UPDATE: In October, OSHA announced it will delay enforcement of the Confined Spaces in Construction Standard until Jan. 8, 2016. Although the ruling went into effect Aug. 3, OSHA has agreed to refrain from issuing citations to any employer that is making good-faith efforts to comply with the standard.
On May 4, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) released a long-awaited final rule affecting the training requirements for employees working in confined spaces in construction, which now includes attics and crawlspaces — areas where HVAC equipment is frequently located. The rule, which took effect Aug. 3 and will be enforceable after Oct. 2, adds a new subpart to the existing rule and includes a permit program designed to protect employees from exposure to the many hazards associated with work in confined spaces, including atmospheric and physical hazards.