1910.243 Portable Tool Guarding: citations, penalties and recently cited employers
Data as of October 5, 2026 · citations issued Oct 5, 2025 to Oct 5, 2026
Sets guarding requirements for specific portable powered tools. Portable circular saws must have upper and lower guards, with the lower guard returning automatically to cover the blade. Certain hand-held tools must have constant-pressure or other appropriate switches. The section also covers pneumatic tools and hoses, guarding of portable abrasive wheels, explosive-actuated fastening tools, and power lawnmowers. Missing or removed guards on portable grinders are a common issue.
What the standard requires
- Equip portable circular saws with upper and self-returning lower guards
- Provide appropriate switches and controls on hand-held power tools
- Guard portable abrasive wheels as required
- Secure pneumatic tool hoses and attachments
- Use explosive-actuated fastening tools only with trained operators
Hazards it addresses
- Lacerations from exposed saw blades
- Wheel breakage injuries
- Struck-by injuries from fasteners or hose whip
Commonly cited in fabrication, maintenance, and building trades within general industry.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1910.243(c)(1) | Portable abrasive wheels | 44 | 44 | $1,478 |
| 1910.243(c)(3) | Portable abrasive wheels | 42 | 42 | $1,601 |
| 1910.243(c)(4) | Portable abrasive wheels | 15 | 15 | $1,177 |
| 1910.243(b)(2) | Pneumatic powered tools and hose | 13 | 13 | $1,300 |
| 1910.243(e)(1)(i) | 5 | 5 | $0 | |
| 1910.243(a)(1)(i) | Portable powered tools, including circular saws and switches | 4 | 4 | $9,651 |
| 1910.243(c)(1)(ii)(A) | Portable abrasive wheels | 4 | 4 | $3,405 |
| 1910.243(e)(1)(ii) | 3 | 3 | $0 | |
| 1910.243(a)(3) | Portable powered tools, including circular saws and switches | 2 | 2 | $450 |
| 1910.243(c)(5)(i) | Portable abrasive wheels | 2 | 2 | $50,939 |
| 1910.243(e)(2)(i) | 2 | 2 | $8,275 | |
| 1910.243(a)(2)(ii) | Portable powered tools, including circular saws and switches | 1 | 1 | $1,750 |
| 1910.243(d)(4)(viii) | Explosive actuated fastening tools | 1 | 1 | $1,400 |
Penalties
Across 138 alleged items, OSHA and state-plan offices proposed $704,565 in initial penalties. The current total in the public data is $343,605, 51% lower after settlements, contests and amendments.
By violation type: Serious 88%; Other-than-serious 10%; Repeat 1%.
Citations by state
| State | Inspections cited | Items | Initial penalties | Current penalties |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tennessee | 13 | 13 | $6,700 | $6,525 |
| Nevada | 10 | 10 | $41,953 | $34,860 |
| North Carolina | 9 | 9 | $16,500 | $13,870 |
| Illinois | 8 | 8 | $0 | $0 |
| Minnesota | 8 | 8 | $14,450 | $11,350 |
| Wisconsin | 7 | 7 | $15,885 | $9,531 |
| Florida | 6 | 6 | $37,830 | $27,238 |
| Maryland | 6 | 6 | $8,675 | $7,865 |
| Oregon | 6 | 6 | $7,857 | $7,857 |
| Texas | 6 | 6 | $35,824 | $19,477 |
| Virginia | 6 | 6 | $6,200 | $5,166 |
| Arizona | 5 | 5 | $18,117 | $17,479 |
| Kentucky | 4 | 4 | $13,200 | $11,150 |
| Massachusetts | 4 | 5 | $21,706 | $8,000 |
| New York | 4 | 4 | $0 | $0 |
| Colorado | 3 | 3 | $11,266 | $6,814 |
| Iowa | 3 | 3 | $22,107 | $11,666 |
| Indiana | 3 | 3 | $6,900 | $6,585 |
| Kansas | 3 | 3 | $10,441 | $6,265 |
| Ohio | 3 | 3 | $22,226 | $6,384 |
By industry
- Manufacturing: 75 inspections
- Construction: 19 inspections
- Other services: 9 inspections
- Utilities: 7 inspections
- Public administration: 6 inspections
- Retail trade: 5 inspections
- Administrative & waste services: 4 inspections
