1910.146(c)(8)(i): Telling Contractors About Permit Spaces
A host employer that hires a contractor for permit space work must inform the contractor that the workplace contains permit spaces. The host must also tell the contractor that permit space entry is allowed only by complying with a permit space program that meets this section.
Key takeaways
- 1910.146(c)(8)(i) is part of OSHA's general industry standards (29 CFR Part 1910, Subpart J).
- OSHA cited it 7 times in the last 3 years, in 7 inspections, with $48,498 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)(8)(i) 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
(i) Inform the contractor that the workplace contains permit spaces and that permit space entry is allowed only through compliance with a permit space program meeting the requirements of this section; 7 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)(8)(i).
At 11:10 a.m. on March 27, 2024, an employee was fixing a patch inside the gun barrel tank. The employee was using a heat gun inside the tank, which caught substances on fire and led to an explosion. The employee suffered burns over the entire…
Where and how often it was cited
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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 a host employer tell a contractor?
That the workplace contains permit spaces and that entry is allowed only through compliance with a permit space program meeting this section.
Who does this duty fall on?
The host employer that arranges for contractor work.
Can a contractor enter a permit space without a program?
No. Entry is allowed only through compliance with a permit space program meeting the section's requirements.
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.