1926.1204(c): Procedures for Safe Permit Space Entry in Construction
Construction employers must develop and implement the means, procedures and practices for safe permit space entry, including setting acceptable entry conditions, letting entrants observe testing, isolating the space and its physical hazards, and purging, inerting, flushing or ventilating to control atmospheric hazards. They must also make sure monitoring will warn entrants in time if ventilation fails, provide barriers from outside hazards, verify conditions throughout entry, and remove conditions that make opening the cover unsafe.
Key takeaways
- 1926.1204(c) is part of OSHA's construction standards (29 CFR Part 1926, Subpart AA).
- OSHA cited it 27 times in the last 3 years, in 18 inspections, with $276,192 in current penalties.
- 3 deaths are linked to inspections that cited this rule.
- Most citations: AL (5), TX (3), IL (2).
- Related part: 1926.1204(c)(4) (4 citations).
- Free 5-minute toolbox talk for your crew below.
In this article
What this rule covers
29 CFR 1926.1204(c) is one requirement inside 1926.1204 Permit-required confined space program, an OSHA construction standard (Part 1926, Subpart AA). It includes 8 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
(c) Develop and implement the means, procedures, and practices necessary for safe permit space entry operations, including, but not limited to, the following: 27 citations
(1) Specifying acceptable entry conditions; 3 citations
(2) Providing each authorized entrant or that employee's authorized representative with the opportunity to observe any monitoring or testing of permit spaces; Open (c)(2) 2 citations
(3) Isolating the permit space and physical hazard(s) within the space; Open (c)(3) 2 citations
(4) Purging, inerting, flushing, or ventilating the permit space as necessary to eliminate or control atmospheric hazards; Open (c)(4) 4 citations
When an employer is unable to reduce the atmosphere below 10 percent LFL, the employer may only enter if the employer inerts the space so as to render the entire atmosphere in the space non-combustible, and the employees use PPE to address any other atmospheric hazards (such as oxygen deficiency), and the employer eliminates or isolates all physical hazards in the space.
(5) Determining that, in the event the ventilation system stops working, the monitoring procedures will detect an increase in atmospheric hazard levels in sufficient time for the entrants to safely exit the permit space; 1 citations
(6) Providing pedestrian, vehicle, or other barriers as necessary to protect entrants from external hazards; 2 citations
(7) Verifying that conditions in the permit space are acceptable for entry throughout the duration of an authorized entry, and ensuring that employees are not allowed to enter into, or remain in, a permit space with a hazardous atmosphere unless the employer can demonstrate that personal protective equipment (PPE) will provide effective protection for each employee in the permit space and provides the appropriate PPE to each employee; and 3 citations
(8) Eliminating any conditions (for example, high pressure) that could make it unsafe to remove an entrance cover.
Source: eCFR, text current as of 2026-10-15. Read all of 1926.1204.
Injuries linked to this rule
3 deaths are linked to inspections where OSHA cited 1926.1204(c).
At 7:31 a.m. on September 13, 2024, Employee #1 was working inside a 9-foot deepsewer manhole in Faribault, Minnesota. The employee was performing a construction task to cement the end of a pipeline to close an old sewer line. The employee was not wearing 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 | 1 |
| 2024 | 11 |
| 2025 | 4 |
| 2026 | 11 |
Top states: AL (5), TX (3), IL (2), NJ (2), UT (2)
Largest penalties
| Employer | Location | Penalty for this rule |
|---|---|---|
| US TANK PAINTING, INC. | BAYVILLE, NJ | $125,500 |
| CONSTRUCTION LABOR SERVICES, INC. | MOBILE, AL | $82,750 |
| 108102 - ICON LLC | FARIBAULT, MN | $25,000 |
| D L BANDY CONSTRUCTORS INC. | CONVERSE, TX | $11,585 |
| 66676 - BUILDING CRAFTS INC | LUDLOW, KY | $7,000 |
Free toolbox talk
A 5-minute crew talk on 1926.1204(c), plus alerts when this rule changes. Free.
OSHA interpretation letters
None exist. OSHA has not published a letter of interpretation for 1926.1204(c).
Related parts of this rule
- 1926.1204(c)(4) 4 citations
- 1926.1204(c)(2) 2 citations
- 1926.1204(c)(3) 2 citations
Get your crew competent
Trainers on Black Belt Safety: Marc Harvey, Dana Reyes
Trainers and suppliers: feature your business on this rule for $25/month.
Frequently asked questions
What if the atmosphere cannot be brought below 10 percent LFL?
Entry is allowed only if the space is inerted so the entire atmosphere is non-combustible, employees use PPE for any other atmospheric hazards, and all physical hazards are eliminated or isolated.
What must happen if the ventilation system stops?
The employer must have determined that monitoring will detect an increase in hazard levels in time for entrants to safely exit.
Can entrants watch the testing?
Yes. Each authorized entrant or their authorized representative must be given the opportunity to observe monitoring or testing.
About this page
Sources
- 29 CFR 1926.1204 (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 2026-10-19
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.