29 Cfr 1910.146

§ 1910.146

29 CFR Ch. XVII (7–1–08 Edition)

(ii) The symbol design for biological
hazard tags shall conform to the design
shown below:

BIOLOGICAL HAZARD SYMBOL CONFIGURATION

(9) Other tags. Other tags may be used
in addition to those required by this
paragraph (f), or in other situations
where this paragraph (f) does not require tags, provided that they do not
detract from the impact or visibility of
the signal word and major message of
any required tag.
APPENDIXES TO § 1910.145(f), ACCIDENT
PREVENTION TAGS

While the standard does not specifically
mandate colors to be used on accident prevention tags, the following color scheme is
recommended by OSHA for meeting the requirements of this section:
‘‘DANGER’’—Red, or predominantly red,
with lettering or symbols in a contrasting
color.
‘‘CAUTION’’—Yellow, or predominantly
yellow, with lettering or symbols in a contrasting color.
‘‘WARNING’’—Orange, or predominantly
orange, with lettering or symbols in a contrasting color.
‘‘BIOLOGICAL HAZARD’’—Fluorescent orange or orange-red, or predominantly so,
with lettering or symbols in a contrasting
color.

The following references provide information which can be helpful in understanding
the requirements contained in various sections of the standard:
1. Bresnahan, Thomas F., and Bryk, Joseph, ‘‘The Hazard Association Values of Accident Prevention Signs’’, Journal of American Society of Safety Engineers; January 1975.
2. Dreyfuss, H., Symbol Sourcebook, McGraw
Hill; New York, NY, 1972.
3. Glass, R.A. and others, Some Criteria for
Colors and Signs in Workplaces, National Bureau of Standards, Washington DC, 1983.
4. Graphic Symbols for Public Areas and Occupational Environments, Treasury Board of
Canada, Ottawa, Canada, July 1980.
5. Howett, G.L., Size of Letters Required for
Visibility as a Function of Viewing Distance
and Observer Acuity, National Bureau of
Standards, Washington DC, July 1983.
6. Lerner, N.D. and Collins, B.L., The Assessment of Safety Symbol Understandability by
Different Testing Methods, National Bureau of
Standards, Washington DC, 1980.
7. Lerner, N.D. and Collins, B.L., Workplace
Safety Symbols, National Bureau of Standards, Washington DC, 1980.
8. Modley, R. and Meyers, W.R., Handbook
of Pictorial Symbols, Dover Publication, New
York, NY, 1976.
9. Product Safety Signs and Labels, FMC Corporation, Santa Clara, CA, 1978.
10. Safety Color Coding for Marking Physical
Hazards, Z53.1, American National Standards
Institute, New York, NY, 1979.
11. Signs and Symbols for the Occupational
Environment, Can. 3–Z–321–77, Canadian
Standards Association, Ottawa, September
1977.
12. Symbols for Industrial Safety, National
Bureau of Standards, Washington DC, April
1982.
13. Symbol Signs, U.S. Department of Transportation, Washington DC, November 1974.
[39 FR 23502, June 27, 1974, as amended at 43
FR 49749, Oct. 24, 1978; 43 FR 51759, Nov. 7,
1978; 49 FR 5322, Feb. 10, 1984; 51 FR 33260,
Sept. 19, 1986; 61 FR 9239, Mar. 7, 1996]

§ 1910.146 Permit-required
spaces.

confined

(a) Scope and application. This section
contains requirements for practices
and procedures to protect employees in
general industry from the hazards of
entry into permit-required confined
spaces. This section does not apply to
agriculture, to construction, or to shipyard employment (Parts 1928, 1926, and
1915 of this chapter, respectively).
(b) Definitions.

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APPENDIX A TO § 1910.145(f)—RECOMMENDED
COLOR CODING

APPENDIX B TO § 1910.145(f)—REFERENCES FOR
FURTHER INFORMATION

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Occupational Safety and Health Admin., Labor
Acceptable entry conditions means the
conditions that must exist in a permit
space to allow entry and to ensure that
employees involved with a permit-required confined space entry can safely
enter into and work within the space.
Attendant means an individual stationed outside one or more permit
spaces who monitors the authorized entrants and who performs all attendant’s duties assigned in the employer’s
permit space program.
Authorized entrant means an employee who is authorized by the employer to enter a permit space.
Blanking or blinding means the absolute closure of a pipe, line, or duct by
the fastening of a solid plate (such as a
spectacle blind or a skillet blind) that
completely covers the bore and that is
capable of withstanding the maximum
pressure of the pipe, line, or duct with
no leakage beyond the plate.
Confined space means a space that:
(1) Is large enough and so configured
that an employee can bodily enter and
perform assigned work; and
(2) Has limited or restricted means
for entry or exit (for example, tanks,
vessels, silos, storage bins, hoppers,
vaults, and pits are spaces that may
have limited means of entry.); and
(3) Is not designed for continuous employee occupancy.
Double block and bleed means the closure of a line, duct, or pipe by closing
and locking or tagging two in-line
valves and by opening and locking or
tagging a drain or vent valve in the
line between the two closed valves.
Emergency means any occurrence (including any failure of hazard control or
monitoring equipment) or event internal or external to the permit space
that could endanger entrants.
Engulfment means the surrounding
and effective capture of a person by a
liquid or finely divided (flowable) solid
substance that can be aspirated to
cause death by filling or plugging the
respiratory system or that can exert
enough force on the body to cause
death by strangulation, constriction,
or crushing.
Entry means the action by which a
person passes through an opening into
a permit-required confined space.
Entry includes ensuing work activities
in that space and is considered to have

