1910.215 Abrasive Wheels: citations, penalties and recently cited employers
Data as of October 5, 2026 · citations issued Oct 5, 2025 to Oct 5, 2026
Covers bench, pedestal, floor stand, and other machines that use abrasive grinding wheels. Wheels must be enclosed by guards that cover the spindle end, nut, and flange projections, with the exposed area limited according to the machine type. On bench and floor stand grinders, work rests must be adjusted to within one-eighth inch of the wheel, and the adjustable tongue guard at the top must be within one-quarter inch. Wheels must be inspected and ring-tested before mounting.
What the standard requires
- Guard abrasive wheels with safety guards meeting the standard
- Keep work rests adjusted to within one-eighth inch of the wheel
- Keep tongue guards adjusted to within one-quarter inch of the wheel
- Inspect and ring-test wheels before mounting
- Use wheels rated for the machine's spindle speed
Hazards it addresses
- Wheel breakage throwing fragments
- Hands caught between wheel and work rest
- Eye injuries from flying particles
Frequently cited in maintenance shops, metal fabrication, and auto repair facilities with bench grinders.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1910.215(b)(9) | Exposure adjustment of the tongue guard to within one-quarter inch | 329 | 329 | $0 |
| 1910.215(a)(4) | Work rests adjusted closely, with a maximum opening of one-eighth inch | 323 | 322 | $450 |
| 1910.215(a)(2) | Safety guards covering the spindle end, nut, and flange projections | 32 | 32 | $1,474 |
| 1910.215(a)(1) | 13 | 13 | $0 | |
| 1910.215(d)(3) | 11 | 11 | $0 | |
| 1910.215(d)(1) | Inspection and ring test of wheels before mounting | 4 | 4 | $558 |
| 1910.215(b)(3) | 3 | 3 | $0 | |
| 1910.215(b)(5) | 3 | 3 | $350 | |
| 1910.215(b)(1) | 2 | 2 | $0 | |
| 1910.215(b)(2) | 1 | 1 | $0 | |
| 1910.215(c)(4)(ii) | 1 | 1 | $375 |
Penalties
Across 722 alleged items, OSHA and state-plan offices proposed $1,141,923 in initial penalties. The current total in the public data is $839,083, 27% lower after settlements, contests and amendments.
By violation type: Serious 86%; Other-than-serious 14%; Repeat 1%.
Citations by state
| State | Inspections cited | Items | Initial penalties | Current penalties |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tennessee | 55 | 80 | $27,975 | $27,171 |
| New York | 38 | 56 | $34,056 | $13,124 |
| Minnesota | 32 | 32 | $22,850 | $16,150 |
| Connecticut | 31 | 54 | $30,063 | $21,473 |
| New Jersey | 29 | 43 | $182,085 | $171,161 |
| Nevada | 27 | 40 | $139,023 | $94,078 |
| Oregon | 26 | 39 | $66,511 | $54,305 |
| North Carolina | 24 | 46 | $44,500 | $40,779 |
| Utah | 24 | 40 | $9,507 | $7,878 |
| Illinois | 23 | 41 | $23,509 | $14,618 |
| Maryland | 21 | 33 | $8,937 | $5,268 |
| Virginia | 21 | 32 | $57,955 | $47,814 |
| Pennsylvania | 14 | 21 | $69,381 | $46,700 |
| Alaska | 13 | 18 | $83,050 | $53,326 |
| Texas | 9 | 14 | $24,212 | $14,468 |
| Hawaii | 8 | 12 | $56,487 | $43,123 |
| Idaho | 8 | 11 | $16,332 | $11,104 |
| Kansas | 8 | 10 | $39,684 | $27,470 |
| South Carolina | 7 | 9 | $4,750 | $3,700 |
| Florida | 6 | 12 | $19,046 | $9,807 |
By industry
- Manufacturing: 205 inspections
- Construction: 59 inspections
- Other services: 34 inspections
- Educational services: 31 inspections
- Public administration: 28 inspections
- Transportation & warehousing: 18 inspections
- Wholesale trade: 18 inspections
- Utilities: 17 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Williamsville CSD Facilities Building | Williamsville, NY | Sep 2, 2026 | 2 | $0 | $0 | Final orderAbatement due Sep 15, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Natchaug Hospital, Inc. | Mansfield Center, CT | Sep 2, 2026 | 2 | $4,823 | $4,823 | OpenAbatement due Oct 21, 2026Contest deadline ~Sep 24, 2026 (est.) | osha.gov |
| Agru America, Inc. | Fernley, NV | Sep 1, 2026 | 2 | $11,254 | $11,254 | Final order | osha.gov |
