Confined Spaces Safety

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Many workplaces contain areas that are considered “confined spaces” because while they are not necessarily designed for people, they are large enough for workers to enter and conduct inspections, minor repairs, and maintenance activities. A confined space also has limited or restricted means for entry or exit and is not designed for continuous occupancy. Confined spaces include, but are not limited to, tanks, vessels, silos, storage bins, hoppers, vaults, pits, baghouses, manholes, tunnels, equipment housings, ductwork, pipelines, etc. OSHA uses the term “permit-required confined space” (permit space) to describe a confined space that has one or more of the following characteristics: contains or has the potential to contain a hazardous atmosphere; contains a material that has the potential to engulf an entrant; has walls that converge inward or floors that slope downward and taper into a smaller area which could trap or asphyxiate an entrant; or contains any other recognized safety or health hazard, such as unguarded machinery, exposed live wires, or heat stress.

OSHA’s permit space standard applies to all general industry employers that have permit spaces. OSHA has a separate standard for construction activities (29 CFR 1926), agriculture employment (29 CFR 1928), and shipyard employment (29 CFR 1915).

Developed by J. J. Keller’s trusted team of in-house compliance experts, the J. J. Keller® SAFETY MANAGEMENT SUITE offers a variety of resources for streamlining confined space entry.

Regulatory Citation:

29 CFR 1910.146 — Permit-required confined spaces, and appendices

  • Written Program

  • Required

  • Employee Training

  • Required

  • Training Records

  • Required

  • Inspections

  • Required

See regulation for full list of specific requirements

Streamline How You Manage Confined Space Safety

  • Create Written Safety Plans

  • Create Written Safety Plans

    Easily create and store your written safety plans using pre-written templates for permit-required confined space programs for general industry or construction as well as non-entry confined space rescue procedures.

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  • Create Written Safety Plans

  • Facilitate Confined Space Training

    Access classroom video or PowerPoint® training as well as self-paced online training programs confined space for general industry or construction.

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  • Conduct Safety Audits

  • Conduct Safety Audits

    Prepare and conduct safety program audits for confined space (permit-required, alternate entry, rescue, reclassification), contractor safety, and facilities marking.

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  • Track Bloodborne Pathogens Incidents

  • Track Confined Space Incidents

    Effectively track, analyze, and document incidents involving confined spaces to help you respond promptly and take corrective actions. By keeping detailed records, you can spot trends, improve safety protocols, protect your workers, and ensure OSHA compliance.

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  • Expert Help

  • Ask Compliance Questions to Industry Experts

    Get direct access to our trusted team of in-house experts — acknowledged leaders in the safety, regulatory and compliance fields with over 500 years of combined experience — who are standing by to help answer your toughest compliance questions.

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  • Regulatory Information

  • Review Regulatory Information

    Get the confined space regulatory info you need with J. J. Keller ezExplanations™ summaries of key topics, federal and state regulations & laws, rulemaking documents, court case rulings, and government guidance documents - all in one easy to find location.

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CONFINED SPACES FAQs

A confined space is an area that is large enough for a worker to enter but has limited entry or exit points and is not designed for continuous occupancy. These spaces can present unique safety challenges due to their restricted access and intended use.

A confined space typically:

  • Has limited means of entry and/or exit
  • Is large enough for a worker to enter
  • Is not intended for regular or continuous occupancy

Common examples include:

  • Sewers
  • Pits
  • Crawl spaces
  • Attics
  • Boilers

These characteristics help define and identify confined spaces in the workplace.

A permit-required confined space is a confined space that has additional hazards that can pose serious risks to workers. It is defined by OSHA as a space with one or more specific hazardous conditions that require special precautions and procedures.

A confined space is considered a permit space if it:

  • Contains or has the potential to contain a hazardous atmosphere
  • Contains material that could engulf an entrant
  • Has inwardly converging walls or downward-sloping floors that could trap or asphyxiate an entrant
  • Contains other recognized safety or health hazards, such as unguarded machinery, exposed live wires, or heat stress

OSHA’s Permit Space Standard applies to general industry employers with permit spaces. Separate standards apply for construction (29 CFR 1926), agriculture (29 CFR 1928), and shipyard employment (29 CFR 1915).

You must follow the construction confined space rule if the work being performed is considered construction, such as building a new structure or upgrading an existing one. The type of work being done determines which OSHA standard applies.

In general:

  • Construction work (e.g., building or upgrading structures) requires following the construction confined space rule
  • Other types of work would follow the general industry standard

Determining the nature of the work activity is key to selecting the correct OSHA confined space regulation.

 

Yes, employers are required to have a written confined space program if workers will enter permit-required confined spaces. This program outlines the procedures and protections needed to ensure safe entry and work in these hazardous environments.

The requirement applies specifically when employees are entering permit spaces, ensuring that proper safety measures and procedures are formally documented and followed.

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