§ 1910.146

occurred as soon as any part of the entrant’s body breaks the plane of an
opening into the space.
Entry permit (permit) means the written or printed document that is provided by the employer to allow and
control entry into a permit space and
that contains the information specified
in paragraph (f) of this section.
Entry supervisor means the person
(such as the employer, foreman, or
crew chief) responsible for determining
if acceptable entry conditions are
present at a permit space where entry
is planned, for authorizing entry and
overseeing entry operations, and for
terminating entry as required by this
section.
NOTE: An entry supervisor also may serve
as an attendant or as an authorized entrant,
as long as that person is trained and
equipped as required by this section for each
role he or she fills. Also, the duties of entry
supervisor may be passed from one individual to another during the course of an
entry operation.

Hazardous atmosphere means an atmosphere that may expose employees
to the risk of death, incapacitation,
impairment of ability to self-rescue
(that is, escape unaided from a permit
space), injury, or acute illness from one
or more of the following causes:
(1) Flammable gas, vapor, or mist in
excess of 10 percent of its lower flammable limit (LFL);
(2) Airborne combustible dust at a
concentration that meets or exceeds its
LFL;
NOTE: This concentration may be approximated as a condition in which the dust obscures vision at a distance of 5 feet (1.52 m)
or less.

(3) Atmospheric oxygen concentration below 19.5 percent or above 23.5
percent;
(4) Atmospheric concentration of any
substance for which a dose or a permissible exposure limit is published in
Subpart G, Occupational Health and Environmental Control, or in Subpart Z,
Toxic and Hazardous Substances, of this
part and which could result in employee exposure in excess of its dose or
permissible exposure limit;
NOTE: An atmospheric concentration of
any substance that is not capable of causing
death, incapacitation, impairment of ability
to self-rescue, injury, or acute illness due to
its health effects is not covered by this provision.

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§ 1910.146

29 CFR Ch. XVII (7–1–08 Edition)

(5) Any other atmospheric condition
that is immediately dangerous to life
or health.
NOTE: For air contaminants for which
OSHA has not determined a dose or permissible exposure limit, other sources of information, such as Material Safety Data Sheets
that comply with the Hazard Communication Standard, § 1910.1200 of this part, published information, and internal documents
can provide guidance in establishing acceptable atmospheric conditions.

Hot work permit means the employer’s
written authorization to perform operations (for example, riveting, welding,
cutting, burning, and heating) capable
of providing a source of ignition.
Immediately dangerous to life or health
(IDLH) means any condition that poses
an immediate or delayed threat to life
or that would cause irreversible adverse health effects or that would
interfere with an individual’s ability to
escape unaided from a permit space.
NOTE: Some materials—hydrogen fluoride
gas and cadmium vapor, for example—may
produce immediate transient effects that,
even if severe, may pass without medical attention, but are followed by sudden, possibly
fatal collapse 12–72 hours after exposure. The
victim ‘‘feels normal’’ from recovery from
transient effects until collapse. Such materials in hazardous quantities are considered
to be ‘‘immediately’’ dangerous to life or
health.

Inerting means the displacement of
the atmosphere in a permit space by a
noncombustible gas (such as nitrogen)
to such an extent that the resulting atmosphere is noncombustible.

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NOTE: This procedure produces an IDLH oxygen-deficient atmosphere.

Isolation means the process by which
a permit space is removed from service
and completely protected against the
release of energy and material into the
space by such means as: blanking or
blinding; misaligning or removing sections of lines, pipes, or ducts; a double
block and bleed system; lockout or
tagout of all sources of energy; or
blocking or disconnecting all mechanical linkages.
Line breaking means the intentional
opening of a pipe, line, or duct that is
or has been carrying flammable, corrosive, or toxic material, an inert gas, or
any fluid at a volume, pressure, or temperature capable of causing injury.

