1910.212(a)(3)(i): Point of Operation Defined
The point of operation is the area on a machine where work is actually performed on the material being processed.
Key takeaways
- 1910.212(a)(3)(i) is part of OSHA's general industry standards (29 CFR Part 1910, Subpart O).
- OSHA cited it 17 times in the last 3 years, in 17 inspections, with $69,964 in current penalties.
- Most citations: NJ (3), IN (3), OH (2).
- Related part: 1910.212(a) Machine guarding (6,817 citations).
- Free 5-minute toolbox talk for your crew below.
In this article
What this rule covers
29 CFR 1910.212(a)(3)(i) is one requirement inside 1910.212 General requirements for all machines, an OSHA general industry standard (Part 1910, Subpart O). 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
(i) Point of operation is the area on a machine where work is actually performed upon the material being processed. 17 citations
Source: eCFR, text current as of 2026-10-15. Read all of 1910.212.
Where and how often it was cited
| Year | Citations |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 5 |
| 2025 | 8 |
| 2026 | 4 |
Top states: NJ (3), IN (3), OH (2), ND (1), VA (1)
Largest penalties
| Employer | Location | Penalty for this rule |
|---|---|---|
| AM TEX MACHINE PRODUCTS, INC. | HOUSTON, TX | $11,916 |
| TYSON FARMS, INC. | HANCEVILLE, AL | $11,255 |
| NJDOT PORT COLDEN YARD | PORT MURRAY, NJ | $7,000 |
| FILMTECH CORPORATION | ALLENTOWN, PA | $6,332 |
| KAISER ALUMINUM WARRICK | NEWBURGH, IN | $5,100 |
Free toolbox talk
A 5-minute crew talk on 1910.212(a)(3)(i), plus alerts when this rule changes. Free.
OSHA interpretation letters
None exist. OSHA has not published a letter of interpretation for 1910.212(a)(3)(i).
Related parts of this rule
- 1910.212(a) Machine guarding 6,817 citations
- 1910.212(a)(1) Types of guarding 4,605 citations
- 1910.212(a)(3) Point of operation guarding 1,830 citations
- 1910.212(a)(3)(ii) 1,645 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) 39 citations
- 1910.212(a)(4) Barrels, containers, and drums 28 citations
Get your crew competent
Trainers on Black Belt Safety: Marc Harvey, Dana Reyes
Trainers and suppliers: feature your business on this rule for $25/month.
Frequently asked questions
What is the point of operation?
The area on a machine where work is actually performed upon the material being processed.
Why does the definition matter?
It tells you which part of a machine the point of operation guarding rules in 1910.212(a)(3) refer to.
Is it the same on every machine?
It is wherever the machine actually works the material, so its location depends on the machine.
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 2026-10-20
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.