1910.146(d)(5)(ii): Monitor Permit Spaces During Entry
Employers must test or monitor the permit space as necessary to determine whether acceptable entry conditions are being maintained during entry operations.
Key takeaways
- 1910.146(d)(5)(ii) is part of OSHA's general industry standards (29 CFR Part 1910, Subpart J).
- OSHA cited it 15 times in the last 3 years, in 15 inspections, with $17,040 in current penalties.
- 2 deaths are linked to inspections that cited this rule.
- Most citations: OH (4), TN (3), IL (1).
- Related part: 1910.146(d) Permit-required confined space program (480 citations).
- Free 5-minute toolbox talk for your crew below.
In this article
What this rule covers
29 CFR 1910.146(d)(5)(ii) 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
(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 15 citations
Source: eCFR, text current as of 2026-10-15. Read all of 1910.146.
Injuries linked to this rule
2 deaths are linked to inspections where OSHA cited 1910.146(d)(5)(ii).
At approximately 9:34 a.m. on January 10, 2025, an employee was directed to enter a 23,737-gallon rail tank car containing residues of PCBs and transformer oil to obtain wipe samples of the interior surfaces. The rail tank car was a permit-required confined space. The employee…
Full case list with employer, penalty, filters and download is part of OSHA Data (Purple Belt).
Unlock with Purple BeltWhere and how often it was cited
| Year | Citations |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 4 |
| 2025 | 4 |
| 2026 | 7 |
Top states: OH (4), TN (3), IL (1), KY (1), PA (1)
Largest penalties
| Employer | Location | Penalty for this rule |
|---|---|---|
| CLEAN HARBORS ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES INC. | TWINSBURG, OH | $16,550 |
| AEROWING, INC. | NASHVILLE, TN | $490 |
| CATHCART RAIL, LLC | WALBRIDGE, OH | $0 |
| H & A RESIDUALS AND BIOSOLIDS MANAGEMENT, LLC | LOUDON, TN | $0 |
| CATHCART RAIL, LLC | DANVILLE, IL | $0 |
Free toolbox talk
A 5-minute crew talk on 1910.146(d)(5)(ii), plus alerts when this rule changes. Free.
OSHA interpretation letters
Related parts of this rule
- 1910.146(d) Permit-required confined space program 480 citations
- 1910.146(d)(3) 107 citations
- 1910.146(d)(5) 91 citations
- 1910.146(d)(4) 66 citations
- 1910.146(d)(9) 63 citations
- 1910.146(d)(5)(i) 58 citations
- 1910.146(d)(2) 40 citations
- 1910.146(d)(4)(i) 33 citations
- 1910.146(d)(6) 31 citations
- 1910.146(d)(14) 23 citations
- 1910.146(d)(10) 17 citations
- 1910.146(d)(1) 16 citations
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Frequently asked questions
When must the permit space be tested or monitored?
As necessary during the course of entry operations.
What is the purpose of the monitoring?
To determine if acceptable entry conditions are being maintained.
Is testing only required before entry?
No. This rule covers testing or monitoring during entry.
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.