Non-permit confined space means a
confined space that does not contain
or, with respect to atmospheric hazards, have the potential to contain any
hazard capable of causing death or serious physical harm.
Oxygen deficient atmosphere means an
atmosphere containing less than 19.5
percent oxygen by volume.
Oxygen enriched atmosphere means an
atmosphere containing more than 23.5
percent oxygen by volume.
Permit-required confined space (permit
space) means a confined space that has
one or more of the following characteristics:
(1) Contains or has a potential to
contain a hazardous atmosphere;
(2) Contains a material that has the
potential for engulfing an entrant;
(3) Has an internal configuration
such that an entrant could be trapped
or asphyxiated by inwardly converging
walls or by a floor which slopes downward and tapers to a smaller cross- section; or
(4) Contains any other recognized serious safety or health hazard.
Permit-required confined space program
(permit space program) means the employer’s overall program for controlling, and, where appropriate, for protecting employees from, permit space
hazards and for regulating employee
entry into permit spaces.
Permit system means the employer’s
written procedure for preparing and
issuing permits for entry and for returning the permit space to service following termination of entry.
Prohibited condition means any condition in a permit space that is not allowed by the permit during the period
when entry is authorized.
Rescue service means the personnel
designated to rescue employees from
permit spaces.
Retrieval system means the equipment
(including a retrieval line, chest or
full-body harness, wristlets, if appropriate, and a lifting device or anchor)
used for non-entry rescue of persons
from permit spaces.
Testing means the process by which
the hazards that may confront entrants
of a permit space are identified and
evaluated. Testing includes specifying
the tests that are to be performed in
the permit space.

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Occupational Safety and Health Admin., Labor
NOTE: Testing enables employers both to
devise and implement adequate control
measures for the protection of authorized entrants and to determine if acceptable entry
conditions are present immediately prior to,
and during, entry.

(c) General requirements. (1) The employer shall evaluate the workplace to
determine if any spaces are permit- required confined spaces.
NOTE: Proper application of the decision
flow chart in appendix A to § 1910.146 would
facilitate compliance with this requirement.

(2) If the workplace contains permit
spaces, the employer shall inform exposed employees, by posting danger
signs or by any other equally effective
means, of the existence and location of
and the danger posed by the permit
spaces.

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NOTE: A sign reading ‘‘DANGER—PERMITREQUIRED CONFINED SPACE, DO NOT
ENTER’’ or using other similar language
would satisfy the requirement for a sign.

(3) If the employer decides that its
employees will not enter permit
spaces, the employer shall take effective measures to prevent its employees
from entering the permit spaces and
shall comply with paragraphs (c)(1),
(c)(2), (c)(6), and (c)(8) of this section.
(4) If the employer decides that its
employees will enter permit spaces, the
employer shall develop and implement
a written permit space program that
complies with this section. The written
program shall be available for inspection by employees and their authorized
representatives.
(5) An employer may use the alternate procedures specified in paragraph
(c)(5)(ii) of this section for entering a
permit space under the conditions set
forth in paragraph (c)(5)(i) of this section.
(i) An employer whose employees
enter a permit space need not comply
with paragraphs (d) through (f) and (h)
through (k) of this section, provided
that:
(A) The employer can demonstrate
that the only hazard posed by the permit space is an actual or potential hazardous atmosphere;
(B) The employer can demonstrate
that continuous forced air ventilation
alone is sufficient to maintain that
permit space safe for entry;

§ 1910.146

(C) The employer develops monitoring and inspection data that supports the demonstrations required by
paragraphs (c)(5)(i)(A) and (c)(5)(i)(B) of
this section;
(D) If an initial entry of the permit
space is necessary to obtain the data
required by paragraph (c)(5)(i)(C) of
this section, the entry is performed in
compliance
with
paragraphs
(d)
through (k) of this section;
(E) The determinations and supporting data required by paragraphs
(c)(5)(i)(A), (c)(5)(i)(B), and (c)(5)(i)(C)
of this section are documented by the
employer and are made available to
each employee who enters the permit
space under the terms of paragraph
(c)(5) of this section or to that employee’s authorized representative; and
(F) Entry into the permit space
under the terms of paragraph (c)(5)(i)
of this section is performed in accordance with the requirements of paragraph (c)(5)(ii) of this section.
NOTE: See paragraph (c)(7) of this section
for reclassification of a permit space after
all hazards within the space have been eliminated.

(ii) The following requirements apply
to entry into permit spaces that meet
the conditions set forth in paragraph
(c)(5)(i) of this section.
(A) Any conditions making it unsafe
to remove an entrance cover shall be
eliminated before the cover is removed.
(B) When entrance covers are removed, the opening shall be promptly
guarded by a railing, temporary cover,
or other temporary barrier that will
prevent an accidental fall through the
opening and that will protect each employee working in the space from foreign objects entering the space.
(C) Before an employee enters the
space, the internal atmosphere shall be
tested, with a calibrated direct-reading
instrument, for oxygen content, for
flammable gases and vapors, and for
potential toxic air contaminants, in
that order. Any employee who enters
the space, or that employee’s authorized representative, shall be provided
an opportunity to observe the preentry testing required by this paragraph.
(D) There may be no hazardous atmosphere within the space whenever
any employee is inside the space.

