1926.304 Woodworking Tools: citations, penalties and recently cited employers
Data as of October 5, 2026 · citations issued Oct 5, 2025 to Oct 5, 2026
Woodworking machinery used on construction projects, including table saws, radial saws, and portable circular saws, must be guarded and maintained. Fixed machines need disconnect switches that can be locked or tagged out, and portable circular saws must have guards above and below the base plate, with the lower guard retracting automatically. Equipment must also meet the referenced woodworking machinery safety standard.
What the standard requires
- Guard portable circular saws above and below the base plate
- Provide lockable disconnect switches on fixed woodworking machines
- Use self-adjusting guards and spreaders on table and radial saws
- Meet the ANSI woodworking machinery safety requirements
Hazards it addresses
- Saw blade lacerations and amputations
- Kickback injuries
- Flying wood chips and debris
Cited in residential framing and finish carpentry where saw guards are removed or wedged open.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1926.304(d) | Portable power-driven circular saws must have guards above and below the base plate or shoe. | 60 | 60 | $3,210 |
| 1926.304(i)(1) | 21 | 21 | $2,838 | |
| 1926.304(f) | Woodworking machinery must meet the design, construction, care, and use requirements of ANSI O1.1. | 12 | 8 | $325 |
| 1926.304(h)(1) | 12 | 12 | $4,965 | |
| 1926.304(h) | 2 | 2 | $3,972 |
Penalties
Across 107 alleged items, OSHA and state-plan offices proposed $389,006 in initial penalties. The current total in the public data is $305,412, 21% lower after settlements, contests and amendments.
By violation type: Serious 94%; Repeat 4%; Other-than-serious 2%.
Citations by state
| State | Inspections cited | Items | Initial penalties | Current penalties |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Texas | 27 | 27 | $110,367 | $66,607 |
| Florida | 15 | 15 | $48,027 | $45,664 |
| Georgia | 8 | 8 | $24,827 | $23,267 |
| Alabama | 6 | 6 | $14,187 | $14,187 |
| Illinois | 5 | 7 | $30,488 | $27,001 |
| Rhode Island | 5 | 5 | $28,136 | $20,688 |
| Massachusetts | 4 | 4 | $14,613 | $10,310 |
| Virginia | 4 | 4 | $35,325 | $35,325 |
| Minnesota | 3 | 3 | $3,000 | $3,000 |
| Colorado | 2 | 2 | $18,040 | $13,972 |
| Indiana | 2 | 6 | $400 | $400 |
| Oregon | 2 | 2 | $2,354 | $2,354 |
| Vermont | 2 | 2 | $6,668 | $4,760 |
| Wisconsin | 2 | 2 | $13,240 | $9,268 |
| Alaska | 1 | 1 | $3,972 | $0 |
| Connecticut | 1 | 1 | $3,972 | $1,986 |
| District of Columbia | 1 | 1 | $2,412 | $2,000 |
| Hawaii | 1 | 1 | $3,015 | $2,110 |
| Iowa | 1 | 2 | $2,956 | $1,478 |
| Kentucky | 1 | 2 | $7,000 | $7,000 |
By industry
- Construction: 97 inspections
- Accommodation & food services: 1 inspections
- Real estate & rental: 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Name withheld (individual) | Grand Prairie, TX | Aug 31, 2026 | 1 | $2,838 | $1,077 | Informal settlementAbatement due Sep 25, 2026 | osha.gov |
| RMD Construction, LLC | Woonsocket, RI | Aug 27, 2026 | 1 | $8,276 | $5,793 | Informal settlementAbatement due Sep 22, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Superior View Enterprises, Inc. | Inlet Beach, FL | Aug 17, 2026 | 1 | $3,405 | $3,405 | OpenAbatement due Aug 31, 2026Contest deadline ~Sep 8, 2026 (est.) | osha.gov |
| Name withheld (individual) | Mckinney, TX | Aug 17, 2026 | 1 | $3,972 | $1,961 | Informal settlementAbatement due Sep 11, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Name withheld (individual) | Caddo Mills, TX | Aug 7, 2026 | 1 | $4,256 | $4,256 | OpenAbatement due Sep 2, 2026Contest deadline ~Aug 28, 2026 (est.) | osha.gov |
