1910.219(f): Guarding Gears, Sprockets and Chains
Employers must guard gears with a complete enclosure, a standard guard or a band guard as the rule describes, and must enclose sprocket wheels and chains unless they are more than 7 feet above the floor or platform. Small hand-operated adjusting gears and manually operated sprockets are excepted, and oiling openings need self-closing covers when frequent oiling is needed.
Key takeaways
- 1910.219(f) is part of OSHA's general industry standards (29 CFR Part 1910, Subpart O).
- OSHA cited it 623 times in the last 3 years, in 609 inspections, with $2,898,413 in current penalties.
- 6 deaths are linked to inspections that cited this rule.
- Most citations: NC (43), IA (38), PA (37).
- Related part: 1910.219(f)(3) Sprockets and chains (552 citations).
- Free 5-minute toolbox talk for your crew below.
In this article
What this rule covers
29 CFR 1910.219(f) ("Gears, sprockets, and chains") is one requirement inside 1910.219 Mechanical power-transmission apparatus, an OSHA general industry standard (Part 1910, Subpart O). It includes 7 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
(f) Gears, sprockets, and chains — 623 citations
(1) Gears. Gears shall be guarded in accordance with one of the following methods: Open (f)(1) 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.
(2) Hand-operated gears. Paragraph (f)(1) of this section does not apply to hand-operated gears used only to adjust machine parts and which do not continue to move after hand power is removed. However, the guarding of these gears is highly recommended.
(3) Sprockets and chains. All sprocket wheels and chains shall be enclosed unless they are more than seven (7) feet above the floor or platform. Where the drive extends over other machine or working areas, protection against falling shall be provided. This subparagraph does not apply to manually operated sprockets. Open (f)(3) 552 citations
(4) Openings for oiling. When frequent oiling must be done, openings with hinged or sliding self-closing covers shall be provided. All points not readily accessible shall have oil feed tubes if lubricant is to be added while machinery is in motion. 1 citations
Source: eCFR, text current as of 2026-10-15. Read all of 1910.219.
Injuries linked to this rule
6 deaths are linked to inspections where OSHA cited 1910.219(f).
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 | 41 |
| 2024 | 231 |
| 2025 | 216 |
| 2026 | 135 |
Top states: NC (43), IA (38), PA (37), WI (35), OH (35)
Largest penalties
| Employer | Location | Penalty for this rule |
|---|---|---|
| AUTOMATED CONVEYOR SYSTEMS INC. | LYNCHBURG, VA | $126,980 |
| CPX2026XVM508X0078 - MADERA COMPONENT SYSTEMS, INC. | PHOENIX, AZ | $109,929 |
| 68143 - ACCU-TEC INC | LOUISVILLE, KY | $39,200 |
| KAMPS ROCKWOOD PRODUCTS OF DILLWYN VA, LLC | DILLWYN, VA | $32,575 |
| PCP GROUP, LLC | LARGO, FL | $29,790 |
Free toolbox talk
A 5-minute crew talk on 1910.219(f), plus alerts when this rule changes. Free.
OSHA interpretation letters
None exist. OSHA has not published a letter of interpretation for 1910.219(f).
Related parts of this rule
- 1910.219(f)(3) Sprockets and chains 552 citations
- 1910.219(f)(1) Gears 70 citations
- 1910.219(f)(1)(i) 14 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
Do chains and sprockets always need a guard?
They must be enclosed unless they are more than 7 feet above the floor or platform. Manually operated sprockets are excepted.
What ways can gears be guarded?
By a complete enclosure, a standard guard at least 7 feet high extending 6 inches above the mesh point, or a band guard as described in the rule.
How should frequent oiling be done safely?
Openings with hinged or sliding self-closing covers must be provided, and points not readily reachable need oil feed tubes if oiled while running.
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.