Confined spaces

This module holds your permit-required confined-space inventory and the entry permits for them. It covers both the general-industry program under OSHA 1910.146 (the default) and the construction program under 1926 Subpart AA, chosen per space. An entry permit issues only when the atmospheric test is within acceptable entry conditions — otherwise entry is prohibited.

Build the space inventory

Go to Confined spaces and use the Add space row.
Pick the site, name the space, set its location, and choose a classification (permit-required or non-permit).
Record the rescue service — the designated rescue team for the space — and tick Non-entry rescue equipment when a retrieval system (harness and line) is staged so non-entry rescue is the first option (1910.146(k)). Both show in the Rescue column.
Select Add space. Permit-required spaces are badged red in the inventory.

Choose the program (GI vs construction)

The Program dropdown on the Add-space form picks which standard governs the space:

General industry (1910.146) — the default.
Construction (1926 Subpart AA) — reveals two more fields, Competent person and Controlling contractor, and adds the AA safeguards below.

To change an existing space, use the Program & hazards… row action — it sets the governing program and the permit-required hazards (atmosphere, engulfment, configuration, other). Construction spaces are badged "construction (1926 AA)" and list any open Subpart AA gaps under the Program column.

Controlling-contractor information exchange (1926.1203(h))

This section appears once at least one construction-mode space exists. On a construction space the controlling contractor is the conduit for hazard information between the host and entry employers — a pre-entry exchange before work starts and a debrief after entry ends.

Pick the Space and enter the Controlling contractor.
Tick Pre-entry exchange and/or Post-entry debrief, add Notes, and click Record information exchange. A construction space without the pre-entry exchange on record is flagged.

Issue an entry permit

Use the Record an entry permit + atmospheric test form.
Choose the space, describe the task, and name the entry supervisor, attendant, and entrants.
Enter the atmospheric readings — oxygen %, flammable % LEL, CO ppm, and H₂S ppm. The acceptable limits are shown at the top of the page: O₂ 19.5–23.5%, flammable < 10% LEL, CO ≤ 35 ppm, H₂S ≤ 10 ppm.
When a construction-mode space exists, the form shows two Subpart AA per-entry duties for the selected construction space: Continuous atmospheric monitoring (1926.1204(e)) and Engulfment early-warning system (1926.1204(e)(2)). Tick each duty that is in place — any left unmet lists as a red gap on the permit.
Select Record entry / test. If every reading is within limits the permit is issued; any out-of-range value shows in red and the permit reads entry prohibited.
Cancel an issued permit once entry is complete or no longer needed.

Re-evaluate each space annually

Classifications aren't set-and-forgotten (1910.146(c)(1)). Each space carries a re-evaluation due date 12 months after it was last evaluated, and an overdue space shows a re-eval due badge. Click Re-evaluated on the row once you've confirmed the classification — that resets the 12-month clock and records the next due date on the audit trail.

Run the annual program review

Separately from re-evaluating individual spaces, the program itself gets an annual review of the year's entry permits (1910.146(d)(14)). Under Program annual review, pick the site, choose the reviewer, add any program revisions or notes, and click Record annual review. Each review snapshots the canceled permits from the trailing 12 months (shown as "canceled permits in scope") and resets the 12-month clock to the next due date. Canceled entry permits are retained at least one year to support this review (1910.146(e)(6)) — they're kept here and never auto-deleted.

What happens automatically

A space whose annual re-evaluation is overdue escalates to the safety team by notification. Set who's emailed for that queue under notification routing.
A permit whose atmospheric test failed now escalates too — "Confined-space atmosphere failed: (space)" — since entry is prohibited and the hazard must reach someone, not just tint a dashboard. It also shows a CAPA button to track the hazard and its fix; the row then links to that CAPA.
An overdue annual program review escalates ("Confined-space program annual review overdue"), addressed to the recorded reviewer when there is one.
A construction (1926 Subpart AA) entry with unmet AA duties escalates ("Confined-space construction (1926 Subpart AA) duties incomplete: (space)") — missing continuous monitoring, engulfment early-warning, or the controlling-contractor information exchange. General-industry (1910.146) entries never produce one.
Export permit log CSV downloads the entry-permit record — atmospheric readings and outcome, including the retained canceled permits — from api/confined-spaces/permits/log.csv.

Tip: check readings against the limits at the top of the page before anyone enters. For higher-risk work that needs a full approval lifecycle, see permits to work.

Permits to work — Authorize entry through the permit lifecycle
Hot work permits — Common simultaneous hazardous work in spaces
Excavation & trenching — Adjacent atmosphere-tested entry work
Job hazard analysis — Break entry work into hazards and controls