General Industry (29 CFR 1910)

Mechanical Power-Transmission Apparatus

Verified vs OSHA sources · 2026-10-05

29 CFR 1910.219

29 CFR 1910.219 requires guarding of mechanical power-transmission apparatus: belts, pulleys, shafts, couplings, gears, sprockets, chains and flywheels must be enclosed or guarded. The trigger differs by component: pulleys and horizontal shafting are caught when any part sits seven feet or less from the floor or working platform (1910.219(d)(1) and (c)(2)(i)), while gears must be guarded whatever their height (1910.219(f)(1)); sprockets and chains, by contrast, are enclosed under (f)(3) unless they sit more than seven feet above the floor or platform.

29 CFR 1910.219 at a glance

What it requires: Guard the power-transmission parts of machinery: belts, pulleys, gears, shafts, chains
The 7-foot rule: Pulleys and horizontal shafting within 7 feet of the floor must be guarded: gears are covered separately by (f)
Covered parts: Flywheels, shafting, pulleys, belts, gears, sprockets, chains, couplings, and friction drives
Pairs with: Machine guarding (1910.212) and lockout/tagout (1910.147)
Max penalty (2026): $16,550 per serious violation; $165,514 per willful
The #1 confusion: This covers the DRIVE parts (belts/gears/shafts): 1910.212 covers the point of operation

What 29 CFR 1910.219 requires (plain English)

29 CFR 1910.219 governs the guarding of mechanical power-transmission apparatus: the belts, pulleys, gears, sprockets, chains, shafts, couplings, flywheels, and friction drives that transmit power from a motor to the working part of a machine. These rotating and reciprocating components create nip points, wrap points, and entanglement hazards that cause amputations, degloving injuries, and deaths when a hand, sleeve, or hair is caught. The standard requires that these parts be enclosed or guarded so workers cannot contact them.

The organizing principle for pulleys and shafting is the "7-foot rule": those located seven feet or less from the floor or working platform must be guarded, because that is the zone a worker can reach or fall into. Horizontal shafting seven feet or less from the floor must be protected by a stationary casing or trough enclosure; pulleys, belts, gears, sprockets, and chains within that zone must be guarded by enclosures, standard guards, or, in some cases, guardrails. Flywheels, couplings, and collars have their own specific guarding requirements. Guards must be substantial, securely fastened, and themselves free of hazards.

1910.219 works alongside two other standards and is often confused with them. Machine guarding (1910.212) covers the POINT OF OPERATION (where the machine actually cuts, forms, or shapes material) while 1910.219 covers the POWER-TRANSMISSION parts that drive it. And lockout/tagout (1910.147) governs the servicing of these machines: the guards of 1910.219 protect workers during normal operation, while LOTO protects them during maintenance when guards may be removed. Together, these standards keep both the working end and the drive train of machinery from injuring workers.

The regulatory text

“All exposed parts of horizontal shafting seven (7) feet or less from floor or working platform, excepting runways used exclusively for oiling, or running adjustments, shall be protected by a stationary casing enclosing shafting completely or by a trough enclosing sides and top or sides and bottom of shafting as location requires.”

29 CFR 1910.219(c)(2)(i)

Key facts about 29 CFR 1910.219

Requires guarding of power-transmission parts: belts, pulleys, gears, sprockets, chains, shafts, couplings, flywheels, and friction drives.
The 7-foot rule applies to pulleys (1910.219(d)(1)) and horizontal shafting (1910.219(c)(2)(i)): those within 7 feet of the floor must be guarded.
Horizontal shafting 7 feet or less from the floor must be enclosed by a stationary casing or trough (1910.219(c)(2)(i)).
Flywheels, couplings, collars, and projecting shaft ends have their own specific guarding requirements.
Guards must be substantial, securely fastened, and not create a hazard themselves.
It covers the DRIVE train: distinct from the point-of-operation guarding of 1910.212.
Servicing these machines is governed by lockout/tagout (1910.147).

Scope: who 29 CFR 1910.219 applies to

Regulatory framework: General Industry (29 CFR 1910)
Citation reference: 29 CFR 1910.219
Enforcement status: In force and enforced
Jurisdiction: Federal OSHA (29 State-Plan jurisdictions may be stricter)

State-Plan states (e.g. California, Washington, Michigan) operate OSHA-approved programs that must be at least as effective as federal OSHA and frequently impose higher penalties or additional requirements. Confirm the rule as adopted in your state.

