1926.300(b)(2): Guarding Moving Parts of Equipment
Employers must guard belts, gears, shafts, pulleys, sprockets, spindles, drums, flywheels, chains and other reciprocating, rotating or moving parts when they are exposed to employee contact or otherwise create a hazard. Guarding must meet ANSI B15.1-1953 (R1958), Safety Code for Mechanical Power-Transmission Apparatus.
Key takeaways
- 1926.300(b)(2) is part of OSHA's construction standards (29 CFR Part 1926, Subpart I).
- OSHA cited it 92 times in the last 3 years, in 92 inspections, with $207,111 in current penalties.
- Most citations: MD (15), GA (13), NJ (10).
- Related part: 1926.300(b) Guarding (310 citations).
- Free 5-minute toolbox talk for your crew below.
In this article
What this rule covers
29 CFR 1926.300(b)(2) is one requirement inside 1926.300 General requirements, an OSHA construction standard (Part 1926, Subpart I). 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) Belts, gears, shafts, pulleys, sprockets, spindles, drums, fly wheels, chains, or other reciprocating, rotating or moving parts of equipment shall be guarded if such parts are exposed to contact by employees or otherwise create a hazard. Guarding shall meet the requirements as set forth in American National Standards Institute, B15.1-1953 (R1958), Safety Code for Mechanical Power-Transmission Apparatus. 92 citations
Source: eCFR, text current as of 2026-10-15. Read all of 1926.300.
Where and how often it was cited
| Year | Citations |
|---|---|
| 2023 | 8 |
| 2024 | 29 |
| 2025 | 34 |
| 2026 | 21 |
Top states: MD (15), GA (13), NJ (10), WI (8), VA (7)
Largest penalties
| Employer | Location | Penalty for this rule |
|---|---|---|
| ELITE GUNITE, LLC. | NORTH PORT, FL | $8,276 |
| ROAD CONTRACTOR CORPORATION | FREEHOLD, NJ | $7,098 |
| BCL ENTERPRISES, LLC. | MIDDLETOWN, NJ | $6,452 |
| CS CONTRACTOR CORPORATION | PENNINGTON, NJ | $6,452 |
| FORTTE CONSTRUCTION CORPORATION | LAKEWOOD, NJ | $6,250 |
Free toolbox talk
A 5-minute crew talk on 1926.300(b)(2), plus alerts when this rule changes. Free.
OSHA interpretation letters
Related parts of this rule
- 1926.300(b) Guarding 310 citations
- 1926.300(b)(1) 159 citations
- 1926.300(b)(4) Point of operation guarding 42 citations
- 1926.300(b)(4)(ii) 35 citations
- 1926.300(b)(3) Types of guarding 12 citations
Get your crew competent
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Frequently asked questions
Which parts must be guarded?
Belts, gears, shafts, pulleys, sprockets, spindles, drums, fly wheels, chains, or other reciprocating, rotating or moving parts exposed to contact or otherwise creating a hazard.
What standard must the guards meet?
ANSI B15.1-1953 (R1958), Safety Code for Mechanical Power-Transmission Apparatus.
Does this apply only if workers can touch the part?
It applies if parts are exposed to contact by employees or otherwise create a hazard.
About this page
Sources
- 29 CFR 1926.300 (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 2026-10-19
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.