Pinch Points Take Fingers Before You Feel Them
Catch the closing gap before it catches a hand
A pinch point is any place where two objects move together and a body part can be caught, crushed, or amputated — between rollers, gears, closing dies, moving loads, and equipment against a fixed structure. These hazards are everywhere and injure workers in an instant. OSHA Scan analyzes job-site and shop photos to flag exposed nip points, unguarded gaps, and crush zones before a hand gets caught.
- A pinch point — also called a nip point — is any location where two components move toward each other or where a moving part passes close to a fixed one, leaving a gap that can close on a hand, finger, or limb. Classic examples are the point where a belt runs onto a pulley, meshing gears, rollers feeding stock, closing press dies, and a load swinging toward a wall or rack.
- On a real floor and job site the hazard appears as unguarded roller feeds, gaps under moving machine tables, the space between a forklift mast and its carriage, hinged access doors and gates, and the crush zone between mobile equipment and a fixed structure. Reaching in to clear a jam, adjust stock, or guide material is where most pinch injuries happen.
- The danger is that pinch points give no warning and close faster than a worker can pull away. A finger placed to steady a part is gone before the brain registers pain. Because these gaps are small and everywhere, a photo-based check that flags exposed nip points before work starts prevents a huge share of hand injuries.
What is a pinch point?
A pinch point, or nip point, is any place where two objects move together — or a moving part passes close to a fixed one — leaving a gap that can catch and crush a hand, finger, or limb.
Where are the most common pinch points?
Belt-to-pulley points, meshing gears, in-running rollers, closing press dies, conveyor transfers, hinged doors and gates, and the crush zone between mobile equipment and a fixed structure are the most common.
What is an in-running nip point?
It is the point where a rotating part draws material inward, such as where stock feeds between two rollers or onto a pulley. These points pull hands in faster than a worker can react and cause severe crush and amputation injuries.
What does OSHA require for pinch-point guarding?
29 CFR 1910.212 requires guarding of any machine part that presents a hazard, including nip points. Guards must prevent contact, stay secure, and not create a new hazard.