1926.300 Hand and Power Tools: citations, penalties and recently cited employers
Data as of October 5, 2026 · citations issued Oct 5, 2025 to Oct 5, 2026
All hand and power tools used in construction, whether owned by the employer or the employee, must be maintained in a safe condition. Power tools designed for guards must have them in place, and exposed moving parts such as belts, gears, pulleys, and rotating shafts must be guarded. The section also addresses personal protective equipment and switch requirements for certain hand-held power tools.
What the standard requires
- Maintain all hand and power tools in safe condition
- Keep manufacturer guards in place on power tools
- Guard belts, gears, sprockets, and other moving parts
- Provide appropriate PPE for tool hazards
Hazards it addresses
- Lacerations and amputations from unguarded tools
- Entanglement in moving parts
- Injuries from defective tools
Cited throughout construction, especially with saws, grinders, and portable equipment found without guards.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1926.300(b)(1) | Power-operated tools designed for guards must be equipped with them while in use. | 31 | 31 | $2,838 |
| 1926.300(b)(2) | Belts, gears, shafts, pulleys, and similar moving parts must be guarded. | 25 | 25 | $2,270 |
| 1926.300(a) | All hand and power tools must be maintained in a safe condition. | 21 | 21 | $0 |
| 1926.300(b)(4)(ii) | 10 | 10 | $2,838 | |
| 1926.300(b)(3) | 3 | 3 | $7,000 | |
| 1926.300(b)(5) | 3 | 3 | $0 | |
| 1926.300(c) | 1 | 1 | $5,355 |
Penalties
Across 94 alleged items, OSHA and state-plan offices proposed $252,206 in initial penalties. The current total in the public data is $198,195, 21% lower after settlements, contests and amendments.
By violation type: Serious 82%; Other-than-serious 16%; Repeat 2%.
Citations by state
| State | Inspections cited | Items | Initial penalties | Current penalties |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maryland | 23 | 23 | $11,149 | $10,584 |
| Virginia | 13 | 14 | $16,045 | $11,824 |
| Texas | 9 | 9 | $30,076 | $26,288 |
| Illinois | 7 | 7 | $23,589 | $15,468 |
| Georgia | 6 | 6 | $17,733 | $16,825 |
| Florida | 5 | 5 | $19,391 | $14,188 |
| Wisconsin | 4 | 4 | $15,180 | $15,180 |
| New Jersey | 3 | 3 | $13,832 | $10,198 |
| Hawaii | 2 | 2 | $13,265 | $9,286 |
| North Carolina | 2 | 2 | $1,500 | $1,500 |
| Ohio | 2 | 2 | $11,348 | $7,092 |
| Rhode Island | 2 | 2 | $13,997 | $9,798 |
| South Carolina | 2 | 2 | $1,350 | $1,350 |
| Tennessee | 2 | 2 | $1,400 | $1,400 |
| Alabama | 1 | 1 | $3,405 | $2,043 |
| Colorado | 1 | 1 | $5,958 | $0 |
| Delaware | 1 | 1 | $5,107 | $5,107 |
| Kentucky | 1 | 1 | $5,600 | $3,920 |
| Montana | 1 | 1 | $3,587 | $2,152 |
| New Mexico | 1 | 1 | $5,355 | $3,748 |
By industry
- Construction: 91 inspections
- Administrative & waste services: 1 inspections
- Mining, oil & gas: 1 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Danbert, Inc. | Columbus, OH | Aug 14, 2026 | 1 | $8,511 | $4,256 | Informal settlementAbatement due Sep 3, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Premier Exteriors, Inc. | Bowie, MD | Aug 4, 2026 | 1 | $312 | $312 | Final order | osha.gov |
| Name withheld (individual) | Midlothian, TX | Aug 3, 2026 | 1 | $3,405 | $3,405 | OpenAbatement due Aug 12, 2026Contest deadline ~Aug 24, 2026 (est.) | osha.gov |
| Urus Construction Corporation | Philadelphia, PA | Jul 31, 2026 | 1 | $11,585 | $11,585 | OpenAbatement due Sep 17, 2026Contest deadline ~Aug 21, 2026 (est.) | osha.gov |
