Skip to Main Content


This information is provided free of charge by the Department of Industrial Relations from its web site at www.dir.ca.gov. These regulations are for the convenience of the user and no representation or warranty is made that the information is current or accurate. See full disclaimer at https://www.dir.ca.gov/od_pub/disclaimer.html.
 
Subchapter 7. General Industry Safety Orders Group
4. General Mobile Equipment and Auxiliaries
Article 24. Elevating Work Platforms and Aerial Devices
Return to index
New query

§3641. Orchard Man-Lifts (Pruning Tower).


(a) Orchard Man-Lifts manufactured after September 1, 1991 shall have a permanently affixed, legible plate or be conspicuously marked, as follows:

(1) The device meets either ANSI A92.5-1980, Sections 3 and 4 or ANSI/SIA A92.5-1992, Section 4 requirements for construction and stability.

(A) Orchard Man-Lifts manufactured after May 7, 1999 meets ANSI/SIA A92.5-1992, Section 4 requirements for construction and stability.

(2) Make, model, serial number and manufacturer's name and address;

(3) Rated platform workload;

(4) Maximum platform height and travel height;

(5) Alternative configuration statement, if applicable;

(6) Work-in-proximity-to-high-voltage overhead-lines warning, and,

(7) Maximum slope on which the device may be operated when the platform is elevated.

(b) In addition to having permanently affixed, legible plates or markings stating that the orchard man-lift meets the applicable ANSI or ANSI/SIA A92.5, Sections 3 and/or 4 requirements, orchard man-lifts manufactured after September 1, 1991 shall incorporate the following:

(1) A rigid platform guardrail at least 36 inches in height, surrounding the entire platform. Midrails are not required;

(2) A work platform fully enclosed below the guardrail to within three inches of the platform floor or enclosed with vertical members spaced not more than nine inches apart. Access to the platform shall be provided by one of the following:

(A) Access opening not to exceed 20 inches in width; or

(B) Access gate or door provided it is designed to prevent unintentional opening and provide a closed guardrail around the platform.

(3) Access to or from the platform shall not be over the guardrail.

(4) A safety belt with attached lifeline shall be worn when guardrail height is less than 42 inches above the platform floor. A lifeline anchorage point shall be provided on the platform.

(5) A secondary set of platform controls shall be provided at ground level capable of raising and lowering the platform and deenergizing the system.

(6) All operating controls shall move in the direction of the function which they control and shall be of the type which automatically return to “off” or the “neutral” position when released.

(7) The platform elevating system shall be designed to limit descent of the raised platform to 135 feet per minute in the event of an elevating system failure.

(c) Orchard man-lifts manufactured prior to September 1, 1991 shall meet at least the following requirements:

(1) A permanent legible plate or conspicuous marking containing the information required in subsection (a), (1-7) of this Section shall be affixed to the orchard man-lift;

(2) All load supporting structural elements of the work platform shall have a factor of safety not less than 2 to 1;

(3) The device and work platform shall be capable of maintaining stability while sustaining a static load equal to 1-1/3 times its rated work load concentrated anywhere 12 inches inside the perimeter of the platform throughout its entire range of motion while on a 5 degree slope from the horizontal; and,

(4) The platform elevating system shall be equipped with a means of limiting descent of the platform to 135 feet per minute in the event of an elevating system failure.

Note: The orchard man-lift may be considered in compliance with these requirements provided compliance can be substantiated by manufacturer's specification, or documentation certified by a California registered engineer or by a nationally recognized testing laboratory as defined in Section 3207 of the General Industry Safety Orders.

(d) Orchard man-lifts shall be operated and maintained in accordance with the manufacturers' recommendations.

(e) Use and marking of orchard man-lifts shall be in accordance with Article 37 of the High Voltage Electrical Safety Orders. (f) Operating instructions in Section 3648 of the General Industry Safety Orders shall apply to orchard man-lifts in addition to the following:

(1) Orchard man-lifts operators shall be trained in accordance with the manufacturer's recommended operating procedures.

(2) A written emergency procedure to move and lower the platform should the platform operator become unable to operate the controls shall be developed. Operators shall be trained in these emergency procedures.

NOTE

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

HISTORY

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

2. New section filed 10-28-91; operative 11-27-91 (Register 92, No. 7).

3. Amendment of subsection (a)(1), new subsection (a)(1)(A) and amendment of subsection (b) filed 4-7-99; operative 5-7-99 (Register 99, No. 15).

4. Amendment of subsection (f) filed 2-8-2002; operative 3-10-2002 (Register 2002, No. 6).

Go BackGo Back to Article 24 Table of Contents