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§ 1910.146

29 CFR Ch. XVII (7–1–08 Edition)

(E) Continuous forced air ventilation
shall be used, as follows:
(1) An employee may not enter the
space until the forced air ventilation
has eliminated any hazardous atmosphere;
(2) The forced air ventilation shall be
so directed as to ventilate the immediate areas where an employee is or
will be present within the space and
shall continue until all employees have
left the space;
(3) The air supply for the forced air
ventilation shall be from a clean
source and may not increase the hazards in the space.
(F) The atmosphere within the space
shall be periodically tested as necessary to ensure that the continuous
forced air ventilation is preventing the
accumulation of a hazardous atmosphere. Any employee who enters the
space, or that employee’s authorized
representative, shall be provided with
an opportunity to observe the periodic
testing required by this paragraph.
(G) If a hazardous atmosphere is detected during entry:
(1) Each employee shall leave the
space immediately;
(2) The space shall be evaluated to
determine how the hazardous atmosphere developed; and
(3) Measures shall be implemented to
protect employees from the hazardous
atmosphere before any subsequent
entry takes place.
(H) The employer shall verify that
the space is safe for entry and that the
pre-entry measures required by paragraph (c)(5)(ii) of this section have been
taken, through a written certification
that contains the date, the location of
the space, and the signature of the person providing the certification. The
certification shall be made before
entry and shall be made available to
each employee entering the space or to
that employee’s authorized representative .
(6) When there are changes in the use
or configuration of a non-permit confined space that might increase the
hazards to entrants, the employer shall
reevaluate that space and, if necessary,
reclassify it as a permit-required confined space.
(7) A space classified by the employer
as a permit-required confined space

may be reclassified as a non-permit
confined space under the following procedures:
(i) If the permit space poses no actual
or potential atmospheric hazards and if
all hazards within the space are eliminated without entry into the space, the
permit space may be reclassified as a
non-permit confined space for as long
as the non-atmospheric hazards remain
eliminated.
(ii) If it is necessary to enter the permit space to eliminate hazards, such
entry shall be performed under paragraphs (d) through (k) of this section.
If testing and inspection during that
entry demonstrate that the hazards
within the permit space have been
eliminated, the permit space may be
reclassified as a non-permit confined
space for as long as the hazards remain
eliminated.
NOTE: Control of atmospheric hazards
through forced air ventilation does not constitute elimination of the hazards. Paragraph (c)(5) covers permit space entry where
the employer can demonstrate that forced
air ventilation alone will control all hazards
in the space.

(iii) The employer shall document
the basis for determining that all hazards in a permit space have been eliminated, through a certification that contains the date, the location of the
space, and the signature of the person
making the determination. The certification shall be made available to each
employee entering the space or to that
employee’s authorized representative.
(iv) If hazards arise within a permit
space that has been declassified to a
non-permit space under paragraph
(c)(7) of this section, each employee in
the space shall exit the space. The employer shall then reevaluate the space
and determine whether it must be reclassified as a permit space, in accordance with other applicable provisions
of this section.
(8) When an employer (host employer) arranges to have employees of
another employer (contractor) perform
work that involves permit space entry,
the host employer shall:
(i) Inform the contractor that the
workplace contains permit spaces and
that permit space entry is allowed only
through compliance with a permit

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Occupational Safety and Health Admin., Labor
space program meeting the requirements of this section;
(ii) Apprise the contractor of the elements, including the hazards identified
and the host employer’s experience
with the space, that make the space in
question a permit space;
(iii) Apprise the contractor of any
precautions or procedures that the host
employer has implemented for the protection of employees in or near permit
spaces where contractor personnel will
be working;
(iv) Coordinate entry operations with
the contractor, when both host employer personnel and contractor personnel will be working in or near permit spaces, as required by paragraph
(d)(11) of this section; and
(v) Debrief the contractor at the conclusion of the entry operations regarding the permit space program followed
and regarding any hazards confronted
or created in permit spaces during
entry operations.
(9) In addition to complying with the
permit space requirements that apply
to all employers, each contractor who
is retained to perform permit space
entry operations shall:
(i) Obtain any available information
regarding permit space hazards and
entry operations from the host employer;
(ii) Coordinate entry operations with
the host employer, when both host employer personnel and contractor personnel will be working in or near permit spaces, as required by paragraph
(d)(11) of this section; and
(iii) Inform the host employer of the
permit space program that the contractor will follow and of any hazards
confronted or created in permit spaces,
either through a debriefing or during
the entry operation.
(d) Permit-required confined space program (permit space program). Under
the permit space program required by
paragraph (c)(4) of this section, the employer shall:
(1) Implement the measures necessary to prevent unauthorized entry;
(2) Identify and evaluate the hazards
of permit spaces before employees
enter them;
(3) Develop and implement the
means, procedures, and practices necessary for safe permit space entry oper-

