1926.300(b)(4)(ii): Point of Operation Guarding in Construction
The point of operation of machines whose operation exposes an employee to injury must be guarded. The guard must meet any appropriate standards, or if none apply, be designed and built to keep any part of the operator's body out of the danger zone during the operating cycle.
Key takeaways
- 1926.300(b)(4)(ii) is part of OSHA's construction standards (29 CFR Part 1926, Subpart I).
- OSHA cited it 35 times in the last 3 years, in 35 inspections, with $118,302 in current penalties.
- Most citations: PA (4), MD (4), MA (3).
- 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)(4)(ii) 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
(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. 35 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 | 3 |
| 2024 | 13 |
| 2025 | 10 |
| 2026 | 9 |
Top states: PA (4), MD (4), MA (3), TX (3), GA (3)
Largest penalties
| Employer | Location | Penalty for this rule |
|---|---|---|
| LOBAR, INC. | BERNVILLE, PA | $11,000 |
| DAKOTA FENCE | FARGO, ND | $10,000 |
| KANDK CONSTRUCTION LLC. | ALLENTOWN, PA | $8,067 |
| OLYMPIC MARKETING GROUP, INC. | MARLBOROUGH, MA | $6,875 |
| MUFASA CONSTRUCTION INC. | NEEDHAM, MA | $6,620 |
Free toolbox talk
A 5-minute crew talk on 1926.300(b)(4)(ii), plus alerts when this rule changes. Free.
OSHA interpretation letters
None exist. OSHA has not published a letter of interpretation for 1926.300(b)(4)(ii).
Related parts of this rule
- 1926.300(b) Guarding 310 citations
- 1926.300(b)(1) 159 citations
- 1926.300(b)(2) 92 citations
- 1926.300(b)(4) Point of operation guarding 42 citations
- 1926.300(b)(3) Types of guarding 12 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
Which machines need point of operation guarding?
Machines whose operation exposes an employee to injury.
What if there is no specific standard for the guard?
It must be designed and constructed to prevent the operator from having any part of his body in the danger zone during the operating cycle.
Must the guard meet other standards?
Yes, it must conform with any appropriate standards for that guarding device.
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.