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Quizzes > Health & Medicine

What Is a Pinch Point? Test Your Workplace Safety Skills

Quick, free pinch point safety quiz. Instant results and practical tips.

Editorial: Review CompletedCreated By: Ethan BeckerUpdated Aug 26, 2025
Difficulty: Moderate
2-5mins
Learning OutcomesCheat Sheet
Paper art illustration of hands near mechanical gears showing pinch point hazard on golden yellow background safety quiz

This quiz helps you spot pinch point hazards and understand what a pinch point is on the job. You will practice recognizing danger zones on machines and choosing safer actions. For more hands-on practice, take our loto quiz, try the forklift quiz, or review broader risks with a warehouse safety quiz.

Which of the following best defines a pinch point?
A point where a body part can be caught between moving parts
A type of electrical shock hazard
A noise hazard
A designated gap for maintenance
A pinch point is a point where a part of the body can be caught between moving machine parts or between a machine part and a stationary object, causing injury. These hazards often occur where two machine parts move together or where one part moves toward another stationary object. Identifying pinch points is critical for implementing proper safeguards to prevent serious injuries. For more details, see .
Which body part is most commonly injured by pinch point hazards?
Finger
Ear
Leg
Eye
Fingers are the most commonly injured body parts in pinch point incidents due to their frequent use for tasks near moving equipment. They can easily slip into small gaps between moving machine parts, leading to crushing or amputation injuries. Awareness of hand placement and machine operation procedures helps reduce this risk significantly. Learn more at .
Which machine component is a frequent source of pinch point injuries?
Hydraulic hoses
Electrical panels
Cooling fan blades
Rotating gears
Rotating gears create pinch points where the teeth mesh together, posing a risk of crushing or amputation if a body part enters the area. Proper guarding of gears is essential to prevent accidental contact. Regular maintenance and inspection ensure guards remain in place and effective. Visit for more information.
What is the recommended safe distance from a moving pinch point when no guard is in place?
At least 300 mm
At least 75 mm
At least 50 mm
At least 150 mm
Maintaining a distance of at least 150 millimeters (approximately 6 inches) from unguarded moving parts helps prevent inadvertent contact with pinch points. This clearance reduces the risk of body parts being drawn into machinery. When it's not possible to maintain this distance, proper guarding or protective devices must be used. For guidance on safe clearances, see .
Which type of personal protective equipment is most effective in reducing finger injuries at pinch points?
Safety goggles
Earplugs
Impact-resistant gloves
Steel-toed boots
Impact-resistant gloves provide padding that can absorb force and reduce the severity of finger injuries from pinch points. While gloves cannot prevent all injuries, they are an effective last line of defense when proper machine guarding is in place. It's important to select gloves rated for impact protection rather than just cut resistance. More on glove selection at .
What guard type entirely encloses the pinch point and prevents hand access?
Adjustable guard
Interlocked guard
Fixed guard
Self-adjusting guard
A fixed guard is a permanent barrier that prevents access to dangerous machine parts, including pinch points, throughout machine operation. Since it cannot be easily removed, it offers continuous protection and requires tools for removal, reducing the chance of being bypassed. Other guards may allow access during certain operations, but fixed guards provide the highest level of security. For detailed definitions, see .
According to OSHA standard 29 CFR 1910.212, what minimum construction requirement applies to fixed machine guards?
Must allow operator access during operation
Must be electrically insulated
Must be transparent
Must be secured to prevent removal without tools
OSHA standard 29 CFR 1910.212 requires that fixed guards be securely fastened and not easily removed or repositioned without the use of tools. This ensures guards remain in place during machine operation and protect workers from pinch points and other hazards. Guards should also allow visibility and access for maintenance only when the machine is stopped. For the full standard, refer to .
In a pinch point hazard assessment, what is the first step?
Eliminate hazard location
Apply PPE
Train employees
Identify all potential pinch points
The first step in a pinch point hazard assessment is to identify all potential pinch point locations on the machine or process. This allows safety professionals to understand where injuries could occur and prioritize control measures. Following identification, hazards are analyzed, and safeguards or procedural changes are implemented. A comprehensive guide is available at .
Under lockout/tagout procedures, what should be done before servicing machinery with pinch points?
Isolate energy sources and apply lockout device
Lubricate moving parts
Remove guards for better access
Energize the machine briefly to verify shutdown
Lockout/tagout procedures mandate isolating all energy sources and applying lockout devices before servicing machinery, ensuring equipment cannot be accidentally energized and cause pinch point injuries. This step must be completed before any guards are removed or maintenance begins. Verification of isolation is critical for worker safety. For more on LOTO procedures, see .
NFPA 79 specifies maximum guard openings to prevent hand access; what is the largest allowable slot size?
16 mm
8 mm
4 mm
12 mm
NFPA 79 specifies that guard openings must be small enough to prevent finger entry, typically not exceeding 8 millimeters for horizontal slots. This dimension is based on average finger width to ensure adequate protection against pinch points. Larger openings increase the risk of hand or finger access to hazardous areas. For detailed requirements, visit .
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Study Outcomes