§ 1910.146

ations, including, but not limited to,
the following:
(i) Specifying acceptable entry conditions;
(ii) Providing each authorized entrant or that employee’s authorized
representative with the opportunity to
observe any monitoring or testing of
permit spaces;
(iii) Isolating the permit space;
(iv) Purging, inerting, flushing, or
ventilating the permit space as necessary to eliminate or control atmospheric hazards;
(v) Providing pedestrian, vehicle, or
other barriers as necessary to protect
entrants from external hazards; and
(vi) Verifying that conditions in the
permit space are acceptable for entry
throughout the duration of an authorized entry.
(4) Provide the following equipment
(specified
in
paragraphs
(d)(4)(i)
through (d)(4)(ix) of this section) at no
cost to employees, maintain that
equipment properly, and ensure that
employees use that equipment properly:
(i) Testing and monitoring equipment
needed to comply with paragraph (d)(5)
of this section;
(ii) Ventilating equipment needed to
obtain acceptable entry conditions;
(iii) Communications equipment necessary for compliance with paragraphs
(h)(3) and (i)(5) of this section;
(iv) Personal protective equipment
insofar as feasible engineering and
work practice controls do not adequately protect employees;
(v) Lighting equipment needed to enable employees to see well enough to
work safely and to exit the space
quickly in an emergency;
(vi) Barriers and shields as required
by paragraph (d)(3)(iv) of this section;
(vii) Equipment, such as ladders,
needed for safe ingress and egress by
authorized entrants;
(viii) Rescue and emergency equipment needed to comply with paragraph
(d)(9) of this section, except to the extent that the equipment is provided by
rescue services; and
(ix) Any other equipment necessary
for safe entry into and rescue from permit spaces.

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§ 1910.146

29 CFR Ch. XVII (7–1–08 Edition)

(5) Evaluate permit space conditions
as follows when entry operations are
conducted:
(i) Test conditions in the permit
space to determine if acceptable entry
conditions exist before entry is authorized to begin, except that, if isolation
of the space is infeasible because the
space is large or is part of a continuous
system (such as a sewer), pre-entry
testing shall be performed to the extent feasible before entry is authorized
and, if entry is authorized, entry conditions shall be continuously monitored
in the areas where authorized entrants
are working;
(ii) Test or monitor the permit space
as necessary to determine if acceptable
entry conditions are being maintained
during the course of entry operations;
and
(iii) When testing for atmospheric
hazards, test first for oxygen, then for
combustible gases and vapors, and then
for toxic gases and vapors.
(iv) Provide each authorized entrant
or that employee’s authorized representative an opportunity to observe
the pre-entry and any subsequent testing or monitoring of permit spaces;
(v) Reevaluate the permit space in
the presence of any authorized entrant
or that employee’s authorized representative who requests that the employer conduct such reevaluation because the entrant or representative has
reason to believe that the evaluation of
that space may not have been adequate;
(vi) Immediately provide each authorized entrant or that employee’s authorized representative with the results of any testing conducted in accord with paragraph (d) of this section.
NOTE: Atmospheric testing conducted in
accordance with appendix B to § 1910.146
would be considered as satisfying the requirements of this paragraph. For permit
space operations in sewers, atmospheric testing conducted in accordance with appendix
B, as supplemented by appendix E to
§ 1910.146, would be considered as satisfying
the requirements of this paragraph.

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(6) Provide at least one attendant
outside the permit space into which
entry is authorized for the duration of
entry operations;
NOTE: Attendants may be assigned to monitor more than one permit space provided the

duties described in paragraph (i) of this section can be effectively performed for each
permit space that is monitored. Likewise, attendants may be stationed at any location
outside the permit space to be monitored as
long as the duties described in paragraph (i)
of this section can be effectively performed
for each permit space that is monitored.

