Standard Interpretations
RSS Standard Interpretations Subscribe to our RSS Standard Interpretations feed.
OSHA requirements are set by statute, standards, and regulations. Our interpretation letters explain these requirements and how they apply to particular circumstances, but they cannot create additional employer obligations. Each letter constitutes OSHA's interpretation of the requirements discussed. Note that our enforcement guidance may be affected by changes to OSHA rules. Also, from time to time we update our guidance in response to new information.
- 1910.146 - Alternative procedures for the non-entry rescue provision. - 05/05/1994
- 1910.146 - Answers to specific questions concerning the permit-required confined spaces standard - 12/20/1994
- 1910.146 - Applicability of 1910.146 to fall hazards into pits. - 02/23/1999
- 1910.146 - Applicability of OSHA's PRCS standard to gas industry. - 06/01/1994
- 1910.146 - Applicability of the confined-space standard to dock-leveler pits. - 12/02/2002
- 1910.146 - Applicability of the PRCS standard to aircraft maintenance activities. - 05/12/2009
- 1910.146 - Application of the confined spaces standard to the elevator industry. - 12/20/1994
- 1910.146 - Clarification of paragraphs (c)(5) and (c)(7) of the Permit-Required Confined Spaces standard. - 05/10/1993
- 1910.146 - Clarification of the definition of a permit-required confined space (permit space). - 08/11/1993
- 1910.146 - Compliance Policy Concerning 29 CFR 1910.146. - 10/12/1995
- 1910.146 - Concern regarding the Hazard Information Bulletin. - 06/19/1995
- 1910.146 - Confined space entry. - 01/13/1994
- 1910.146 - Confined Space provisions of 29 CFR 1910.261 in light of the promulgation of 29 CFR 1910.146 - 07/07/1993
- 1910.146 - Conflict between requirements of 1910.252 and 1910.146 - 07/30/1993
- 1910.146 - CPR training is a required element in some OSHA general industry standards. - 11/01/2005
- 1910.146 - Definition of Confined Space, as it may apply to large product heating and aging furnaces - 05/20/2019
- 1910.146 - Determining whether an aircraft fuel tank is considered a confined space. - 03/05/2008
- 1910.146 - Electronic monitoring system for complying with the confined space standard. - 11/13/1997
- 1910.146 - Elevator industry employees working in and around pits and equipment. - 09/19/1994
- 1910.146 - Elevator repair and servicing. - 10/20/1993
- 1910.146 - Guidance in determining whether certain spaces would be considered confined spaces. - 02/08/1996
- 1910.146 - Guidance in determining whether elevator pits meet the definition of confined spaces. - 10/27/1995
- 1910.146 - Hard-line communication equipment for use in the PRCS standard. - 02/28/1997
- 1910.146 - Interpretation of 1910.146 regarding permits and multiple sewer entries along a common line. - 10/18/1995
- 1910.146 - Interpretation of the provision of the Permit Required Confined Spaces Standard - 10/06/1995
- 1910.146 - Introduction of electrical welding equipment into a non-permit confined space. - 05/12/1997
- 1910.146 - Order of testing for permit spaces. - 07/13/1994
- 1910.146 - OSHA's Permit-required Confined Spaces Standard. - 04/24/1996
- 1910.146 - Permit Required Confined Space Standard as it applies to certain operations. - 10/22/1993
- 1910.146 - Permit Required Confined Space Standard as it relates to rescue services. - 05/09/1994
- 1910.146 - Permit space entry - 08/08/1994
- 1910.146 - Permit-Required Confined Spaces - 01/07/1998
- 1910.146 - Permit-required confined spaces and control of hazardous energy; vehicle LOTO. - 01/11/1996
- 1910.146 - Permit-Required Confined Spaces for General Industry. - 08/04/1993
- 1910.146 - Permit-Required Confined Spaces Standard. - 12/22/1997
- 1910.146 - Permit-Required Confined Spaces standard. - 03/18/1994
- 1910.146 - Permit-required confined spaces. - 08/11/1994
- 1910.146 - PRCS and LOTO requirements for accumulation of stored energy in steam pits - 04/18/2007
- 1910.146 - PRCS interpretation concerning a hydropower dam's 22 foot diameter sluice tunnel. - 06/01/1995
- 1910.146 - Reclassification of silver inspection services' tank containers. - 09/20/1994
- 1910.146 - Recording of atmospheric test results. - 12/10/1996
- 1910.146 - Requirements for developing entry procedures for permit-required confined spaces. - 09/21/2006
- 1910.146 - Rescue Equipment Requirements. - 09/09/1994
