In Wisconsin, 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 federal OSHA.
29 CFR 1910.146 · Wisconsin
Confined Spaces Requirements in Wisconsin
Confined Spaces in Wisconsin: 2026 penalties, who enforces 29 CFR 1910.146, the paragraphs cited and free tools.
Verified vs OSHA sources · 2026-10-05
WisconsinGeneral Industry (29 CFR 1910)Federal OSHA Jurisdiction
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 Wisconsin, federal OSHA 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
3.7
fatal work injuries per 100,000 full-time workers, all industries, Wisconsin, 2024 (BLS)
What federal OSHA is targeting in Wisconsin
Wisconsin has no state OSHA plan for private-sector work, so there is no state rule to read. What differs here is which hazards federal OSHA schedules inspections for, as set out in published emphasis directives.
Regional Emphasis Program for Grain Handling Facilities
CPL 04-05-2301 · Chicago Regional Office · effective October 1, 2023
“The Notice applies to grain handling facilities within the jurisdiction of all Region V Area OSHA Offices.”
Grain handling is programmed across every Region V area office. It matters here because the grain handling standard, 1910.272, requires an entry permit for bins, silos and tanks unless the employer or its representative is present, and requires dangerous equipment to be locked out before entry, so a grain inspection looks at entry permits and energy control.
Regional Emphasis Program for Transportation Tank Cleaning Operations
CPL 04-00-028 · Chicago Regional Office · effective August 2, 2021
“This Instruction applies to all worksites in Illinois, Ohio, and Wisconsin, and those worksites in Michigan, Minnesota, and Indiana under federal jurisdiction.”
Tank cleaning names its states outright rather than its area offices: all worksites in Illinois, Ohio and Wisconsin. It is also the one that puts all three chemical standards in the same inspection: the residues are hazardous chemicals under 1910.1200, the tank is a permit-required confined space, and entry means respiratory protection.
Harmful exposures and work deaths in Wisconsin, 2024
Wisconsin recorded 109 fatal work injuries in 2024, down from 112 in 2023. Exposure to harmful substances or environments caused 19 of them (17%). Construction accounted for 16.
Source: BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries, Wisconsin, 2024
How Wisconsin Enforces 29 CFR 1910.146
Wisconsin has no State Plan, so federal OSHA has jurisdiction. 29 CFR 1910.146 is enforced by U.S. Department of Labor compliance officers using standard federal procedures and 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). A Wisconsin 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.
Help and oversight in Wisconsin
Free, confidential help: OSHA On-Site Consultation
In Wisconsin, the program is OSHA Onsite Consultation (WisCon) Program (University of Wisconsin - Wisconsin State Laboratory of Hygiene). 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.
Wisconsin consultation program · OSHA consultation directory
Who inspects private employers here
Federal OSHA, from the Appleton Area Office (Appleton), the Eau Claire Area Office (Eau Claire), the Madison Area Office (Madison) and the Milwaukee Area Office (Milwaukee).
Read on osha.gov and the state's official statute site, September 26, 2026.
Wisconsin 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) |
Wisconsin applies the federal OSHA maximums. Amounts are ceilings per violation. Federal OSHA reduces the proposed penalty for employer size, good faith and history (FOM CPL 02-00-164 Ch. 6). There was no inflation increase for 2026: the 2025 amounts remain in effect (OMB Memo M-26-11).
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 Wisconsin: Federal OSHA inspects private construction employers; Wisconsin has no State Plan.
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)).
Wisconsin Safety & Enforcement Profile
26,559
Federal construction citations (national, FY2025)
1,789 of them in Wisconsin (HazComFast count)
Federal OSHA
Enforces private construction
- Construction trades inspected most in Wisconsin, FY2025: Roofing Contractors (345), Framing Contractors (89) and Commercial and Institutional Building Construction (53), out of 738 inspections opened (federal OSHA and State Plan combined).
- Construction fatality rate in Wisconsin, 2024: 7.8 per 100,000 full-time workers, 30th highest of the 40 states BLS published (all industries: 3.7).
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 Wisconsin
Which Wisconsin industries most often face a Confined Spaces inspection?
Confined Spaces inspections reach general-industry employers in Wisconsin, not the construction trades. Federal OSHA inspects these employers directly, since Wisconsin has no state plan covering the private sector. 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 Wisconsin?
29 CFR 1910.146 is enforced against general-industry employers in Wisconsin, so the construction citation totals published for Wisconsin (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).
Who enforces confined-space rules (1910.146) in Wisconsin?
Federal OSHA. Wisconsin has no State Plan, so a compliance officer from OSHA's Chicago region inspects and cites 1910.146 directly, at the federal penalty maximums.
Can I get free OSHA help in Wisconsin without an inspection?
Yes. OSHA's On-Site Consultation Program in Wisconsin is OSHA Onsite Consultation (WisCon) Program (University of Wisconsin - Wisconsin State Laboratory of Hygiene). 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 Wisconsin
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.
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