(7) If multiple spaces are to be monitored by a single attendant, include in
the permit program the means and procedures to enable the attendant to respond to an emergency affecting one or
more of the permit spaces being monitored without distraction from the attendant’s responsibilities under paragraph (i) of this section;
(8) Designate the persons who are to
have active roles (as, for example, authorized entrants, attendants, entry
supervisors, or persons who test or
monitor the atmosphere in a permit
space) in entry operations, identify the
duties of each such employee, and provide each such employee with the
training required by paragraph (g) of
this section;
(9) Develop and implement procedures for summoning rescue and emergency services, for rescuing entrants
from permit spaces, for providing necessary emergency services to rescued
employees, and for preventing unauthorized personnel from attempting a
rescue;
(10) Develop and implement a system
for the preparation, issuance, use, and
cancellation of entry permits as required by this section;
(11) Develop and implement procedures to coordinate entry operations
when employees of more than one employer are working simultaneously as
authorized entrants in a permit space,
so that employees of one employer do
not endanger the employees of any
other employer;
(12) Develop and implement procedures (such as closing off a permit
space and canceling the permit) necessary for concluding the entry after
entry operations have been completed;
(13) Review entry operations when
the employer has reason to believe that
the measures taken under the permit
space program may not protect employees and revise the program to correct deficiencies found to exist before
subsequent entries are authorized; and

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Occupational Safety and Health Admin., Labor
NOTE: Examples of circumstances requiring
the review of the permit space program are:
any unauthorized entry of a permit space,
the detection of a permit space hazard not
covered by the permit, the detection of a
condition prohibited by the permit, the occurrence of an injury or near-miss during
entry, a change in the use or configuration
of a permit space, and employee complaints
about the effectiveness of the program.

(14) Review the permit space program, using the canceled permits retained under paragraph (e)(6) of this
section within 1 year after each entry
and revise the program as necessary, to
ensure that employees participating in
entry operations are protected from
permit space hazards.
NOTE: Employers may perform a single annual review covering all entries performed
during a 12-month period. If no entry is performed during a 12-month period, no review
is necessary.

Appendix C to § 1910.146 presents examples of permit space programs that are
considered to comply with the requirements of paragraph (d) of this section.
(e) Permit system. (1) Before entry is
authorized, the employer shall document the completion of measures required by paragraph (d)(3) of this section by preparing an entry permit.

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NOTE: Appendix D to § 1910.146 presents examples of permits whose elements are considered to comply with the requirements of
this section.

(2) Before entry begins, the entry supervisor identified on the permit shall
sign the entry permit to authorize
entry.
(3) The completed permit shall be
made available at the time of entry to
all authorized entrants or their authorized representatives, by posting it at
the entry portal or by any other equally effective means, so that the entrants
can confirm that pre-entry preparations have been completed.
(4) The duration of the permit may
not exceed the time required to complete the assigned task or job identified on the permit in accordance with
paragraph (f)(2) of this section.
(5) The entry supervisor shall terminate entry and cancel the entry permit
when:
(i) The entry operations covered by
the entry permit have been completed;
or

§ 1910.146

(ii) A condition that is not allowed
under the entry permit arises in or
near the permit space.
(6) The employer shall retain each
canceled entry permit for at least 1
year to facilitate the review of the permit-required confined space program
required by paragraph (d)(14) of this
section. Any problems encountered
during an entry operation shall be
noted on the pertinent permit so that
appropriate revisions to the permit
space program can be made.
(f) Entry permit. The entry permit
that documents compliance with this
section and authorizes entry to a permit space shall identify:
(1) The permit space to be entered;
(2) The purpose of the entry;
(3) The date and the authorized duration of the entry permit;
(4) The authorized entrants within
the permit space, by name or by such
other means (for example, through the
use of rosters or tracking systems) as
will enable the attendant to determine
quickly and accurately, for the duration of the permit, which authorized
entrants are inside the permit space;
NOTE: This requirement may be met by inserting a reference on the entry permit as to
the means used, such as a roster or tracking
system, to keep track of the authorized entrants within the permit space.

(5) The personnel, by name, currently
serving as attendants;
(6) The individual, by name, currently serving as entry supervisor,
with a space for the signature or initials of the entry supervisor who originally authorized entry;
(7) The hazards of the permit space to
be entered;
(8) The measures used to isolate the
permit space and to eliminate or control permit space hazards before entry;
NOTE: Those measures can include the
lockout or tagging of equipment and procedures for purging, inerting, ventilating, and
flushing permit spaces.

(9) The acceptable entry conditions;
(10) The results of initial and periodic
tests performed under paragraph (d)(5)
of this section, accompanied by the
names or initials of the testers and by
an indication of when the tests were
performed;

