1910.146(d)(14): Annual Review of the Permit Space Program
Employers must review the permit space program using canceled permits within 1 year after each entry and revise it as needed to protect entrants from permit space hazards. A single annual review may cover all entries in a 12-month period, and no review is needed if no entries were made in that period.
Key takeaways
- 1910.146(d)(14) is part of OSHA's general industry standards (29 CFR Part 1910, Subpart J).
- OSHA cited it 23 times in the last 3 years, in 23 inspections, with $52,564 in current penalties.
- 2 deaths are linked to inspections that cited this rule.
- Most citations: NJ (5), MI (4), CT (3).
- Related part: 1910.146(d) Permit-required confined space program (480 citations).
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In this article
What this rule covers
29 CFR 1910.146(d)(14) 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
(14) Review the permit space program, using the canceled permits retained under paragraph (e)(6) of this section within 1 year after each entry and revise the program as necessary, to ensure that employees participating in entry operations are protected from permit space hazards. 23 citations
Employers may perform a single annual review covering all entries performed during a 12-month period. If no entry is performed during a 12-month period, no review is necessary.
Appendix C to § 1910.146 presents examples of permit space programs that are considered to comply with the requirements of paragraph (d) of this section.
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(d)(14).
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…
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 | 1 |
| 2024 | 9 |
| 2025 | 7 |
| 2026 | 6 |
Top states: NJ (5), MI (4), CT (3), NY (2), OH (2)
Largest penalties
| Employer | Location | Penalty for this rule |
|---|---|---|
| CLEAN HARBORS ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES INC. | TWINSBURG, OH | $16,550 |
| TACTICAL CLEANING ACQUISITION, LLC | HARWOOD, TX | $13,240 |
| TOWNSHIP OF EAST BRUNSWICK DPW | EAST BRUNSWICK, NJ | $4,900 |
| MEDFORD TOWNSHIP SEWAGE TREATMENT PLANT | MEDFORD, NJ | $4,200 |
| CITY OF TRENTON WATER DEPARTMENT - FILTRATION PLANT | TRENTON, NJ | $4,200 |
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A 5-minute crew talk on 1910.146(d)(14), plus alerts when this rule changes. Free.
OSHA interpretation letters
Related parts of this rule
- 1910.146(d) Permit-required confined space program 480 citations
- 1910.146(d)(3) 107 citations
- 1910.146(d)(5) 91 citations
- 1910.146(d)(4) 66 citations
- 1910.146(d)(9) 63 citations
- 1910.146(d)(5)(i) 58 citations
- 1910.146(d)(2) 40 citations
- 1910.146(d)(4)(i) 33 citations
- 1910.146(d)(6) 31 citations
- 1910.146(d)(10) 17 citations
- 1910.146(d)(1) 16 citations
- 1910.146(d)(3)(iii) 15 citations
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Frequently asked questions
How often must the permit space program be reviewed?
Within 1 year after each entry, using the canceled permits; a single annual review can cover all entries in a 12-month period.
What if there were no entries in a year?
If no entry is performed during a 12-month period, no review is necessary.
What is used for the review?
The canceled permits retained under paragraph (e)(6) of 1910.146.
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.