1910.212: Machine Guarding
Employers must guard machines to protect operators and nearby workers from hazards like the point of operation, in-running nip points, rotating parts, and flying chips and sparks. Guards must be attached to the machine where possible and must not create a hazard themselves. Fixed machines must be anchored to stop them from moving.
Key takeaways
- 1910.212 is part of OSHA's general industry standards (29 CFR Part 1910, Subpart O).
- OSHA cited it 7,471 times in the last 3 years, in 6,696 inspections, with $43,371,903 in current penalties.
- 40 deaths are linked to inspections that cited this rule.
- Most citations: OH (465), TX (463), IL (435).
- Most-cited part: 1910.212(a) Machine guarding (6,869 citations).
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In this article
What this rule covers
29 CFR 1910.212, "General requirements for all machines", is an OSHA general industry standard (Part 1910, Subpart O). It has 11 numbered paragraphs. The official text below is copied word for word from the Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (eCFR). The numbers, injury cases and training on this page show how OSHA enforces it on real job sites.
Official text
Show the full text of 1910.212 (11 paragraphs)
(a) Machine guarding — Open (a) 6,869 citations
(1) Types of guarding. One or more methods of machine guarding shall be provided to protect the operator and other employees in the machine area from hazards such as those created by point of operation, ingoing nip points, rotating parts, flying chips and sparks. Examples of guarding methods are—barrier guards, two-hand tripping devices, electronic safety devices, etc. Open (a)(1) 4,642 citations
(2) General requirements for machine guards. Guards shall be affixed to the machine where possible and secured elsewhere if for any reason attachment to the machine is not possible. The guard shall be such that it does not offer an accident hazard in itself. Open (a)(2) 219 citations
(3) Point of operation guarding. Open (a)(3) 1,844 citations
(i) Point of operation is the area on a machine where work is actually performed upon the material being processed. Open (a)(3)(i) 18 citations
(ii) The point of operation of machines whose operation exposes an employee to injury, shall be guarded. The guarding device shall be in conformity with any appropriate standards therefor, or, in the absence of applicable specific standards, shall be so designed and constructed as to prevent the operator from having any part of his body in the danger zone during the operating cycle. Open (a)(3)(ii) 1,655 citations
(iii) Special handtools for placing and removing material shall be such as to permit easy handling of material without the operator placing a hand in the danger zone. Such tools shall not be in lieu of other guarding required by this section, but can only be used to supplement protection provided. Open (a)(3)(iii) 121 citations
(iv) The following are some of the machines which usually require point of operation guarding: Open (a)(3)(iv) 41 citations
(a) Guillotine cutters.
(b) Shears.
(c) Alligator shears.
(d) Power presses.
(e) Milling machines.
(f) Power saws.
(g) Jointers.
(h) Portable power tools.
(i) Forming rolls and calenders.
(4) Barrels, containers, and drums. Revolving drums, barrels, and containers shall be guarded by an enclosure which is interlocked with the drive mechanism, so that the barrel, drum, or container cannot revolve unless the guard enclosure is in place. Open (a)(4) 28 citations
(5) Exposure of blades. When the periphery of the blades of a fan is less than seven (7) feet above the floor or working level, the blades shall be guarded. The guard shall have openings no larger than one-half (1⁄2) inch. Open (a)(5) 121 citations
(b) Anchoring fixed machinery. Machines designed for a fixed location shall be securely anchored to prevent walking or moving. Open (b) 602 citations
Source: eCFR, text current as of 2026-10-15.
Export the list: 6,696 inspections cited 1910.212 in the last 3 years, with employer, location, penalty and date.
Purple Belt, $59/moInjuries linked to this rule
40 deaths are linked to inspections where OSHA cited 1910.212.
An employee was fabricating a part for an agricultural wagon using a drill presswhen it fell onto his head, causing multiple fatal injuries to the employee.
Full case list with employer, penalty, filters and download is part of OSHA Data (Purple Belt).
Unlock with Purple BeltWhere and how often it was cited
| Year | Citations |
|---|---|
| 2023 | 359 |
| 2024 | 2,681 |
| 2025 | 2,601 |
| 2026 | 1,830 |
Top states: OH (465), TX (463), IL (435), WI (420), PA (390)
Largest penalties
| Employer | Location | Penalty for this rule |
|---|---|---|
| THE GOODYEAR TIRE & RUBBER COMPANY | DANVILLE, VA | $185,555 |
| HUBBELL POWER SYSTEMS, INC. | BOONTON TOWNSHIP, NJ | $165,514 |
| 111367 - LINDAR CORPORATION | BAXTER, MN | $165,514 |
| VIRGINIA TRANSFORMER CORP. | ROANOKE, VA | $162,849 |
| ATLAS TUBE (ALABAMA), INC. | BIRMINGHAM, AL | $161,323 |
Free toolbox talk
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OSHA interpretation letters
None exist. OSHA has not published a letter of interpretation for 1910.212.
Most-cited parts of this rule
- 1910.212(a) Machine guarding 6,869 citations
- 1910.212(a)(1) Types of guarding 4,642 citations
- 1910.212(a)(3) Point of operation guarding 1,844 citations
- 1910.212(a)(3)(ii) 1,655 citations
- 1910.212(b) Anchoring fixed machinery 602 citations
- 1910.212(a)(2) General requirements for machine guards 219 citations
- 1910.212(a)(3)(iii) 121 citations
- 1910.212(a)(5) Exposure of blades 121 citations
- 1910.212(a)(3)(iv) 41 citations
- 1910.212(a)(4) Barrels, containers, and drums 28 citations
- 1910.212(a)(3)(i) 18 citations
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Frequently asked questions
What hazards must machine guards protect against?
Hazards such as the point of operation, ingoing nip points, rotating parts, and flying chips and sparks.
What is the point of operation?
It is the area on a machine where work is actually performed on the material, such as where it cuts, shapes or bends.
Do fan blades need guards?
Yes. When the periphery of fan blades is less than 7 feet above the floor or working level, the blades must be guarded with openings no larger than one-half inch.
About this page
Sources
- 29 CFR 1910.212 (eCFR), text current as of 2026-10-15
- U.S. Department of Labor enforcement data: OSHA inspections, citations and accident records, copied nightly; data as of 2026-11-06
3-year window. Federal OSHA only; state-plan rules are not counted. Plain-language text is a summary, not legal advice; the official text controls. Black Belt Safety is not part of OSHA or the Department of Labor.