1910.242 Hand & Power Tools: citations, penalties and recently cited employers
Data as of October 5, 2026 · citations issued Oct 5, 2025 to Oct 5, 2026
Makes employers responsible for the safe condition of tools and equipment used by employees, including tools employees furnish themselves. It also limits the use of compressed air for cleaning: air used for cleaning must be reduced to less than 30 psi, and only with effective chip guarding and appropriate personal protective equipment. Typical violations involve damaged tools left in service or air guns used for cleaning without pressure reduction.
What the standard requires
- Maintain all tools and equipment in safe condition, including employee-owned tools
- Reduce compressed air used for cleaning to less than 30 psi
- Use effective chip guarding and PPE when cleaning with compressed air
Hazards it addresses
- Injuries from defective tools
- Air embolism and eye injuries from compressed air
- Flying debris
Cited in auto repair, machine shops, and manufacturing maintenance departments.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1910.242(b) | Compressed air for cleaning reduced to less than 30 psi with chip guarding and PPE | 268 | 268 | $750 |
| 1910.242(a) | Employer responsible for the safe condition of tools and equipment | 37 | 37 | $1,929 |
Penalties
Across 305 alleged items, OSHA and state-plan offices proposed $686,225 in initial penalties. The current total in the public data is $484,571, 29% lower after settlements, contests and amendments.
By violation type: Serious 80%; Other-than-serious 19%; Repeat 1%.
Citations by state
| State | Inspections cited | Items | Initial penalties | Current penalties |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minnesota | 105 | 105 | $100,300 | $69,345 |
| Tennessee | 27 | 27 | $13,250 | $12,103 |
| Oregon | 15 | 15 | $13,026 | $8,975 |
| Connecticut | 14 | 14 | $4,350 | $2,095 |
| Maryland | 13 | 13 | $15,962 | $11,858 |
| New York | 12 | 12 | $26,792 | $20,508 |
| Wisconsin | 12 | 12 | $54,560 | $38,651 |
| North Carolina | 11 | 11 | $11,400 | $10,160 |
| New Jersey | 9 | 9 | $44,258 | $31,384 |
| Virginia | 9 | 9 | $34,805 | $25,610 |
| Florida | 8 | 8 | $49,134 | $32,637 |
| Illinois | 5 | 5 | $10,688 | $9,896 |
| New Mexico | 5 | 6 | $39,895 | $32,445 |
| California | 4 | 4 | $8,364 | $4,480 |
| Colorado | 4 | 4 | $20,202 | $14,038 |
| Hawaii | 4 | 4 | $30,889 | $16,709 |
| Idaho | 4 | 4 | $4,603 | $2,591 |
| Pennsylvania | 4 | 4 | $12,531 | $8,700 |
| Texas | 4 | 4 | $28,089 | $15,440 |
| Nebraska | 3 | 3 | $22,387 | $19,059 |
By industry
- Manufacturing: 201 inspections
- Retail trade: 17 inspections
- Construction: 14 inspections
- Transportation & warehousing: 11 inspections
- Other services: 10 inspections
- Utilities: 8 inspections
- Administrative & waste services: 8 inspections
- Wholesale trade: 8 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Natchaug Hospital, Inc. | Mansfield Center, CT | Sep 2, 2026 | 1 | $0 | $0 | OpenAbatement due Oct 21, 2026Contest deadline ~Sep 24, 2026 (est.) | osha.gov |
| Great Lakes Polymer Technologies, LLC | Kingman, KS | Aug 28, 2026 | 1 | $7,093 | $5,320 | Informal settlement | osha.gov |
| Fence Direct Inc. | Orlando, FL | Aug 27, 2026 | 1 | $2,270 | $1,362 | Informal settlementAbatement due Sep 23, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Quest Drilling Company, LLC | Kendall, KS | Aug 25, 2026 | 1 | $4,965 | $2,979 | Informal settlement | osha.gov |
| Eischen Cabinet Company | Hastings, MN | Aug 24, 2026 | 1 | $750 | $750 | ContestedAbatement due Aug 28, 2026Contested Aug 26, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Aeko Kula LLC | Honolulu, HI | Aug 24, 2026 | 1 | $9,457 | $6,147 | Informal settlement | osha.gov |
