1910.138 Hand Protection: citations, penalties and recently cited employers
Data as of October 5, 2026 · citations issued Oct 5, 2025 to Oct 5, 2026
Employers must select and require appropriate gloves or other hand protection when hands are exposed to hazards such as skin absorption of harmful substances, severe cuts or lacerations, abrasions, punctures, chemical burns, thermal burns, or harmful temperature extremes. Selection must be based on an evaluation of how the gloves perform against the specific tasks, conditions, duration of use, and hazards identified, rather than a one-size-fits-all choice.
What the standard requires
- Require appropriate hand protection where hand hazards exist
- Select gloves based on the specific tasks and hazards identified
- Consider chemical permeation, cut resistance, and temperature in selection
Hazards it addresses
- Cuts and lacerations
- Chemical and thermal burns
- Absorption of toxic substances through skin
Cited in food processing, metal fabrication, chemical handling, and healthcare.
Plain-language summary written for this site; it is not the regulatory text and not legal advice. Read the official text at eCFR.
Citations by month
Inspections with citations issued, by month of issuance. Hatched months are incomplete: citations reach the public data about a month after issuance.
Most-cited paragraphs
| Paragraph | What it covers | Items | Inspections | Median initial penalty |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1910.138(a) | Use of appropriate hand protection when hands are exposed to hazards | 152 | 152 | $550 |
| 1910.138(b) | Selection based on evaluation of performance characteristics against tasks and hazards | 16 | 16 | $1,000 |
Penalties
Across 168 alleged items, OSHA and state-plan offices proposed $602,531 in initial penalties. The current total in the public data is $422,554, 30% lower after settlements, contests and amendments.
By violation type: Serious 73%; Other-than-serious 24%; Repeat 2%; Willful 1%.
Citations by state
| State | Inspections cited | Items | Initial penalties | Current penalties |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tennessee | 20 | 20 | $10,200 | $9,238 |
| Kentucky | 13 | 13 | $63,250 | $52,610 |
| Florida | 12 | 12 | $161,669 | $146,439 |
| Maryland | 11 | 11 | $2,400 | $1,920 |
| Minnesota | 11 | 11 | $10,900 | $9,355 |
| Puerto Rico | 9 | 9 | $28,991 | $14,475 |
| New York | 8 | 8 | $8,512 | $6,000 |
| Texas | 7 | 7 | $34,804 | $13,600 |
| Wisconsin | 7 | 7 | $13,761 | $9,292 |
| Ohio | 6 | 6 | $59,347 | $36,323 |
| Connecticut | 5 | 5 | $0 | $0 |
| Georgia | 4 | 4 | $11,348 | $6,809 |
| Idaho | 4 | 4 | $0 | $0 |
| Illinois | 4 | 4 | $16,550 | $15,000 |
| Michigan | 4 | 4 | $5,400 | $5,400 |
| North Carolina | 4 | 4 | $23,700 | $18,180 |
| Nevada | 4 | 4 | $7,330 | $5,556 |
| Pennsylvania | 4 | 4 | $10,840 | $6,700 |
| California | 3 | 3 | $0 | $0 |
| Colorado | 3 | 3 | $6,833 | $6,833 |
By industry
- Manufacturing: 82 inspections
- Accommodation & food services: 15 inspections
- Wholesale trade: 11 inspections
- Administrative & waste services: 9 inspections
- Transportation & warehousing: 9 inspections
- Other services: 8 inspections
- Retail trade: 8 inspections
- Health care & social assistance: 6 inspections
Recently cited establishments
About these records. Citations list alleged violations and proposed penalties. Employers can contest them, and many are reduced or withdrawn in settlement. Each row shows the original and the current penalty and a status label derived from the public data as of October 5, 2026. Check the linked osha.gov page for the official record.
