The federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration has postponed the enforcement date of the confined spaces rule issued in May.  The rule, which takes effect on August 3, will not be fully enforced until October 2, 2015 to give employers additional time to train and acquire equipment necessary to comply with the new standard.

 

The rule provides additional safety parameters for construction workers doing work in confined spaces (manholes, crawl spaces, tanks, etc.) and facing hazards including exposure to toxic substances, electrocution, explosions and asphyxiation.  It limits which workers may enter a permit confined space containing a hazardous atmosphere, engulfment hazard or other serious hazard that can interfere with a worker's ability to leave the space without assistance.  If workers will enter a permit space, their employer must have a written confined space program and the workers must be trained prior to commencing work in permit spaces.

 

Between August 3 and October 2, OSHA will not issue citations to employers who make good faith efforts to comply with the new standard.  "Good faith efforts" include scheduling employee training, ordering necessary equipment, and taking alternate measures to educate and protect employees.