Subchapter 7. General Industry Safety Orders
Group 4. General Mobile Equipment and Auxiliaries
Article 24. Elevating Work Platforms and Aerial Devices

§3639. Factors of Safety in Design of Work Platform Assembly.

(a) Where the platform is supporting its rated work load by a system of wire ropes or lift chains, or both, the safety factor of the wire rope or chain system shall not be less than 8 to 1 based on ultimate strength.

(b) All critical components of a hydraulic or pneumatic system used in a work platform shall have a bursting strength that exceeds the pressure attained when the system is subjected to the equivalent of four times the rated work load. Critical components are those in which a failure would result in a free fall or free rotation of the boom. All noncritical hydraulic components shall have a bursting safety factor of at least 2 to 1.

(c) Automatic safety devices or systems shall be provided to prevent free fall of the work platform should a failure of the power supply or elevating system occur.

Note: Authority cited: Section 142.3, Labor Code. Reference: Section 142.3, Labor Code.

HISTORY

1. Amendment filed 10-12-84; effective thirtieth day thereafter (Register 84, No. 41).

2. Amendment of subsection (a) filed 2-27-2006; operative 3-29-2006 (Register 2006, No. 9).

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