[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 29, Volume 5]
[Revised as of January 1, 2007]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 29CFR1910.264]

[Page 721-722]
 
                             TITLE 29--LABOR
 
CHAPTER XVII--OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT 
                                OF LABOR
 
PART 1910_OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH STANDARDS--Table of Contents
 
                      Subpart R_Special Industries
 
Sec.  1910.264  Laundry machinery and operations.

    (a) [Reserved]
    (b) General requirements. This section applies to moving parts of 
equipment used in laundries and to conditions peculiar to this industry, 
with special reference to the point of operation of laundry machines. 
This section does not apply to dry-cleaning operations.
    (c) Point-of-operation guards--(1) Washroom machines.
    (i) [Reserved]
    (ii) Washing machine.
    (a) [Reserved]
    (b) Each washing machine shall be provided with means for holding 
open the doors or covers of inner and outer cylinders or shells while 
being loaded or unloaded.
    (2) Starching and drying machines.
    (i)-(ii) [Reserved]
    (iii) Drying tumbler.
    (a) [Reserved]
    (b) Each drying tumbler shall be provided with means for holding 
open the doors or covers of inner and outer cylinders or shells while 
being loaded or unloaded.
    (iv) Shaker (clothes tumbler).
    (a) [Reserved]
    (b)(1) [Reserved]
    (2) Each shaker or clothes tumbler of the double-cylinder type shall 
be provided with means for holding open the doors or covers of inner and 
outer cylinders or shells while being loaded or unloaded.
    (v) Exception. Provisions of paragraph (c)(2) (iii), (iv)(a)(1), and 
(iv)(b) of this section shall not apply to shakeout or conditioning 
tumblers where the clothes are loaded into the open end of the revolving 
cylinder and are automatically discharged out of the opposite end.
    (3) [Reserved]
    (4) Miscellaneous machines and equipment.
    (i)-(ii) [Reserved]
    (iii) Steam pipes. (a) All steam pipes that are within 7 feet of the 
floor or working platform, and with which the worker may come into 
contact, shall be insulated or covered with a heat-resistive material or 
shall be otherwise properly guarded.
    (b) Where pressure-reducing valves are used, one or more relief or 
safety valves shall be provided on the low-pressure side of the reducing 
valve, in case the piping or equipment on the low-pressure side does not 
meet the requirements for full initial pressure. The relief or safety 
valve shall be located adjacent to, or as close as possible to, the 
reducing valve. Proper protection shall be provided to prevent injury or 
damage caused by fluid escaping from relief or safety valves if vented 
to the atmosphere. The vents shall be of ample size and as short and 
direct as possible. The combined discharge capacity of the relief valves 
shall be such that the pressure rating of the lower-pressure piping and 
equipment will not be exceeded if the reducing valve sticks or fails to 
open.
    (d) Operating rules--(1) General.
    (i)-(ii) [Reserved]
    (iii) Markers. Markers and others handling soiled clothes shall be 
warned against touching the eyes, mouth, or any part of the body on 
which the skin has been broken by a scratch or abrasion; and they shall 
be cautioned not to touch or eat food until their hands have been 
thoroughly washed.

[[Page 722]]

    (iv) [Reserved]
    (v) Instruction of employees. Employees shall be properly instructed 
as to the hazards of their work and be instructed in safe practices, by 
bulletins, printed rules, and verbal instructions.
    (2) Mechanical--(i) Safety guards. (a) No safeguard, safety 
appliance, or device attached to, or forming an integral part of any 
machinery shall be removed or made ineffective except for the purpose of 
making immediate repairs or adjustments. Any such safeguard, safety 
appliance, or device removed or made ineffective during the repair or 
adjustment of such machinery shall be replaced immediately upon the 
completion of such repairs or adjustments.
    (b) [Reserved]

[39 FR 23502, June 27, 1974, as amended at 43 FR 49767, Oct. 24, 1978; 
43 FR 51760, Nov. 7, 1978]