Complete Guide
Permit-Required Confined Space Training Guide
Every role that touches a permit-required confined space entry, and honestly, what training each one needs.
The Roles
Six Roles in a Permit-Required Entry
Awareness-Level Worker
Works near, but never enters, confined spaces. Needs Awareness training for hazard recognition.
Authorized Entrant
Physically enters the space. Needs Permit-Required Entry training, plus employer-provided hands-on PPE and monitor practice.
Attendant
Stays outside monitoring the entrant continuously and never enters. Also needs Permit-Required Entry training.
Entry Supervisor
Authorizes and cancels the entry permit. Needs Supervisor training.
Competent Person
Owns the site's overall confined space program. Needs Competent Person training, plus formal employer designation.
Rescue Personnel
Executes entry or non-entry rescue if something goes wrong. Rescue capability requires dedicated procedures, equipment, and practice beyond any single online course. See our rescue planning guide.
The Permit
What Has to Be On a Valid Entry Permit
- Identification of the specific space
- Purpose and duration of the entry
- Hazards present and the measures used to isolate/control them
- Acceptable entry conditions and atmospheric test results
- Names of the entrant(s), attendant, and entry supervisor
- Rescue and emergency procedures
- Any additional permits in effect (e.g. hot work)
This guide summarizes OSHA's permit-required confined space framework for general understanding. It is not legal advice. See OSHA Confined Space Standards for official regulatory links, and confirm current requirements with qualified counsel or OSHA for your specific site.
Training requirements in depth
When OSHA requires training
Under both 1926.1207 (construction) and 1910.146(g) (general industry), employers must train every employee whose work is regulated by the standard so they have the understanding, knowledge and skills to do their confined space duties safely. Training must happen:
- Before the employee is first assigned duties under the standard
- Before there is a change in assigned duties
- Whenever there is a change in permit space operations that presents a hazard the employee hasn't been trained on
- Whenever the employer has reason to believe the employee's knowledge or use of procedures is inadequate
In construction, the training must be provided at no cost to the employee and in a language and vocabulary the employee understands.
Proving the training happened
Both standards require the employer to certify that training has been accomplished. The certification must include the employee's name, the signatures or initials of the trainers, and the dates of training, and it must be available for inspection by employees and their authorized representatives. A certificate of completion from an online course is useful evidence, but the employer's certification is what OSHA expects to see.
Building the training plan for a crew
| Role | Core knowledge | Typically added by the employer |
|---|---|---|
| Nearby worker | Recognizing spaces and hazards, staying out, calling for help | Site orientation, signs and barriers |
| Authorized entrant | Permits, atmospheric hazards, equipment, communication, self-rescue and evacuation | Hands-on practice with the site's monitors, harnesses and retrieval gear |
| Attendant | Monitoring, counting entrants, communication, summoning rescue, non-entry rescue | Practice with the site's retrieval system and alarms |
| Entry supervisor | Verifying permits, tests, equipment and rescue; canceling permits | Site permit forms and space-specific procedures |
| Competent person (construction) | Identifying and classifying spaces, program and rescue planning | Site walks and classification of the actual spaces |
| Rescue team | Rescue equipment, entrant training, first aid and CPR | Practice rescues at least once every 12 months from representative spaces |
Common gaps auditors find
- Attendants who were never trained because "they don't go in"
- Permits signed by someone without entry supervisor training
- Training records without trainer initials or dates
- No retraining after a near miss, a new space or new equipment
- Rescue arrangements that were assumed rather than verified
Our OSHA standards crosswalk maps each course to the sections it covers, and the free employer training resources include sign-off forms you can adapt.
Get Every Role Trained
Four courses, online. Certificate on completion. English & Spanish.