1910.146(j)(4): Supervisor Verifies Rescue Is Available
The entry supervisor must verify that rescue services are available and that the means for summoning them are operable.
Key takeaways
- 1910.146(j)(4) is part of OSHA's general industry standards (29 CFR Part 1910, Subpart J).
- OSHA cited it 10 times in the last 3 years, in 10 inspections, with $35,873 in current penalties.
- 1 death is linked to inspections that cited this rule.
- Most citations: MI (2), TN (2), OH (2).
- Related part: 1910.146(j) Duties of entry supervisors (37 citations).
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In this article
What this rule covers
29 CFR 1910.146(j)(4) 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
(4) Verifies that rescue services are available and that the means for summoning them are operable; 10 citations
Source: eCFR, text current as of 2026-10-15. Read all of 1910.146.
Export the list: 10 inspections cited 1910.146(j)(4) in the last 3 years, with employer, location, penalty and date.
Purple Belt, $59/moInjuries linked to this rule
1 death is linked to inspections where OSHA cited 1910.146(j)(4).
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…
Where and how often it was cited
| Year | Citations |
|---|---|
| 2023 | 1 |
| 2024 | 4 |
| 2025 | 3 |
| 2026 | 2 |
Top states: MI (2), TN (2), OH (2), NY (1), IL (1)
Largest penalties
| Employer | Location | Penalty for this rule |
|---|---|---|
| CLEAN HARBORS ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES INC. | TWINSBURG, OH | $16,550 |
| FCX2026XJW184X0203 - GOWAN MILLING COMPANY, L.L.C. | YUMA, AZ | $11,823 |
| LIFEWAY FOODS, INC. | MORTON GROVE, IL | $7,500 |
| ANOPLATE CORPORATION | SYRACUSE, NY | $0 |
| ADVANCED UNDERGROUND INSPECTION LLC | PONTIAC, MI | $0 |
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A 5-minute crew talk on 1910.146(j)(4), plus alerts when this rule changes. Free.
OSHA interpretation letters
None exist. OSHA has not published a letter of interpretation for 1910.146(j)(4).
Related parts of this rule
- 1910.146(j) Duties of entry supervisors 37 citations
- 1910.146(j)(2) 20 citations
- 1910.146(j)(1) 3 citations
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Frequently asked questions
Who verifies rescue availability?
The entry supervisor.
What must be checked?
That rescue services are available and the means for summoning them are operable.
Is having a phone number enough?
The means of summoning must be operable, so it must actually work.
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 2026-11-06
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.