1910.212(a)(5): Fan Blade Guards
When the outer edge of a fan's blades is less than seven feet above the floor or working level, employers must guard the blades with a guard having openings no larger than one-half inch.
Key takeaways
- 1910.212(a)(5) is part of OSHA's general industry standards (29 CFR Part 1910, Subpart O).
- OSHA cited it 121 times in the last 3 years, in 121 inspections, with $331,597 in current penalties.
- 1 death is linked to inspections that cited this rule.
- Most citations: NY (13), VA (12), TN (12).
- 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)(5) ("Exposure of blades") 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
(5) Exposure of blades. When the periphery of the blades of a fan is less than seven (7) feet above the floor or working level, the blades shall be guarded. The guard shall have openings no larger than one-half (1⁄2) inch. 121 citations
Source: eCFR, text current as of 2026-10-15. Read all of 1910.212.
Injuries linked to this rule
1 death is linked to inspections where OSHA cited 1910.212(a)(5).
At 12:30 p.m. on November 21, 2023, an employee was using a forklift to load pallets onto a box truck. The employee attempted to back from the box truck to the dock, but the truck had rolled away, and the forklift fell to the ground.…
Where and how often it was cited
| Year | Citations |
|---|---|
| 2023 | 12 |
| 2024 | 48 |
| 2025 | 42 |
| 2026 | 19 |
Top states: NY (13), VA (12), TN (12), OR (9), TX (7)
Largest penalties
| Employer | Location | Penalty for this rule |
|---|---|---|
| 68440 - PERISTYLE LLC | HATTON, KY | $70,000 |
| PCP GROUP, LLC | CLEARWATER, FL | $16,147 |
| THE GOODYEAR TIRE & RUBBER COMPANY | DANVILLE, VA | $13,415 |
| SMITH-MIDLAND CORPORATION | MIDLAND, VA | $13,415 |
| J & S MANUFACTURING COMPANY, INCORPORATED | BRYANT, AR | $11,292 |
Free toolbox talk
A 5-minute crew talk on 1910.212(a)(5), plus alerts when this rule changes. Free.
OSHA interpretation letters
- Maximum permissible guard openings for blade guards on cooling fans (2003-08-21)
- Restricting fans to low speed does not void machine guarding standards. (1975-02-10)
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)(3)(iv) 39 citations
- 1910.212(a)(4) Barrels, containers, and drums 28 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
When do fan blades need a guard?
When the periphery of the blades is less than seven feet above the floor or working level.
How large can guard openings be?
No larger than one-half inch.
Do fans above seven feet need guards under this rule?
This paragraph applies when the blades are less than seven feet above the floor or working level.
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.