| Name withheld (individual) | Royse City, TX | Aug 7, 2026 | 1 | $3,972 | $1,470 | Informal settlementAbatement due Sep 2, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Dra Construction Group LLC | Palmetto, FL | Aug 6, 2026 | 1 | $4,965 | $4,965 | OpenContest deadline ~Aug 27, 2026 (est.) | osha.gov |
| Name withheld (individual) | Garland, TX | Aug 6, 2026 | 1 | $3,972 | $1,731 | Informal settlementAbatement due Sep 1, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Hausmann Construction Inc. | Fort Collins, CO | Aug 6, 2026 | 1 | $14,068 | $10,000 | Informal settlement | osha.gov |
| Name withheld (individual) | Fairhope, AL | Jul 31, 2026 | 1 | $2,270 | $2,270 | OpenContest deadline ~Aug 21, 2026 (est.) | osha.gov |
| Name withheld (individual) | Cantonment, FL | Jul 28, 2026 | 1 | $3,405 | $3,405 | OpenContest deadline ~Aug 18, 2026 (est.) | osha.gov |
| SLK Renovations LLC | Bloomington, IL | Jul 27, 2026 | 1 | $3,972 | $1,500 | Informal settlementAbatement due Aug 11, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Name withheld (individual) | Forney, TX | Jul 27, 2026 | 1 | $3,405 | $3,405 | OpenAbatement due Aug 20, 2026Contest deadline ~Aug 17, 2026 (est.) | osha.gov |
| Brown Contracting, LLC | Leakey, TX | Jul 23, 2026 | 1 | $3,972 | $2,383 | Informal settlementAbatement due Aug 12, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Name withheld (individual) | Heartland, TX | Jul 22, 2026 | 1 | $1,702 | $1,609 | Informal settlementAbatement due Aug 17, 2026 | osha.gov |
| 3D Construction, LLC | Parkersburg, WV | Jul 15, 2026 | 1 | $2,050 | $2,050 | Final orderAbatement due Aug 10, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Name withheld (individual) | Mckinney, TX | Jul 2, 2026 | 1 | $3,972 | $1,360 | Informal settlementAbatement due Jul 29, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Name withheld (individual) | Murphy, TX | Jul 2, 2026 | 1 | $3,972 | $3,972 | Final orderAbatement due Jul 29, 2026 | osha.gov |
| 4EVER Exteriors, LLC | Melrose, MA | Jun 16, 2026 | 1 | $2,838 | $1,250 | Informal settlementAbatement due Aug 4, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Real Minas Construction, Inc. | Merrimac, MA | Jun 15, 2026 | 1 | $3,972 | $3,972 | Final orderAbatement due Aug 24, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Name withheld (individual) | Irving, TX | Jun 12, 2026 | 1 | $7,094 | $2,000 | Informal settlementAbatement due Jul 10, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Name withheld (individual) | Royse City, TX | Jun 10, 2026 | 1 | $3,972 | $1,360 | Informal settlementAbatement due Jul 8, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Dublin RV Park L. P | Dublin, TX | Jun 5, 2026 | 1 | $3,972 | $1,986 | Informal settlementAbatement due Jul 7, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Name withheld (individual) | Cornelia, GA | May 29, 2026 | 1 | $2,837 | $2,837 | Final order | osha.gov |
| Hercules Home Solutions Inc. | Winter Garden, FL | May 29, 2026 | 1 | $2,270 | $2,270 | Final order | osha.gov |
| New Skyline Construction LLC | Williston, ND | May 28, 2026 | 1 | $2,838 | $2,838 | Final order | osha.gov |
| Gomez GT Construction LLC | Statesboro, GA | May 27, 2026 | 1 | $3,547 | $3,547 | Final order | osha.gov |
| 901 Roofing Renovations LLC | Pine Knoll Shores, NC | May 26, 2026 | 1 | $2,000 | $1,300 | Informal settlementAbatement due Jun 1, 2026 | osha.gov |
| R & a Construction of Illinois, Inc. | Mount Prospect, IL | May 21, 2026 | 2 | $3,015 | $2,000 | Informal settlement | osha.gov |