- 1910.146 - Respiratory protection and emergency escape requirements for IDLH atmospheres. - 01/13/2003
- 1910.146 - Response to fires in permit-required confined spaces (PRCS). - 04/17/1998
- 1910.146 - Retention of atmospheric monitoring records for a permit-required confined space - 11/03/2023
- 1910.146 - Retrieval Lines Tied to Rescuers Entering a Confined Space - 11/21/2011
- 1910.146 - Soil testing for excavations and confined spaces. - 06/15/1992
- 1910.146 - Summit's training program on confined space entry. - 10/15/1993
- 1910.146 - The meaning of the word "entrapment" as in the Permit Required Confined Space (PRCS) standard. - 10/08/1993
- 1910.146 - Use of explosion proof certified equipment inside of pipes and manholes. - 09/21/1995
- 1910.146 - Voluntary safety and health audits under the Occupational Safety and Health Act - 09/11/1996
- 1910.146 - When permits are required for entry into a permit required confined space. - 10/18/1995
- 1910.146 - Who is required to wear the body harnesses and retrieval lines. - 10/15/1993
- 1910.146 - Work performed in conjunction with insulated enclosures. - 07/13/1993
- 1910.146(a) - Application of the Confined Spaces Advisor to construction; personal fall arrest system requirements. - 11/03/2000
- 1910.146(b) - A confined space atmosphere above a PEL is not always a "hazardous atmosphere". - 03/26/1999
- 1910.146(b) - Applicability of 1910.146 to fall hazards into pits. - 02/23/1999
- 1910.146(b) - Applicability of the confined-space standard to dock-leveler pits. - 12/02/2002
- 1910.146(b) - Guidance in determining whether elevator pits meet the definition of confined spaces. - 10/27/1995
- 1910.146(b) - Permit Required Confined Space Isolation - 11/12/2021
- 1910.146(b) - Permit-Required Confined Space Entry Requirements For IDLH and Non-IDLH Spaces - 07/17/2014
- 1910.146(b) - Permit-Required Confined Spaces: metal container curing ovens. - 11/15/1993
- 1910.146(b) - PRCS entry: the term "body" includes all extremities. - 10/20/1999
- 1910.146(c) - Confined space requirements for a testing chamber with/without limited access. - 11/15/1999
- 1910.146(c) - Confined spaces: use of rescue-type SCBAs; maintenance vs. construction - 04/12/1996
- 1910.146(c)(1) - A chest freezer is not considered a PRCS. - 04/24/1998
- 1910.146(c)(1) - Elevator industry employees working in and around pits and equipment. - 09/19/1994
- 1910.146(c)(2) - OSHA's policy concerning repeat violations and requirements for PRCS sign posting. - 03/18/1998
- 1910.146(c)(2) - Questions regarding the Permit-Required Confined Space standard, 1910.146, and the Grain Handling standard, 1910.272. - 02/08/2005
- 1910.146(c)(2) - Requirements for developing entry procedures for permit-required confined spaces. - 09/21/2006
- 1910.146(c)(2) - Requirements for posting signs for PRCSs. - 07/22/1998
- 1910.146(c)(3) - Requirements for developing entry procedures for permit-required confined spaces. - 09/21/2006
- 1910.146(c)(4) - Applicability of the PRCS standard to aircraft maintenance activities. - 05/12/2009
- 1910.146(c)(4) - Whether written programs may be kept solely in an electronic format. - 09/16/2008
- 1910.146(c)(5) - Centralized Monitoring for Permit-Required Confined Spaces - 04/15/2014
- 1910.146(c)(5) - Confined space requirements for a testing chamber with/without limited access. - 11/15/1999
- 1910.146(c)(5) - Construction of aboveground storage tanks and confined space; §§1926.21(b)(6) and 1910.146; General duty clause - 07/10/2006
- 1910.146(c)(5) - Requirements for PRCS attendants; Fall arrest system anchorage point - 08/25/1995
- 1910.146(c)(5)(i) - Clarification of "continuous forced air ventilation" for PRCS entry work. - 11/17/2005
- 1910.146(c)(5)(ii)(E) - Clarification of "continuous forced air ventilation" for PRCS entry work. - 11/17/2005
- 1910.146(c)(7) - Applicability of the confined-space standard to dock-leveler pits. - 12/02/2002
- 1910.146(c)(7) - Clarification of "potential atmospheric hazard" when reclassifying a PRCS as a non-permit required confined space. - 12/02/2005
- 1910.146(c)(7) - Elevator industry employees working in and around pits and equipment. - 09/19/1994
- 1910.146(c)(7) - Guidance in determining whether elevator pits meet the definition of confined spaces. - 10/27/1995
- 1910.146(c)(7) - Permit-Required Confined Spaces: metal container curing ovens. - 11/15/1993
