OSHA Pushes Back Confined Spaces Enforcement For ‘Good Faith’ Home Builders

Agency officials already once provided a two-month extension of the date to begin full enforcement of the standard, which industry has complained is too complex to meet under the final rule’s timetable. The rule in general has also faced litigation, but it was not clear whether the extension was related to the lawsuit.

OSHA recently posted a new enforcement memorandum from Jim Maddux, construction director, which outlined the latest enforcement policy on the standard published in May. The rule went into effect Aug. 3.

Officials earlier gave employers until Oct. 2 before issuing citations under the confined spaces rule if they met OSHA’s requirements for good faith efforts. That policy will now be extended through Jan. 8, but only for employers in residential construction work. Employers must be providing training to qualify for the extension.

“Before January 8, 2016, OSHA will not issue citations under the Confined Spaces in Construction standard to an employer engaged in residential construction work if the employer is making good faith efforts to comply with the standard, as long as the employer is in compliance with either the training requirements of the standard, found at 29 CFR 1926.1207, or the former training requirements found at 29 CFR 1926.21(b)(6)(i),” the agency says.

The earlier training requirement provided: “All employees required to enter into confined or enclosed spaces shall be instructed as to the nature of the hazards involved, the necessary precautions to be taken, and in the use of protective and emergency equipment required. The employer shall comply with any specific regulations that apply to work in dangerous or potentially dangerous areas.”

Employers who fail to train their employees consistent with either regulation would properly be cited, OSHA says.

Factors OSHA will consider when evaluating good faith efforts include:

• If the employer has not trained its employees as required under the new standard, OSHA will consider whether the employer has scheduled such training.
• If the employer does not have the equipment required for compliance with the new standard, including personal protective equipment, OSHA will determine whether the employer has ordered or otherwise arranged to obtain such equipment required for compliance and is taking alternative measures to protect employees from confined space hazards.
• OSHA will consider whether the employer has engaged in any additional efforts to educate workers about confined space hazards and protect workers from those hazards.

— Christopher Cole ()