| McNairy County - Highway Department | Selmer, TN | Aug 31, 2026 | 1 | $0 | $0 | Final orderAbatement due Sep 30, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Calvert County Public Schools | Prince Frederick, MD | Aug 31, 2026 | 1 | $0 | $0 | ContestedAbatement due Sep 8, 2026Contested Sep 9, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Team Industries Inc. | Park Rapids, MN | Aug 31, 2026 | 1 | $700 | $420 | Informal settlementAbatement due Sep 14, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Board of Education, Frederick County Public Schools | Frederick, MD | Aug 28, 2026 | 2 | $0 | $0 | Final orderAbatement due Sep 8, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Aeko Kula LLC | Honolulu, HI | Aug 28, 2026 | 2 | $9,457 | $9,457 | OpenAbatement due Sep 8, 2026Contest deadline ~Sep 21, 2026 (est.) | osha.gov |
| Sterling Drilling Company | Garden City, KS | Aug 27, 2026 | 1 | $6,620 | $3,972 | Informal settlementAbatement due Sep 23, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Association of Apartment Owners of TK Resort Condominium | Lihue, HI | Aug 25, 2026 | 1 | $7,235 | $5,064 | Informal settlementAbatement due Sep 4, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Veka East, Inc. | Morganton, NC | Aug 25, 2026 | 2 | $4,225 | $4,225 | Final orderAbatement due Sep 2, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Sangamon County - Highway Dept | Springfield, IL | Aug 24, 2026 | 2 | $0 | $0 | Final orderAbatement due Sep 28, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Scott County - Highway Dept | Winchester, IL | Aug 24, 2026 | 1 | $0 | $0 | Final order | osha.gov |
| Macy's, Inc. | Honolulu, HI | Aug 24, 2026 | 2 | $10,050 | $10,050 | OpenAbatement due Aug 28, 2026Contest deadline ~Sep 15, 2026 (est.) | osha.gov |
| Livestock Nutrition Center | Lexington, NE | Aug 24, 2026 | 2 | $4,100 | $2,460 | Informal settlement | osha.gov |
| Betar, Inc. | Somerset, NJ | Aug 21, 2026 | 2 | $2,837 | $1,702 | Informal settlementAbatement due Sep 17, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Weyerhaeuser NR Company | Cottage Grove, OR | Aug 21, 2026 | 2 | $7,287 | $7,287 | Final orderAbatement due Sep 1, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Associated Equipment Company, Inc. | Pearland, TX | Aug 20, 2026 | 1 | $0 | $0 | Informal settlementAbatement due Oct 15, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Thermal Engineering of Arizona, Inc. | Tucson, AZ | Aug 20, 2026 | 1 | $1,135 | $1,135 | OpenAbatement due Aug 23, 2026Contest deadline ~Sep 11, 2026 (est.) | osha.gov |
| Irondequoit Town DPW | Rochester, NY | Aug 20, 2026 | 1 | $0 | $0 | Final orderAbatement due Sep 16, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Middle Country CSD Building & Grounds | Selden, NY | Aug 19, 2026 | 1 | $0 | $0 | Final orderAbatement due Sep 15, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Sioux Falls Kenworth, Inc. | Sioux Falls, SD | Aug 19, 2026 | 1 | $6,620 | $3,300 | Informal settlementAbatement due Sep 21, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Superior Bronze Corporation | Erie, PA | Aug 18, 2026 | 1 | $2,412 | $1,000 | Informal settlementAbatement due Sep 14, 2026 | osha.gov |
| J Resort, LLC | Reno, NV | Aug 17, 2026 | 1 | $8,038 | $5,627 | Informal settlementAbatement due Aug 31, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Jordan Propeller Services Inc. | San Antonio, TX | Aug 17, 2026 | 2 | $3,405 | $2,000 | Informal settlementAbatement due Sep 4, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Custom Building & Supply, Inc. | Post Falls, ID | Aug 14, 2026 | 1 | $1,640 | $1,148 | Informal settlementAbatement due Sep 3, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Joe Krentzman & Son, Inc. | Hollidaysburg, PA | Aug 14, 2026 | 2 | $7,944 | $7,944 | Final orderAbatement due Sep 10, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Dept. of Agriculture ? FS-Idaho Panhandle National Forests | Coeur D Alene, ID | Aug 14, 2026 | 1 | $0 | $0 | Final orderAbatement due Sep 3, 2026 | osha.gov |
