Attendant duties in permit spaces

An attendant must be familiar with and understand the hazards entrants may face, including the mode of exposure, signs or symptoms, and the possible consequences of that exposure. In practice, this means the attendant should be trained on the specific hazards of the space (for example, toxic atmospheres, engulfment, oxygen deficiency), recognize warning signs in entrants, and understand what health effects to watch for.

• Use the employer's hazard information, entry permit, and pre-entry monitoring to learn the specific hazards for that entry.
• Make sure training records or briefings show the attendant received this information before duties begin.

See the entry attendant training and knowledge requirement in 1926.1209(a).

An attendant must continuously maintain an accurate count of authorized entrants and ensure the identification method required by the employer (under 1926.1206(d)) reliably shows who is in the permit space. This means the attendant must use the employer's approved entry identification system (for example, sign-in logs, entry tags, or electronic tracking) and update it in real time.

• Verify the identification method before the entry and use it throughout the operation.
• Reconcile the count after any swaps, breaks, or personnel changes to keep the count accurate.

See the requirements to maintain entrant counts in 1926.1209(c) and the identification requirement in 1926.1206(d).

Generally, an attendant must remain outside the permit space during entry operations; an attendant may only enter to attempt a rescue after being relieved and when the employer's permit space program allows attendant entry for rescue and the attendant is trained and equipped for rescue per 1926.1211(a). In short: attendants normally stay outside, but a relieved, trained, and equipped attendant may enter for rescue if the program permits it.

• Confirm your written permit-space program explicitly allows attendant entry for rescue before allowing the attendant to enter.
• Ensure the attendant has the rescue training and equipment required by 1926.1211(a).

See the stay-outside requirement in 1926.1209(d) and the related rescue training and equipment provisions in 1926.1211.

An attendant must communicate with authorized entrants as necessary to assess entrant status and must alert entrants to evacuate the space when required under 1926.1208(e). This means using reliable communication methods (voice line, radio, visual checks, or other means) and issuing an immediate evacuation order when conditions meet the evacuation criteria.

• Establish and test communication methods before entry so all entrants can be contacted during the job.
• If monitoring or observations indicate an immediate danger or any of the evacuation triggers in 1926.1209(f), order evacuation and follow 1926.1208(e).

Refer to the communication and evacuation duties in 1926.1209(e) and the evacuation alert rule in 1926.1208(e).

An attendant must immediately order evacuation if any of the following occur: a prohibited condition exists in the space, behavioral effects of hazard exposure are apparent in an entrant, a situation outside the space could endanger entrants, or the attendant cannot safely perform all required duties. In other words, any of those four triggers demand immediate evacuation.

• "Prohibited condition" includes atmospheres above acceptable limits, engulfment hazards, or other conditions the permit prohibits.
• Behavioral effects mean entrants show symptoms like confusion, dizziness, loss of coordination, or other impairment from exposure.
• If something outside (fire, structural collapse, equipment failure) threatens entrants, order evacuation.
• If the attendant is distracted, overcome, or otherwise unable to protect entrants, evacuate.

See the evacuation triggers listed in 1926.1209(f) and the subparagraphs 1926.1209(f)(1)–(4).

An attendant must summon rescue and other emergency services as soon as they determine that authorized entrants may need assistance to escape permit-space hazards. That means call for help immediately once there's any indication entrants cannot self-evacuate or are incapacitated.

• Do not delay calling rescue while attempting other measures that could further endanger entrants or the attendant.
• Provide clear information to emergency responders about the space, number of entrants, hazards, and access points.

See the obligation to summon rescue in 1926.1209(g).

The attendant must perform non-entry rescues as specified by the employer's rescue procedure. This means the attendant should follow the written non-entry rescue steps in the employer's permit-space program and use available retrieval systems or other non-entry methods to remove entrants without entering the space.

