Anthony LaFaziaCEO, Atlantic Training · CEO at Atlantic Training | EdTech & Safety Compliance Leader

What Ingoing Nip Points Are and Why They Are So Deadly

1 Sept 2026 · 2 min

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2:29

In this instructional video, the presenter explains the concept of ingoing nip points—also known as pinch points—using OSHA’s regulatory language. A nip point occurs wherever two machine parts move together, with at least one rotating, such as a belt over a pulley, meshing gears, or a chain on a sprocket. The speaker emphasizes that the danger is not merely a pinch but a rapid draw‑in caused by the machine’s torque (and sometimes the worker’s own body weight), which can pull a glove, sleeve, or rag into the mechanism faster than a person can react. The video also warns about crush zones created by reciprocating motions (e.g., pump jacks, piston compressors) where a moving arm can trap a worker against a stationary object. The core safety message is to respect machine geometry, keep hands and loose clothing away from any area where parts converge, and understand the specific hazard mechanisms to prevent fatal injuries.

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All right, let's get technical for a moment. How exactly does this machinery hurt you? It's not usually because you walked up and punched a fan blade. It usually comes down To three words, you ready? Ingoing nip points. Now, you might hear the old timers call them pinch points or in running nip points. But if we want to use OSHA's specific regulatory language, we're talking about ingoing nip points. You got it? So what is this? A nip point happens anywhere two parts move together, and at least one of them's rotating. Think about a belt going over a pulley. The belt's moving straight, the pulley is round. Where the belt meets the pulley, yeah, that's the nip point. If your glove touches the belt a foot away, you might be okay. You might just get a brush burn. But if you touch it near that pulley, it sucks you in instantly. Same thing with gears meshing together or a chain hitting a sprocket. And here's the scary part, and the part you really need to internalize. You ready? It's not just about getting pinched. It's about being drawn in. Once the machine has a grip on your glove, your sleeve, or a rag in your hand, it uses the machine's torque, and sometimes your own body weight, to pull you deeper into the mechanism. It happens faster than your brain can process the signal to Let go. By the time you realize you're caught, it's already too late. Also, hey, watch out for reciprocating motions. That's the back-and-forth movement you see on pump jacks or piston compressors. You can get caught between a moving arm and a stationary object, like a wall, a pipe, or a guardrail. We call that a crush zone. Respect the geometry of the machine. If parts are coming together, keep your hands away.