Permit to Work: What OSHA Requires in the US
Updated October 14, 2026
A permit to work is a signed authorization that a specific high-risk job may start at a specific place and time, after the hazards have been checked and the listed controls are in place. OSHA does not require a general permit-to-work system. It requires written permits for specific work: entry into permit-required confined spaces (29 CFR 1926.1205 and 1926.1206 in construction, 1910.146 in general industry), and in general industry it requires hot work to be authorized after an inspection of the area, preferably by written permit (1910.252(a)(2)(iv)). Lockout/tagout is a documented energy control procedure, not a permit. Many site owners and general contractors add their own permits by contract.
Which permits OSHA actually requires
| Work | What OSHA requires | Rule |
|---|---|---|
| Permit-required confined space entry, construction | A written entry permit, signed by the entry supervisor before entry and posted at the entry portal | 1926.1205, 1926.1206 |
| Permit-required confined space entry, general industry | A written entry permit signed by the entry supervisor before entry | 1910.146 |
| Hot work, general industry | The area inspected and the work authorized by the responsible person, preferably in the form of a written permit | 1910.252(a)(2)(iv) |
| Hot work, construction | No permit in the federal construction rules; fire prevention precautions and a fire watch where normal precautions are not enough | 1926.352 |
| Lockout/tagout | A documented energy control procedure, not a permit | 1910.147; 1926.417 for circuits in construction |
| Energized electrical work | Deenergize first unless infeasible or more hazardous; no OSHA permit form. NFPA 70E, a consensus standard, calls for an energized electrical work permit | 1910.333 |
What a permit to work contains
The confined space entry permit in 1926.1206 is the most complete permit OSHA defines, and it makes a good model for any permit your company issues:
- ✓ The work location and the job or purpose
- ✓ The date and the authorized duration, no longer than the task needs
- ✓ Who is authorized to do the work, and who supervises and attends it, by name
- ✓ The hazards of the job and the measures used to isolate and control them
- ✓ Test results (for example atmospheric readings), with the tester and the time of each test
- ✓ Rescue and emergency arrangements, and how to summon them
- ✓ Communication between the workers and the attendant or supervisor
- ✓ The equipment and PPE to be used
- ✓ Any other permits issued for the same work, such as a hot work permit inside a confined space
- ✓ The authorizing signature, and a close-out or cancellation when the job ends
How a permit system runs
- ✓ Request: the crew lead describes the job, the location and the time needed
- ✓ Check: the issuer inspects the area and runs any tests before signing
- ✓ Issue and post: the signed permit is posted where the work happens, so the crew can confirm the preparations are done (1926.1205(c) for confined spaces)
- ✓ Work within the permit: if conditions change, stop; the permit is suspended or canceled and the space or area reassessed (1926.1205(e))
- ✓ Close out: cancel the permit when the job is done, note any problems, and keep canceled confined space permits for at least 1 year (1926.1205(f), 1910.146(e)(6))
When a contractor needs one
Before work starts at a site, a competent person must identify the confined spaces your crew may work in and which of them are permit spaces (1926.1203(a)). If your crew will enter one, you need a written permit space program and an entry permit for each entry. Beyond what OSHA requires, plants, refineries, hospitals and many general contractors run their own permit systems for hot work, roof access, excavation or energized work, and your contract obligates you to follow them.
Your written safety program should say which permits your company uses, who may issue them, and how they are closed out. TailgateDocs generates a complete written safety program for your trade for $149, including the confined space and hot work sections where your work needs them.
Common questions
▸Does OSHA require a permit to work system?
Not as a general system. OSHA requires written entry permits for permit-required confined spaces (1926.1205 and 1910.146) and, in general industry, authorization for hot work after an area inspection, preferably by written permit (1910.252(a)(2)(iv)). Other permits come from company policy, site owners or contracts.
▸Is a hot work permit required by OSHA in construction?
The federal construction rule, 1926.352, sets fire prevention precautions and a fire watch where normal precautions are not enough, but it does not require a written permit. Site owners, general contractors and insurers often require one anyway.
▸Is lockout/tagout a permit?
No. Lockout/tagout under 1910.147 is a documented energy control procedure for each machine or system. Some companies add a permit on top of it, but OSHA requires the procedure, not a permit.
▸How long do you keep confined space entry permits?
Keep each canceled entry permit for at least 1 year, so the permit space program can be reviewed. Note any problems from the entry on the permit itself.
Official sources
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