1910.146(c)(5)(ii)(B): Guarding Openings When Entry Covers Come Off
When permit space entrance covers are removed, the opening must be promptly guarded by a railing, temporary cover or other temporary barrier. The guard must prevent an accidental fall through the opening and protect workers in the space from foreign objects entering.
Key takeaways
- 1910.146(c)(5)(ii)(B) is part of OSHA's general industry standards (29 CFR Part 1910, Subpart J).
- OSHA cited it 5 times in the last 3 years, in 5 inspections, with $26,223 in current penalties.
- 1 death is linked to inspections that cited this rule.
- Related part: 1910.146(c) General requirements (1,090 citations).
- Free 5-minute toolbox talk for your crew below.
In this article
What this rule covers
29 CFR 1910.146(c)(5)(ii)(B) is one requirement inside 1910.146 Permit-required confined spaces, an OSHA general industry standard (Part 1910, Subpart J). The official text below is copied word for word from the Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (eCFR). The numbers, injury cases and training on this page show how OSHA enforces it on real job sites.
Official text
(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. 5 citations
Source: eCFR, text current as of 2026-10-15. Read all of 1910.146.
Injuries linked to this rule
1 death is linked to inspections where OSHA cited 1910.146(c)(5)(ii)(B).
At 10:20 a.m. on October 7, 2024, Employee #1, employed at a manufacturing facility, was in the process of removing and cleaning debris from a siphon. During this task, the employee was struck in the right side of the face and headby a winch. The…
Where and how often it was cited
Free toolbox talk
A 5-minute crew talk on 1910.146(c)(5)(ii)(B), plus alerts when this rule changes. Free.
OSHA interpretation letters
None exist. OSHA has not published a letter of interpretation for 1910.146(c)(5)(ii)(B).
Related parts of this rule
- 1910.146(c) General requirements 1,090 citations
- 1910.146(c)(2) 359 citations
- 1910.146(c)(1) 293 citations
- 1910.146(c)(4) 253 citations
- 1910.146(c)(5) 63 citations
- 1910.146(c)(5)(ii) 59 citations
- 1910.146(c)(7) 50 citations
- 1910.146(c)(3) 40 citations
- 1910.146(c)(7)(iii) 33 citations
- 1910.146(c)(5)(ii)(C) 24 citations
- 1910.146(c)(8) 19 citations
- 1910.146(c)(9) 11 citations
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Frequently asked questions
What must be done when an entrance cover is removed?
Promptly guard the opening with a railing, temporary cover or other temporary barrier.
What must the guard prevent?
An accidental fall through the opening and foreign objects entering the space.
Who is protected?
Anyone who could fall in, and each employee working in the space.
About this page
Sources
- 29 CFR 1910.146 (eCFR), text current as of 2026-10-15
- U.S. Department of Labor enforcement data: OSHA inspections, citations and accident records, copied nightly; data as of 2026-10-20
3-year window. Federal OSHA only; state-plan rules are not counted. Plain-language text is a summary, not legal advice; the official text controls. Black Belt Safety is not part of OSHA or the Department of Labor.