1910.219(e)(2): Guarding Overhead Horizontal Belts
Employers must guard overhead horizontal belts whose lower parts are 7 feet or less from the floor or platform on the sides and bottom. Belts more than 7 feet up must be guarded their full length if over passageways or work places and traveling 1,800 feet or more per minute, if pulleys are 10 feet or more apart center to center, or if the belt is 8 inches or more wide.
Key takeaways
- 1910.219(e)(2) is part of OSHA's general industry standards (29 CFR Part 1910, Subpart O).
- OSHA cited it 13 times in the last 3 years, in 13 inspections, with $29,813 in current penalties.
- 1 death is linked to inspections that cited this rule.
- Most citations: WI (2), MD (2), IL (1).
- Related part: 1910.219(e) Belt, rope, and chain drives (412 citations).
- Free 5-minute toolbox talk for your crew below.
In this article
What this rule covers
29 CFR 1910.219(e)(2) ("Overhead horizontal belts") is one requirement inside 1910.219 Mechanical power-transmission apparatus, an OSHA general industry standard (Part 1910, Subpart O). It includes 4 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
(2) Overhead horizontal belts. 13 citations
(i) Overhead horizontal belts, with lower parts seven (7) feet or less from the floor or platform, shall be guarded on sides and bottom in accordance with paragraph (o)(3) of this section. Open (e)(2)(i) 12 citations
(ii) Horizontal overhead belts more than seven (7) feet above floor or platform shall be guarded for their entire length under the following conditions:
(a) If located over passageways or work places and traveling 1,800 feet or more per minute.
(b) If center to center distance between pulleys is ten (10) feet or more.
(c) If belt is eight (8) inches or more in width.
(iii) Where the upper and lower runs of horizontal belts are so located that passage of persons between them would be possible, the passage shall be either: 1 citations
(a) Completely barred by a guardrail or other barrier in accordance with paragraphs (m) and (o) of this section; or
(b) Where passage is regarded as necessary, there shall be a platform over the lower run guarded on either side by a railing completely filled in with wire mesh or other filler, or by a solid barrier. The upper run shall be so guarded as to prevent contact therewith either by the worker or by objects carried by him. In powerplants only the lower run of the belt need be guarded.
(iv) Overhead chain and link belt drives are governed by the same rules as overhead horizontal belts and shall be guarded in the same manner as belts.
Source: eCFR, text current as of 2026-10-15. Read all of 1910.219.
Injuries linked to this rule
1 death is linked to inspections where OSHA cited 1910.219(e)(2).
At 10:35 a.m. on December 2, 2024, Employee #1 was performing maintenance on a sensor inside a robotic enclosure. As he entered the area, the robot was stoppedby entrance sensors. While he was cleaning the sensor, a coworker reset the machine from the control panel,…
Where and how often it was cited
| Year | Citations |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 6 |
| 2025 | 6 |
| 2026 | 1 |
Top states: WI (2), MD (2), IL (1), AZ (1), OH (1)
Largest penalties
| Employer | Location | Penalty for this rule |
|---|---|---|
| KOHL'S DEPARTMENT STORES INC. | MIDDLETOWN, OH | $12,000 |
| NEMAK USA, INC. | SHEBOYGAN, WI | $10,000 |
| CPX2024XJW184X0046 - ARIZONA MERCHANTS, LLC | PHOENIX, AZ | $7,813 |
| MIDWEST DRY TRANSLOAD, INC. | GALVA, IL | $0 |
| MILWAUKEE MATERIALS, LLC | MILWAUKEE, WI | $0 |
Free toolbox talk
A 5-minute crew talk on 1910.219(e)(2), plus alerts when this rule changes. Free.
OSHA interpretation letters
None exist. OSHA has not published a letter of interpretation for 1910.219(e)(2).
Related parts of this rule
- 1910.219(e) Belt, rope, and chain drives 412 citations
- 1910.219(e)(1) Horizontal belts and ropes 201 citations
- 1910.219(e)(1)(i) 195 citations
- 1910.219(e)(3) Vertical and inclined belts 193 citations
- 1910.219(e)(3)(i) 178 citations
- 1910.219(e)(2)(i) 12 citations
- 1910.219(e)(4) Vertical belts 3 citations
Get your crew competent
Trainers on Black Belt Safety: Marc Harvey, Dana Reyes
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Frequently asked questions
When must an overhead horizontal belt be guarded on the sides and bottom?
When its lower parts are seven (7) feet or less from the floor or platform.
When must a belt more than 7 feet up be guarded for its full length?
If it is over passageways or work places and travels 1,800 feet or more per minute, if pulleys are 10 feet or more apart center to center, or if the belt is 8 inches or more wide.
Do overhead chain drives follow the same rules?
Yes. Overhead chain and link belt drives are guarded the same way as overhead horizontal belts.
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.