Hand and powered tools requirements

The employer is responsible for the safe condition of tools and equipment used by employees, including tools employees bring from home. This is stated directly in 1910.242(a).

• Practical steps employers should take include inspecting tools before use, repairing or removing defective tools from service, providing appropriate guards and safety devices, and ensuring tools are used only for their intended purpose.
• If employees bring their own tools, employers still must make sure those tools are safe before allowing their use (see 1910.242(a)).

Yes — under 1910.242(a) the employer is responsible for the safe condition of tools and equipment used by employees, including those furnished by employees themselves.

• That means the employer must verify employee‑owned tools are in safe condition before workers use them on the job and must remove or repair defective employee‑owned tools as needed.
• Employers should include employee‑owned tools in their inspection and maintenance program to meet this obligation.

Compressed air may be used for cleaning only when it is reduced to less than 30 pounds per square inch (p.s.i.) and then only when effective chip guarding and appropriate personal protective equipment are provided, as required by 1910.242(b).

• If compressed air for cleaning cannot be reduced below 30 p.s.i., do not use it for cleaning.
• Even below 30 p.s.i., use a chip guard (to prevent flying particles) and provide PPE such as eye protection and face shields appropriate to the hazard.

The standard requires that compressed air used for cleaning be reduced to less than 30 p.s.i., but it does not specify the exact measurement point in the line — so employers must ensure the pressure at the point of use (the nozzle or outlet used for cleaning) is below 30 p.s.i. in practice, as stated in 1910.242(b).

• Employers should measure pressure at the cleaning nozzle or outlet to confirm it stays below 30 p.s.i. during use.
• Use pressure‑reducing regulators and gauges, and recheck regularly as part of routine inspections to ensure compliance with 1910.242(b).

Effective chip guarding means a guard or barrier that prevents flying chips, particles, or debris from striking employees while compressed air is used for cleaning, as required by 1910.242(b).

• The guard should block the trajectory of particles and be appropriate for the size and speed of debris produced by the operation.
• Combine chip guarding with suitable PPE (for example, safety goggles or face shields) to provide layered protection as required by 1910.242(b).

Employers must provide appropriate personal protective equipment whenever compressed air is used for cleaning, as required by 1910.242(b).

• While the standard does not list specific PPE items, common protections include safety goggles or full face shields to protect eyes and face from flying chips, hearing protection if noise is high, and protective clothing where debris could penetrate skin.
• Employers should select PPE based on the actual hazards (particle size, speed, and noise), document the selection, and train employees in proper use and care of that PPE.

When a tool is found defective, the employer must remove it from service and repair or replace it so it does not put employees at risk, consistent with the employer responsibility in 1910.242(a).

• Tag or segregate defective tools to prevent further use until they are repaired.
• Keep records or logs of defective tool removal and repairs as part of your maintenance and inspection program to demonstrate compliance with 1910.242(a).

Yes — because 1910.242(a) makes the employer responsible for the safe condition of tools and equipment, including those provided by employees, employers should include tools in routine inspections.

• Inspect tools for broken guards, cracked parts, worn cords, loose handles, and other defects before use and as part of scheduled maintenance.
• Document inspections and corrective actions to show the employer is meeting its duty under 1910.242(a).

Compressed air should not be used to clean a worker's clothing or skin unless the pressure is reduced to less than 30 p.s.i. and effective chip guarding and appropriate PPE are used, as required by 1910.242(b).

• Even at lower pressures, compressed air directed at clothing or skin can force particles or air under clothing and cause injury; employers should consider safer alternatives such as vacuums or brushes.
• If compressed air must be used for this purpose, ensure strict controls, PPE, and documented procedures to meet 1910.242(b).

The text of 1910.242(a) places responsibility on the employer for the safe condition of tools, but it does not list a specific training regimen; however, ensuring safe use typically requires training as part of meeting that responsibility.

• Employers should provide training on safe tool operation, inspection, and the proper use of guards and PPE to ensure tools remain in a safe condition under 1910.242(a).
• Training should be tailored to the tools in use and documented to show compliance with the employer’s duty under 1910.242(a).

Yes — before using compressed air for cleaning, employers should consider safer alternatives such as vacuuming, brushing, or using low‑pressure blowers, and only use compressed air when these alternatives are impractical and the compressed air can meet the 1910.242(b) requirements (less than 30 p.s.i., chip guarding, and PPE).

• Vacuums and brushes eliminate the hazard of high‑pressure air and flying chips.
• If compressed air is necessary, document why alternatives are impractical and how you control pressure, guarding, and PPE to comply with 1910.242(b).

Yes — because 1910.242(a) requires the employer to ensure the safe condition of tools and equipment, that responsibility includes providing necessary guards and safety devices on portable powered tools.

• Guards should be appropriate to the tool and its hazards (for example, blade guards on saws or chip shields on grinders) and must be kept in place and maintained.
• Inspections should verify guards are intact and functioning as part of meeting the duty in 1910.242(a).

Only if the compressed air is reduced to less than 30 p.s.i., effective chip guarding is used, and appropriate PPE is provided and worn, per 1910.242(b). If those conditions cannot be fully met, do not use compressed air for cleaning in areas where bystanders could be struck by flying debris.

• Use barriers or relocate bystanders during cleaning operations when possible.
• Always combine physical guarding, PPE, and pressure reduction to satisfy 1910.242(b).

The text of 1910.242(a) requires the employer to ensure tools are in a safe condition but does not prescribe specific recordkeeping for tool inspections; however, keeping documented inspections and maintenance records is a practical way to demonstrate compliance with the employer’s responsibility.

• Maintain inspection checklists, repair logs, and training records to show you regularly inspect and maintain tools.
• Records help prove the employer met its duty under 1910.242(a) in the event of an audit or incident review.

No — 1910.242(b) requires that compressed air used for cleaning be accompanied by appropriate personal protective equipment; employers must provide and require the PPE rather than leaving it to personal preference.

• Employers should assess hazards and mandate the correct PPE (for example, safety goggles or face shields) and enforce its use.
• Documentation of hazard assessment and PPE provided supports compliance with 1910.242(b).

Employers must ensure tools are kept in a safe condition, so power tools with missing or damaged guards must be removed from service until the guards are replaced or repaired, in accordance with the employer responsibility in 1910.242(a).

• Tag the tool out of service, repair or replace the guard, and re‑inspect the tool before returning it to use.
• Keep records of the defect, repair, and reinspection to demonstrate due diligence under 1910.242(a).

Yes — using a nozzle or regulator that reduces the outlet pressure to less than 30 p.s.i. at the point of use is an acceptable control to meet the 1910.242(b) requirement, provided effective chip guarding and appropriate PPE are also used.

• Verify the pressure at the nozzle with a gauge during normal operation to ensure it remains below 30 p.s.i.
• Combine nozzle/regulator controls with guarding and PPE to comply with 1910.242(b).

Employers should evaluate whether the tool is appropriate for the task and in safe condition, and if it meets the employer’s duty under 1910.242(a) allow its use only when it is safe.

• Consider tool condition, presence of guards, manufacturer instructions, and whether the operator has the needed training and PPE.
• If any of these elements are lacking, repair, replace, or restrict use until the tool is safe and the employer can demonstrate compliance with 1910.242(a).