1910.219(d)(1): Guarding Low Pulleys
Employers must guard any pulley with parts 7 feet or less above the floor or working platform, using guards that meet paragraphs (m) and (o) of the mechanical power transmission rule. Pulleys used as balance wheels, such as on punch presses, may instead have a disk covering the spokes when the belt-to-pulley contact point is more than 6 feet 6 inches up.
Key takeaways
- 1910.219(d)(1) is part of OSHA's general industry standards (29 CFR Part 1910, Subpart O).
- OSHA cited it 445 times in the last 3 years, in 445 inspections, with $1,375,253 in current penalties.
- 2 deaths are linked to inspections that cited this rule.
- Most citations: NC (42), IA (33), VA (30).
- Related part: 1910.219(d) Pulleys (445 citations).
- Free 5-minute toolbox talk for your crew below.
In this article
What this rule covers
29 CFR 1910.219(d)(1) ("Guarding") is one requirement inside 1910.219 Mechanical power-transmission apparatus, 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
(1) Guarding. Pulleys, any parts of which are seven (7) feet or less from the floor or working platform, shall be guarded in accordance with the standards specified in paragraphs (m) and (o) of this section. Pulleys serving as balance wheels (e.g., punch presses) on which the point of contact between belt and pulley is more than six feet six inches (6 ft. 6 in.) from the floor or platform may be guarded with a disk covering the spokes. 445 citations
Source: eCFR, text current as of 2026-10-15. Read all of 1910.219.
Injuries linked to this rule
2 deaths are linked to inspections where OSHA cited 1910.219(d)(1).
At 7:45 p.m. on September 27, 2024, Employee #1 was operating a dual-hopper log shaver when the employee made contact with the cutter heads of the machine. The employee was caught in the machine and sustained fatal injuries. The employee's body above the legs was…
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 | 32 |
| 2024 | 175 |
| 2025 | 159 |
| 2026 | 79 |
Top states: NC (42), IA (33), VA (30), MN (26), IL (22)
Largest penalties
| Employer | Location | Penalty for this rule |
|---|---|---|
| TAMPA BAY FISHERIES, INC. | DOVER, FL | $165,514 |
| 68657 - DURO HILEX POLY LLC | FLORENCE, KY | $28,000 |
| 159713 - MERCHANTS METALS LLC | STATESVILLE, NC | $16,550 |
| FERMENTATIONEXPERTS USA, LLC | SIOUX FALLS, SD | $15,000 |
| THE KRAFT HEINZ FOODS COMPANY | COSHOCTON, OH | $15,000 |
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OSHA interpretation letters
Related parts of this rule
- 1910.219(d) Pulleys 445 citations
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Frequently asked questions
At what height must pulleys be guarded?
Any pulley with parts 7 feet or less from the floor or working platform.
What standards do the guards have to meet?
Paragraphs (m) and (o) of 1910.219.
What is the balance wheel exception?
Balance wheel pulleys with the belt contact point more than 6 feet 6 inches up may be guarded with a disk over the spokes.
About this page
Sources
- 29 CFR 1910.219 (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.