29 CFR 1910.217: OSHA Mechanical Power Presses

Regulatory citation: 29 CFR 1910.217, Mechanical Power Presses (Machinery and Machine Guarding, Subpart O)

What Is the OSHA Mechanical Power Press Standard?

Section 1910.217 covers mechanical power presses used in general industry, such as presses that punch, form, blank or draw metal using a flywheel and clutch. It sets rules for press construction, point-of-operation safeguarding, dies, inspection and maintenance, operator training and injury reporting. Paragraph (h) adds detailed rules for presses run in presence sensing device initiation (PSDI) mode.

Press brakes, hydraulic and pneumatic power presses, bulldozers, hot bending and hot metal presses, forging presses and hammers, and riveting machines and similar fastener applicators are excluded.

Why Press Safety Matters

Power presses close with great force in a fraction of a second. Amputations and crushing injuries happen when hands enter the point of operation during a stroke, often because of a missing guard, an unexpected repeat stroke or a worn brake.

Core Obligations

1. Safeguard the Point of Operation (1910.217(c)(1))

The employer must provide and ensure the use of point-of-operation guards or properly applied and adjusted point-of-operation devices on every operation performed on a mechanical power press. This is not required where the point of operation opening is 1/4 inch or less.

2. Design Guards to Keep Hands Out (1910.217(c)(2) and Table O-10)

Guards must prevent hands or fingers from entering the point of operation by reaching through, over, under or around the guard. Table O-10 sets the largest allowed guard opening based on distance from the point of operation, from 1/4 inch at 1/2 to 1-1/2 inches from the point of operation up to 2-1/8 inches at 17-1/2 to 31-1/2 inches away.

3. Apply Devices With the Correct Safety Distance (1910.217(c)(3))

Presence sensing devices may not be used on full revolution clutch machines. Presence sensing devices and two-hand controls must be placed at a safety distance calculated as Ds = 63 inches per second × Ts, where Ts is the stopping time of the press measured at about 90 degrees of crankshaft rotation. Two-hand trips use a similar formula, Dm = 63 inches per second × Tm, where Tm is the maximum time the press takes for die closure after it has been tripped. Pullback devices must be inspected at the start of each shift, after die setup and when operators change.

4. Treat Hand Tools as Extras, Not Guards (1910.217(c)(4) and (d)(1)(ii))

Hand feeding tools are not a substitute for guards or devices and must only be used in addition to them. Employers must provide and enforce the use of hand tools for freeing and removing stuck work or scrap so employees do not reach into the point of operation.

5. Set Dies Safely (1910.217(d)(9))

Employers must establish a die setting procedure that ensures compliance with the standard. Safety blocks must be provided for use when dies are being adjusted or repaired, and their use must be enforced. Brushes, swabs, lubricating rolls and pressure guns must be provided for lubricating dies so employees do not reach into the point of operation.

6. Inspect and Maintain Presses (1910.217(e)(1))

Employers must run a program of periodic and regular inspections of presses to keep parts, auxiliary equipment and safeguards in safe condition, and keep a certification record of each inspection and each maintenance and repair task, with the date, the signature of the person who did the work and the press serial number or other identifier. The clutch and brake mechanism, antirepeat feature and single-stroke mechanism must be inspected and tested at least weekly, with any needed maintenance or repair done before the press runs. Maintenance on those parts must be certified, but the weekly inspections themselves are exempt from the record requirement. The weekly test does not apply to presses that meet the control reliability and brake system monitoring rules in (b)(13) and (b)(14).

7. Train and Supervise Operators (1910.217(e)(3) and (f)(2))

The employer must train and instruct operators in safe methods of work before starting work on any operation covered by the standard, and must ensure correct operating procedures through adequate supervision. Employers must also ensure the original and continuing competence of personnel who care for, inspect and maintain presses.

8. Report Point-of-Operation Injuries Within 30 Days (1910.217(g))

The employer must report all point-of-operation injuries to press operators or other employees within 30 days of the injury, to OSHA's Directorate of Standards and Guidance, electronically, or to the State agency in a state plan state. The report must include details such as the type of clutch, the safeguard in use, the cause of the injury, the feeding method and the means used to actuate the press.

Common Compliance Approaches

Measure Stopping Time

Use a stop-time measurement device to confirm the safety distance for light curtains and two-hand controls after installation, die changes and brake work.

Weekly Press Checklist

Combine the weekly clutch, brake, antirepeat and single-stroke tests into one signed checklist kept at each press.

Example: Press Safety in Practice

A stamping shop runs a part-revolution clutch press fitted with a light curtain. After a brake overhaul, the maintenance lead measures a stopping time of 0.20 seconds. Using Ds = 63 × 0.20, the light curtain must sit at least 12.6 inches from the point of operation, so the lead moves it back and adds a side guard to block reach-around. The weekly clutch and brake test is logged, and the operator is retrained on using hand tools to remove stuck parts instead of reaching in.

Related regulations: OSHA machine guarding, OSHA lockout/tagout, OSHA injury recordkeeping.

Note: PSDI mode under paragraph (h) requires the safety system to be certified by the employer and validated by an OSHA-recognized third-party validation organization, then recertified and revalidated at least annually. State plan states may set stricter rules.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does 1910.217 apply to hydraulic presses and press brakes?

No. They are excluded from 1910.217. The general machine guarding standard, 1910.212, still applies to them, and its list of machines that usually need point-of-operation guarding includes power presses.

Can a light curtain be used on a full revolution clutch press?

No. Presence sensing devices may not be used for safeguarding the point of operation on full revolution clutch machines.

Is the 30-day press injury report the same as OSHA 300 recordkeeping?

No. It is a separate report required by 1910.217(g). Injuries may also need to be recorded on the OSHA 300 log and reported under Part 1904.