| Establishment | Location | Issued | Alleged items | Initial penalty | Current penalty | Status and deadlines | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total Energies Holding Company dba Hutchinson Antivibration Systems Inc. | Cadillac, MI | Aug 31, 2026 | 1 | $5,400 | $5,400 | Final orderAbatement due Oct 2, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Asia Cuba PR Inc. | Mayaguez, PR | Aug 27, 2026 | 1 | $3,547 | $0 | OpenAbatement due Sep 8, 2026Contest deadline ~Sep 18, 2026 (est.) | osha.gov |
| Fence Direct Inc. | Orlando, FL | Aug 27, 2026 | 1 | $2,270 | $1,362 | Informal settlementAbatement due Sep 23, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Plastic Services and Products LLC | Paducah, KY | Aug 25, 2026 | 1 | $5,850 | $5,850 | Final orderAbatement due Sep 14, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Powderworx 615, LLC | Burns, TN | Aug 24, 2026 | 1 | $0 | $0 | Informal settlementAbatement due Sep 28, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Tri Five LLC | Lexington, KY | Aug 20, 2026 | 1 | $2,700 | $2,700 | Final orderAbatement due Sep 8, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Delta Faucet Company | Provo, KY | Aug 18, 2026 | 1 | $7,000 | $7,000 | ContestedAbatement due Sep 8, 2026Contested Sep 8, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Speedway LLC | Murfreesboro, TN | Aug 17, 2026 | 1 | $0 | $0 | ContestedAbatement due Sep 21, 2026Contested Sep 4, 2026 | osha.gov |
| RPS Automotive LLC | Murray, KY | Aug 11, 2026 | 1 | $0 | $0 | Informal settlementAbatement due Aug 31, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Golden Gate Petroleum of Colorado, LLC | Fruita, CO | Aug 7, 2026 | 1 | $0 | $0 | ContestedAbatement due Sep 14, 2026Contested Aug 28, 2026 | osha.gov |
| TPM Inc. | Auburn, KY | Aug 7, 2026 | 1 | $2,100 | $2,100 | ContestedAbatement due Aug 11, 2026Contested Aug 28, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Encanto Sunrise Inc. | Caguas, PR | Aug 6, 2026 | 1 | $6,384 | $6,384 | ContestedAbatement due Sep 1, 2026Contested Aug 26, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Jay-Tex Aviation LLC | Mount Pleasant, TX | Aug 5, 2026 | 1 | $0 | $0 | Final orderAbatement due Aug 31, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Eric Town Enterprises | Hainesport, NJ | Jul 30, 2026 | 1 | $0 | $0 | Informal settlementAbatement due Aug 25, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Name withheld (individual) | Waynesboro, PA | Jul 29, 2026 | 1 | $0 | $0 | Final orderAbatement due Aug 12, 2026 | osha.gov |
| WS/FCS Transportation Department | Winston Salem, NC | Jul 28, 2026 | 1 | $5,200 | $3,580 | Informal settlementAbatement due Aug 3, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Memphis Masterworks, LLC | Memphis, TN | Jul 24, 2026 | 1 | $0 | $0 | Final orderAbatement due Aug 28, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Leonardo DRS, Inc. | Melbourne, FL | Jul 24, 2026 | 1 | $0 | $0 | Informal settlementAbatement due Aug 19, 2026 | osha.gov |
| CL Services & Distribution, LLC | Weyerhaeuser, WI | Jul 24, 2026 | 1 | $0 | $0 | Informal settlementAbatement due Aug 28, 2026 | osha.gov |
| B&R LLC | Bartow, FL | Jul 24, 2026 | 1 | $0 | $0 | Informal settlementAbatement due Aug 12, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Vireo Health of Minnesota LLC | Rogers, MN | Jul 24, 2026 | 1 | $3,200 | $3,200 | Final orderAbatement due Aug 21, 2026 | osha.gov |
| PMC Gage, Inc. | White House, TN | Jul 23, 2026 | 1 | $800 | $800 | Final orderAbatement due Aug 7, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Wagner Equipment Company | Aurora, CO | Jul 17, 2026 | 1 | $6,833 | $6,833 | Final orderAbatement due Aug 12, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Vibrant Graphics, LLC | Milwaukee, WI | Jul 16, 2026 | 1 | $1,702 | $851 | Informal settlementAbatement due Aug 31, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Colonial Millworks, Inc. | Baltimore, MD | Jul 15, 2026 | 1 | $1,200 | $1,200 | ContestedAbatement due Jul 23, 2026Contested Aug 3, 2026 | osha.gov |
| American Truck & Bus, Inc. | Annapolis, MD | Jul 8, 2026 | 1 | $0 | $0 | Informal settlementAbatement due Jul 16, 2026 | osha.gov |
