What is a confined space under OSHA?
A confined space is a space an employee can bodily enter, that has limited or restricted means for entry or exit and that is not designed for continuous employee occupancy. General industry and construction word the definition slightly differently.
By Cairn. Updated . Sources: eCFR text as of October 27, 2026.
The legal definitions
General industry
“Confined space means a space that:
(1) Is large enough and so configured that an employee can bodily enter and perform assigned work; and
(2) Has limited or restricted means for entry or exit (for example, tanks, vessels, silos, storage bins, hoppers, vaults, and pits are spaces that may have limited means of entry.); and
(3) Is not designed for continuous employee occupancy.”
Construction
“Confined space means a space that:
(1) Is large enough and so configured that an employee can bodily enter it;
(2) Has limited or restricted means for entry and exit; and
(3) Is not designed for continuous employee occupancy.”
Where it applies
- 29 CFR 1910.146, Permit-required confined spaces 16 paragraphs use the term. Read the text on eCFR.
- 29 CFR 1926.1202, Definitions 9 paragraphs use the term.
- 29 CFR 1926.1203, Confined Spaces in Construction: General requirements 7 paragraphs use the term. Read the text on eCFR.
In the enforcement record
Federal and state-plan agencies issued 10,155 cited violations under 29 CFR 1910.146, Permit-required confined spaces, from January 2016 through September 10, 2026. The section ranks 27th among the 248 sections of 29 CFR cited at least 50 times. This is the count for the whole section, not for the term alone.
Cairn data, October 2026 snapshot.
See the full record for 29 CFR 1910.146Sources
- 29 CFR 1910.146, Permit-required confined spaces. eCFR, text as of October 27, 2026.
- 29 CFR 1926.1202, Definitions. eCFR, text as of October 27, 2026.
- Cairn data, October 2026 snapshot. Cairn analysis of the OSHA enforcement record.
Written by Cairn, updated . The quoted text is copied from the sources above. A test compares each quotation with a stored copy of the source, and a separate script compares that copy with the live sources. This page explains the law and is not legal advice.