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§ 1910.146

29 CFR Ch. XVII (7–1–08 Edition)

(11) The rescue and emergency services that can be summoned and the
means (such as the equipment to use
and the numbers to call) for summoning those services;
(12) The communication procedures
used by authorized entrants and attendants to maintain contact during
the entry;
(13) Equipment, such as personal protective equipment, testing equipment,
communications equipment, alarm systems, and rescue equipment, to be provided for compliance with this section;
(14) Any other information whose inclusion is necessary, given the circumstances of the particular confined
space, in order to ensure employee
safety; and
(15) Any additional permits, such as
for hot work, that have been issued to
authorize work in the permit space.
(g) Training. (1) The employer shall
provide training so that all employees
whose work is regulated by this section
acquire the understanding, knowledge,
and skills necessary for the safe performance of the duties assigned under
this section.
(2) Training shall be provided to each
affected employee:
(i) Before the employee is first assigned duties under this section;
(ii) Before there is a change in assigned duties;
(iii) Whenever there is a change in
permit space operations that presents a
hazard about which an employee has
not previously been trained;
(iv) Whenever the employer has reason to believe either that there are deviations from the permit space entry
procedures required by paragraph (d)(3)
of this section or that there are inadequacies in the employee’s knowledge
or use of these procedures.
(3) The training shall establish employee proficiency in the duties required by this section and shall introduce new or revised procedures, as necessary, for compliance with this section.
(4) The employer shall certify that
the training required by paragraphs
(g)(1) through (g)(3) of this section has
been accomplished. The certification
shall contain each employee’s name,
the signatures or initials of the trainers, and the dates of training. The cer-

tification shall be available for inspection by employees and their authorized
representatives.
(h) Duties of authorized entrants. The
employer shall ensure that all authorized entrants:
(1) Know the hazards that may be
faced during entry, including information on the mode, signs or symptoms,
and consequences of the exposure;
(2) Properly use equipment as required by paragraph (d)(4) of this section;
(3) Communicate with the attendant
as necessary to enable the attendant to
monitor entrant status and to enable
the attendant to alert entrants of the
need to evacuate the space as required
by paragraph (i)(6) of this section;
(4) Alert the attendant whenever:
(i) The entrant recognizes any warning sign or symptom of exposure to a
dangerous situation, or
(ii) The entrant detects a prohibited
condition; and
(5) Exit from the permit space as
quickly as possible whenever:
(i) An order to evacuate is given by
the attendant or the entry supervisor,
(ii) The entrant recognizes any warning sign or symptom of exposure to a
dangerous situation,
(iii) The entrant detects a prohibited
condition, or
(iv) An evacuation alarm is activated.
(i) Duties of attendants. The employer
shall ensure that each attendant:
(1) Knows the hazards that may be
faced during entry, including information on the mode, signs or symptoms,
and consequences of the exposure;
(2) Is aware of possible behavioral effects of hazard exposure in authorized
entrants;
(3) Continuously maintains an accurate count of authorized entrants in
the permit space and ensures that the
means used to identify authorized entrants under paragraph (f)(4) of this
section accurately identifies who is in
the permit space;
(4) Remains outside the permit space
during entry operations until relieved
by another attendant;
NOTE: When the employer’s permit entry
program allows attendant entry for rescue,
attendants may enter a permit space to attempt a rescue if they have been trained and

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yshivers on PROD1PC62 with CFR

equipped for rescue operations as required by
paragraph (k)(1) of this section and if they
have been relieved as required by paragraph
(i)(4) of this section.

(5) Communicates with authorized
entrants as necessary to monitor entrant status and to alert entrants of
the need to evacuate the space under
paragraph (i)(6) of this section;
(6) Monitors activities inside and outside the space to determine if it is safe
for entrants to remain in the space and
orders the authorized entrants to evacuate the permit space immediately
under any of the following conditions;
(i) If the attendant detects a prohibited condition;
(ii) If the attendant detects the behavioral effects of hazard exposure in
an authorized entrant;
(iii) If the attendant detects a situation outside the space that could endanger the authorized entrants; or
(iv) If the attendant cannot effectively and safely perform all the duties
required under paragraph (i) of this
section;
(7) Summon rescue and other emergency services as soon as the attendant
determines that authorized entrants
may need assistance to escape from
permit space hazards;
(8) Takes the following actions when
unauthorized persons approach or enter
a permit space while entry is underway:
(i) Warn the unauthorized persons
that they must stay away from the permit space;
(ii) Advise the unauthorized persons
that they must exit immediately if
they have entered the permit space;
and
(iii) Inform the authorized entrants
and the entry supervisor if unauthorized persons have entered the permit
space;
(9) Performs non-entry rescues as
specified by the employer’s rescue procedure; and
(10) Performs no duties that might
interfere with the attendant’s primary
duty to monitor and protect the authorized entrants.
(j) Duties of entry supervisors. The employer shall ensure that each entry supervisor:
(1) Knows the hazards that may be
faced during entry, including informa-

