1910.146(f): Confined Space Entry Permit Contents
Employers must use an entry permit that documents compliance and authorizes entry to a permit space. The permit must list the space, purpose, date and duration, entrants, attendants, entry supervisor, hazards, control measures, acceptable conditions, test results, rescue services, communication procedures and other required items.
Key takeaways
- 1910.146(f) is part of OSHA's general industry standards (29 CFR Part 1910, Subpart J).
- OSHA cited it 113 times in the last 3 years, in 71 inspections, with $293,730 in current penalties.
- 2 deaths are linked to inspections that cited this rule.
- Most citations: TN (29), MI (19), TX (9).
- Related part: 1910.146(f)(11) (18 citations).
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In this article
What this rule covers
29 CFR 1910.146(f) ("Entry permit") is one requirement inside 1910.146 Permit-required confined spaces, an OSHA general industry standard (Part 1910, Subpart J). It includes 15 sub-paragraphs. 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
(f) Entry permit. The entry permit that documents compliance with this section and authorizes entry to a permit space shall identify: 113 citations
(1) The permit space to be entered; 2 citations
(2) The purpose of the entry; 3 citations
(3) The date and the authorized duration of the entry permit; Open (f)(3) 7 citations
(4) The authorized entrants within the permit space, by name or by such other means (for example, through the use of rosters or tracking systems) as will enable the attendant to determine quickly and accurately, for the duration of the permit, which authorized entrants are inside the permit space; 4 citations
This requirement may be met by inserting a reference on the entry permit as to the means used, such as a roster or tracking system, to keep track of the authorized entrants within the permit space.
(5) The personnel, by name, currently serving as attendants; Open (f)(5) 10 citations
(6) The individual, by name, currently serving as entry supervisor, with a space for the signature or initials of the entry supervisor who originally authorized entry; 3 citations
(7) The hazards of the permit space to be entered; Open (f)(7) 15 citations
(8) The measures used to isolate the permit space and to eliminate or control permit space hazards before entry; 2 citations
Those measures can include the lockout or tagging of equipment and procedures for purging, inerting, ventilating, and flushing permit spaces.
(9) The acceptable entry conditions; 3 citations
(10) The results of initial and periodic tests performed under paragraph (d)(5) of this section, accompanied by the names or initials of the testers and by an indication of when the tests were performed; Open (f)(10) 10 citations
(11) The rescue and emergency services that can be summoned and the means (such as the equipment to use and the numbers to call) for summoning those services; Open (f)(11) 18 citations
(12) The communication procedures used by authorized entrants and attendants to maintain contact during the entry; 1 citations
(13) Equipment, such as personal protective equipment, testing equipment, communications equipment, alarm systems, and rescue equipment, to be provided for compliance with this section; 4 citations
(14) Any other information whose inclusion is necessary, given the circumstances of the particular confined space, in order to ensure employee safety; and 2 citations
(15) Any additional permits, such as for hot work, that have been issued to authorize work in the permit space.
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(f).
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…
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 |
|---|---|
| 2023 | 3 |
| 2024 | 41 |
| 2025 | 35 |
| 2026 | 34 |
Top states: TN (29), MI (19), TX (9), IL (8), NJ (7)
Largest penalties
| Employer | Location | Penalty for this rule |
|---|---|---|
| MICHIGAN SUGAR COMPANY | BAY CITY, MI | $70,000 |
| DOUBLE R BRAND FOODS LLC | LUFKIN, TX | $29,790 |
| MICHIGAN SUGAR COMPANY | BAY CITY, MI | $17,500 |
| HEIDELBERG MATERIALS US CEMENT, LLC | MIDDLEBRANCH, OH | $16,550 |
| QUALAWASH HOLDINGS, LLC | LA PORTE, TX | $15,000 |
Free toolbox talk
A 5-minute crew talk on 1910.146(f), plus alerts when this rule changes. Free.
OSHA interpretation letters
None exist. OSHA has not published a letter of interpretation for 1910.146(f).
Related parts of this rule
- 1910.146(f)(11) 18 citations
- 1910.146(f)(7) 15 citations
- 1910.146(f)(10) 10 citations
- 1910.146(f)(5) 10 citations
- 1910.146(f)(3) 7 citations
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Frequently asked questions
What does the entry permit do?
It documents compliance with 1910.146 and authorizes entry to a permit space.
How must entrants be identified on the permit?
By name or other means, such as a roster or tracking system, that lets the attendant quickly and accurately know who is inside.
Must test results be on the permit?
Yes. The results of initial and periodic tests, with the testers' names or initials and when the tests were done.
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.