| Wisconsin Terrazzo & Tile, Inc. | Eau Claire, WI | Jul 24, 2026 | 1 | $2,412 | $2,412 | ContestedAbatement due Aug 21, 2026Contested Aug 5, 2026 | osha.gov |
| TKS Contracting, Inc. | Burnwell, WV | Jul 24, 2026 | 1 | $5,627 | $4,500 | Informal settlement | osha.gov |
| LJ Framing LLC | Jackson, NJ | Jul 23, 2026 | 1 | $4,256 | $2,240 | Informal settlementAbatement due Sep 14, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Tico Roofing Solutions LLC | Dayton, OH | Jul 17, 2026 | 1 | $2,837 | $2,837 | Status not determinableAbatement due Aug 21, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Arlington Exteriors Inc. | Palatine, IL | Jul 16, 2026 | 1 | $4,256 | $3,000 | Informal settlementAbatement due Aug 18, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Name withheld (individual) | Bloomingdale, GA | Jul 14, 2026 | 1 | $2,270 | $2,270 | Final order | osha.gov |
| Solano Construction, LLC | Cambridge, MD | Jul 14, 2026 | 1 | $1,350 | $1,350 | OpenAbatement due Jul 22, 2026Contest deadline ~Aug 4, 2026 (est.) | osha.gov |
| Fernando Framing LLC | Gainesville, GA | Jun 29, 2026 | 1 | $3,547 | $3,547 | Final order | osha.gov |
| Name withheld (individual) | Waxahachie, TX | Jun 22, 2026 | 1 | $3,405 | $2,043 | Informal settlementAbatement due Jul 1, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Jacobsen Construction Company, Inc. | Midvale, UT | Jun 18, 2026 | 1 | $7,000 | $7,000 | Final orderAbatement due Jul 23, 2026 | osha.gov |
| MTZ Solutions LLC | Bradley, IL | Jun 15, 2026 | 1 | $2,270 | $1,250 | Informal settlement | osha.gov |
| RG Pro Siding, Inc. | Chester, MD | Jun 3, 2026 | 1 | $0 | $0 | Final orderAbatement due Jun 11, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Mountain View Electric Company LLC | Christiansburg, VA | Jun 2, 2026 | 1 | $690 | $483 | Informal settlementAbatement due Jun 26, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Eec, Inc. | Billings, MT | Jun 2, 2026 | 1 | $3,587 | $2,152 | Informal settlement | osha.gov |
| Weil Construction, Inc. | Des Moines, NM | May 26, 2026 | 1 | $5,355 | $3,748 | Informal settlementAbatement due Jun 19, 2026 | osha.gov |
| A-G Constructions, LLC | Winston Salem, NC | May 26, 2026 | 1 | $750 | $750 | Final orderAbatement due Jun 1, 2026 | osha.gov |
| BRC Construction, Inc. | Stevensville, MD | May 20, 2026 | 1 | $0 | $0 | Informal settlementAbatement due May 29, 2026 | osha.gov |
| J. & B. Home Renovations Inc. | Arlington Heights, IL | May 19, 2026 | 1 | $2,838 | $2,100 | Informal settlementAbatement due Jun 1, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Luxury Roofing Service, LLC | Apopka, FL | May 18, 2026 | 1 | $2,838 | $1,419 | Informal settlementAbatement due Jun 12, 2026 | osha.gov |
| A1 Roofing & Restoration, LLC | Denton, MD | May 15, 2026 | 1 | $2,000 | $2,000 | Final orderAbatement due May 26, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Name withheld (individual) | Spring, TX | May 14, 2026 | 1 | $2,838 | $2,838 | Final order | osha.gov |
| Name withheld (individual) | Denton, MD | May 11, 2026 | 1 | $0 | $0 | Final orderAbatement due May 19, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Burton Construction Co., Inc., J. E | South Boston, VA | May 1, 2026 | 1 | $600 | $420 | Informal settlement | osha.gov |
| Pimco Masonry, Inc. | San Antonio, TX | Apr 30, 2026 | 1 | $2,837 | $2,000 | Informal settlement | osha.gov |
| C3 Environmental Specialities | Rio Medina, TX | Apr 28, 2026 | 1 | $6,809 | $6,809 | Final order | osha.gov |
