1910.146(k)(1)(v): Rescue Team Access to Permit Spaces
Employers must give the selected rescue team or service access to all permit spaces from which rescue may be necessary, so the rescue service can develop rescue plans and practice rescue operations.
Key takeaways
- 1910.146(k)(1)(v) 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 $29,900 in current penalties.
- 1 death is linked to inspections that cited this rule.
- Most citations: NJ (4), AK (2), TX (2).
- 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)(v) 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
(v) Provide the rescue team or service selected with access to all permit spaces from which rescue may be necessary so that the rescue service can develop appropriate rescue plans and practice rescue operations. 10 citations
Non-mandatory appendix F contains examples of criteria which employers can use in evaluating prospective rescuers as required by paragraph (k)(1) of this section.
Source: eCFR, text current as of 2026-10-15. Read all of 1910.146.
Injuries linked to this rule
1 death is linked to inspections where OSHA cited 1910.146(k)(1)(v).
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 |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 7 |
| 2025 | 2 |
| 2026 | 1 |
Top states: NJ (4), AK (2), TX (2), IL (1), OH (1)
Largest penalties
| Employer | Location | Penalty for this rule |
|---|---|---|
| CLEAN HARBORS ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES INC. | TWINSBURG, OH | $16,550 |
| TOWN OF CLINTON | CLINTON, NJ | $4,900 |
| MEDFORD TOWNSHIP SEWAGE TREATMENT PLANT | MEDFORD, NJ | $4,200 |
| BURLINGTON CITY WATER DEPARTMENT | BURLINGTON, NJ | $3,500 |
| WRIGHTSTOWN MUA WATER PLANT | WRIGHTSTOWN, NJ | $750 |
Free toolbox talk
A 5-minute crew talk on 1910.146(k)(1)(v), 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)(v).
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)(1)(ii) 27 citations
- 1910.146(k)(2)(iv) 26 citations
- 1910.146(k)(3)(i) 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 access must be provided?
Access to all permit spaces from which rescue may be necessary.
Why is access needed?
So the rescue service can develop appropriate rescue plans and practice rescue operations.
Is there guidance for evaluating rescuers?
Yes. Non-mandatory appendix F gives example criteria.
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.