    (2) Cutting heads on wood-turning lathes, whether rotating or not, 
shall be covered as completely as possible by hoods or shields.
    (3) Shoe last and spoke lathes, doweling machines, wood heel turning 
machines, and other automatic wood-turning lathes of the rotating knife

[[Page 617]]

type shall be equipped with hoods enclosing the cutter blades completely 
except at the contact points while the stock is being cut.
    (4) Lathes used for turning long pieces of wood stock held only 
between the two centers shall be equipped with long curved guards 
extending over the tops of the lathes in order to prevent the work 
pieces from being thrown out of the machines if they should become 
loose.
    (5) Where an exhaust system is used, the guard shall form part or 
all of the exhaust hood and shall be constructed of metal of a thickness 
not less than that specified in subparagraph (1) of this paragraph.
    (p) Sanding machines. (1) Feed rolls of self-feed sanding machines 
shall be protected with a semicylindrical guard to prevent the hands of 
the operator from coming in contact with the in-running rolls at any 
point. The guard shall be constructed of heavy material, preferably 
metal, and firmly secured to the frame carrying the rolls so as to 
remain in adjustment for any thickness of stock. The bottom of the guard 
should come down to within three-eighths inch of a plane formed by the 
bottom or contact face of the feed roll where it touches the stock.
    (2) Each drum sanding machine shall have an exhaust hood, or other 
guard if no exhaust system is required, so arranged as to enclose the 
revolving drum, except for that portion of the drum above the table, if 
a table is used, which may be necessary and convenient for the 
application of the material to be finished.
    (3) Each disk sanding machine shall have the exhaust hood, or other 
guard if no exhaust system is required, so arranged as to enclose the 
revolving disk, except for that portion of the disk above the table, if 
a table is used, which may be necessary for the application of the 
material to be finished.
    (4) Belt sanding machines shall be provided with guards at each nip 
point where the sanding belt runs on to a pulley. These guards shall 
effectively prevent the hands or fingers of the operator from coming in 
contact with the nip points. The unused run of the sanding belt shall be 
guarded against accidental contact.
    (q) Veneer cutters and wringers. (1) Veneer slicer knives shall be 
guarded to prevent accidental contact with knife edge, at both front and 
rear.
    (2) Veneer clippers shall have automatic feed or shall be provided 
with a guard which will make it impossible to place a finger or fingers 
under the knife while feeding or removing the stock.
    (3) Sprockets on chain or slat-belt conveyors shall be enclosed.
    (4) Where practicable, hand and footpower guillotine veneer cutters 
shall be provided with rods or plates or other satisfactory means, so 
arranged on the feeding side that the hands cannot reach the cutting 
edge of the knife while feeding or holding the stock in place.
    (5) Power-driven guillotine veneer cutters, except continuous feed 
trimmers, shall be equipped with:
    (i) Starting devices which require the simultaneous action of both 
hands to start the cutting motion and of at least one hand on a control 
during the complete stroke of the knife; or
    (ii) An automatic guard which will remove the hands of the operator 
from the danger zone at every descent of the blade, used in conjunction 
with one-hand starting devices which require two distinct movements of 
the device to start the cutting motion, and so designed as to return 
positively to the nonstarting position after each complete cycle of the 
knife.
    (6) Where two or more workers are employed at the same time on the 
same power-driven guillotine veneer cutter equipped with two-hand 
control, the device shall be so arranged that each worker shall be 
required to use both hands simultaneously on the controls to start the 
cutting motion, and at least one hand on a control to complete the cut.
    (7) Power-driven guillotine veneer cutters, other than continuous 
trimmers, shall be provided, in addition to the brake or other stopping 
mechanism, with an emergency device which will prevent the machine from 
operating in the event of failure of the brake when the starting 
mechanism is in the nonstarting position.
    (r) Miscellaneous woodworking machines. (1) The feed rolls of roll 
type

[[Page 618]]

glue spreaders shall be guarded by a semicylindrical guard. The bottom 
of the guard shall come to within three-eighths inch of a plane formed 
by bottom or contact face of the feed roll where it touches the stock.
    (2) Drag saws shall be so located as to give at least a 4-foot 
clearance for passage when the saw is at the extreme end of the stroke; 
or if such clearance is not obtainable, the saw and its driving 
mechanism shall be provided with a standard enclosure.
    (3) For combination or universal woodworking machines each point of 
operation of any tool shall be guarded as required for such a tool in a 
separate machine.
    (4) The mention of specific machines in paragraphs (a) thru (q) and 
this paragraph (r) of this section, inclusive, is not intended to 
exclude other woodworking machines from the requirement that suitable 
guards and exhaust hoods be provided to reduce to a minimum the hazard 
due to the point of operation of such machines.
    (s) Inspection and maintenance of woodworking machinery. (1) Dull, 
badly set, improperly filed, or improperly tensioned saws shall be 
immediately removed from service, before they begin to cause the 
material to stick, jam, or kick back when it is fed to the saw at normal 
speed. Saws to which gum has adhered on the sides shall be immediately 
cleaned.
    (2) All knives and cutting heads of woodworking machines shall be 
kept sharp, properly adjusted, and firmly secured. Where two or more 
knives are used in one head, they shall be properly balanced.
    (3) Bearings shall be kept free from lost motion and shall be well 
lubricated.
    (4) Arbors of all circular saws shall be free from play.
    (5) Sharpening or tensioning of saw blades or cutters shall be done 
only by persons of demonstrated skill in this kind of work.
    (6) Emphasis is placed upon the importance of maintaining 
cleanliness around woodworking machinery, particularly as regards the 
effective functioning of guards and the prevention of fire hazards in 
switch enclosures, bearings, and motors.
    (7) All cracked saws shall be removed from service.
    (8) The practice of inserting wedges between the saw disk and the 
collar to form what is commonly known as a ``wobble saw'' shall not be 
permitted.
    (9) Push sticks or push blocks shall be provided at the work place 
in the several sizes and types suitable for the work to be done.
    (10)-(11) [Reserved]
    (12) The knife blade of jointers shall be so installed and adjusted 
that it does not protrude more than one-eighth inch beyond the 
cylindrical body of the head. Push sticks or push blocks shall be 
provided at the work place in the several sizes and types suitable for 
the work to be done.
    (13) Whenever veneer slicers or rotary veneer-cutting machines have 
been shutdown for the purpose of inserting logs or to make adjustments, 
operators shall make sure that machine is clear and other workmen are 
not in a hazardous position before starting the machine.
    (14) Operators shall not ride the carriage of a veneer slicer.

[39 FR 23502, June 27, 1974, as amended at 43 FR 49750, Oct. 24, 1978; 
49 FR 5323, Feb. 10, 1984]