• Ensure the employer's rescue procedures are practiced and the attendant is trained on them, including use of retrieval gear and winches.
• Only perform non-entry rescue methods that are safe and appropriate for the space hazards; if non-entry rescue is not possible, summon trained rescue personnel immediately under 1926.1209(g).

See the requirement to perform non-entry rescues in 1926.1209(i) and the rescue training/equipment requirements in 1926.1211.

When unauthorized persons approach or enter a permit space during entry operations, the attendant must warn them to stay away, tell them to exit immediately if they entered, and inform the authorized entrants and entry supervisor if unauthorized persons have entered. In short: warn, order exit, and notify the team.

• Use clear, loud warnings and, if necessary, secure the area to prevent re-entry.
• Document and report any unauthorized entry so the entry supervisor can decide whether to stop operations or re-evaluate hazards.

See the attendant actions for unauthorized persons in 1926.1209(h) and its subparagraphs 1926.1209(h)(1)–(3).

An attendant cannot perform duties that might interfere with the attendant's primary duty to assess and protect authorized entrants. This means attendants should not be assigned other tasks (such as equipment operation, paperwork, or housekeeping) that would distract them or prevent them from continuously monitoring entrants and conditions.

• If the attendant must perform brief auxiliary tasks, the employer must ensure those tasks do not reduce the attendant's ability to observe entrants or summon rescue.
• If an attendant is unable to keep watch because of other duties, reassign an attendant whose sole duty is protection of entrants.

See the prohibition on interfering duties in 1926.1209(j).

Behavioral effects are symptoms of exposure (such as dizziness, confusion, loss of coordination, fainting, severe headache, slurred speech, or impaired judgment) that are apparent in an entrant and require immediate evacuation. If you observe these signs in an entrant, order them out immediately because they indicate the entrant may be impaired and unable to self-rescue.

• Watch for changes in responsiveness, inability to follow commands, stumbling, or vomiting.
• Treat any suspected exposure-caused behavioral change as an emergency and summon rescue per 1926.1209(g).

See the behavioral-effects evacuation trigger in 1926.1209(f)(2).

If an attendant cannot effectively and safely perform all required duties, they must order immediate evacuation of the permit space and summon rescue if needed. The attendant's inability to perform duties is itself a trigger for evacuation to protect entrants.

• Examples include the attendant becoming ill, becoming distracted (e.g., by other tasks), being physically or mentally impaired, or an unexpected hazard making monitoring impossible.
• After evacuation, replace the attendant with a trained one before re-entering the space.

See this duty and evacuation trigger in 1926.1209(f)(4).

An attendant should be trained and competent to perform all duties in 1926.1209, including hazard recognition, communication, counting entrants, ordering evacuations, and performing non-entry rescue procedures that the employer requires. The employer's permit-space program must ensure attendants receive appropriate training before assignment.

• Training should cover the hazards of the specific permit space, signs of exposure, communication systems, evacuation criteria, and rescue procedures.
• For attendant entry into a space to perform rescue, the attendant must be trained and equipped for rescue per 1926.1211(a).

See attendant duties and the link to rescue-training/equipment requirements in 1926.1209 and 1926.1211(a).

An attendant can help implement PPE decisions, but PPE selection and the hazard assessment are employer responsibilities; employers must assess workplace hazards and provide appropriate PPE and written certification when PPE is required. Guidance on conducting hazard assessments and selecting PPE is provided by OSHA.

• Employers must perform a hazard assessment before relying on PPE and must document the certification when PPE is required (see OSHA's PPE interpretation).
• Attendants should be familiar with the PPE entrants wear and be able to monitor whether PPE is being used correctly.

See OSHA's discussion of employer hazard assessment and written certification in the PPE hazard assessment interpretation and the attendant PPE awareness duties in 1926.1209.

When summoning rescue, the attendant should immediately give emergency responders the location and configuration of the permit space, the number and condition of entrants, known hazards inside the space, and the best access points for rescue. Providing this information quickly helps rescuers prepare appropriate equipment and personnel.