Key requirements of 29 CFR 1910.219

#	Employer obligation
1	Guard all power-transmission components within 7 feet of floor
2	Use smooth guards on exposed belts and pulleys
3	Enclose sprockets and chains
4	Guard projecting shaft ends
5	Provide key or setscrew guards

Summarized from the text of 29 CFR 1910.219. Always read the full regulation for the binding language.

Common Power Transmission violations

Deficiencies OSHA cites under 29 CFR 1910.219 include the ones below, in no particular order. Distinct deficiencies can be cited as separate items, and each serious item carries up to $16,550 (2026). Broader per-instance stacking exists but is a discretionary, case-by-case OSHA enforcement policy, not an automatic multiplier.

Exposed belts or pulleys within 7 feet of the floor not guarded, 1910.219(d)(1); unguarded gears at any height, 1910.219(f)(1); sprockets or chains seven feet or less above the floor: (f)(3).
Horizontal shafting 7 feet or less from the floor not enclosed by a casing or trough (1910.219(c)(2)(i)).
Unguarded flywheels, couplings, collars, or projecting shaft ends (1910.219(b)/(i)/(j)).
Guards removed for maintenance and not replaced, or guards that are inadequate/insecure.
Set screws, keys, or bolts projecting from revolving parts not guarded or countersunk.

Power-transmission guarding vs. point-of-operation guarding

Two machine-guarding standards apply to the same equipment but different parts, and they are frequently confused. 1910.219 (mechanical power-transmission) covers the DRIVE parts: the belts, pulleys, gears, sprockets, chains, and shafts that carry power from the motor to the machine. 1910.212 (general machine guarding) covers the POINT OF OPERATION: the place where the machine actually acts on the material (the blade, the die, the rollers). A machine can have a perfectly guarded point of operation and still expose a worker to an unguarded belt drive on its side, which is a 1910.219 violation. The 7-foot rule is the key trigger for 1910.219: if a moving transmission part is within 7 feet of the floor or platform, it must be guarded. And remember: guards protect during operation; lockout/tagout (1910.147) protects during servicing.

What OSHA inspectors look for

A compliance officer looks for exposed rotating shafts, unguarded belt-and-pulley drives, set screws and keys projecting from rotating parts, and couplings within reach. Missing guards on power-transmission components near walkways are the classic finding.

Example: how a violation is cited

A worker's sleeve catches on an unguarded rotating shaft with a projecting set screw, pulling in an arm. OSHA cites 1910.219(c) and (i) for the unguarded shaft and the projecting set screw: a severe entanglement, with penalties from $16,550.

Illustrative example, not a specific OSHA case.

Power Transmission compliance checklist

Use this to evaluate your compliance with 29 CFR 1910.219. Each item is a key requirement OSHA may verify during an inspection.

Identify belts, pulleys and shafting within 7 feet of the floor/platform, and every gear, sprocket and chain regardless of height.
Enclose horizontal shafting within 7 feet with a stationary casing or trough.
Guard pulleys, belts, gears, sprockets, and chains in the reachable zone with enclosures or standard guards.
Guard flywheels, couplings, collars, and projecting shaft ends per their specific requirements.
Ensure guards are substantial, securely fastened, and do not create new hazards.
Use lockout/tagout (1910.147) when servicing; replace all guards before returning the machine to service.

2026 penalties for 29 CFR 1910.219

Maximums set by 29 CFR 1903.15(d). 2026 amounts unchanged from 2025 (no CPI adjustment; OMB M-26-11). Not an increase. The 2025 OSHA penalty levels remain in effect for 2026; OSHA made no inflation adjustment for 2026. 29 CFR 1903.15 identifies January 15, 2025 as the effective reference for these amounts, while OSHA's public penalties page currently references penalties assessed after Jan. 15, 2026.

