1910.146(i): Permit Space Attendant Duties
Employers must make sure each permit space attendant knows the hazards and their signs and effects, keeps an accurate count of entrants, stays outside until relieved, communicates with entrants, and monitors conditions inside and outside. The attendant must order immediate evacuation for a prohibited condition, signs of exposure, an outside danger or if they cannot do their duties, and summon rescue and emergency services when needed.
Key takeaways
- 1910.146(i) is part of OSHA's general industry standards (29 CFR Part 1910, Subpart J).
- OSHA cited it 24 times in the last 3 years, in 21 inspections, with $121,781 in current penalties.
- 3 deaths are linked to inspections that cited this rule.
- Most citations: TX (3), ME (3), AK (2).
- Related part: 1910.146(i)(1) (7 citations).
- Free 5-minute toolbox talk for your crew below.
In this article
What this rule covers
29 CFR 1910.146(i) ("Duties of attendants") is one requirement inside 1910.146 Permit-required confined spaces, an OSHA general industry standard (Part 1910, Subpart J). It includes 17 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
(i) Duties of attendants. The employer shall ensure that each attendant: 24 citations
(1) Knows the hazards that may be faced during entry, including information on the mode, signs or symptoms, and consequences of the exposure; Open (i)(1) 7 citations
(2) Is aware of possible behavioral effects of hazard exposure in authorized entrants;
(3) Continuously maintains an accurate count of authorized entrants in the permit space and ensures that the means used to identify authorized entrants under paragraph (f)(4) of this section accurately identifies who is in the permit space; 1 citations
(4) Remains outside the permit space during entry operations until relieved by another attendant; 5 citations
When the employer's permit entry program allows attendant entry for rescue, attendants may enter a permit space to attempt a rescue if they have been trained and equipped for rescue operations as required by paragraph (k)(1) of this section and if they have been relieved as required by paragraph (i)(4) of this section.
(5) Communicates with authorized entrants as necessary to monitor entrant status and to alert entrants of the need to evacuate the space under paragraph (i)(6) of this section; 2 citations
(6) Monitors activities inside and outside the space to determine if it is safe for entrants to remain in the space and orders the authorized entrants to evacuate the permit space immediately under any of the following conditions; Open (i)(6) 2 citations
(i) If the attendant detects a prohibited condition; Open (i)(6)(i) 1 citations
(ii) If the attendant detects the behavioral effects of hazard exposure in an authorized entrant;
(iii) If the attendant detects a situation outside the space that could endanger the authorized entrants; or 1 citations
(iv) If the attendant cannot effectively and safely perform all the duties required under paragraph (i) of this section;
(7) Summon rescue and other emergency services as soon as the attendant determines that authorized entrants may need assistance to escape from permit space hazards; 2 citations
(8) Takes the following actions when unauthorized persons approach or enter a permit space while entry is underway:
(i) Warn the unauthorized persons that they must stay away from the permit space;
(ii) Advise the unauthorized persons that they must exit immediately if they have entered the permit space; and
(iii) Inform the authorized entrants and the entry supervisor if unauthorized persons have entered the permit space;
(9) Performs non-entry rescues as specified by the employer's rescue procedure; and
(10) Performs no duties that might interfere with the attendant's primary duty to monitor and protect the authorized entrants. 3 citations
Source: eCFR, text current as of 2026-10-15. Read all of 1910.146.
Injuries linked to this rule
3 deaths are linked to inspections where OSHA cited 1910.146(i).
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 | 3 |
| 2024 | 3 |
| 2025 | 14 |
| 2026 | 4 |
Top states: TX (3), ME (3), AK (2), NE (2), OH (2)
Largest penalties
| Employer | Location | Penalty for this rule |
|---|---|---|
| CLEAN HARBORS ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES INC. | TWINSBURG, OH | $16,550 |
| JOBE MATERIALS, L.P. | EL PASO, TX | $16,550 |
| QUALITY MANUFACTURING CORP. | URBANDALE, IA | $14,895 |
| BROWN & ROOT INDUSTRIAL SERVICES, LLC | NARROWS, VA | $14,290 |
| FCX2026XJW184X0203 - GOWAN MILLING COMPANY, L.L.C. | YUMA, AZ | $11,823 |
Free toolbox talk
A 5-minute crew talk on 1910.146(i), plus alerts when this rule changes. Free.
OSHA interpretation letters
- Centralized Monitoring for Permit-Required Confined Spaces (2014-04-15)
- Respiratory protection and emergency escape requirements for IDLH atmospheres. (2003-01-13)
- An attendant may participate in non-entry confined space rescue under certain conditions. (2000-06-06)
- Requirements for PRCS attendants; Fall arrest system anchorage point (1995-08-25)
Related parts of this rule
- 1910.146(i)(1) 7 citations
- 1910.146(i)(6) 2 citations
- 1910.146(i)(6)(i) 1 citations
Get your crew competent
Trainers on Black Belt Safety: Marc Harvey, Dana Reyes
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Frequently asked questions
Can the attendant enter the space?
Only for rescue if the program allows it, they are trained and equipped for rescue, and they have been relieved by another attendant.
When must the attendant order evacuation?
On a prohibited condition, behavioral effects of exposure in an entrant, an outside situation that could endanger entrants, or if they cannot safely perform their duties.
Must the attendant track who is inside?
Yes, continuously maintain an accurate count of authorized entrants.
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.