General Industry (29 CFR 1910)

Mechanical Power Presses

Verified vs OSHA sources · 2026-10-05

29 CFR 1910.217

29 CFR 1910.217 governs mechanical power presses: the employer must provide and ensure the use of a point-of-operation guard or a properly applied point-of-operation device on every press operation, so a worker's hands cannot enter the die. It also requires safeguarding of the controls, brake monitoring, and reporting of point-of-operation injuries to OSHA.

29 CFR 1910.217 at a glance

What it requires: A point-of-operation guard or device on every mechanical power press operation
Who it covers: General-industry employers operating mechanical power presses
Core rule: The employer must ensure a guard or device keeps hands out of the die (1910.217(c)(1)(i))
Reporting: Point-of-operation injuries must be reported to OSHA (1910.217(g))
Max penalty (2026): $16,550 per serious violation; $165,514 per willful
The #1 confusion: A guard OR a device is required on EVERY operation, not only some

What 29 CFR 1910.217 requires (plain English)

29 CFR 1910.217 sets the safety requirements for mechanical power presses: machines that use a ram and die to shear, punch, or form metal with tremendous force. Because a single stroke can amputate a hand, the standard's central command is that the employer provide and ensure the use of a point-of-operation guard or a properly applied point-of-operation device on every operation performed on the press.

Acceptable safeguarding includes fixed guards that physically bar access to the die, and devices such as two-hand controls, presence-sensing light curtains, pull-backs, and restraints that keep the operator's hands out of the danger zone during the stroke. The standard also requires safeguarding the operating controls against unintended or repeat strokes, an anti-repeat feature, brake monitoring on presses using a presence-sensing device, and regular inspection and maintenance of the clutch and brake.

A distinctive feature of 1910.217 is its reporting requirement: within 30 days of any point-of-operation injury to an employee, the employer must report it to OSHA, a requirement unusual among the machine standards. 1910.217 sits within the machine-guarding family (1910.212, .213, .215, .219) as the detailed standard for one of industry's highest-energy machines.

The regulatory text

“It shall be the responsibility of the employer to provide and insure the usage of "point of operation guards" or properly applied and adjusted point of operation devices on every operation performed on a mechanical power press.”

29 CFR 1910.217(c)(1)(i)

Key facts about 29 CFR 1910.217

A point-of-operation guard or device is required on every mechanical power press operation (1910.217(c)(1)(i)).
Devices include two-hand controls, presence-sensing light curtains, pull-backs, and restraints.
The operating controls must be safeguarded against unintended and repeat strokes (anti-repeat).
Brake monitoring is required on presses using a presence-sensing device (1910.217(b)(14)).
The clutch, brake, and safeguards must be inspected and maintained on a schedule.
Point-of-operation injuries must be reported to OSHA within 30 days (1910.217(g)).
It is the detailed member of the machine-guarding family for high-energy presses.

Scope: who 29 CFR 1910.217 applies to

Regulatory framework: General Industry (29 CFR 1910)
Citation reference: 29 CFR 1910.217
Enforcement status: In force and enforced
Jurisdiction: Federal OSHA (29 State-Plan jurisdictions may be stricter)

State-Plan states (e.g. California, Washington, Michigan) operate OSHA-approved programs that must be at least as effective as federal OSHA and frequently impose higher penalties or additional requirements. Confirm the rule as adopted in your state.

Key requirements of 29 CFR 1910.217

#	Employer obligation
1	Guard point of operation
2	Inspect clutch/brake mechanisms regularly
3	Conduct annual inspection by qualified person
4	Maintain press safety system documentation
5	Train operators on safe operation

Summarized from the text of 29 CFR 1910.217. Always read the full regulation for the binding language.

Common Power Presses violations

Deficiencies OSHA cites under 29 CFR 1910.217 include the ones below, in no particular order. Distinct deficiencies can be cited as separate items, and each serious item carries up to $16,550 (2026). Broader per-instance stacking exists but is a discretionary, case-by-case OSHA enforcement policy, not an automatic multiplier.

Press operated without a point-of-operation guard or device (1910.217(c)(1)).
No anti-repeat feature or safeguarding of the operating controls (1910.217(b)).
Brake monitor missing on a press using a presence-sensing device (1910.217(b)(14)).
Clutch, brake, or safeguards not inspected and maintained (1910.217(e)).
Failure to report a point-of-operation injury to OSHA (1910.217(g)).

A guard OR a device is required on every operation, and a repeat stroke is its own hazard

Two points recur. First, 1910.217(c)(1)(i) requires a point-of-operation guard or device on EVERY operation, not just when it seems risky: hand-feeding a press without a light curtain, two-hand control, or barrier guard is a violation even if the operator is experienced. Second, many amputations come not from the intended stroke but from an unexpected repeat stroke caused by a worn clutch or brake, which is why the standard requires anti-repeat, brake monitoring, and clutch/brake maintenance. And uniquely, 1910.217(g) requires reporting point-of-operation injuries to OSHA: a duty employers often overlook.

What OSHA inspectors look for

A compliance officer checks that every press operation has a point-of-operation guard or a device (two-hand control, light curtain, pull-back, or restraint) that keeps hands out of the die, that anti-repeat and brake-monitoring systems work, and that the press is inspected and maintained. An unguarded die with hand-feeding is the classic amputation finding.

Example: how a violation is cited

An operator hand-feeds parts into a power press with no light curtain or two-hand control, and the ram cycles on an unexpected stroke while a hand is in the die, amputating fingers. OSHA cites 1910.217(c) because a point-of-operation guard or device was required on every operation, with willful classifications reaching $165,514.

