1910.146(d)(4)(vii): Ladders for Permit Space Entry and Exit
Employers must provide equipment, such as ladders, that authorized entrants need to get into and out of a permit-required confined space safely.
Key takeaways
- 1910.146(d)(4)(vii) is part of OSHA's general industry standards (29 CFR Part 1910, Subpart J).
- OSHA cited it 4 times in the last 3 years, in 4 inspections, with $12,099 in current penalties.
- 2 deaths are linked to inspections that cited this rule.
- Related part: 1910.146(d) Permit-required confined space program (480 citations).
- Free 5-minute toolbox talk for your crew below.
In this article
What this rule covers
29 CFR 1910.146(d)(4)(vii) 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
(vii) Equipment, such as ladders, needed for safe ingress and egress by authorized entrants; 4 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(d)(4)(vii).
At 9:00 a.m. on April 3, 2024, an employee working as a plant operator for building materials manufacturer was reinstalling mixer blades onto the shaft inside a Vince Hagan HM-10 Horizontal Concrete Mixer. The employee had been on acrew between January 2024 and April 2024…
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
Free toolbox talk
A 5-minute crew talk on 1910.146(d)(4)(vii), plus alerts when this rule changes. Free.
OSHA interpretation letters
None exist. OSHA has not published a letter of interpretation for 1910.146(d)(4)(vii).
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)(14) 23 citations
- 1910.146(d)(10) 17 citations
- 1910.146(d)(1) 16 citations
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Frequently asked questions
What equipment does this paragraph require?
Equipment, such as ladders, needed for safe ingress and egress by authorized entrants.
Who is this equipment for?
Authorized entrants of the permit space.
Are ladders the only option?
Ladders are an example; the rule covers whatever equipment is needed for safe entry and exit.
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.