| H & J, Inc. | Coeur D Alene, ID | Aug 14, 2026 | 1 | $0 | $0 | Informal settlement | osha.gov |
| Dept. of Agriculture ? FS-Idaho Panhandle National Forests | Coeur D Alene, ID | Aug 14, 2026 | 1 | $0 | $0 | Final orderAbatement due Sep 3, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Taylor Precision Machining, Inc. | Montour Falls, NY | Aug 14, 2026 | 3 | $1,447 | $434 | Informal settlementAbatement due Sep 10, 2026 | osha.gov |
| R & S Auto & Truck Spring Works, Inc. | Bladensburg, MD | Aug 14, 2026 | 1 | $0 | $0 | ContestedAbatement due Aug 24, 2026Contested Sep 11, 2026 | osha.gov |
| D and E Manufacturing Inc. | Moncks Corner, SC | Aug 13, 2026 | 2 | $750 | $750 | Final orderAbatement due Aug 17, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Recyclelink, LLC | Lincoln, NE | Aug 13, 2026 | 2 | $2,270 | $1,362 | Informal settlementAbatement due Sep 9, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Dairy Farmers of America, Inc. | Great Falls, MT | Aug 12, 2026 | 1 | $5,426 | $2,713 | Informal settlement | osha.gov |
| Bowman Manufacturing NW, Inc. | Post Falls, ID | Aug 12, 2026 | 2 | $1,640 | $820 | Informal settlement | osha.gov |
| Name withheld (individual) | Marion, NC | Aug 12, 2026 | 2 | $0 | $0 | Final orderAbatement due Aug 17, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Rem Tech, Inc. | Dalton Gardens, ID | Aug 12, 2026 | 2 | $3,405 | $2,384 | Informal settlementAbatement due Sep 1, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Giles County-Highway Department | Pulaski, TN | Aug 11, 2026 | 2 | $0 | $0 | Final orderAbatement due Sep 10, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Iron Horse Logging Inc. | Mapleton, OR | Aug 10, 2026 | 2 | $4,372 | $4,372 | Final order | osha.gov |
Often cited together
- 1910.212 Machine Guarding (186 shared inspections)
- 1910.303 Electrical General (177 shared inspections)
- 1910.1200 Hazard Communication (153 shared inspections)
- 1910.305 Wiring Methods (150 shared inspections)
- 1910.147 Lockout/Tagout (112 shared inspections)
- 1910.157 Fire Extinguishers (102 shared inspections)
- 1910.132 PPE General Requirements (76 shared inspections)
- 1910.178 Forklifts (71 shared inspections)
Questions
What does OSHA standard 1910.215 require?
Covers bench, pedestal, floor stand, and other machines that use abrasive grinding wheels. Wheels must be enclosed by guards that cover the spindle end, nut, and flange projections, with the exposed area limited according to the machine type. On bench and floor stand grinders, work rests must be adjusted to within one-eighth inch of the wheel, and the adjustable tongue guard at the top must be within one-quarter inch. Wheels must be inspected and ring-tested before mounting.
How often was 1910.215 cited in the last 12 months?
In the public data as of October 5, 2026, 1910.215 (Abrasive Wheels) appeared in 476 inspections with citations issued between Oct 5, 2025 and Oct 5, 2026, covering 722 alleged violation items.
Which part of 1910.215 is cited most?
1910.215(b)(9) was the most-cited paragraph, with 329 items: Exposure adjustment of the tongue guard to within one-quarter inch
Which states cite 1910.215 most often?
The most citations under 1910.215 in this period were issued in Tennessee, New York, Minnesota.
What is the typical penalty for a 1910.215 violation?
The median initial (proposed) penalty per item was $0; the median current penalty after settlements and amendments was $0. Totals: $1,141,923 proposed, $839,083 current. Penalties vary by violation type, employer size and history, and State Plans set their own amounts.
Are 1910.215 citations final?
Not necessarily. A citation is an allegation until it becomes a final order. 5% 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.