1910.146(k)(1)(ii): Evaluating a Rescue Team's Skills
Employers must evaluate a prospective rescue service's proficiency with rescue tasks and equipment, to make sure it can work properly while rescuing entrants from the particular permit space or types of permit spaces identified.
Key takeaways
- 1910.146(k)(1)(ii) is part of OSHA's general industry standards (29 CFR Part 1910, Subpart J).
- OSHA cited it 27 times in the last 3 years, in 27 inspections, with $50,957 in current penalties.
- Most citations: NJ (10), CT (6), PA (3).
- Related part: 1910.146(k) Rescue and emergency services (204 citations).
- Free 5-minute toolbox talk for your crew below.
In this article
What this rule covers
29 CFR 1910.146(k)(1)(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) Evaluate a prospective rescue service's ability, in terms of proficiency with rescue-related tasks and equipment, to function appropriately while rescuing entrants from the particular permit space or types of permit spaces identified; 27 citations
Source: eCFR, text current as of 2026-10-15. Read all of 1910.146.
Where and how often it was cited
| Year | Citations |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 13 |
| 2025 | 9 |
| 2026 | 5 |
Top states: NJ (10), CT (6), PA (3), IL (2), MN (2)
Largest penalties
| Employer | Location | Penalty for this rule |
|---|---|---|
| EUREKA RESOURCES, LLC | WILLIAMSPORT, PA | $9,900 |
| BOROUGH OF EAST RUTHERFORD DEPARTMENT OF SEWER UTILITY | EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ | $6,300 |
| TOWNSHIP OF HILLSBOROUGH DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS | HILLSBOROUGH, NJ | $6,300 |
| BOROUGH OF RUNNEMEDE DPW | RUNNEMEDE, NJ | $4,900 |
| CAPE MAY COUNTY MUA WILDWOOD/LOWER WASTEWATER TREATMENT FACILITY | RIO GRANDE, NJ | $4,500 |
Free toolbox talk
A 5-minute crew talk on 1910.146(k)(1)(ii), plus alerts when this rule changes. Free.
OSHA interpretation letters
None exist. OSHA has not published a letter of interpretation for 1910.146(k)(1)(ii).
Related parts of this rule
- 1910.146(k) Rescue and emergency services 204 citations
- 1910.146(k)(1) 123 citations
- 1910.146(k)(3) 43 citations
- 1910.146(k)(2) 38 citations
- 1910.146(k)(1)(i) 29 citations
- 1910.146(k)(2)(iv) 26 citations
- 1910.146(k)(3)(i) 10 citations
- 1910.146(k)(1)(v) 10 citations
- 1910.146(k)(3)(ii) 9 citations
- 1910.146(k)(2)(iii) 5 citations
- 1910.146(k)(1)(iv) 4 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
What must be evaluated about a rescue service?
Its proficiency with rescue-related tasks and equipment.
For which spaces?
The particular permit space or types of permit spaces identified.
Who does the evaluation?
The employer.
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.