Regulatory Reference
OSHA Confined Space Standards Explained
Plain-language summaries of the standards our courses are aligned with, each linked to the official OSHA source. This page is general guidance, not legal advice.
Construction
29 CFR 1926 Subpart AA
Subpart AA Overview →
Confined Spaces in Construction. Requires identifying and classifying confined spaces on a construction site, a written permit program, training for every role, and rescue/emergency planning specific to construction work.
1926.1207: Training
Sets who must be trained, in what, and how retraining works when duties, hazards, or performance issues change. This is the section our Awareness and Entry courses are built around.
1926.1208: Duties of Authorized Entrants
What an entrant must know and do before, during, and after entering a permit space, covered in Permit-Required Entry training.
1926.1209: Duties of Attendants
The attendant's continuous monitoring, communication, and evacuation-authority duties, also covered in Permit-Required Entry training.
1926.1210: Duties of Entry Supervisors
Authorization, verification, and oversight duties for the entry supervisor, covered in Supervisor training.
1926.1211: Rescue & Emergency Services
Requirements for verified rescue capability before entry begins, covered in Supervisor and Competent Person training, and in our rescue planning guide.
General Industry
29 CFR 1910.146
1910.146 Overview →
Permit-Required Confined Spaces for General Industry. The general industry counterpart to 1926 Subpart AA, sharing the same core roles and permit concepts.
How It Differs From Subpart AA
1910.146 predates Subpart AA and doesn't include construction-specific requirements like continuous atmospheric monitoring or multi-employer information exchange that construction sites need.
OSHA Training FAQ
OSHA's general guidance on training delivery methods, including where online/computer-based training fits. Read it →
State Rules
State Plans May Differ
Roughly half the states run their own OSHA-approved State Plan, which must be at least as protective as federal OSHA and sometimes adds requirements. See our State OSHA Plan Requirements guide or OSHA's official State Plans directory →.
This page is provided for general guidance and training purposes and is not legal advice. Regulatory text, enforcement practices, and links can change. Confirm current requirements for your specific site and project with qualified counsel or OSHA directly before relying on them.
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