| The Western Sugar Cooperative, Corporation | Scottsbluff, NE | Aug 24, 2026 | 1 | $0 | $0 | ContestedAbatement due Sep 18, 2026Contested Sep 22, 2026 | osha.gov |
| MN Woodcraft LLC | Cannon Falls, MN | Aug 21, 2026 | 1 | $600 | $360 | Informal settlementAbatement due Aug 31, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Comanche Stainless LLC | Middlesex, NJ | Aug 21, 2026 | 1 | $4,256 | $4,256 | ContestedAbatement due Sep 17, 2026Contested Sep 14, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Industrial Electronics Services LLC | Gray, TN | Aug 18, 2026 | 1 | $100 | $100 | Final orderAbatement due Aug 31, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Horizon Prestain, Inc. | Eugene, OR | Aug 17, 2026 | 1 | $1,214 | $1,214 | Final orderAbatement due Sep 8, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Southern Bleacher Company | Graham, TX | Aug 17, 2026 | 1 | $2,979 | $1,787 | Informal settlementAbatement due Sep 15, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Columbia Manufacturing Corporation | Baltimore, MD | Aug 14, 2026 | 1 | $1,375 | $1,375 | ContestedAbatement due Aug 24, 2026Contested Sep 1, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Taylor Precision Machining, Inc. | Montour Falls, NY | Aug 14, 2026 | 1 | $1,702 | $511 | Informal settlementAbatement due Sep 10, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Marine Innovations Inc. | Minneapolis, MN | Aug 13, 2026 | 1 | $450 | $270 | Informal settlementAbatement due Aug 24, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Uni Hydro Inc. | Cosmos, MN | Aug 13, 2026 | 1 | $750 | $750 | Final orderAbatement due Aug 17, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Montana Specialty Mills LLC | Great Falls, MT | Aug 12, 2026 | 1 | $0 | $0 | Informal settlementAbatement due Sep 1, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Bowman Manufacturing NW, Inc. | Post Falls, ID | Aug 12, 2026 | 1 | $2,412 | $1,206 | Informal settlement | osha.gov |
| Rem Tech, Inc. | Dalton Gardens, ID | Aug 12, 2026 | 1 | $1,447 | $1,013 | Informal settlementAbatement due Sep 1, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Creative Wood Masters | Canyon, MN | Aug 11, 2026 | 1 | $600 | $600 | Final orderAbatement due Aug 24, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Everidge Inc. | Winnebago, MN | Aug 11, 2026 | 1 | $2,100 | $1,260 | Informal settlementAbatement due Aug 21, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Redrock Precast LLC | Duluth, MN | Aug 10, 2026 | 1 | $450 | $270 | Informal settlementAbatement due Aug 18, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Bulltear Industries Inc. | Scandia, MN | Aug 10, 2026 | 1 | $600 | $360 | Informal settlementAbatement due Aug 18, 2026 | osha.gov |
| The Eli's Cheesecake Company | Chicago, IL | Aug 7, 2026 | 1 | $0 | $0 | Informal settlementAbatement due Sep 2, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Riedel Rustic - Log Furniture LLC | Park Rapids, MN | Aug 7, 2026 | 1 | $600 | $360 | Informal settlementAbatement due Aug 25, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Basic Crating & Packaging Inc. | Elk Grove Village, IL | Aug 6, 2026 | 1 | $3,690 | $3,500 | Informal settlementAbatement due Sep 1, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Parker Trutec, Inc. | Sevierville, TN | Aug 6, 2026 | 1 | $2,100 | $1,575 | Informal settlementAbatement due Aug 21, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Excel Machine & Fabrication, Inc. | Baltimore, MD | Aug 5, 2026 | 1 | $1,350 | $1,350 | OpenAbatement due Aug 13, 2026Contest deadline ~Aug 26, 2026 (est.) | osha.gov |
