OSHA Confined Space Construction Final Rule

On May 1, 2015, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration released a Final Rule addressing Confined Spaces in Construction (29 CFR Part 1926). This new subpart will be a comprehensive standard comprised of a permit program aimed at protecting employees from associated work hazards in confined spaces, such as atmospheric and physical. Furthermore, the Final Rule includes “several provisions addressing construction-specific hazards, accounts for advancements in technology, and improves the enforceability of the requirements.” The new comprehensive subpart standard will replace OSHA’s one training requirement for confined spaces.

Confined spaces present a number of atmospheric and physical challenges that can be life-threatening if not addressed. Such challenges include limited or difficult exit points in case of emergency, exposure to toxic substances, electrocutions, explosions, and asphyxiation. OSHA’s Confined Space in Construction Final Rule considers such hazardous conditions and is written with an emphasis on training and communication for the employees to save and protect lives and property.

U.S. Department of Labor news materials are accessible at http://www.dol.gov. The department’s Reasonable Accommodation Resource Center converts departmental information and documents into alternative formats, which include Braille and large print. For alternative format requests, please contact the department at (202) 693-7828 (voice) or (800) 877-8339 (federal relay).

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To read OSHA’s official statement, click here.