- Accommodation & food services: 3 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Calvert County Public Schools | Prince Frederick, MD | Aug 31, 2026 | 1 | $2,850 | $2,850 | ContestedAbatement due Sep 8, 2026Contested Sep 9, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Easton Department of Public Works | Easton, MA | Aug 28, 2026 | 1 | $0 | $0 | Final orderAbatement due Sep 28, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Board of Education, Frederick County Public Schools | Frederick, MD | Aug 28, 2026 | 1 | $1,050 | $1,050 | Final orderAbatement due Sep 8, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Harvest Valley Specialties Inc. | Eugene, OR | Aug 27, 2026 | 1 | $1,457 | $1,457 | Final order | osha.gov |
| Tithe Corp. | Baltimore, MD | Aug 25, 2026 | 1 | $1,200 | $1,200 | OpenAbatement due Sep 2, 2026Contest deadline ~Sep 16, 2026 (est.) | osha.gov |
| The Western Sugar Cooperative, Corporation | Scottsbluff, NE | Aug 24, 2026 | 1 | $0 | $0 | ContestedAbatement due Sep 18, 2026Contested Sep 22, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Dedham Facilities Department | Dedham, MA | Aug 20, 2026 | 1 | $0 | $0 | Final orderAbatement due Sep 21, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Correcaminos Food Trucks and Trailers LLC | Orlando, FL | Aug 18, 2026 | 1 | $2,838 | $2,838 | OpenAbatement due Sep 14, 2026Contest deadline ~Sep 9, 2026 (est.) | osha.gov |
| Aaa Galvanizing - Winsted Inc. dba AZZ Galvanizing | Winsted, MN | Aug 12, 2026 | 1 | $4,200 | $4,200 | ContestedAbatement due Aug 31, 2026Contested Sep 2, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Giles County-Highway Department | Pulaski, TN | Aug 11, 2026 | 1 | $0 | $0 | Final orderAbatement due Sep 10, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Morgan County - Highway Dept | Jacksonville, IL | Aug 6, 2026 | 1 | $0 | $0 | Final orderAbatement due Sep 10, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Town of St. Paul - Public Works | Saint Paul, VA | Aug 6, 2026 | 1 | $0 | $0 | Final orderAbatement due Sep 1, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Schulte Hospitality Group, Inc. | Reno, NV | Aug 6, 2026 | 1 | $8,511 | $6,383 | Informal settlement | osha.gov |
| Town of Angier - Public Works | Angier, NC | Aug 3, 2026 | 1 | $4,000 | $2,400 | Informal settlementAbatement due Aug 7, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Gautier Trailer Company | Nokomis, FL | Jul 31, 2026 | 1 | $2,838 | $1,703 | Informal settlementAbatement due Aug 26, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Peppermill Casinos, Inc. | Sparks, NV | Jul 29, 2026 | 1 | $9,457 | $9,457 | Final order | osha.gov |
| Mills & Nebraska, LLC | Orlando, FL | Jul 29, 2026 | 1 | $9,268 | $4,634 | Informal settlementAbatement due Aug 24, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Oregon Coast Scenic Railroad | Garibaldi, OR | Jul 29, 2026 | 1 | $1,457 | $1,457 | Final order | osha.gov |
| Lakeland - Public Works | Lakeland, TN | Jul 28, 2026 | 1 | $0 | $0 | Final orderAbatement due Aug 27, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Pete's Tire Barns Inc. | South Windsor, CT | Jul 28, 2026 | 1 | $4,965 | $2,500 | Informal settlementAbatement due Aug 31, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Nevada Department of Corrections | Carson City, NV | Jul 20, 2026 | 1 | $2,837 | $1,418 | Informal settlementAbatement due Aug 24, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Big 7 Ventures LLC | Elko, NV | Jul 17, 2026 | 1 | $3,215 | $3,215 | Final order | osha.gov |
| Town of Calabash - Maintenance | Carolina Shores, NC | Jul 15, 2026 | 1 | $2,000 | $1,200 | Informal settlementAbatement due Jul 23, 2026 | osha.gov |
| DQ Dream Homes LLC | West Chester, OH | Jul 13, 2026 | 1 | $0 | $0 | Informal settlementAbatement due Aug 6, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Knox County - Highway Dept | Knoxville, IL | Jul 9, 2026 | 1 | $0 | $0 | Final orderAbatement due Aug 13, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Maximizer Systems, Inc. | Hickory, NC | Jul 9, 2026 | 1 | $1,250 | $1,250 | Final orderAbatement due Jul 13, 2026 | osha.gov |
| McMinn County - Maintenance | Athens, TN | Jun 29, 2026 | 1 | $0 | $0 | Final orderAbatement due Jul 29, 2026 | osha.gov |
