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29 CFR 1926 Subpart AA

Confined Space Attendant & Entry Supervisor

The attendant is the entrant's lifeline and the entry supervisor is the person who signs the permit. This course covers the duties OSHA assigns to each role under the construction confined spaces standard.

Who this course is for

  • Workers assigned as attendant or hole watch
  • Foremen and leads who act as entry supervisor
  • Authorized entrants who need to understand the whole team's duties
  • Safety coordinators who write or review entry permits

What you will be able to do

  • Tell a confined space from a permit-required confined space
  • Carry out the attendant's duties under 29 CFR 1926.1209
  • Carry out the entry supervisor's duties under 29 CFR 1926.1210
  • Read an entry permit and confirm its conditions are met
  • Recognize atmospheric and physical hazards and order an evacuation
  • Summon rescue without entering the space

Course outline

  1. What makes a space permit-requiredDefinitions, typical construction examples, and the hazards that kill entrants and would-be rescuers.
  2. The entry teamAuthorized entrant, attendant, entry supervisor, and competent person: who does what.
  3. The entry permitContents, acceptable entry conditions, atmospheric testing order, and cancellation.
  4. Attendant dutiesStaying on post, tracking entrants, communication, and keeping unauthorized people out.
  5. Entry supervisor dutiesVerifying the permit, rescue arrangements, and ending the entry.
  6. Emergencies and rescueNon-entry rescue, calling the rescue service, and why attendants never go in.
Know before you enroll

Your employer must also give you site-specific training on the spaces, equipment, and rescue arrangements you will actually work with.

Use of gas monitors and retrieval systems requires hands-on instruction from your employer.

Questions about this course

Is hole watch the same as confined space attendant?

Yes. Hole watch is the common jobsite name for the attendant: the person stationed outside a permit space who monitors the entrants and summons rescue.

Does this cover general industry as well as construction?

The course follows the construction standard, 29 CFR 1926 Subpart AA, and points out where the general industry standard, 29 CFR 1910.146, differs. The attendant and supervisor duties are closely aligned.

How does the final exam work?

The course ends with a timed, multiple-choice exam drawn from a question bank. The passing score is 70 percent and retakes are included. Your certificate is issued the moment you pass.

Will my employer or general contractor accept the certificate?

Every certificate shows the course, contact hours, completion date, the standard covered, and a unique ID with a QR code, so anyone can confirm it in seconds. Acceptance is always the employer's or site owner's decision. If a site requires a specific provider or a hands-on evaluation, check with them before you enroll.

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