Confined Space Entry Permit (US) — OSHA 1910.146 / 1926 Subpart AA
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A Permit-Required Confined Space (PRCS) entry permit template aligned to OSHA 29 CFR 1910.146 (general industry) and 29 CFR 1926 Subpart AA (construction confined spaces). Covers the entry supervisor, authorised entrants, attendant, atmospheric testing schedule, ventilation, rescue arrangements and the closeout requirements that OSHA Compliance Officers cite most often.
Designed for: US plant operations, maintenance, construction GCs and subs, utility contractors, water/wastewater, oil & gas, food processing and any employer with permit-required confined spaces
US (JSA) example document — Roof Tear-Off & Re-Cover — 482 Sandalwood Drive, Boise. Client: Sandalwood Homeowners Association. Site: 482 Sandalwood Drive, Boise, ID 83702. Scope: Tear-off of 2,400 sq ft of 3-tab asphalt shingles, replacement of damaged decking, installation of ice-and-water shield, synthetic underlayment and GAF Timberline HDZ architectural shingles. Works programmed over 6 working days with a crew of 4 roofers and 1 ground operative.
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Complete Guide to Confined Space Entry Permit (US)
What is a Confined Space Entry Permit?
A Permit-Required Confined Space (PRCS) entry permit is the written authorisation required before any worker enters a confined space that contains (or has the potential to contain) a hazardous atmosphere, engulfment hazard, inwardly-converging walls or downward-sloping floor, or any other recognised serious hazard. The permit names the entry supervisor, the authorised entrants and the attendant, lists the hazards, records the atmospheric test results, sets the ventilation requirements, names the rescue arrangements, and is signed before entry, maintained during entry, and closed out after exit.
When is it legally required?
OSHA 29 CFR 1910.146 applies to permit-required confined spaces in general industry; 29 CFR 1926 Subpart AA (Confined Spaces in Construction) applies to PRCS in construction. A confined space is one that (1) is large enough for a worker to bodily enter, (2) has limited or restricted means of entry or egress, and (3) is not designed for continuous occupancy. It becomes a PRCS if it contains or has the potential to contain a hazardous atmosphere, an engulfment hazard, a configuration that could trap or asphyxiate, or any other recognised serious hazard.
Who is responsible?
OSHA 1910.146 names three roles: the Entry Supervisor (authorises the entry, ensures all permit conditions are met, terminates entry when conditions change); the Authorised Entrant (trained worker who enters the space); the Attendant (trained person posted outside the space, monitoring entrants, maintaining communication, summoning rescue). The Attendant cannot enter the space. Rescue services must be identified in advance — either in-house trained rescue team or off-site service confirmed available within an acceptable response time.
Where is it commonly used?
Wastewater treatment lift stations, water utility valve vaults, manholes, sewers, storage tanks, silos, pipelines, ship hulls, boilers, reactor vessels, HVAC ductwork, tunnels, crawlspaces, pits, vaults, electrical vaults, telecom manholes, refinery vessels, paper mill tanks, food and pharma process vessels, grain bins. Required across every state — federal OSHA in 28 states, state-plan OSHA in 22 states (which adopt or exceed federal requirements).
What a Complete Confined Space Entry Permit Includes
- Permit number, date, time issued, expiration time
- Space identification, location, description
- Purpose of entry
- Entry supervisor — name, signature
- Authorised entrants — names
- Attendant — name, signature, confirms not also entering
- Hazards of the space (atmospheric, engulfment, mechanical, electrical, configuration)
- Isolation: LOTO, blanking, double-block-and-bleed, line breaking — cross-referenced
- Pre-entry atmospheric testing: O2 (19.5%–23.5%), LEL (<10%), CO, H2S, other contaminants
- Continuous or periodic atmospheric monitoring schedule during entry
- Ventilation in place — type, flow rate, duct configuration
- PPE required — respiratory, fall, chemical, electrical
- Equipment for entry — tripod, winch, harness, retrieval line, communications
- Communication method between attendant and entrants
- Rescue arrangements — in-house team or off-site service, response time, contact
- Permit posted at the entry point
- Closeout: entry terminated, equipment retrieved, permit signed off
- Cancellation conditions — atmosphere out of range, alarm, unplanned event
What's included in this template
Permit Header
Number, date, time, expiration.
Space Identification
Location, description, purpose of entry.
Personnel
Entry supervisor, authorised entrants, attendant.
Hazards
Atmospheric, engulfment, mechanical, electrical, configuration.
Isolation
LOTO, blanking, line breaking — cross-referenced.
Atmospheric Testing
Pre-entry results, continuous/periodic monitoring schedule.
Ventilation & PPE
Type, flow rate, respiratory and other PPE.
Entry Equipment
Tripod, winch, harness, retrieval line, comms.
Rescue
In-house or contracted service, confirmed available.
Authorisation & Closeout
Signatures, posting, closeout signatures.
