1910.146(d)(6): Permit Space Attendant
Employers must provide at least one attendant outside the permit space for the full duration of entry operations. An attendant may monitor more than one space, and may be stationed anywhere outside, as long as the attendant duties can be effectively performed for each space monitored.
Key takeaways
- 1910.146(d)(6) is part of OSHA's general industry standards (29 CFR Part 1910, Subpart J).
- OSHA cited it 31 times in the last 3 years, in 31 inspections, with $222,779 in current penalties.
- 4 deaths are linked to inspections that cited this rule.
- Most citations: IL (4), PA (3), MN (3).
- 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)(6) 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
(6) Provide at least one attendant outside the permit space into which entry is authorized for the duration of entry operations; 31 citations
Attendants may be assigned to monitor more than one permit space provided the duties described in paragraph (i) of this section can be effectively performed for each permit space that is monitored. Likewise, attendants may be stationed at any location outside the permit space to be monitored as long as the duties described in paragraph (i) of this section can be effectively performed for each permit space that is monitored.
Source: eCFR, text current as of 2026-10-15. Read all of 1910.146.
Injuries linked to this rule
4 deaths are linked to inspections where OSHA cited 1910.146(d)(6).
At 9:00 a.m. on April 3, 2024, an employee working as a plant operator for building materials manufacturer was reinstalling mixer blades onto the shaft inside a Vince Hagan HM-10 Horizontal Concrete Mixer. The employee had been on acrew between January 2024 and April 2024…
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 | 14 |
| 2025 | 9 |
| 2026 | 8 |
Top states: IL (4), PA (3), MN (3), OK (2), KS (2)
Largest penalties
| Employer | Location | Penalty for this rule |
|---|---|---|
| 107323 - WAYNE TRANSPORTS INC | VIRGINIA, MN | $67,200 |
| 109588 - LANG COMPANIES INC DBA LANG FEEDS INC | EDEN VALLEY, MN | $25,000 |
| HEIDELBERG MATERIALS NORTHEAST LLC | NAZARETH, PA | $16,550 |
| GILSTER-MARY LEE CORPORATION | PERRYVILLE, MO | $16,550 |
| QUALAWASH HOLDINGS, LLC | LA PORTE, TX | $15,000 |
Free toolbox talk
A 5-minute crew talk on 1910.146(d)(6), plus alerts when this rule changes. Free.
OSHA interpretation letters
None exist. OSHA has not published a letter of interpretation for 1910.146(d)(6).
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)(14) 23 citations
- 1910.146(d)(10) 17 citations
- 1910.146(d)(1) 16 citations
- 1910.146(d)(3)(iii) 15 citations
Get your crew competent
Trainers on Black Belt Safety: Marc Harvey, Dana Reyes
Trainers and suppliers: feature your business on this rule for $25/month.
Frequently asked questions
How many attendants are required?
At least one attendant outside the permit space for the duration of entry operations.
Can one attendant watch more than one space?
Yes, if the attendant duties can be effectively performed for each permit space monitored.
Where must the attendant be located?
Any location outside the permit space where the duties can be effectively performed.
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.