Employers can now be cited for not complying with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) confined spaces in construction final rule. A temporary enforcement policy of not issuing citations--provided employers made good-faith efforts to comply--expired on Oct. 2.

The final rule mirrors the general industry standard but adds certain provisions tailored specifically to the construction industry including an emphasis on training, monitoring and evaluating, as well as communication on multi-employer sites. 

OSHA has created a number of compliance assistance materials for small businesses, including a small entity compliance guide.

Members can also visit the Academy for Construction Ethics, Compliance & Best Practices and view an archived webinar “Confined Spaces in Construction: The Big Picture,” for more information on the final rule. 

In addition, ABC strategic partner CNA has produced a guide to safety in confined spaces along with several online training courses.