  1. Identify Pinch Point Characteristics -

    Distinguish what constitutes a pinch point by recognizing the machine parts and motions that can trap or crush fingers.

  2. Analyze Hazardous Scenarios -

    Assess real”world work situations to pinpoint where pinch point risks occur during industrial tasks.

  3. Apply Protective Measures -

    Implement appropriate finger safety devices, gloves, and work practices to prevent hand injuries.

  4. Interpret Safety Signals and Warnings -

    Read and respond correctly to industrial pinch point safety labels, signs, and training cues.

  5. Recall Best Practices -

    Memorize key workplace hand safety questions and protocols that reduce pinch point incidents.

  6. Evaluate Control Strategies -

    Compare engineering controls, administrative controls, and personal protective equipment to manage pinch point hazards effectively.

Cheat Sheet

  1. Clear Definition of a Pinch Point -

    A pinch point occurs where two moving parts or a moving and a stationary object can trap body parts, which answers what is true about a pinch point by focusing on contact zones. According to OSHA, these hotspots frequently appear around gears, rollers, and hinges. Remember the mnemonic P.I.N.C.H. - Potential Interaction Near Crushing Hazards - to quickly recall this hazard in any hand safety quiz scenario.

  2. Compressive Force and Injury Thresholds -

    Pinch point injuries often involve compressive forces exceeding 200 N, enough to fracture bone according to NIOSH research. Knowing typical failure thresholds can help in a finger safety test or hand safety quiz to assess risk levels in different industrial pinch point safety scenarios. Use the simple formula Pressure = Force ÷ Area to estimate potential tissue damage and prioritize controls.

  3. Identifying Hidden Pinch Points -

    An effective hand safety quiz tests your ability to spot concealed hazards like belt drives or recessed gears not clearly visible on the factory floor. Conduct a hazard mapping exercise, ranking each spot by severity and likelihood to answer workplace hand safety questions confidently. This rapid walk-around technique helps you spot what is true about a pinch point before gear installation or maintenance.

  4. Engineering Controls and Machine Guards -

    OSHA's 29 CFR 1910.212 mandates that machinery must have fixed or interlocked guards to prevent access to pinch points. Two-hand control devices and presence-sensing interlocks, as described in ANSI B11 standards, create safer interaction zones. For a mnemonic, remember "SAFE" - Shields, Anchors, Fail-safe, and Enclosures - to recall key engineering measures during an industrial pinch point safety audit.

  5. PPE, Signage, and Training Best Practices -

    Personal protective equipment like ANSI/ISEA Level A4 cut-resistant gloves can reduce injury severity, though they are not a substitute for engineering controls. Clear signage and hands-on training modules improve retention in a hand safety quiz and real-world tasks. Use the STOP acronym - Stop, Think, Observe hazards, and Protect - to foster a proactive safety culture when answering finger safety test scenarios.

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