• Include the permit-space entry address, confined space type (tank, vault, trench), atmospheric hazards, any engulfment or entrapment risks, and whether entrants are conscious and breathing.
• Also inform responders whether non-entry retrieval systems were used and if any unauthorized persons entered the space.

See the attendant's duty to summon rescue in 1926.1209(g) and the rescue training/equipment requirements in 1926.1211.

If an unauthorized person has entered a permit space, the attendant must advise that person to exit immediately, warn them of the danger, and inform the authorized entrants and entry supervisor that an unauthorized person entered. The attendant must treat the situation as an immediate safety concern.

• If the unauthorized entrant is unable or unwilling to leave, summon rescue per 1926.1209(g).
• Afterward, document the incident and re-evaluate whether to continue entry operations.

See the specific actions for unauthorized entrants in 1926.1209(h)(2).

The permit-space standard requires attendants to summon rescue and conduct non-entry rescue, but it does not universally mandate CPR or first-aid training for every attendant; however, some rescue procedures or employer programs may require such training and some standards require it in specific contexts. Employers should assess whether attendants need CPR/first-aid based on the rescue procedures and the hazards present and provide training as appropriate.

• If the employer's rescue procedures or other applicable OSHA standards require CPR or first-aid, provide the training and ensure retraining intervals are followed as appropriate (OSHA guidance recommends instructor-led CPR retraining at least annually but does not mandate a specific interval for all workplaces).
• Document any first-aid/CPR training provided to attendants.

See the attendant rescue and summon duties in 1926.1209(g) and (i) and OSHA's discussion on CPR retraining in the CPR retraining interpretation.

Yes, attendants may use radios, cellphones, voice lines, or other reliable means to communicate with entrants as long as the chosen method allows the attendant to assess entrant status and give timely evacuation orders. Employers must ensure communication systems function in the specific environment and do not rely on methods that could fail in the permit space.

• Test communications before entry and have backup methods if the primary method becomes unreliable.
• Ensure communications enable clear two-way contact and that entrants understand the signals or messages that mean ‘‘evacuate immediately.’'

See the communication and evacuation duties in 1926.1209(e) and the evacuation rule in 1926.1208(e).

After an unauthorized entry that results in an incident, the attendant must ensure authorized entrants are safe (evacuate if needed), summon rescue if entrants need assistance, inform the entry supervisor and document the event. The attendant's immediate priorities are to protect entrants and to get trained rescue help if required.

• Warn and evacuate authorized entrants per 1926.1209(f).
• Notify the entry supervisor and provide details about the unauthorized entrant and any injuries or exposures.

See the actions for unauthorized entrants in 1926.1209(h) and the duty to summon rescue in 1926.1209(g).

Under 1926.1209(j), attendants must not be assigned other duties that could interfere with their primary duty to monitor and protect entrants; therefore, employers should not schedule attendants to perform other work that would distract them or remove them from the permit-space post. Attendants should be dedicated to monitoring while entrants are in the space.

• If staffing constraints tempt you to assign additional tasks, stop and evaluate whether those tasks would reduce the attendant's ability to respond immediately to hazards.
• Replace an attendant with another trained attendant if any required duty would distract the original attendant.

See the restriction on interfering duties in 1926.1209(j).

Attendants should have the non-entry rescue equipment and means specified in the employer's rescue procedure and, if the program allows attendant entry for rescue, the attendant must have training and entry rescue equipment required by 1926.1211(a). That means retrieval systems, harnesses, tripods, winches, and personal protective equipment must be immediately accessible when entrants are in the space.

• The exact equipment depends on the employer's rescue plan and the type of space; ensure rescue gear matches the hazards (e.g., atmospheric monitoring, SCBA, retrieval winches).
• Equipment must be maintained, inspected, and ready for immediate use per the employer's written procedures.

See the attendant rescue duties in 1926.1209(i) and the rescue training/equipment requirements in 1926.1211(a).