1926.300(b): Guarding Moving Parts of Tools
Power tools designed for guards must have them in place when used. Exposed belts, gears, shafts, pulleys, chains and other moving parts must be guarded, one or more guarding methods must protect workers from point of operation, nip points, rotating parts, flying chips and sparks, and the point of operation must be guarded so no body part is in the danger zone. Special hand tools may only supplement guarding.
Key takeaways
- 1926.300(b) is part of OSHA's construction standards (29 CFR Part 1926, Subpart I).
- OSHA cited it 310 times in the last 3 years, in 308 inspections, with $866,395 in current penalties.
- Most citations: NY (35), TX (30), MD (26).
- Related part: 1926.300(b)(1) (159 citations).
- Free 5-minute toolbox talk for your crew below.
In this article
What this rule covers
29 CFR 1926.300(b) ("Guarding") is one requirement inside 1926.300 General requirements, an OSHA construction standard (Part 1926, Subpart I). It includes 13 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
(b) Guarding. 310 citations
(1) When power operated tools are designed to accommodate guards, they shall be equipped with such guards when in use. Open (b)(1) 159 citations
(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. Open (b)(2) 92 citations
(3) Types of guarding. One or more methods of machine guarding shall be provided to protect the operator and other employees in the machine area from hazards such as those created by point of operation, ingoing nip points, rotating parts, flying chips and sparks. Examples of guarding methods are—barrier guards, two-hand tripping devices, electronic safety devices, etc. Open (b)(3) 12 citations
(4) Point of operation guarding. Open (b)(4) 42 citations
(i) Point of operation is the area on a machine where work is actually performed upon the material being processed. 1 citations
(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. Open (b)(4)(ii) 35 citations
(iii) Special handtools for placing and removing material shall be such as to permit easy handling of material without the operator placing a hand in the danger zone. Such tools shall not be in lieu of other guarding required by this section, but can only be used to supplement protection provided. 4 citations
(iv) The following are some of the machines which usually require point of operation guarding: 2 citations
(a) Guillotine cutters.
(b) Shears.
(c) Alligator shears.
(d) Power presses.
(e) Milling machines.
(f) Power saws.
(g) Jointers.
(h) Portable power tools.
(i) Forming rolls and calenders.
(5) Exposure of blades. When the periphery of the blades of a fan is less than 7 feet (2.128 m) above the floor or working level, the blades shall be guarded. The guard shall have openings no larger than 1⁄2 inch (1.27 cm). 5 citations
(6) Anchoring fixed machinery. Machines designed for a fixed location shall be securely anchored to prevent walking or moving.
(7) Guarding of abrasive wheel machinery—exposure adjustment. Safety guards of the types described in paragraphs (b) (8) and (9) of this section, where the operator stands in front of the opening, shall be constructed so that the peripheral protecting member can be adjusted to the constantly decreasing diameter of the wheel. The maximum angular exposure above the horizontal plane of the wheel spindle as specified in paragraphs (b) (8) and (9) of this section shall never be exceeded, and the distance between the wheel periphery and the adjustable tongue or the end of the peripheral member at the top shall never exceed 1⁄4 inch (0.635 cm). (See Figures I-1 through I-6.)
Figure I-1 Figure I-2
Correct
Showing adjustable tongue giving required angle protection for all sizes of wheel used.
Figure I-3 Figure I-4
Correct
Showing movable guard with opening small enough to give required protection for the smallest size wheel used.
Figure I-5 Figure I-6
Incorrect
Showing movable guard with size of opening correct for full size wheel but too large for smaller wheel.
(8) Bench and floor stands. The angular exposure of the grinding wheel periphery and sides for safety guards used on machines known as bench and floor stands should not exceed 90° or one-fourth of the periphery. This exposure shall begin at a point not more than 65° above the horizontal plane of the wheel spindle. (See Figures I-7 and I-8 and paragraph (b)(7) of this section.)
Figure I-7 Figure I-8
Wherever the nature of the work requires contact with the wheel below the horizontal plane of the spindle, the exposure shall not exceed 125° (See Figures I-9 and I-10.)
Figure I-9 Figure I-10
(9) Cylindrical grinders. The maximum angular exposure of the grinding wheel periphery and sides for safety guards used on cylindrical grinding machines shall not exceed 180°. This exposure shall begin at a point not more than 65° above the horizontal plane of the wheel spindle. (See Figures I-11 and I-12 and paragraph (b)(7) of this section.)
Figure I-11 Figure I-12
Source: eCFR, text current as of 2026-10-15. Read all of 1926.300.
Where and how often it was cited
| Year | Citations |
|---|---|
| 2023 | 22 |
| 2024 | 119 |
| 2025 | 109 |
| 2026 | 60 |
Top states: NY (35), TX (30), MD (26), VA (25), IL (24)
Largest penalties
| Employer | Location | Penalty for this rule |
|---|---|---|
| ALQUIST 3D, LLC | GREELEY, CO | $41,379 |
| IVAN NUNEZ | TROUTVILLE, VA | $15,375 |
| HELLAS CONSTRUCTION, INC. | CYPRESS, TX | $12,413 |
| URUS CONSTRUCTION CORPORATION | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $11,585 |
| PLATINUM CONSTRUCTION GROUP LLC | NEW ORLEANS, LA | $11,292 |
Free toolbox talk
A 5-minute crew talk on 1926.300(b), plus alerts when this rule changes. Free.
OSHA interpretation letters
- Whether the motor on a portable concrete mixer has to be covered; 1926.300(b)(1). (2006-05-17)
- Guarding requirements for a rotary pneumatic angle-drive hand-held tool. (2001-12-11)
- Guard requirements for concrete mixers with loading skips. (2000-11-02)
- D'AX wheels are to be guarded as cutting saws (1998-06-22)
Related parts of this rule
- 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)(4)(ii) 35 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
Can hand tools for feeding material replace a guard?
No. Special hand tools can only supplement the protection provided, not replace required guarding.
What hazards must machine guarding protect against?
Point of operation, ingoing nip points, rotating parts, flying chips and sparks.
What are examples of guarding methods?
Barrier guards, two-hand tripping devices and electronic safety devices.
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.
