1910.146(c)(7)(iii): Certifying a Permit Space Is Hazard-Free
When an employer decides all hazards in a permit space have been eliminated, it must document the basis in a certification with the date, the location of the space and the signature of the person who made the determination. The certification must be made available to each employee entering the space or to their authorized representative.
Key takeaways
- 1910.146(c)(7)(iii) is part of OSHA's general industry standards (29 CFR Part 1910, Subpart J).
- OSHA cited it 33 times in the last 3 years, in 33 inspections, with $80,994 in current penalties.
- 2 deaths are linked to inspections that cited this rule.
- Most citations: MN (8), OH (5), NY (4).
- Related part: 1910.146(c) General requirements (1,090 citations).
- Free 5-minute toolbox talk for your crew below.
In this article
What this rule covers
29 CFR 1910.146(c)(7)(iii) 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
(iii) The employer shall document the basis for determining that all hazards in a permit space have been eliminated, through a certification that contains the date, the location of the space, and the signature of the person making the determination. The certification shall be made available to each employee entering the space or to that employee's authorized representative. 33 citations
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(c)(7)(iii).
At 6:00 a.m. on August 29, 2024, Employee #1 was working to clear spilled product from inside the Retort machine. While attempting to perform the task, the employee became caught between the top lip of the machine opening and a rackof product being loaded into…
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 | 10 |
| 2025 | 16 |
| 2026 | 4 |
Top states: MN (8), OH (5), NY (4), OK (2), PA (2)
Largest penalties
| Employer | Location | Penalty for this rule |
|---|---|---|
| JOBE MATERIALS, L.P. | EL PASO, TX | $16,550 |
| FUYAO GLASS AMERICA, INC. | MORAINE, OH | $14,518 |
| SUPERLITE AN OLDCASTLE COMPANY | CHANDLER, AZ | $10,000 |
| PIONEER INDUSTRIES INTERNATIONAL | OKLAHOMA CITY, OK | $9,000 |
| OWENS-BROCKWAY GLASS CONTAINER INC. | RINGGOLD, VA | $6,550 |
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A 5-minute crew talk on 1910.146(c)(7)(iii), plus alerts when this rule changes. Free.
OSHA interpretation letters
Related parts of this rule
- 1910.146(c) General requirements 1,090 citations
- 1910.146(c)(2) 359 citations
- 1910.146(c)(1) 293 citations
- 1910.146(c)(4) 253 citations
- 1910.146(c)(5) 63 citations
- 1910.146(c)(5)(ii) 59 citations
- 1910.146(c)(7) 50 citations
- 1910.146(c)(3) 40 citations
- 1910.146(c)(5)(ii)(C) 24 citations
- 1910.146(c)(8) 19 citations
- 1910.146(c)(9) 11 citations
- 1910.146(c)(5)(ii)(H) 10 citations
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Frequently asked questions
What must the certification include?
The date, the location of the space and the signature of the person making the determination.
Who can see the certification?
Each employee entering the space, or that employee's authorized representative.
What is being certified?
The basis for determining that all hazards in the permit space have been eliminated.
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.