1926.1207(a): Confined Space Training for Construction
Employers must train each employee whose work is covered by the construction confined spaces standard, at no cost, and ensure they have the understanding, knowledge and skills for safe work. Training must cover the hazards in the permit space, the methods used to protect employees, and, for those not authorized to perform entry rescues, the dangers of attempting rescues.
Key takeaways
- 1926.1207(a) is part of OSHA's construction standards (29 CFR Part 1926, Subpart AA).
- OSHA cited it 39 times in the last 3 years, in 39 inspections, with $187,093 in current penalties.
- 3 deaths are linked to inspections that cited this rule.
- Most citations: TX (5), MI (5), VA (3).
- Free 5-minute toolbox talk for your crew below.
In this article
What this rule covers
29 CFR 1926.1207(a) is one requirement inside 1926.1207 Training, an OSHA construction standard (Part 1926, Subpart AA). 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
(a) The employer must provide training to each employee whose work is regulated by this standard, at no cost to the employee, and ensure that the employee possesses the understanding, knowledge, and skills necessary for the safe performance of the duties assigned under this standard. This training must result in an understanding of the hazards in the permit space and the methods used to isolate, control or in other ways protect employees from these hazards, and for those employees not authorized to perform entry rescues, in the dangers of attempting such rescues. 39 citations
Source: eCFR, text current as of 2026-10-15. Read all of 1926.1207.
Injuries linked to this rule
3 deaths are linked to inspections where OSHA cited 1926.1207(a).
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 | 3 |
| 2024 | 16 |
| 2025 | 12 |
| 2026 | 8 |
Top states: TX (5), MI (5), VA (3), NV (2), IL (2)
Largest penalties
| Employer | Location | Penalty for this rule |
|---|---|---|
| 108102 - ICON LLC | FARIBAULT, MN | $25,000 |
| COMMODORE MAINTENANCE CORPORATION | BROOKLYN, NY | $23,170 |
| CONSTRUCTION LABOR SERVICES, INC. | MOBILE, AL | $16,550 |
| GRANITE CONSTRUCTION COMPANY | ANCHORAGE, AK | $16,131 |
| SBF CONSTRUCTION, INC. | NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ | $14,895 |
Free toolbox talk
A 5-minute crew talk on 1926.1207(a), plus alerts when this rule changes. Free.
OSHA interpretation letters
None exist. OSHA has not published a letter of interpretation for 1926.1207(a).
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Frequently asked questions
Who must get confined space training?
Each employee whose work is regulated by 1926 Subpart AA.
Who pays for the training?
The employer, at no cost to the employee.
What must training cover for workers not authorized to rescue?
The dangers of attempting such rescues.
About this page
Sources
- 29 CFR 1926.1207 (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.