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Permit-Required Confined Space Attendant (General Industry)

Learn the duties of the attendant who stays outside a permit-required confined space: counting entrants, monitoring, ordering evacuation, summoning rescue, and keeping unauthorized people out.

Based on OSHA 29 CFR 1910.146 (permit-required confined spaces, general industry) · about 8 min read

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Where the attendant fits

What an attendant is

The rule for general industry defines an attendant as an individual stationed outside one or more permit spaces who monitors the authorized entrants and performs all attendant's duties assigned in the employer's permit space program.

The employer must provide at least one attendant outside the permit space for the duration of entry operations
An attendant may be assigned to more than one permit space, as long as the attendant's duties can be effectively performed for each space
If one attendant watches several spaces, the permit program must include the means and procedures for the attendant to respond to an emergency in one of them without distraction from the attendant's responsibilities

This section does not apply to agriculture, construction or shipyard employment.

Reference: 29 CFR 1910.146(a) · 29 CFR 1910.146(b) · 29 CFR 1910.146(d)(6) · 29 CFR 1910.146(d)(7)

Where the attendant fits

Which spaces need an attendant

A permit-required confined space (permit space) is a confined space with one or more of these characteristics:

A hazardous atmosphereIt contains one, or has the potential to.

EngulfmentIt contains a material that could engulf an entrant.

Trapping shapeAn internal configuration, such as inwardly converging walls, that could trap or asphyxiate an entrant.

Any other serious hazardAny other recognized serious safety or health hazard.

Reference: 29 CFR 1910.146(b)

Where the attendant fits

Can one person do two jobs?

The entry team has an authorized entrant who goes in, an attendant who stays out, and an entry supervisor who authorizes the entry. An entry supervisor may also serve as an attendant or as an authorized entrant, as long as that person is trained and equipped as required for each role he or she fills.

Reference: 29 CFR 1910.146(b) Note · 29 CFR 1910.146(b) "Entry supervisor" · 29 CFR 1910.146(b) "Authorized entrant"

Hazards, entrants and the permit

Know the hazards

An attendant must know the hazards that may be faced during entry, including the mode, signs or symptoms, and consequences of exposure, and be aware of the possible behavioral effects of hazard exposure in authorized entrants.

Two examples from the rule's definition of a hazardous atmosphere:

Flammable gas, vapor or mist in excess of 10 percent of its lower flammable limit (LFL)
Atmospheric oxygen concentration below 19.5 percent or above 23.5 percent

A hazardous atmosphere can expose people to the risk of death, incapacitation, impairment of ability to self-rescue (to escape unaided from a permit space), injury or acute illness. Engulfment is the surrounding and effective capture of a person by a liquid or finely divided (flowable) solid substance that can be aspirated to cause death by filling or plugging the respiratory system or that can exert enough force on the body to cause death by strangulation, constriction, or crushing.

Reference: 29 CFR 1910.146(i)(1) · 29 CFR 1910.146(i)(2) · 29 CFR 1910.146(b)

Hazards, entrants and the permit

Keep an accurate count

The attendant continuously maintains an accurate count of the authorized entrants in the permit space, and makes sure the means used to identify them (names, rosters or a tracking system) accurately shows who is inside.

The entry permit has to name the authorized entrants within the space, or give another means such as a roster or tracking system, that lets the attendant determine quickly and accurately which entrants are inside, for the duration of the permit.

Reference: 29 CFR 1910.146(i)(3) · 29 CFR 1910.146(f)(4)

Hazards, entrants and the permit

The entry permit and the attendant

The permit tells the attendant what to watch for.

The permit space: The permit identifies the permit space to be entered.
Who is inside: The permit names the authorized entrants within the space, or gives another means, such as a roster or tracking system, that lets the attendant determine quickly and accurately which entrants are inside.
Attendants by name: The permit lists, by name, the personnel currently serving as attendants.
Acceptable entry conditions: The permit lists the acceptable entry conditions: the conditions that must exist in a permit space to allow entry and to ensure that employees can safely enter into and work within the space.
Communication procedures: The permit gives the communication procedures authorized entrants and attendants use to maintain contact during the entry.
Rescue and emergency services: The permit lists the rescue and emergency services that can be summoned and the means for summoning them, such as the equipment to use and the numbers to call.

Sample permit for training only. The names, space and numbers are fictional.

Reference: 29 CFR 1910.146(f) · 29 CFR 1910.146(f)(1) · 29 CFR 1910.146(f)(4) · 29 CFR 1910.146(f)(5) · 29 CFR 1910.146(f)(9) · 29 CFR 1910.146(f)(11) · 29 CFR 1910.146(f)(12) · 29 CFR 1910.146(b)

Stay, talk and monitor

Stay outside, communicate, monitor

Stay putRemain outside the permit space during entry operations until relieved by another attendant.

CommunicateTalk with the authorized entrants as necessary to monitor their status and to alert them when they need to evacuate.

MonitorWatch activities inside and outside the space to decide whether it is safe for entrants to remain.

Stay focusedPerform no duties that might interfere with the primary duty to monitor and protect the authorized entrants.

The employer must provide communications equipment necessary for this communication.

