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For information related to construction, see OSHA's Confined Spaces - Construction page.

Section 5(a)(1) of the OSH Act, often referred to as the General Duty Clause, requires employers to "furnish to each of his employees employment and a place of employment which are free from recognized hazards that are causing or are likely to cause death or serious physical harm to his employees". Section 5(a)(2) requires employers to "comply with occupational safety and health standards promulgated under this Act".

Note: Twenty-four states, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands have OSHA-approved State Plans and have adopted their own standards and enforcement policies. For the most part, these States adopt standards that are identical to Federal OSHA. However, some States have adopted different standards applicable to this topic or may have different enforcement policies.

General Industry (29 CFR 1910)

• 1910 Subpart H, Hazardous materials,
  • 1910.124, General requirements for dipping and coating operations
• 1910 Subpart J, General environmental controls
  • 1910.146, Permit-required confined spaces
    • Appendix A, Permit-required confined space decision flow chart
    • Appendix B, Procedures for atmospheric testing
    • Appendix C, Examples of permit-required confined space programs
    • Appendix D, Confined space pre-entry check list
    • Appendix E, Sewer system entry
    • Appendix F, Rescue team or rescue service evaluation criteria (Non-mandatory)
• 1910 Subpart Q, Welding, cutting, and brazing
  • 1910.252, General requirements
• 1910 Subpart R, Special industries
  • 1910.261, Pulp, paper, and paperboard mills
  • 1910.268, Telecommunications
  • 1910.272, Grain handling facilities

Shipyard Employment (29 CFR 1915)

• 1915 Subpart B, Confined and enclosed spaces and other dangerous atmospheres in shipyard employment
  • 1915.11, Scope, application, and definitions applicable to this subpart
  • 1915.12, Precautions and the order of testing before entering confined and enclosed spaces and other dangerous atmospheres
  • 1915.13, Cleaning and other cold work
  • 1915.14, Hot work
  • 1915.15, Maintenance of safe conditions
  • 1915.16, Warning signs and labels
  • Appendix A, Compliance assistance guidelines for confined and enclosed spaces and other dangerous atmospheres
  • Appendix B, Reprint of US coast guard regulations referenced in Subpart B, for determination of Coast Guard authorized persons

• 29 CFR Part 1915, Subpart B, Confined and Enclosed Spaces and Other Dangerous Atmospheres in Shipyard Employment. CPL 02-01-042, (2005, September 7).
• Search all available directives.

• Clarification of "potential atmospheric hazard" when reclassifying a PRCS as a non-permit required confined space. (2005, December 2).
• Clarification of "continuous forced air ventilation" for PRCS entry work. (2005, November 17).
• Search all available standard interpretations.

Note: These are NOT OSHA regulations. However, they do provide guidance from their originating organizations related to worker protection.

• Z117.1 - 2003, Safety Requirements for Confined Spaces