1910.216(b): Mill safety controls
Key takeaways
- 1910.216(b) is part of OSHA's general industry standards (29 CFR Part 1910, Subpart O).
- OSHA cited it 4 times in the last 3 years, in 4 inspections, with $28,501 in current penalties.
- Free 5-minute toolbox talk for your crew below.
In this article
What this rule covers
29 CFR 1910.216(b) ("Mill safety controls") is one requirement inside 1910.216 Mills and calenders in the rubber and plastics industries, an OSHA general industry standard (Part 1910, Subpart O). It includes 6 sub-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
(b) Mill safety controls — 4 citations
(1) Safety trip control. A safety trip control shall be provided in front and in back of each mill. It shall be accessible and shall operate readily on contact. The safety trip control shall be one of the following types or a combination thereof: 4 citations
(i) Pressure-sensitive body bars. Installed at front and back of each mill having a 46-inch roll height or over. These bars shall operate readily by pressure of the mill operator's body. 2 citations
(ii) Safety triprod. Installed in the front and in the back of each mill and located within 2 inches of a vertical plane tangent to the front and rear rolls. The top rods shall be not more than 72 inches above the level on which the operator stands. The triprods shall be accessible and shall operate readily whether the rods are pushed or pulled. 1 citations
(iii) Safety tripwire cable or wire center cord. Installed in the front and in the back of each mill and located within 2 inches of a vertical plane tangent to the front and rear rolls. The cables shall not be more than 72 inches above the level on which the operator stands. The tripwire cable or wire center cord shall operate readily whether cable or cord is pushed or pulled.
(2) [Reserved]
(3) Auxiliary equipment. All auxiliary equipment such as mill divider, support bars, spray pipes, feed conveyors, strip knives, etc., shall be located in such a manner as to avoid interference with access to and operation of safety devices.
Source: eCFR, text current as of 2026-10-15. Read all of 1910.216.
Where and how often it was cited
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OSHA interpretation letters
- Clarification of under voltage protection on metal-working equipment and emergency stop devices. (1999-04-28)
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About this page
Sources
- 29 CFR 1910.216 (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.