Reference: 29 CFR 1910.146(i)(4) · 29 CFR 1910.146(i)(5) · 29 CFR 1910.146(i)(6) · 29 CFR 1910.146(i)(10) · 29 CFR 1910.146(d)(4)(iii)

Stay, talk and monitor

When an attendant may enter

The default is to stay out. The rule makes one narrow allowance: when the employer's permit entry program allows attendant entry for rescue, an attendant may enter a permit space to attempt a rescue if the attendant has been trained and equipped for rescue operations as the rule requires and has been relieved by another attendant.

If you have not been told your program allows this, and trained and equipped for it, do not go in.

Reference: 29 CFR 1910.146(i)(4) Note

Evacuate, summon and rescue

Ordering evacuation

The attendant orders the authorized entrants to evacuate the permit space immediately under any of these conditions:

1. A prohibited conditionAny condition in the space that the permit does not allow while entry is authorized.

2. Behavioral effectsThe attendant detects behavioral effects of hazard exposure in an entrant.

3. A threat from outsideA situation outside the space could endanger the entrants.

4. The attendant cannot do the jobThe attendant cannot effectively and safely perform all of the attendant's duties.

On the other side of the opening, authorized entrants must exit as quickly as possible whenever the attendant or entry supervisor gives an order to evacuate, among other triggers.

Reference: 29 CFR 1910.146(i)(6) · 29 CFR 1910.146(b) · 29 CFR 1910.146(h)(5) · 29 CFR 1910.146(i)(6)(i) · 29 CFR 1910.146(i)(6)(ii) · 29 CFR 1910.146(i)(6)(iii) · 29 CFR 1910.146(i)(6)(iv) · 29 CFR 1910.146(h)(5)(i)

Evacuate, summon and rescue

Summoning rescue and non-entry rescue

Summon rescue and other emergency services as soon as you determine that authorized entrants may need assistance to escape from permit space hazards
Perform non-entry rescues as specified by your employer's rescue procedure

The retrieval system

A retrieval system (retrieval line, chest or full-body harness, wristlets if appropriate, and a lifting device or anchor) is used for non-entry rescue. Retrieval systems or methods shall be used whenever an authorized entrant enters a permit space, unless the retrieval equipment would increase the overall risk of entry or would not contribute to the rescue of the entrant.

The other end of the retrieval line is attached to a mechanical device or fixed point outside the space so rescue can begin as soon as the rescuer knows it is necessary
A mechanical device must be available to retrieve people from vertical permit spaces more than 5 feet (1.52 m) deep

Reference: 29 CFR 1910.146(i)(7) · 29 CFR 1910.146(i)(9) · 29 CFR 1910.146(k)(3) · 29 CFR 1910.146(b) · 29 CFR 1910.146(k)(3)(ii)

Unauthorized persons and training

Keeping unauthorized people out

When unauthorized persons approach or enter a permit space while entry is underway, the attendant:

Warns them that they must stay away from the permit space
Advises them that they must exit immediately if they have entered the space
Informs the authorized entrants and the entry supervisor if unauthorized persons have entered the space

Removing unauthorized individuals who enter, or try to enter, the permit space is listed as a duty of the entry supervisor. The employer must also inform exposed employees of the existence, location and danger of permit spaces by posting danger signs or other equally effective means.

Reference: 29 CFR 1910.146(i)(8) · 29 CFR 1910.146(j)(5) · 29 CFR 1910.146(c)(2) · 29 CFR 1910.146(i)(8)(i) · 29 CFR 1910.146(i)(8)(ii) · 29 CFR 1910.146(i)(8)(iii)

Unauthorized persons and training

Your training

The employer must train employees so they gain the understanding, knowledge and skills needed for the duties assigned. Training is required:

Before you are first assigned duties under the rule
Before a change in assigned duties
Whenever a change in permit space operations presents a hazard you have not been trained on
Whenever the employer has reason to believe there are deviations from the entry procedures, or inadequacies in your knowledge or use of them

The training must establish your proficiency. The employer certifies the training: the record contains each employee's name, the trainers' signatures or initials, and the dates of training.

This course is awareness training. It does not take the place of the training your employer must give you on your own site's spaces, permits and rescue procedure.

Reference: 29 CFR 1910.146(g) · 29 CFR 1910.146(d)(8)

Need proof of training? The full course (30 min) adds practice questions, a job scenario, the final quiz and a certificate your employer can verify.

Take the course

Sources

29 CFR 1910.146

Fact-checked against the regulation text on October 09, 2026. This certificate records completion of awareness training based on OSHA 29 CFR 1910.146. It is not an OSHA card or license, and it does not by itself meet the training requirements of 29 CFR 1910.146(g). Your employer must still provide training so that you acquire the understanding, knowledge, and skills necessary for the safe performance of the duties assigned under 1910.146: before you are first assigned duties, before there is a change in assigned duties, whenever a change in permit space operations presents a hazard you have not previously been trained on, and whenever the employer has reason to believe there are deviations from the permit space entry procedures or inadequacies in your knowledge or use of them. The training must establish proficiency in the duties required by 1910.146, and your employer must certify it with each employee's name, the signatures or initials of the trainers, and the dates of training.

This guide explains the rule in plain words. Always read the regulation itself and your employer's site-specific procedures.