Osha Confined Space Regulations

Confined or enclosed spaces and other dangerous atmospheres.

Osha confined space regulations. Osha s standard for confined spaces 29 cfr 1910 146 contains the requirements for practices and procedures to protect employ ees in general industry from the hazards of entering permit spaces. The standard requires employers protect workers from hazards in confined spaces or work areas with limited means of entry and or exit that are large enough for a worker to enter but not intended for regular or continuous occupancy. Employers in general industry must evaluate their workplaces to determine if spaces are permit spaces. Confined and enclosed space operations have a greater likelihood of causing fatalities severe injuries and illnesses than any other type of shipyard work.

Confined spaces must be tested by trained individuals using suitable instruments. 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. 1915 12 precautions and the order of testing before entering confined and enclosed spaces and other dangerous atmospheres. The osha confined space standard 29 cfr 1910 146 is written for general industry and states that it is not applicable to construction.

Confined spaces such as manholes crawl spaces and tanks are not designed for continuous occupancy and are difficult to exit in the event of an emergency. Since it was issued in 1993 osha s confined space regulation 29 cfr 1910 146 has been geared toward general industry workers with very little applying directly to the construction industry. 1915 subpart b confined and enclosed spaces and other dangerous atmospheres in shipyard employment. 1915 11 scope application and definitions applicable to this subpart.

There are six core regulations and requirements that osha has designated for employees working in confined spaces. Confined spaces the occupational safety and health administration osha has not published regulations dealing specifically with confined spaces found in the construction industry. Rules for confined spaces. Helps workers identify and control the hazards that cause the most serious confined space related injuries.

The occupational safety and health administration issued an update to its standard for construction work in confined spaces aug. Osha s standard for confined spaces 29 cfr 1910 146 contains the requirements for practices and procedures to protect employees in general industry from the hazards of entering permit spaces.