1910.212(a)(4): Interlocked Guards on Revolving Drums
Employers must guard revolving drums, barrels and containers with an enclosure interlocked with the drive, so the drum, barrel or container cannot turn unless the guard enclosure is in place.
Key takeaways
- 1910.212(a)(4) is part of OSHA's general industry standards (29 CFR Part 1910, Subpart O).
- OSHA cited it 28 times in the last 3 years, in 28 inspections, with $98,209 in current penalties.
- Most citations: CT (5), WI (4), PA (4).
- 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)(4) ("Barrels, containers, and drums") 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
(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. 28 citations
Source: eCFR, text current as of 2026-10-15. Read all of 1910.212.
Where and how often it was cited
| Year | Citations |
|---|---|
| 2023 | 2 |
| 2024 | 15 |
| 2025 | 9 |
| 2026 | 2 |
Top states: CT (5), WI (4), PA (4), MA (2), IA (1)
Largest penalties
| Employer | Location | Penalty for this rule |
|---|---|---|
| 156029 - ZIPS CAR WASH, LLC | GREENSBORO, NC | $15,625 |
| PIANA NONWOVENS, LLC | CARTERSVILLE, GA | $14,518 |
| RHE HATCO, INC. | LONGVIEW, TX | $9,102 |
| WIRE AND CABLE SPECIALTIES, INC. | COATESVILLE, PA | $8,469 |
| PLAYTEX MANUFACTURING INC. | DOVER, DE | $8,067 |
Free toolbox talk
A 5-minute crew talk on 1910.212(a)(4), plus alerts when this rule changes. Free.
OSHA interpretation letters
- Guarding of rotating barrels, containers, and drums. (1981-11-18)
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)(3)(i) 17 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
How must revolving drums be guarded?
By an enclosure interlocked with the drive mechanism.
What does the interlock do?
It keeps the barrel, drum or container from revolving unless the guard enclosure is in place.
Does this cover containers too?
Yes. It applies to revolving drums, barrels and containers.
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.