Violation type	Minimum	Maximum	When it applies
Serious	$1,085	$16,550	Substantial probability of death or serious physical harm.
Other-Than-Serious	$0	$16,550	Relates to safety/health but unlikely to cause death or serious harm.
Willful	$11,823	$165,514	Intentional, knowing, or voluntary disregard of the requirement.
Repeated	$4,256	$165,514	A substantially similar violation cited within the last 5 years.
Failure to Abate	None	$16,550/day	up to $16,550 per day; total capped at 30x the daily amount (FOM Ch.6)

Power-transmission guarding is cited alongside general machine-guarding findings. Serious violations reach $16,550 and willful or repeat violations $165,514; exposed shafts and projecting set screws are frequent items.

Maximums and the willful minimum are set by 29 CFR 1903.15(d); the serious and repeated minimums are OSHA policy floors from its annual penalty adjustment memo. OSHA applies gravity-based and size, good-faith and history reductions (FOM CPL 02-00-164 Ch.6). Estimates only, not legal advice.

The business case for Power Transmission compliance

Rotating shafts, belts, and gears catch clothing, hair, and hands and pull a worker into the machine in an instant, often causing amputations or worse. Guarding the drive train is a permanent fix for an entanglement hazard that is easy to overlook because it is not the working part of the machine.

Free compliance tools for 29 CFR 1910.219

LOTO Procedure Generator

Power Transmission penalties by state

Penalties and enforcement vary by state. State-Plan states may impose higher penalties and additional requirements beyond federal 29 CFR 1910.219.

Alabama Arkansas Colorado Connecticut Delaware District of Columbia

View all 50 states + DC →

Frequently asked questions about 29 CFR 1910.219

What is the 7-foot rule for power-transmission guarding?

It depends on the component. Pulleys (1910.219(d)(1)) and horizontal shafting (1910.219(c)(2)(i)) must be guarded when any part of them is seven feet or less from the floor or working platform: seven feet being the height a worker can reach. Gears, sprockets and chains follow a different rule: 1910.219(f) requires a complete enclosure, a standard guard at least seven feet high extending six inches above the mesh point, or a band guard, with a disk guard or full enclosure to six feet where any portion sits less than six feet from the floor. There, the seven feet describe the guard, not the height of the gear.

What is the difference between 1910.219 and 1910.212?

1910.219 (mechanical power-transmission apparatus) covers the DRIVE parts that transmit power: belts, pulleys, gears, sprockets, chains, shafts, couplings, and flywheels. 1910.212 (general machine guarding) covers the POINT OF OPERATION, where the machine actually acts on the material. A machine needs both: point-of-operation guarding under 1910.212 and power-transmission guarding under 1910.219. They address different hazardous parts of the same equipment.

Do belts and pulleys have to be guarded?

Yes, and for gears the duty does not depend on height. Belts and pulleys must be guarded when they sit within seven feet of the floor or working platform (1910.219(d)(1)). Gears are covered by 1910.219(f)(1), which prescribes the method rather than a height at which the duty starts; sprockets and chains fall under (f)(3), which does set one: they must be enclosed unless more than seven feet above the floor or platform. Nip points where a belt runs onto a pulley, or where gears or sprockets mesh, are especially dangerous entanglement hazards.

How does power-transmission guarding relate to lockout/tagout?

They protect workers at different times. The guards required by 1910.219 protect workers during normal machine operation by keeping them away from moving belts, gears, and shafts. Lockout/tagout (1910.147) protects workers during servicing and maintenance, when guards may be removed and the machine must be de-energized so it cannot start unexpectedly. Both are needed: guarding for run-time, LOTO for service-time.

Regulatory history of 29 CFR 1910.219

1910.219 is one of OSHA's original 1971 general-industry standards (Subpart O, Machinery and Machine Guarding), derived from long-standing national consensus standards for power-transmission guarding. It works with the general machine-guarding requirement (1910.212) and the lockout/tagout standard (1910.147) to protect workers from the moving parts of machinery.

Related glossary terms

Key terms that appear in 29 CFR 1910.219, each with a full plain-English explainer.

Hazardous Energy LOTO (Lockout/Tagout)Caught-In/Between Zero Energy State

Related guides & articles

OSHA Top 10 Most-Cited Violations 2026

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Primary sources

OSHA figures on this page are imported from HazComFast's verified regulatory module (verified 2026-10-05 against eCFR, OSHA.gov, and the Federal Register).

This page is an educational summary, not legal advice. OSHA standards and penalty amounts change; confirm requirements against the current regulation and your applicable State-Plan before acting.

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