1910.219(f)(1): Guarding Gears
Employers must guard gears with a complete enclosure, a standard guard at least seven feet high extending six inches above the mesh point, or a band guard covering the gear face with flanges past the root of the teeth. If any part of a band-guarded gear train is less than six feet from the floor, a disk guard or complete enclosure to six feet is required.
Key takeaways
- 1910.219(f)(1) is part of OSHA's general industry standards (29 CFR Part 1910, Subpart O).
- OSHA cited it 70 times in the last 3 years, in 70 inspections, with $250,790 in current penalties.
- Most citations: NC (6), IA (5), FL (5).
- Related part: 1910.219(f) Gears, sprockets, and chains (623 citations).
- Free 5-minute toolbox talk for your crew below.
In this article
What this rule covers
29 CFR 1910.219(f)(1) ("Gears") is one requirement inside 1910.219 Mechanical power-transmission apparatus, an OSHA general industry standard (Part 1910, Subpart O). It includes 3 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
(1) Gears. Gears shall be guarded in accordance with one of the following methods: 70 citations
(i) By a complete enclosure; or Open (f)(1)(i) 14 citations
(ii) By a standard guard as described in paragraph (o) of this section, at least seven (7) feet high extending six (6) inches above the mesh point of the gears; or 4 citations
(iii) By a band guard covering the face of gear and having flanges extended inward beyond the root of the teeth on the exposed side or sides. Where any portion of the train of gears guarded by a band guard is less than six (6) feet from the floor a disk guard or a complete enclosure to the height of six (6) feet shall be required.
Source: eCFR, text current as of 2026-10-15. Read all of 1910.219.
Where and how often it was cited
| Year | Citations |
|---|---|
| 2023 | 6 |
| 2024 | 26 |
| 2025 | 22 |
| 2026 | 16 |
Top states: NC (6), IA (5), FL (5), TX (4), VA (4)
Largest penalties
| Employer | Location | Penalty for this rule |
|---|---|---|
| 68657 - DURO HILEX POLY LLC | FLORENCE, KY | $28,000 |
| TYSON FRESH MEATS, INC. | MADISON, NE | $16,550 |
| MAINE WILD BLUEBERRY COMPANY | MACHIAS, ME | $16,131 |
| WATERLOO PROCESSING, LLC | WATERLOO, IA | $11,823 |
| CPX2026XTN246X0073 - LATIUM USA TRADING LLC DBA FOUR SEASON BUILDING PRODUCTS | PHOENIX, AZ | $9,931 |
Free toolbox talk
A 5-minute crew talk on 1910.219(f)(1), plus alerts when this rule changes. Free.
OSHA interpretation letters
None exist. OSHA has not published a letter of interpretation for 1910.219(f)(1).
Related parts of this rule
- 1910.219(f) Gears, sprockets, and chains 623 citations
- 1910.219(f)(3) Sprockets and chains 552 citations
- 1910.219(f)(1)(i) 14 citations
Get your crew competent
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Frequently asked questions
What are the ways to guard gears?
A complete enclosure, a standard guard at least seven feet high extending six inches above the mesh point, or a band guard covering the gear face with inward flanges.
When is a disk guard needed with a band guard?
Where any portion of the gear train guarded by a band guard is less than six feet from the floor, a disk guard or complete enclosure to six feet is required.
How high must a standard gear guard be?
At least seven feet high, extending six inches above the mesh point of the gears.
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.