In Iowa, a serious violation of 29 CFR 1910.146 (Confined Spaces) carries a maximum penalty of $16,550 per violation in 2026, rising to $165,514 for a willful or repeat violation. Confined Spaces is enforced for private construction employers by Iowa OSHA (IOSH).
29 CFR 1910.146 · Iowa
Confined Spaces Requirements in Iowa
Confined Spaces in Iowa: 2026 penalties, who enforces 29 CFR 1910.146, the paragraphs cited and free tools.
Verified vs OSHA sources · 2026-10-05
IowaGeneral Industry (29 CFR 1910)State Plan: Iowa OSHA (IOSH)
29 CFR 1910.146 does not apply to construction work; on a jobsite the rule is 29 CFR 1926 Subpart AA (1926.1201–1213). In Iowa, Iowa OSHA (IOSH) enforces 29 CFR 1910.146. The federal maximum for a serious violation is $16,550.
$16,550
federal maximum for a serious violation
$165,514
federal maximum for a willful or repeat violation
5.2
fatal work injuries per 100,000 full-time workers, all industries, Iowa, 2024 (BLS)
What Iowa's own rule says
Permit-required confined spaces are federal text in Iowa, with the general industry rule reached through 481—Chapter 210 and construction confined spaces through 481—Chapter 211, which adopts Part 1926 from 1926.16 onward. Because Iowa adopts named Federal Register notices rather than the current CFR, the way to confirm that a later federal amendment applies is to find its notice in the chapter's list. The construction list runs to December 12, 2024.
29 CFR 1910.146 as adopted by 481—210.4(88); construction via 481—211.1(88)The duty matches the federal text. Only the citation number differs.
Read in Iowa OSHA (IOSH)'s own rule text · verified 2026-08-08
Harmful exposures and work deaths in Iowa, 2024
Iowa recorded 83 fatal work injuries in 2024, down from 91 in 2023. Exposure to harmful substances or environments caused 12 of them (14%). Construction accounted for 15.
Source: BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries, Iowa, 2024
How Iowa Enforces 29 CFR 1910.146
Iowa runs an OSHA-approved State Plan administered by Iowa OSHA (IOSH), which covers private-sector construction. Its compliance officers enforce Iowa's own standards, which must be at least as effective as federal OSHA's and may go further. On this subject the rule is 29 CFR 1910.146 as adopted by 481—210.4(88); construction via 481—211.1(88). Iowa OSHA (IOSH) issued no citations under 29 CFR 1910.146 in Iowa construction in FY2025. Iowa applies the federal penalty maximums.
29 CFR 1910.146 is a general-industry standard and does not govern construction work. “This section does not apply to agriculture, to construction, or to shipyard employment”. Construction confined spaces are 29 CFR 1926 Subpart AA (1926.1201–1213), a separate standard with its own duties. It is not universal either: 1926.1201(b) carves out work already regulated by Subpart P (excavations), Subpart S (underground construction, caissons, cofferdams, compressed air) and Subpart Y (diving). An Iowa contractor auditing against 29 CFR 1910.146 is auditing against the wrong standard. The citation an officer writes on a construction site will name the 1926 provision, not this one.
HazComFast records the state of every jobsite and shows that the Iowa State Plan governs it. Start free
Help and oversight in Iowa
Free, confidential help: OSHA On-Site Consultation
In Iowa, the program is IOSHA Consultation Program (Department of Inspections, Appeals, & Licensing). OSHA describes it as “Primarily for smaller businesses, no-cost, confidential consultations help employers identify and address hazards and establish or improve safety and health programs.” It is separate from OSHA enforcement; the employer commits to correcting serious hazards.
Read on osha.gov and the state's official statute site, September 26, 2026.
Iowa Penalty Amounts for 29 CFR 1910.146 (2026)
Verified · 2026-10-05| Violation type | 2026 maximum | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Serious | $16,550 | Federal max · 29 CFR 1903.15(d) |
| Willful | $165,514 | Federal max · 29 CFR 1903.15(d) |
| Repeat | $165,514 | Federal max · 29 CFR 1903.15(d) |
| Failure to abate | $16,550/day | up to $16,550 per day; total capped at 30x the daily amount (FOM Ch.6) |
Iowa applies the federal OSHA maximums. Amounts are ceilings per violation. Iowa OSHA (IOSH) computes proposed penalties under its own State Plan procedures.
Key Confined Spaces Requirements 29 CFR 1910.146
- Evaluate workplace for confined spaces
- Develop written permit space program
- Test atmosphere before and during entry
- Provide ventilation to control hazardous atmospheres
- Station an attendant outside each permit space
- Arrange rescue services before entry begins
- Issue entry permits for each entry
Who enforces it in Iowa: Iowa OSHA (IOSH) inspects private employers, construction included, under an OSHA-approved State Plan. Iowa OSHA (IOSH) can add requirements beyond the federal standard above, so check its own rules as well.
The compliance checklist, the paragraphs OSHA cites nationally and what an inspector checks under 29 CFR 1910.146 are on the 29 CFR 1910.146 page.
What a Confined Spaces Violation Looks Like
Each item below breaches a specific paragraph of 29 CFR 1910.146. It is a list of requirements, not a ranking. A serious violation carries up to $16,550.
- Failing to evaluate the workplace to identify permit-required confined spaces (1910.146(c)(1)).
