Hand and power tools

Yes—your employer must keep hand and portable power tools in safe condition and ensure they are used only for their designed purpose. See Requirements in 1926.307 which covers maintenance and safe use of tools.

• Inspect tools regularly and remove defective tools from service until repaired.
• Make sure guards and safety devices are in place and working before use.
• Provide training so workers know the safe way to operate the specific tools they use.

Cited: 1926.307.

Yes—electric portable tools must be either properly grounded or be of an approved double-insulated design. This helps prevent electric shock from tool defects or damaged cords, as required in 1926.307.

• Use three-prong cords and grounded tools or tools labeled "double insulated."
• Inspect cords and plugs before each use and take damaged equipment out of service.
• Where grounding is not available, use tools that are double-insulated or otherwise listed for ungrounded use.

Cited: 1926.307.

No—you may not use compressed air for cleaning workers’ clothing unless the pressure is reduced to a safe level and effective chip guarding and personal protective equipment are provided, consistent with 1926.307.

• If compressed air is used for cleaning, ensure the outlet pressure is reduced to prevent skin penetration and flying debris.
• Provide eye and face protection and screens or barriers to protect nearby workers.

Cited: 1926.307.

You must use guards that protect the operator from wheel breakage, wheel contact and flying fragments when using abrasive wheels and grinders, in accordance with 1926.307.

• Ensure adjustable tongue guards and safety flanges are properly installed and not removed.
• Replace wheels that show cracks, damage, or other defects; inspect wheels before mounting.
• Use the correct wheel speed rating for the grinder—do not exceed the wheel’s maximum RPM.

Cited: 1926.307.

Yes—employers must provide appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) and ensure it is used when hazards from hand and power tools cannot be eliminated by other means, consistent with 1926.307 and PPE selection practices.

• Employers must assess hazards and select PPE to protect against flying particles, noise, vibration and other risks.
• For guidance on the need for a workplace hazard assessment before selecting PPE, see OSHA's interpretation on PPE hazard assessments at https://www.osha.gov/laws-regs/standardinterpretations/2024-03-28.

Cited: 1926.307 and OSHA Letter of Interpretation on PPE hazard assessment (https://www.osha.gov/laws-regs/standardinterpretations/2024-03-28).

Yes—employers must control hazardous dusts produced by power-tool operations to protect workers’ health, and where engineering controls are feasible they should be used before relying on respirators, consistent with the safety objectives of 1926.307.

• Use dust collection, local exhaust ventilation or water suppression when cutting, grinding, or sanding materials like concrete, stone, or treated wood.
• If controls do not reduce exposures below OSHA limits, provide appropriate respiratory protection and perform exposure monitoring as required by other standards (for example, silica rules).
• For silica-specific concerns when using power tools on engineered stone, see OSHA’s silica-focused initiative memorandum at https://www.osha.gov/laws-regs/standardinterpretations/2023-09-22.

Cited: 1926.307 and OSHA Memorandum on respirable crystalline silica (https://www.osha.gov/laws-regs/standardinterpretations/2023-09-22).

Employers must protect workers from hazardous noise produced by hand and power tools by using feasible controls and, when necessary, a hearing conservation program that includes PPE, in line with the safety duties in 1926.307.

• Use engineering or administrative controls first (quieter tools, barriers, shorter exposure times).
• If exposures remain high, provide hearing protectors (earplugs or earmuffs) and training, and include affected workers in a hearing conservation program when exposures meet the action level.
• OSHA has interpreted that properly used hearing protectors that reduce exposure to a TWA of 85 dBA are an acceptable part of protection; see the OSHA noise interpretation at https://www.osha.gov/laws-regs/standardinterpretations/2023-03-06 for details.

Cited: 1926.307 and OSHA Letter of Interpretation on hearing protection (https://www.osha.gov/laws-regs/standardinterpretations/2023-03-06).

Yes—pneumatic nailers and staplers must be used with the manufacturer’s safety devices and operated in a way that prevents accidental firing, consistent with the safe-use requirements in 1926.307.

• Use contact or trigger safety mechanisms as designed and never bypass or disable them.
• Train workers on safe operation and never point a tool at anyone, even if it appears to be unloaded.
• Inspect hoses, connectors and safety devices regularly and remove defective tools from service.

Cited: 1926.307.

You must follow manufacturers’ instructions, keep guards in place, use the correct blade or bit for the material, and wear required PPE when operating power saws and cutting tools, as required by 1926.307.

• Maintain secure workpiece support and never remove guards while the saw is operating.
• Keep hands away from the cutting path and use push sticks or other devices when appropriate.
• Control dust and provide eye, face and hearing protection as needed; perform a PPE hazard assessment per OSHA guidance at https://www.osha.gov/laws-regs/standardinterpretations/2024-03-28.

