Laundry machinery requirements

No — the laundry machinery standard does not cover dry-cleaning operations. The rule explicitly states that "This section does not apply to dry-cleaning operations" in 1910.264(c).

Yes — each washing machine must be provided with a means for holding open the doors or covers of inner and outer cylinders or shells while being loaded or unloaded, as required by 1910.264(c)(1)(ii)(b).

• Employers may select an appropriate device (for example, a mechanical stay, prop, or latch) so long as it reliably holds the door or cover open during loading and unloading.

Yes — each drying tumbler must be provided with means for holding open the doors or covers of inner and outer cylinders or shells while being loaded or unloaded, as stated in 1910.264(c)(2)(iii)(b).

• The standard requires the function (holding open) but does not prescribe a specific device, so employers should choose a durable method that prevents the doors from closing accidentally.

Yes — each shaker or clothes tumbler of the double-cylinder type must be provided with means for holding open the doors or covers of inner and outer cylinders or shells while being loaded or unloaded, as required by 1910.264(c)(2)(iv)(b)(2).

• Choose a device that prevents unintentional closing and protects workers at the point of operation.

No — those specific provisions do not apply to shakeout or conditioning tumblers where clothes are loaded into the open end of the revolving cylinder and automatically discharged out the opposite end. The standard states that the provisions of paragraph (c)(2)(iii), (iv)(a)(1), and (iv)(b) shall not apply to such tumblers (see 1910.264(c) and the paragraph describing the exception).

Steam pipes within 7 feet of the floor or working platform that a worker may contact must be insulated or covered with a heat-resistive material or otherwise properly guarded. This requirement is set out in 1910.264(c)(4)(iii)(a).

• The 7-foot measurement is from the floor or working platform to the pipe; choose insulation or guarding that prevents burns on contact.

When a pressure-reducing valve is used, one or more relief or safety valves must be provided on the low-pressure side of the reducing valve, and they should be located adjacent to, or as close as possible to, the reducing valve; proper protection must be provided to prevent injury or damage from escaping fluid, and vents must be ample, short, and direct, as required by 1910.264(c)(4)(iii)(b).

• Ensure venting is directed and guarded so that discharged fluid cannot injure workers or damage equipment.

Markers and others handling soiled clothes must be warned not to touch their eyes, mouth, or any broken skin and must be cautioned not to touch or eat food until their hands have been thoroughly washed, as required by 1910.264(d)(1)(iii).

• Employers should post reminders, provide hand-washing facilities, and train workers on these hygiene practices.

Yes — employers must properly instruct employees as to the hazards of their work and instruct them in safe practices by bulletins, printed rules, and verbal instructions, as required by 1910.264(d)(1)(v).

• Training should be practical, documented, and repeated as necessary so workers understand risks and controls.

Only temporarily and only for immediate repairs or adjustments — safeguards must not be removed or made ineffective except for the purpose of making immediate repairs or adjustments, and any safeguard removed or made ineffective during repair or adjustment must be replaced immediately upon completion, as required by 1910.264(d)(2)(i)(a).

• For operations that require temporary energizing or special procedures during servicing, follow the sequence and employee-protection steps in OSHA’s Lockout/Tagout guidance; see OSHA’s interpretation on the minor servicing exception and temporary re-energization procedures at https://www.osha.gov/laws-regs/standardinterpretations/2024-10-21.

The standard applies to moving parts of equipment used in laundries and to conditions peculiar to this industry, with special reference to the point of operation of laundry machines, as stated in 1910.264(b).

• This means employers should evaluate guards and controls at points where workers load, unload, or might contact moving parts.

Employers must provide proper protection to prevent injury or damage from fluid escaping relief or safety valves vented to the atmosphere; vents must be ample size and as short and direct as possible, in accordance with 1910.264(c)(4)(iii)(b).

• Protection can include piping the discharge to a safe location, shields, or barriers and ensuring vents do not create hazards where workers are present.

No — the standard requires that a means for holding open doors or covers be provided but does not specify exact types of devices. The requirement for holding-open devices appears in 1910.264(c)(1)(ii)(b) and similar provisions for tumblers.

• Employers should select reliable, durable devices (for example, mechanical stays, props, or latches) appropriate to the machine to prevent accidental closing during loading/unloading and to protect workers at the point of operation.

The safeguard must be replaced immediately upon completion of the repair or adjustment. 1910.264(d)(2)(i)(a) requires replacement as soon as the repairs or adjustments are finished.

• Employers should have procedures to ensure removed guards are reinstalled and the machine is safe before returning it to service; see OSHA’s interpretation on temporary removal and re-energization safeguards at https://www.osha.gov/laws-regs/standardinterpretations/2024-10-21.

The insulation or guarding requirement applies to steam pipes that are within 7 feet of the floor or working platform and with which a worker may come into contact, as specified in 1910.264(c)(4)(iii)(a).

• If a pipe is higher than 7 feet and not reasonably reachable, the specific insulating requirement in this paragraph does not apply, but employers should still evaluate burn hazards.