Illustrative example, not a specific OSHA case.

Power Presses compliance checklist

Use this to evaluate your compliance with 29 CFR 1910.217. Each item is a key requirement OSHA may verify during an inspection.

Provide and require a point-of-operation guard or device (two-hand control, light curtain, pull-back, restraint, or barrier) on every operation.
Safeguard the operating controls and ensure an anti-repeat feature prevents unintended repeat strokes.
Install and test brake monitoring on presses that rely on a presence-sensing device.
Inspect and maintain the clutch, brake, and all safeguards on a documented schedule.
Train operators and setup personnel on the safeguarding and safe die-setting procedures.
Report any point-of-operation injury to OSHA within 30 days as 1910.217(g) requires.

2026 penalties for 29 CFR 1910.217

Maximums set by 29 CFR 1903.15(d). 2026 amounts unchanged from 2025 (no CPI adjustment; OMB M-26-11). Not an increase. The 2025 OSHA penalty levels remain in effect for 2026; OSHA made no inflation adjustment for 2026. 29 CFR 1903.15 identifies January 15, 2025 as the effective reference for these amounts, while OSHA's public penalties page currently references penalties assessed after Jan. 15, 2026.

Violation type	Minimum	Maximum	When it applies
Serious	$1,085	$16,550	Substantial probability of death or serious physical harm.
Other-Than-Serious	$0	$16,550	Relates to safety/health but unlikely to cause death or serious harm.
Willful	$11,823	$165,514	Intentional, knowing, or voluntary disregard of the requirement.
Repeated	$4,256	$165,514	A substantially similar violation cited within the last 5 years.
Failure to Abate	None	$16,550/day	up to $16,550 per day; total capped at 30x the daily amount (FOM Ch.6)

Power-press citations follow amputations, which are separately reportable to OSHA within 24 hours. Serious violations reach $16,550 and willful or repeat violations $165,514; unguarded points of operation are treated as high-gravity, and point-of-operation injuries must also be reported to OSHA under 1910.217(g).

Maximums and the willful minimum are set by 29 CFR 1903.15(d); the serious and repeated minimums are OSHA policy floors from its annual penalty adjustment memo. OSHA applies gravity-based and size, good-faith and history reductions (FOM CPL 02-00-164 Ch.6). Estimates only, not legal advice.

The business case for Power Presses compliance

Mechanical power presses are among the most dangerous machines in industry: a press develops tons of force and can amputate a hand in a single stroke, and unexpected repeat strokes have caused countless amputations. The point-of-operation safeguarding, anti-repeat, and brake-monitoring requirements exist because a lapse of attention should not cost a worker a hand.

Free compliance tools for 29 CFR 1910.217

Weekly Site Safety Inspection Job Hazard Analysis Builder LOTO Procedure Generator

Power Presses penalties by state

Penalties and enforcement vary by state. State-Plan states may impose higher penalties and additional requirements beyond federal 29 CFR 1910.217.

Alabama Arkansas Colorado Connecticut Delaware District of Columbia

View all 50 states + DC →

Frequently asked questions about 29 CFR 1910.217

What safeguarding does OSHA require on a mechanical power press?

Under 1910.217(c)(1)(i), the employer must provide and ensure the use of a point-of-operation guard or a properly applied point-of-operation device on every operation performed on the press. Acceptable methods include fixed barrier guards and devices such as two-hand controls, presence-sensing light curtains, pull-backs, and restraints that keep the operator's hands out of the die during the stroke.

Do power press point-of-operation injuries have to be reported to OSHA?

Yes. Uniquely among the machine standards, 1910.217(g) requires the employer to report to OSHA, within 30 days, any point-of-operation injury to an operator or other employee on a mechanical power press. This is separate from the general injury-reporting rules and applies specifically to power-press point-of-operation injuries.

What is a repeat stroke and why is it dangerous?

A repeat stroke is an unintended second cycle of the press ram, often caused by a worn or failing clutch or brake, that occurs while the operator still has a hand in the die. It is a leading cause of press amputations, which is why 1910.217 requires an anti-repeat feature, brake monitoring on presses with presence-sensing devices, and regular clutch and brake maintenance.

What point-of-operation devices are acceptable on a press?

1910.217 recognizes several: two-hand control devices that require both hands away from the die to initiate a stroke, presence-sensing light curtains that stop the ram if anything enters the sensing field, pull-back devices that withdraw the operator's hands as the ram descends, and restraint devices that hold the hands out of the danger zone. The device must be properly applied and adjusted for the specific operation.

Regulatory history of 29 CFR 1910.217

1910.217 was adopted in 1971 and amended over the decades, notably to add requirements for presence-sensing device initiation (PSDI) and brake monitoring. Its point-of-operation injury reporting requirement (1910.217(g)) is unusual among OSHA standards and reflects the long history of amputations on mechanical power presses that drove the rule.

Related glossary terms

Key terms that appear in 29 CFR 1910.217, each with a full plain-English explainer.

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)Zero Energy State Hazardous Energy Competent Person

Related guides & articles

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Primary sources

OSHA figures on this page are imported from HazComFast's verified regulatory module (verified 2026-10-05 against eCFR, OSHA.gov, and the Federal Register).

This page is an educational summary, not legal advice. OSHA standards and penalty amounts change; confirm requirements against the current regulation and your applicable State-Plan before acting.

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