- Entry without atmospheric testing or with an atmosphere outside the acceptable ranges (1910.146(c)(5)/(d)).
- No written permit-space program, or no signed entry permit for the entry (1910.146(c)(4)/(e)).
- No attendant stationed outside, or the attendant entering to attempt a rescue (1910.146(i)/(k)).
- No arranged rescue and emergency services before entry (1910.146(k)).
Iowa Safety & Enforcement Profile
286
FY2025 construction citations
Iowa OSHA (IOSH)
Enforces private construction
- Construction trades inspected most in Iowa, FY2025: Commercial and Institutional Building Construction (51), Plumbing, Heating, and Air-Conditioning Contractors (24) and Roofing Contractors (20), out of 206 inspections opened (federal OSHA and State Plan combined).
- Construction fatality rate in Iowa, 2024: 12.5 per 100,000 full-time workers, 9th highest of the 40 states BLS published (all industries: 5.2).
HazComFast count from the Labor Department's OSHA enforcement data: inspections of construction employers (NAICS 23) opened from October 1, 2024 to September 30, 2025, federal OSHA and State Plan combined, grouped by the inspected employer's 2022 NAICS industry. Industry names are the Census Bureau's 2022 NAICS titles. data.dol.gov · BLS fatality rates by state, 2024
Free Confined Spaces Compliance Tools
Confined Spaces FAQ for Iowa
Which Iowa industries most often face a Confined Spaces inspection?
Confined Spaces inspections reach general-industry employers in Iowa, not the construction trades. Iowa OSHA (IOSH) inspects these employers directly and may apply requirements beyond the federal standard. A construction employer should not audit against 29 CFR 1910.146: the standard that governs the same work on a jobsite is 29 CFR 1926 Subpart AA (1926.1201–1213).
How often is Confined Spaces cited in Iowa?
29 CFR 1910.146 is enforced against general-industry employers in Iowa, so the construction citation totals published for Iowa (OSHA Frequently Cited Standards, NAICS 23) do not measure it. “This section does not apply to agriculture, to construction, or to shipyard employment”. Construction confined spaces are 29 CFR 1926 Subpart AA (1926.1201–1213), a separate standard with its own duties. It is not universal either: 1926.1201(b) carves out work already regulated by Subpart P (excavations), Subpart S (underground construction, caissons, cofferdams, compressed air) and Subpart Y (diving). A construction employer should not audit against 29 CFR 1910.146: the standard that governs the same work on a jobsite is 29 CFR 1926 Subpart AA (1926.1201–1213).
What makes a space a 'permit-required confined space' under 1910.146 in Iowa?
A confined space is permit-required if it has a hazardous atmosphere (or the potential for one), an engulfment hazard, an inward-converging configuration that could trap a worker, or any other recognized serious hazard. Iowa employers must test the atmosphere before and during entry, ventilate as necessary, post an attendant, and have a rescue plan, enforced by Iowa OSHA.
Who enforces confined-space rules (1910.146) in Iowa?
Iowa OSHA, part of the Iowa Division of Labor within Iowa Workforce Development, not federal OSHA. Iowa runs a full OSHA-approved State Plan, so a state compliance officer inspects and cites 1910.146 on private jobsites.
Can I get free OSHA help in Iowa without an inspection?
Yes. OSHA's On-Site Consultation Program in Iowa is IOSHA Consultation Program (Department of Inspections, Appeals, & Licensing). OSHA describes it this way: "Primarily for smaller businesses, no-cost, confidential consultations help employers identify and address hazards and establish or improve safety and health programs." Consultations are separate from OSHA enforcement, and the employer commits to correcting serious hazards.
Confined Spaces Guides & Resources
Compare this combination against any other state and standard with the enforcement risk lookup.
Confined Spaces in Other States
14 other state plans write a rule of their own for 29 CFR 1910.146 rather than adopting the federal text unchanged. Those are listed first. Compare all of them side by side.
Alaska8 AAC 61.1050Arizona29 CFR 1910.146 as adopted by A.A.C. R20-5-602; construction spaces under R20-5-601California8 CCR §5157, with §5158 for spaces outside the permit programown maxHawaii29 CFR 1910.146 as incorporated by HAR §12-60-50(a), with §12-60-7Minnesota29 CFR 1910.146 as adopted by Minn. R. 5205.0010, with Minn. R. 5207.0510NevadaNRS 618.383 and NRS 618.305 (sources for standards)New Mexico29 CFR 1910.146 as incorporated by 11.5.2.9(A) NMACown maxNorth Carolina13 NCAC 07F .0207, incorporating bloodborne pathogens into construction at 29 CFR 1926.1130
Other OSHA Standards in Iowa
Sources & verification
Penalty amounts and plan-type data were checked on 2026-10-05 against eCFR, OSHA.gov, and the Federal Register. This page is informational and not legal advice; consult the enforcing agency or counsel for your specific situation.
Get the Binder in Order Before the Inspector Arrives. Are You Ready?
OSHA does not give advance notice of inspections (29 CFR 1903.6). Get the binder in order before the opening conference, not during it.
Serious Violation
$16,550
per violation (max)
VS
HazComFast Pro
$199/mo
10 jobsites, unlimited chemicals, unlimited workers
New sign-ups are paused. The free tools below need no account, and customers can log in as usual.
Your account keeps working as usual. Cancel anytime.