- 1910.146(c)(7) - Requirements for PRCS attendants; Fall arrest system anchorage point - 08/25/1995
- 1910.146(c)(7) - Whether reclassification is available for permit-required confined spaces with potentially hazardous atmospheres. - 08/06/2007
- 1910.146(c)(7)(i) - Applicability of the confined-space standard to dock-leveler pits. - 12/02/2002
- 1910.146(c)(7)(i) - Clarification of "potential atmospheric hazard" when reclassifying a PRCS as a non-permit required confined space. - 12/02/2005
- 1910.146(c)(7)(ii) - Applicability of the confined-space standard to dock-leveler pits. - 12/02/2002
- 1910.146(c)(7)(iii) - Applicability of the confined-space standard to dock-leveler pits. - 12/02/2002
- 1910.146(c)(7)(iv) - Applicability of the confined-space standard to dock-leveler pits. - 12/02/2002
- 1910.146(c)(8) - Elevator industry employees working in and around pits and equipment. - 09/19/1994
- 1910.146(c)(8) - Requirements for developing entry procedures for permit-required confined spaces. - 09/21/2006
- 1910.146(c)(8)(i) - Elevator industry employees working in and around pits and equipment. - 09/19/1994
- 1910.146(c)(8)(ii) - Elevator industry employees working in and around pits and equipment. - 09/19/1994
- 1910.146(c)(8)(iii) - Elevator industry employees working in and around pits and equipment. - 09/19/1994
- 1910.146(c)(8)(iv) - Elevator industry employees working in and around pits and equipment. - 09/19/1994
- 1910.146(c)(8)(v) - Elevator industry employees working in and around pits and equipment. - 09/19/1994
- 1910.146(c)(9) - Applicability of the PRCS standard to aircraft maintenance activities. - 05/12/2009
- 1910.146(c)(9) - Elevator industry employees working in and around pits and equipment. - 09/19/1994
- 1910.146(d) - Applicability of the PRCS standard to aircraft maintenance activities. - 05/12/2009
- 1910.146(d) - Centralized Monitoring for Permit-Required Confined Spaces - 04/15/2014
- 1910.146(d) - Confined Space Entry Permits - 07/24/2023
- 1910.146(d) - Confined spaces: use of rescue-type SCBAs; maintenance vs. construction - 04/12/1996
- 1910.146(d) - Elevator industry employees working in and around pits and equipment. - 09/19/1994
- 1910.146(d)(11) - Elevator industry employees working in and around pits and equipment. - 09/19/1994
- 1910.146(d)(14) - Retention of atmospheric monitoring records for a permit-required confined space - 11/03/2023
- 1910.146(d)(3) - Requirements for developing entry procedures for permit-required confined spaces. - 09/21/2006
- 1910.146(d)(3) - Whether reclassification is available for permit-required confined spaces with potentially hazardous atmospheres. - 08/06/2007
- 1910.146(d)(5) - Applicability of the PRCS standard to aircraft maintenance activities. - 05/12/2009
- 1910.146(d)(5) - Retention of atmospheric monitoring records for a permit-required confined space - 11/03/2023
- 1910.146(d)(5)(ii) - Atmospheric Testing required for confined space entry. - 03/30/1999
- 1910.146(d)(5)(iii) - Atmospheric Testing required for confined space entry. - 03/30/1999
- 1910.146(e)(6) - Retention of atmospheric monitoring records for a permit-required confined space - 11/03/2023
- 1910.146(i) - An attendant may participate in non-entry confined space rescue under certain conditions. - 06/06/2000
- 1910.146(i) - Centralized Monitoring for Permit-Required Confined Spaces - 04/15/2014
- 1910.146(i) - Requirements for PRCS attendants; Fall arrest system anchorage point - 08/25/1995
- 1910.146(i) - Respiratory protection and emergency escape requirements for IDLH atmospheres. - 01/13/2003
- 1910.146(k) - An attendant may participate in non-entry confined space rescue under certain conditions. - 06/06/2000
- 1910.146(k)(1) - Employer selection of local fire department as its off-site rescue service for compliance with 29 CFR 1910.146(k)(1). - 05/23/2008
- 1910.146(k)(1) - Respiratory protection and emergency escape requirements for IDLH atmospheres. - 01/13/2003
- 1910.146(k)(1)(i) - Permit-Required Confined Space Entry Requirements For IDLH and Non-IDLH Spaces - 07/17/2014
- 1910.146(k)(2)(iii) - Frequency of refresher training for first aid and CPR - 02/23/2023
- 1910.146(k)(3) - Permit-Required Confined Space Rescue Retrieval Lines - 02/25/2013
- 1910.146(k)(3)(i) - Permit-Required Confined Space Rescue Retrieval Lines - 02/25/2013
- 1910.146(k)(3)(ii) - Permit-Required Confined Space Rescue Retrieval Lines - 02/25/2013