Cited: 1926.307 and OSHA Letter of Interpretation on PPE hazard assessment (https://www.osha.gov/laws-regs/standardinterpretations/2024-03-28).

Before repair or changing accessories, the tool must be disconnected from its power source and allowed to stop moving; guards should be in place and inspection done after reassembly, consistent with safe-work requirements in 1926.307.

• Unplug electric tools, remove batteries from cordless tools, and bleed pressure from pneumatic tools before servicing.
• Replace worn or damaged parts with manufacturer-approved components and test the tool before returning it to service.
• Keep maintenance records and ensure only trained personnel perform repairs.

Cited: 1926.307.

Yes—employers must ensure workers are trained in the safe operation, hazards, and required PPE for the specific hand and power tools they use as part of compliance with 1926.307.

• Training should cover tool setup, operation, maintenance, guarding, and emergency procedures.
• Employers must document training and provide refresher instruction when procedures or tools change.

Cited: 1926.307.

Employers must control exposures to hazardous contaminants generated by power tools using engineering controls, work practices, and PPE where necessary, and follow the applicable OSHA standards for those contaminants in addition to 1926.307.

• For asbestos encountered during construction work, the asbestos construction standard applies—see OSHA's asbestos interpretation at https://www.osha.gov/laws-regs/standardinterpretations/2024-11-14.
• For silica from cutting or grinding stone, use dust controls and follow silica requirements; see OSHA's silica initiative at https://www.osha.gov/laws-regs/standardinterpretations/2023-09-22.
• For treated wood dust hazards, employers must comply with Hazard Communication requirements as discussed in OSHA's arsenic-treated wood interpretation at https://www.osha.gov/laws-regs/standardinterpretations/2023-05-03.

Cited: 1926.307 and relevant OSHA letters of interpretation (https://www.osha.gov/laws-regs/standardinterpretations/2024-11-14, https://www.osha.gov/laws-regs/standardinterpretations/2023-09-22, https://www.osha.gov/laws-regs/standardinterpretations/2023-05-03).

Yes—battery-powered tools must be maintained, inspected and used safely just like corded tools under 1926.307, and batteries should be handled to prevent fire, short circuits and unexpected startup.

• Inspect battery casings and chargers for damage and follow manufacturer instructions for charging and storage.
• Disconnect or remove batteries before servicing the tool or changing accessories.
• Train workers on safe use and what to do in case of battery failure or thermal events.

Cited: 1926.307.

Employers must ensure that any shared tools are safe, properly maintained, and accompanied by training and PPE for their employees, consistent with the employer responsibilities under 1926.307.

• Coordinate with other employers on site to confirm tools are inspected and in good repair before use.
• Ensure each employer’s workers receive training on the specific shared tools and have access to required PPE.
• Establish communication about hazards and safe procedures for tool use across employers.

Cited: 1926.307.

No—employees must not remove or bypass guards and safety devices; tools must be used with required guards in place as mandated by 1926.307.

• Removing guards increases the risk of contact with moving parts and flying debris.
• If a guard interferes with a needed operation, stop work and have a qualified person evaluate a safe method to perform the task.
• Discipline or retrain workers who intentionally bypass safety devices and address root causes (e.g., production pressure).

Cited: 1926.307.

Yes—power tool cords must be routed and protected to prevent damage from traffic, heat, oil, and sharp edges, and damaged cords must be removed from service, as required by 1926.307.

• Avoid running cords through doorways, windows, or areas where they can be pinched or cut.
• Replace frayed or exposed wiring immediately; do not attempt makeshift repairs.
• Use GFCIs or other protective devices on job sites where cords may be exposed to damage or moisture.

Cited: 1926.307.

Employers must eliminate or control ignition sources when power-tool sparks can ignite flammable atmospheres or materials and implement hot-work controls and PPE as needed under the safety obligations in 1926.307.

• Remove or shield flammable liquids and vapors from the work area and provide fire extinguishers and trained personnel nearby.
• Use non-sparking tools or alternative methods where feasible, and establish hot-work permits and procedures when required.
• Train workers on fire hazards and emergency response.

Cited: 1926.307.

Yes—employers are required to inspect hand and power tools regularly and remove defective tools from service, though the standard does not prescribe exact intervals; frequency should be based on tool use and conditions as described in 1926.307.

• Conduct a pre-use visual inspection by the operator each day and scheduled preventive maintenance per manufacturer recommendations.
• Immediately tag and remove unsafe tools from service until repaired by qualified personnel.
• Keep records of inspections and repairs when needed to demonstrate an effective safety program.

Cited: 1926.307.