1910.212(a)(3): Point of operation guarding
The point of operation is the area on a machine where work is actually done on the material. Where its operation can injure an employee, it must be guarded so the operator cannot have any part of the body in the danger zone during the operating cycle. Special hand tools for placing and removing material may add protection but cannot replace required guarding. Machines that usually need point-of-operation guarding include guillotine cutters, shears, power presses, milling machines, power saws, jointers, portable power tools, and forming rolls and calenders.
Key takeaways
- 1910.212(a)(3) is part of OSHA's general industry standards (29 CFR Part 1910, Subpart O).
- OSHA cited it 1,830 times in the last 3 years, in 1,796 inspections, with $11,346,324 in current penalties.
- 11 deaths are linked to inspections that cited this rule.
- Most citations: TX (154), NJ (119), WI (110).
- 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) ("Point of operation guarding") is one requirement inside 1910.212 General requirements for all machines, 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
(3) Point of operation guarding. 1,830 citations
(i) Point of operation is the area on a machine where work is actually performed upon the material being processed. Open (a)(3)(i) 17 citations
(ii) The point of operation of machines whose operation exposes an employee to injury, shall be guarded. The guarding device shall be in conformity with any appropriate standards therefor, or, in the absence of applicable specific standards, shall be so designed and constructed as to prevent the operator from having any part of his body in the danger zone during the operating cycle. Open (a)(3)(ii) 1,645 citations
(iii) Special handtools for placing and removing material shall be such as to permit easy handling of material without the operator placing a hand in the danger zone. Such tools shall not be in lieu of other guarding required by this section, but can only be used to supplement protection provided. Open (a)(3)(iii) 121 citations
(iv) The following are some of the machines which usually require point of operation guarding: Open (a)(3)(iv) 39 citations
(a) Guillotine cutters.
(b) Shears.
(c) Alligator shears.
(d) Power presses.
(e) Milling machines.
(f) Power saws.
(g) Jointers.
(h) Portable power tools.
(i) Forming rolls and calenders.
Source: eCFR, text current as of 2026-10-15. Read all of 1910.212.
Injuries linked to this rule
11 deaths are linked to inspections where OSHA cited 1910.212(a)(3).
An employee was fabricating a part for an agricultural wagon using a drill presswhen it fell onto his head, causing multiple fatal injuries to the employee.
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 | 126 |
| 2024 | 680 |
| 2025 | 613 |
| 2026 | 411 |
Top states: TX (154), NJ (119), WI (110), IN (99), TN (98)
Largest penalties
| Employer | Location | Penalty for this rule |
|---|---|---|
| ATLAS TUBE (ALABAMA), INC. | BIRMINGHAM, AL | $161,323 |
| HENRY COMPANY LLC | FERNLEY, NV | $112,917 |
| ACCURATE ENERGETIC SYSTEMS, LLC | MC EWEN, TN | $108,000 |
| PROGRESO LMMM LUFKIN, LLC | LUFKIN, TX | $107,640 |
| LMMM HOUSTON #80, LTD. | NEW CANEY, TX | $107,584 |
Free toolbox talk
A 5-minute crew talk on 1910.212(a)(3), plus alerts when this rule changes. Free.
OSHA interpretation letters
- Trip and Emergency Switches on Mills and Calenders (2021-08-31)
- Lockout/tagout requirements for servicing manually-controlled vertical/horizontal milling machine and drill press tool changes. (2005-08-24)
- Lock out/Tag out (LOTO) requirements for die-setting operations in hydraulic power presses. (2005-04-22)
- Use of the European Norms and European Community machinery directive to comply with the 1910.212 "General [guarding] requirements for all machines." (2005-02-08)
- Use of laser guarding systems with hydraulic press brakes (2004-02-11)
- Use of Electro Sensitive Protection Equipment as point of operation guarding devices. (2001-06-05)
- OSHA enforcement policy on vertical food mixers. (1999-02-26)
- Standard 1910.212 in regards to its applicability to guard an area above the ram/piston on a vertical hydraulic downstroke/trash compactor. (1994-09-20)
- Presence Sensing Palm Button Devices (PSPBD). (1992-08-05)
- Clarification of Scope of OSHA Instruction STD 1-12.22 (1991-04-15)
- The point of operation and rotating part hazards related to vertical food mixers in bakeries and restaurants are covered by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration standards. (1991-03-19)
- The feasibility of OSHA's machine guarding requirements in their workplace. (1989-08-03)
- Acceptable guarding for continuous cycling boneless meat tenderizers. (1987-11-02)
- The safe use of portable, compressed-air-actuated, fastener driving tools (staple guns) (1986-08-08)
- Power Press Brakes. (1986-04-20)
- Applicability of 1910.212(a)(3)(ii) to Portable Pneumatic Powered Fastener Tools (1985-03-25)
- The manner in which OSHA provides for suitable applications of the ANSI B11.3 specification standard. (1981-05-26)
- Oil Rig Inspection. (1980-12-15)
- A variance from Machine Guarding, Point of Operation Guarding. (1976-05-14)
- Point of operation guarding for cutters on milling machines. (1976-02-18)
- Guarding by location is permitted with certain provisions. (1975-01-07)
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)(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
- 1910.212(a)(3)(i) 17 citations
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Frequently asked questions
What is the point of operation?
The area on a machine where work is actually performed on the material being processed.
What must the guard prevent?
The operator having any part of the body in the danger zone during the operating cycle.
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.