| Name withheld (individual) | Braselton, GA | May 20, 2026 | 1 | $2,270 | $2,270 | Final order | osha.gov |
| Name withheld (individual) | Celina, TX | May 15, 2026 | 1 | $3,972 | $3,972 | Final orderAbatement due Jun 11, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Name withheld (individual) | Crandall, TX | May 15, 2026 | 1 | $9,930 | $1,470 | Informal settlementAbatement due Jun 11, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Name withheld (individual) | Princeton, TX | May 15, 2026 | 1 | $3,972 | $1,800 | Informal settlementAbatement due Jun 11, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Height Precision Construction Inc. | Stowe, VT | May 14, 2026 | 1 | $2,412 | $1,568 | Informal settlementAbatement due Jun 10, 2026 | osha.gov |
| M & D Framing Company LLC | Statesboro, GA | May 12, 2026 | 1 | $4,256 | $3,830 | Informal settlement | osha.gov |
| Jimenez Construction Inc. | Billerica, MA | Apr 27, 2026 | 1 | $4,965 | $2,250 | Informal settlementAbatement due Jun 12, 2026 | osha.gov |
| BP Builders LLC | Cloquet, MN | Apr 24, 2026 | 1 | $450 | $450 | Final orderAbatement due May 4, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Name withheld (individual) | Lawrenceville, GA | Apr 24, 2026 | 1 | $3,405 | $3,405 | Final order | osha.gov |
| Costa Development, LLC | Barrington, RI | Apr 24, 2026 | 1 | $4,965 | $3,476 | Informal settlementAbatement due Jun 10, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Sternhagen Construction, LLC | Palmer, AK | Apr 17, 2026 | 1 | $3,972 | $0 | Informal settlement | osha.gov |
Often cited together
- 1926.501 Fall Protection (49 shared inspections)
- 1926.102 Eye and Face Protection (39 shared inspections)
- 1926.100 Hard Hats (19 shared inspections)
- 1926.1053 Ladder Safety (18 shared inspections)
- 1926.451 Scaffold Safety (10 shared inspections)
- 1926.503 Fall Protection Training (8 shared inspections)
- 1926.405 Temporary Wiring and Cords (8 shared inspections)
- 1903.19 Abatement Verification (4 shared inspections)
Questions
What does OSHA standard 1926.304 require?
Woodworking machinery used on construction projects, including table saws, radial saws, and portable circular saws, must be guarded and maintained. Fixed machines need disconnect switches that can be locked or tagged out, and portable circular saws must have guards above and below the base plate, with the lower guard retracting automatically. Equipment must also meet the referenced woodworking machinery safety standard.
How often was 1926.304 cited in the last 12 months?
In the public data as of October 5, 2026, 1926.304 (Woodworking Tools) appeared in 99 inspections with citations issued between Oct 5, 2025 and Oct 5, 2026, covering 107 alleged violation items.
Which part of 1926.304 is cited most?
1926.304(d) was the most-cited paragraph, with 60 items: Portable power-driven circular saws must have guards above and below the base plate or shoe.
Which states cite 1926.304 most often?
The most citations under 1926.304 in this period were issued in Texas, Florida, Georgia.
What is the typical penalty for a 1926.304 violation?
The median initial (proposed) penalty per item was $3,015; the median current penalty after settlements and amendments was $2,270. Totals: $389,006 proposed, $305,412 current. Penalties vary by violation type, employer size and history, and State Plans set their own amounts.
Are 1926.304 citations final?
Not necessarily. A citation is an allegation until it becomes a final order. 3% 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.