| WI Milwaukee Container Shop | Milwaukee, WI | Jun 26, 2026 | 1 | $12,059 | $7,235 | Informal settlement | osha.gov |
| Baystone Inc. | Reno, NV | Jun 25, 2026 | 1 | $4,220 | $4,220 | ContestedContested Jul 23, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Leon's Welding & Fabrication LLC | Hays, KS | Jun 25, 2026 | 1 | $4,256 | $2,554 | Informal settlementAbatement due Jul 22, 2026 | osha.gov |
| DG Welding - MFG Inc. | Saint Paul, MN | Jun 25, 2026 | 1 | $1,000 | $1,000 | Final orderAbatement due Jul 4, 2026 | osha.gov |
| National Flooring Equipment LLC | Minneapolis, MN | Jun 25, 2026 | 1 | $1,000 | $600 | Informal settlementAbatement due Jun 29, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Pittsylvania County Schools | Chatham, VA | Jun 18, 2026 | 1 | $0 | $0 | Final orderAbatement due Jul 15, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Three-O-Machine Shop | El Paso, TX | Jun 18, 2026 | 1 | $2,270 | $1,000 | Informal settlementAbatement due Aug 3, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Diversified Heat Transfer, Inc. | Towaco, NJ | Jun 17, 2026 | 1 | $13,902 | $6,950 | Informal settlementAbatement due Jul 16, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Church Hill - Sewer Plant | Church Hill, TN | Jun 15, 2026 | 1 | $0 | $0 | Final order | osha.gov |
| Baski Water Instruments, Inc. | Englewood, CO | Jun 15, 2026 | 1 | $1,809 | $1,085 | Informal settlementAbatement due Jul 22, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Lafayette Township Road Dist | Mattoon, IL | Jun 4, 2026 | 1 | $0 | $0 | Final orderAbatement due Jul 9, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Collins Town Highway Department | Collins, NY | Jun 4, 2026 | 1 | $0 | $0 | Final orderAbatement due Jun 23, 2026 | osha.gov |
| R & R Fabrication Enterprises, LLC | Prince Frederick, MD | Jun 2, 2026 | 1 | $1,500 | $1,050 | Formal settlementAbatement due Jun 10, 2026Contested Jun 30, 2026 | osha.gov |
Often cited together
- 1910.1200 Hazard Communication (48 shared inspections)
- 1910.303 Electrical General (38 shared inspections)
- 1910.305 Wiring Methods (38 shared inspections)
- 1910.178 Forklifts (33 shared inspections)
- 1910.212 Machine Guarding (29 shared inspections)
- 1910.215 Abrasive Wheels (27 shared inspections)
- 1910.132 PPE General Requirements (26 shared inspections)
- 1910.157 Fire Extinguishers (25 shared inspections)
Questions
What does OSHA standard 1910.243 require?
Sets guarding requirements for specific portable powered tools. Portable circular saws must have upper and lower guards, with the lower guard returning automatically to cover the blade. Certain hand-held tools must have constant-pressure or other appropriate switches. The section also covers pneumatic tools and hoses, guarding of portable abrasive wheels, explosive-actuated fastening tools, and power lawnmowers. Missing or removed guards on portable grinders are a common issue.
How often was 1910.243 cited in the last 12 months?
In the public data as of October 5, 2026, 1910.243 (Portable Tool Guarding) appeared in 135 inspections with citations issued between Oct 5, 2025 and Oct 5, 2026, covering 138 alleged violation items.
Which part of 1910.243 is cited most?
1910.243(c)(1) was the most-cited paragraph, with 44 items: Portable abrasive wheels
Which states cite 1910.243 most often?
The most citations under 1910.243 in this period were issued in Tennessee, Nevada, North Carolina.
What is the typical penalty for a 1910.243 violation?
The median initial (proposed) penalty per item was $1,457; the median current penalty after settlements and amendments was $1,177. Totals: $704,565 proposed, $343,605 current. Penalties vary by violation type, employer size and history, and State Plans set their own amounts.
Are 1910.243 citations final?
Not necessarily. A citation is an allegation until it becomes a final order. 12% 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.