| Middle-GA Concrete Pumping LLC | Mcdonough, GA | Apr 24, 2026 | 1 | $3,972 | $3,972 | OpenContest deadline ~May 15, 2026 (est.) | osha.gov |
| Renewal Construction, LLC | Danville, VA | Apr 10, 2026 | 2 | $600 | $600 | Final order | osha.gov |
| Elite C Construction Corporation | Monroeville, NJ | Apr 8, 2026 | 1 | $5,958 | $5,958 | Final orderAbatement due Apr 14, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Raskin Built, LLC | Owings Mills, MD | Apr 7, 2026 | 1 | $750 | $525 | Informal settlementAbatement due Apr 15, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Name withheld (individual) | Lorena, TX | Apr 7, 2026 | 1 | $1,702 | $1,702 | Final orderAbatement due Apr 16, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Name withheld (individual) | Winston Salem, NC | Apr 6, 2026 | 1 | $750 | $750 | Final orderAbatement due Apr 10, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Name withheld (individual) | Chelsea, AL | Apr 3, 2026 | 1 | $3,405 | $2,043 | Informal settlementAbatement due Apr 29, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Name withheld (individual) | Thornburg, VA | Mar 31, 2026 | 1 | $0 | $0 | Final order | osha.gov |
| Maduro Masonry Contractor, Inc. | Providence, RI | Jul 31, 2026 | 1 | $2,412 | $1,688 | Informal settlementAbatement due May 12, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Triade Multiservices Inc. | Rockledge, FL | Mar 23, 2026 | 1 | $4,256 | $4,256 | Final order | osha.gov |
| AJF Roofing LLC | Nottingham, MD | Mar 23, 2026 | 1 | $1,125 | $785 | Informal settlementAbatement due Mar 31, 2026 | osha.gov |
Often cited together
- 1926.501 Fall Protection (42 shared inspections)
- 1926.102 Eye and Face Protection (42 shared inspections)
- 1926.503 Fall Protection Training (33 shared inspections)
- 1926.1053 Ladder Safety (28 shared inspections)
- 1926.20 Construction Safety Programs (16 shared inspections)
- 1926.100 Hard Hats (15 shared inspections)
- 1926.1153 Silica in Construction (13 shared inspections)
- 1926.1060 Ladder and Stair Training (11 shared inspections)
Questions
What does OSHA standard 1926.300 require?
All hand and power tools used in construction, whether owned by the employer or the employee, must be maintained in a safe condition. Power tools designed for guards must have them in place, and exposed moving parts such as belts, gears, pulleys, and rotating shafts must be guarded. The section also addresses personal protective equipment and switch requirements for certain hand-held power tools.
How often was 1926.300 cited in the last 12 months?
In the public data as of October 5, 2026, 1926.300 (Hand and Power Tools) appeared in 93 inspections with citations issued between Oct 5, 2025 and Oct 5, 2026, covering 94 alleged violation items.
Which part of 1926.300 is cited most?
1926.300(b)(1) was the most-cited paragraph, with 31 items: Power-operated tools designed for guards must be equipped with them while in use.
Which states cite 1926.300 most often?
The most citations under 1926.300 in this period were issued in Maryland, Virginia, Texas.
What is the typical penalty for a 1926.300 violation?
The median initial (proposed) penalty per item was $2,341; the median current penalty after settlements and amendments was $1,702. Totals: $252,206 proposed, $198,195 current. Penalties vary by violation type, employer size and history, and State Plans set their own amounts.
Are 1926.300 citations final?
Not necessarily. A citation is an allegation until it becomes a final order. 6% 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.