§ 1910.146

tion on the mode, signs or symptoms,
and consequences of the exposure;
(2) Verifies, by checking that the appropriate entries have been made on
the permit, that all tests specified by
the permit have been conducted and
that all procedures and equipment
specified by the permit are in place before endorsing the permit and allowing
entry to begin;
(3) Terminates the entry and cancels
the permit as required by paragraph
(e)(5) of this section;
(4) Verifies that rescue services are
available and that the means for summoning them are operable;
(5) Removes unauthorized individuals
who enter or who attempt to enter the
permit space during entry operations;
and
(6) Determines, whenever responsibility for a permit space entry operation is transferred and at intervals
dictated by the hazards and operations
performed within the space, that entry
operations remain consistent with
terms of the entry permit and that acceptable entry conditions are maintained.
(k) Rescue and emergency services. (1)
An employer who designates rescue and
emergency services, pursuant to paragraph (d)(9) of this section, shall:
(i) Evaluate a prospective rescuer’s
ability to respond to a rescue summons
in a timely manner, considering the
hazard(s) identified;
NOTE TO PARAGRAPH (k)(1)(i): What will be
considered timely will vary according to the
specific hazards involved in each entry. For
example, § 1910.134, Respiratory Protection,
requires that employers provide a standby
person or persons capable of immediate action to rescue employee(s) wearing respiratory protection while in work areas defined as IDLH atmospheres.

(ii) Evaluate a prospective rescue
service’s ability, in terms of proficiency with rescue-related tasks and
equipment, to function appropriately
while rescuing entrants from the particular permit space or types of permit
spaces identified;
(iii) Select a rescue team or service
from those evaluated that:
(A) Has the capability to reach the
victim(s) within a time frame that is
appropriate for the permit space hazard(s) identified;

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§ 1910.146

29 CFR Ch. XVII (7–1–08 Edition)

(B) Is equipped for and proficient in
performing the needed rescue services;
(iv) Inform each rescue team or service of the hazards they may confront
when called on to perform rescue at the
site; and
(v) Provide the rescue team or service selected with access to all permit
spaces from which rescue may be necessary so that the rescue service can
develop appropriate rescue plans and
practice rescue operations.
NOTE TO PARAGRAPH (k)(1): Non-mandatory
appendix F contains examples of criteria
which employers can use in evaluating prospective rescuers as required by paragraph
(k)(1) of this section.

yshivers on PROD1PC62 with CFR

(2) An employer whose employees
have been designated to provide permit
space rescue and emergency services
shall take the following measures:
(i) Provide affected employees with
the personal protective equipment
(PPE) needed to conduct permit space
rescues safely and train affected employees so they are proficient in the
use of that PPE, at no cost to those
employees;
(ii) Train affected employees to perform assigned rescue duties. The employer must ensure that such employees successfully complete the training
required to establish proficiency as an
authorized entrant, as provided by
paragraphs (g) and (h) of this section;
(iii) Train affected employees in
basic first-aid and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). The employer shall
ensure that at least one member of the
rescue team or service holding a current certification in first aid and CPR
is available; and
(iv) Ensure that affected employees
practice making permit space rescues
at least once every 12 months, by
means of simulated rescue operations
in which they remove dummies, manikins, or actual persons from the actual
permit spaces or from representative
permit spaces. Representative permit
spaces shall, with respect to opening
size, configuration, and accessibility,
simulate the types of permit spaces
from which rescue is to be performed.
(3) To facilitate non-entry rescue, retrieval systems or methods shall be
used whenever an authorized entrant

enters a permit space, unless the retrieval equipment would increase the
overall risk of entry or would not contribute to the rescue of the entrant.
Retrieval systems shall meet the following requirements.
(i) Each authorized entrant shall use
a chest or full body harness, with a retrieval line attached at the center of
the entrant’s back near shoulder level,
above the entrant’s head, or at another
point which the employer can establish
presents a profile small enough for the
successful removal of the entrant.
Wristlets may be used in lieu of the
chest or full body harness if the employer can demonstrate that the use of
a chest or full body harness is infeasible or creates a greater hazard and that
the use of wristlets is the safest and
most effective alternative.
(ii) The other end of the retrieval line
shall be attached to a mechanical device or fixed point outside the permit
space in such a manner that rescue can
begin as soon as the rescuer becomes
aware that rescue is necessary. A mechanical device shall be available to retrieve personnel from vertical type permit spaces more than 5 feet (1.52 m)
deep.
(4) If an injured entrant is exposed to
a substance for which a Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) or other similar
written information is required to be
kept at the worksite, that MSDS or
written information shall be made
available to the medical facility treating the exposed entrant.
(l) Employee participation. (1) Employers shall consult with affected employees and their authorized representatives on the development and implementation of all aspects of the permit
space program required by paragraph
(c) of this section.
(2) Employers shall make available
to affected employees and their authorized representatives all information required to be developed by this section.
APPENDIXES TO § 1910.146—PERMIT-REQUIRED
CONFINED SPACES
NOTE: Appendixes A through F serve to
provide information and non-mandatory
guidelines to assist employers and employees
in complying with the appropriate requirements of this section.

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