| CNH New Holland | New Holland, PA | Aug 4, 2026 | 1 | $0 | $0 | Informal settlementAbatement due Nov 27, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Powerex-Itawa Air Technology, Inc. | Mount Juliet, TN | Jul 30, 2026 | 1 | $150 | $150 | Final orderAbatement due Aug 14, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Fox Engineering LLC | Cambridge, MN | Jul 28, 2026 | 1 | $600 | $360 | Informal settlementAbatement due Aug 17, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Blue Lagoon Marine Inc. | Spring Park, MN | Jul 28, 2026 | 1 | $750 | $750 | ContestedAbatement due Aug 3, 2026Contested Aug 1, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Glassboro Water & Sewer Department | Glassboro, NJ | Jul 27, 2026 | 1 | $3,600 | $3,600 | Final orderAbatement due Sep 8, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Brown Hawk LLC dba Northern Lights Steel Fab | North Branch, MN | Jul 27, 2026 | 1 | $450 | $270 | Informal settlementAbatement due Aug 4, 2026 | osha.gov |
| IHG Army Hotels Gibb Hall | Jolon, CA | Jul 24, 2026 | 1 | $1,129 | $790 | Informal settlementAbatement due Aug 12, 2026 | osha.gov |
| U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Black Butte Dam & Black Butte Recreation Area | Orland, CA | Jul 22, 2026 | 1 | $0 | $0 | Final orderAbatement due Aug 10, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Prototype & Production, Inc. | Wheeling, IL | Jul 22, 2026 | 1 | $1,702 | $1,100 | Informal settlementAbatement due Aug 17, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Jemaco Industries Incorporated | Sandstone, MN | Jul 22, 2026 | 1 | $450 | $270 | Informal settlementAbatement due Jul 30, 2026 | osha.gov |
| CFS Logistics, Inc. | East Greenwich, RI | Jul 20, 2026 | 1 | $345 | $242 | Informal settlementAbatement due Sep 2, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Teemark Manufacturing Inc. | Aitkin, MN | Jul 20, 2026 | 1 | $600 | $360 | Informal settlementAbatement due Jul 28, 2026 | osha.gov |
Often cited together
- 1910.212 Machine Guarding (92 shared inspections)
- 1910.1200 Hazard Communication (83 shared inspections)
- 1910.305 Wiring Methods (73 shared inspections)
- 1910.303 Electrical General (69 shared inspections)
- 1910.147 Lockout/Tagout (66 shared inspections)
- 1910.134 Respiratory Protection (59 shared inspections)
- 1910.178 Forklifts (58 shared inspections)
- 1910.157 Fire Extinguishers (46 shared inspections)
Questions
What does OSHA standard 1910.242 require?
Makes employers responsible for the safe condition of tools and equipment used by employees, including tools employees furnish themselves. It also limits the use of compressed air for cleaning: air used for cleaning must be reduced to less than 30 psi, and only with effective chip guarding and appropriate personal protective equipment. Typical violations involve damaged tools left in service or air guns used for cleaning without pressure reduction.
How often was 1910.242 cited in the last 12 months?
In the public data as of October 5, 2026, 1910.242 (Hand & Power Tools) appeared in 304 inspections with citations issued between Oct 5, 2025 and Oct 5, 2026, covering 305 alleged violation items.
Which part of 1910.242 is cited most?
1910.242(b) was the most-cited paragraph, with 268 items: Compressed air for cleaning reduced to less than 30 psi with chip guarding and PPE
Which states cite 1910.242 most often?
The most citations under 1910.242 in this period were issued in Minnesota, Tennessee, Oregon.
What is the typical penalty for a 1910.242 violation?
The median initial (proposed) penalty per item was $750; the median current penalty after settlements and amendments was $720. Totals: $686,225 proposed, $484,571 current. Penalties vary by violation type, employer size and history, and State Plans set their own amounts.
Are 1910.242 citations final?
Not necessarily. A citation is an allegation until it becomes a final order. 10% 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.