US Requirements and Best Practice
Legal expectations
- ● Written PRCS program — 1910.146(c)(4) / 1926.1203(d)
- ● Permit required before entry, signed by entry supervisor — 1910.146(e) / 1926.1206
- ● Acceptable entry conditions: O2 19.5–23.5%, LEL <10% — 1910.146(d)(5)
- ● Continuous monitoring where conditions warrant — 1910.146(d)(5)(ii)
- ● Attendant posted outside, in continuous communication, summons rescue — 1910.146(i) / 1926.1209
- ● Rescue services identified and capable, confirmed available — 1910.146(k) / 1926.1211
- ● Training for entrants, attendants, supervisors — 1910.146(g) / 1926.1207
- ● Permit retained for at least 1 year (review of program) — 1910.146(e)(6)
- ● Re-evaluation when conditions change — automatic permit cancellation
What inspectors typically look for
- ● Is the permit posted at the entry, dated today, signed by the entry supervisor?
- ● Is the attendant present, trained, and not engaged in other work?
- ● Are atmospheric readings logged at the required intervals, with calibrated equipment?
- ● Is rescue arranged — and confirmed available today, not just listed?
- ● Is isolation complete: LOTO, blanking, line breaks — verifiable on the equipment?
- ● Are entrants and attendant trained, with training records on file?
- ● Is the communication method actually working (radio test, line-of-sight, voice)?
- ● If construction site: has the GC's controlling-contractor duty under 1926.1203(h) been met?
Common compliance mistakes
- Treating a permit-required space as 'non-permit' without proper reclassification
- Attendant doubling as a worker on another task
- Atmospheric test at start of entry, never repeated
- Gas meter not calibrated, bump-tested or zeroed before use
- Rescue listed as '911' with no confirmation the local FD has confined space rescue capability
- No isolation — line still pressurised, agitator still energised
- Permit signed by someone who is not a trained entry supervisor
- Entrant works alone, no attendant
- Permit not posted at the entry; permit not closed out at exit
- Construction site: subcontractor enters PRCS without GC coordination per 1926.1203(h)
Example Use Cases
Pump replacement in a wastewater lift station, Midwest
12-ft vertical manhole entry into a wet well at a municipal lift station. Pre-entry: pumps locked out, force-main valve blanked, two-hour pre-ventilation with axial fan and 25-ft duct. Atmospheric test: O2 20.4%, LEL 0%, H2S 1 ppm. Continuous H2S monitor on the entrant's harness, alarm at 5 ppm. Tripod and winch set, retrieval harness on. Attendant in voice contact and with radio to dispatch. Rescue: contracted technical rescue team confirmed 18-minute response. Entry terminated when H2S spikes to 6 ppm during a wave of inflow; entrant retrieved, permit cancelled, re-evaluated.
Tank cleaning, food processing plant, Pacific Northwest
Stainless tank cleaning after CIP. Tank isolated, LOTO on agitator and chemical feeds, blanked at the inlet and outlet. Initial test after ventilation: O2 20.9%, no detectable contaminants. Entrant wears Tyvek and supplied-air respirator due to residual caustic odour. Attendant outside the manway with two-way comms. Periodic monitoring every 20 minutes plus continuous O2 monitor. In-house rescue team trained on confined space, drilled quarterly. Permit closed after exit and equipment retrieval.
Telecom manhole entry, urban downtown
Splicing crew opens a sidewalk manhole for fibre work. Traffic plan in place, manhole cover removed for 30 minutes pre-entry with forced ventilation. Atmospheric test: O2 20.6%, LEL 0%, CO 2 ppm (background from passing traffic). Continuous 4-gas monitor lowered in. Single entrant with tripod, retrieval harness, attendant at the surface in voice contact. Rescue: confirmed local FD has CSR capability and is within 12-minute response. Periodic re-test every 30 minutes; permit ends when crew exits and manhole is re-secured.
How to use this template
- 1
Confirm the space is PRCS
Confined space + at least one of: hazardous atmosphere potential, engulfment hazard, internal configuration trap, other recognised serious hazard.
- 2
Isolate all energy and process sources
LOTO mechanical and electrical. Blank, blind or double-block-and-bleed process lines. Verify isolation at the equipment.
- 3
Ventilate the space
Forced ventilation before and during entry. Match duct size to space size and ensure exhaust path doesn't recirculate into the space.
- 4
Test the atmosphere with a calibrated meter
O2 first, then LEL, then toxic gases. O2 must be 19.5–23.5%, LEL must be <10%, toxics below action levels. Calibrate and bump-test before use.
- 5
Set continuous or periodic monitoring
Continuous where any potential for atmosphere change. Periodic with logged readings otherwise. Alarms at action levels.
- 6
Post the attendant
Trained, dedicated, not doing other work. Voice or radio contact with entrants. Knows the rescue activation procedure.
- 7
Confirm rescue availability
In-house trained team or contracted service. Confirm response time today — not just on the permit.
- 8
Authorise entry
Entry supervisor signs the permit, posts it at the entry, briefs the crew.
- 9
Maintain entry conditions
Monitor, communicate, log readings. Terminate entry immediately if conditions change.
- 10
Close out the permit
Entrants exit, equipment retrieved, permit signed off and retained at least 1 year for program review.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Treating a PRCS as 'non-permit' without proper reclassification
- Attendant doubling as a worker on another task
- Atmospheric test at start of entry, never repeated
- Gas meter not calibrated or bump-tested
- Rescue listed as '911' with no confirmation FD has CSR capability
- No isolation — line still pressurised, agitator still energised
- Permit signed by an untrained supervisor
- Entrant works alone, no attendant
- Permit not posted at the entry; permit not closed out at exit
- Construction site: sub enters without GC coordination per 1926.1203(h)
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