1910.146(d)(3): Safe Permit Space Entry Procedures
Employers must develop and use the means, procedures and practices needed for safe permit space entry. These include setting acceptable entry conditions, letting entrants observe testing, isolating the space, purging, inerting, flushing or ventilating as needed, using barriers against outside hazards, and verifying conditions stay acceptable for the whole entry.
Key takeaways
- 1910.146(d)(3) is part of OSHA's general industry standards (29 CFR Part 1910, Subpart J).
- OSHA cited it 107 times in the last 3 years, in 89 inspections, with $693,213 in current penalties.
- 9 deaths are linked to inspections that cited this rule.
- Most citations: TX (10), WI (10), IL (9).
- 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)(3) is one requirement inside 1910.146 Permit-required confined spaces, an OSHA general industry standard (Part 1910, Subpart J). It includes 6 sub-paragraphs. 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
(3) Develop and implement the means, procedures, and practices necessary for safe permit space entry operations, including, but not limited to, the following: 107 citations
(i) Specifying acceptable entry conditions; Open (d)(3)(i) 8 citations
(ii) Providing each authorized entrant or that employee's authorized representative with the opportunity to observe any monitoring or testing of permit spaces; 2 citations
(iii) Isolating the permit space; Open (d)(3)(iii) 15 citations
(iv) Purging, inerting, flushing, or ventilating the permit space as necessary to eliminate or control atmospheric hazards; Open (d)(3)(iv) 8 citations
(v) Providing pedestrian, vehicle, or other barriers as necessary to protect entrants from external hazards; and
(vi) Verifying that conditions in the permit space are acceptable for entry throughout the duration of an authorized entry. Open (d)(3)(vi) 13 citations
Source: eCFR, text current as of 2026-10-15. Read all of 1910.146.
Injuries linked to this rule
9 deaths are linked to inspections where OSHA cited 1910.146(d)(3).
On January 30, 2025, Employee #1 was working at a trailer truck wash business and had been subcontracted to clean out a trailer tank using a water hose. The business specialized in washing out livestock haulers. Employee #1 entered the tank to continue cleaning. A…
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 | 4 |
| 2024 | 39 |
| 2025 | 30 |
| 2026 | 34 |
Top states: TX (10), WI (10), IL (9), MI (8), MN (8)
Largest penalties
| Employer | Location | Penalty for this rule |
|---|---|---|
| WESTROCK CP, LLC | WEST POINT, VA | $162,849 |
| 107323 - WAYNE TRANSPORTS INC | VIRGINIA, MN | $67,200 |
| CLEAN HARBORS ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES INC. | TWINSBURG, OH | $33,100 |
| FRAZER & JONES, LLC | SYRACUSE, NY | $31,941 |
| 109588 - LANG COMPANIES INC DBA LANG FEEDS INC | EDEN VALLEY, MN | $25,000 |
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A 5-minute crew talk on 1910.146(d)(3), plus alerts when this rule changes. Free.
OSHA interpretation letters
- Permit Required Confined Space (2025-01-03)
- Whether reclassification is available for permit-required confined spaces with potentially hazardous atmospheres. (2007-08-06)
- Requirements for developing entry procedures for permit-required confined spaces. (2006-09-21)
Related parts of this rule
- 1910.146(d) Permit-required confined space program 480 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)(14) 23 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
What must the employer specify before entry?
The acceptable entry conditions for the permit space.
Can entrants watch the air testing?
Yes. Each authorized entrant or their authorized representative must have the opportunity to observe monitoring or testing.
How long must conditions be checked?
Conditions must be verified as acceptable throughout the duration of an authorized entry.
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.