| National Geib Refining LLC | Warwick, RI | Jul 2, 2026 | 1 | $1,129 | $1,129 | Final orderAbatement due Aug 6, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Bruegge and Co. | Normal, IL | Jul 2, 2026 | 1 | $0 | $0 | Informal settlementAbatement due Jul 14, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Ata Finishing Corp. | Skokie, IL | Jun 24, 2026 | 1 | $0 | $0 | Informal settlementAbatement due Jul 21, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Atlantic Concrete MD, LLC | Cockeysville, MD | Jun 24, 2026 | 1 | $0 | $0 | Formal settlementAbatement due Jul 2, 2026Contested Jul 7, 2026 | osha.gov |
| U.S. Postal Service | San Diego, CA | Jun 24, 2026 | 1 | $0 | $0 | Informal settlementAbatement due Jul 28, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Prairie Bread, Inc. | Sioux Falls, SD | Jun 18, 2026 | 1 | $7,945 | $4,767 | Informal settlementAbatement due Jul 22, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Name withheld (individual) | Antioch, TN | Jun 18, 2026 | 1 | $0 | $0 | Final orderAbatement due Jul 23, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Rainbow Corporation | Pago Pago, AS | Jun 15, 2026 | 1 | $0 | $0 | Final orderAbatement due Jun 26, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Dynotec Industries Acquisition Group LLC | Fairburn, GA | Jun 12, 2026 | 1 | $0 | $0 | Informal settlementAbatement due Sep 10, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Petco Animal Supplies Stores, Inc. | North Riverside, IL | Jun 12, 2026 | 1 | $16,550 | $15,000 | Informal settlementAbatement due Oct 16, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Ralco Industries, Inc. | Woonsocket, RI | Jun 5, 2026 | 1 | $948 | $664 | Informal settlementAbatement due Jul 9, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Dae-IL USA Inc. | Murray, KY | Jun 4, 2026 | 1 | $3,600 | $2,520 | Informal settlementAbatement due Jun 22, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Crescent Manufacturing | Burlington, CT | Jun 2, 2026 | 1 | $0 | $0 | Informal settlementAbatement due Jul 21, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Arthur R. Warner Company | Latrobe, PA | Jun 2, 2026 | 1 | $4,220 | $2,200 | Informal settlement | osha.gov |
Often cited together
- 1910.132 PPE General Requirements (91 shared inspections)
- 1910.1200 Hazard Communication (82 shared inspections)
- 1910.133 Eye & Face Protection (77 shared inspections)
- 1910.151 First Aid (33 shared inspections)
- 1910.305 Wiring Methods (26 shared inspections)
- 1910.134 Respiratory Protection (26 shared inspections)
- 1910.303 Electrical General (25 shared inspections)
- 1910.212 Machine Guarding (24 shared inspections)
Questions
What does OSHA standard 1910.138 require?
Employers must select and require appropriate gloves or other hand protection when hands are exposed to hazards such as skin absorption of harmful substances, severe cuts or lacerations, abrasions, punctures, chemical burns, thermal burns, or harmful temperature extremes. Selection must be based on an evaluation of how the gloves perform against the specific tasks, conditions, duration of use, and hazards identified, rather than a one-size-fits-all choice.
How often was 1910.138 cited in the last 12 months?
In the public data as of October 5, 2026, 1910.138 (Hand Protection) appeared in 168 inspections with citations issued between Oct 5, 2025 and Oct 5, 2026, covering 168 alleged violation items.
Which part of 1910.138 is cited most?
1910.138(a) was the most-cited paragraph, with 152 items: Use of appropriate hand protection when hands are exposed to hazards
Which states cite 1910.138 most often?
The most citations under 1910.138 in this period were issued in Tennessee, Kentucky, Florida.
What is the typical penalty for a 1910.138 violation?
The median initial (proposed) penalty per item was $550; the median current penalty after settlements and amendments was $0. Totals: $602,531 proposed, $422,554 current. Penalties vary by violation type, employer size and history, and State Plans set their own amounts.
Are 1910.138 citations final?
Not necessarily. A citation is an allegation until it becomes a final order. 13% of these items were contested, and many others were changed in settlements. Each listing shows its current status and a link to the official record.