Heard at the April 13, 2000
Adopted on July 20, 2000
Approved by OAL on August 4, 2000
Effective September 3, 2000
Amend Section 3207 to add the following definitions in alphabetical order:
§ 3207. Definitions.
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Rope Access. The use of rope access equipment where ropes are used as the primary means of support, as a means of protection or positioning, and where an employee descends or ascends on a rope, or traverses along a rope.
Rope Access Equipment. Specialized equipment approved for use with rope access techniques to suspend, support, position or protect an employee.
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NOTE: Authority cited: Section 142.3, Labor Code. Reference: Section 142.3, Labor Code; and Section 18943(b), Health and Safety Code.
Amend Article 4 to add a new Section 3270.1 to read:
§ 3270.1 Use of Rope Access Equipment.
(a) Scope and Application. This section establishes safety requirements
for rope access and the use, care and maintenance of rope access equipment as
defined in Section 3207. Rope supported work shall be permitted only when other
means of access are not feasible or would increase the risk of injury to the
employee and/or the public. The requirements of this section include, but are
not limited to, the inspection of dams and spillways, access to interior or
exterior structural and architectural components of buildings, highway/bridge
inspection and maintenance, and access to powerplant penstocks. EXCEPTION: (1)
Window cleaning and exterior building maintenance as regulated by Articles 5
and 6 of these Orders; (2) Emergency search and rescue operations; (3) Entertainment
performances and rehearsals.
(b) Approval. Rope access equipment shall be approved for its intended use as
defined in Section 3206 of these Orders.
(c) Training.
(1) The employer shall establish, implement and maintain
a written Code of Safe Practices for rope access work. The written Code of Safe
Practices shall include, but not be limited to the following elements:
a. Methods of rope access and anchorage used by the employer.
b. Employee selection criteria.
c. Equipment selection and inspection criteria.
d. Roles and responsibilities of rope access
team members.
e. Communication systems.
f. Employee training program.
g. Rescue and emergency protocol.
h. Identification of any unique site hazards that may affect the safety of employees
using rope access methods.
(2) Employees shall be trained in accordance with the Code of Safe Practices,
including rescue techniques. The employer shall evaluate the competence of the
employee to perform rope access in accordance with the Code of Safe Practices
including a hands-on demonstration by the employee of his/her rope access skills.
(3) Employees who perform rope access shall receive annual refresher training.
The training shall include a reevaluation (e.g., hands-on demonstration) of
the employee's ability to perform rope access in accordance with the Code of
Safe Practices.
(4) Documentation of employee training shall be maintained as required by Section
3203 of these Orders.
(d) Equipment Inspection and Maintenance.
(1) The manufacturer's recommendations
for use, care, inspection and maintenance of rope access equipment shall be
followed.
(2) A qualified person shall inspect rope access equipment each day before and
after use to determine that the equipment is safe for its intended use.
(3) Damaged or defective rope access equipment shall be immediately removed
from service.
(e) Anchorage. Anchorages shall be sufficient to safely support at least twice
the maximum anticipated dynamic load imposed upon them as determined by a qualified
person.
(f) Personal Protective Equipment. Employees performing rope access work shall
be provided personal protective equipment in accordance with Article 10 of these
Orders.
(g) There shall be at least two trained employees present when rope access equipment
and techniques are used.
(h) Trainer Qualifications. Employees who use rope access equipment and/or perform
rope access shall be trained by persons with the qualifications and experience
necessary to effectively instruct the employee in the proper fundamentals of
rope access, equipment, and techniques as described in subsection (c) of this
section.
(i) The employer shall provide for the prompt rescue of employees in case of
equipment malfunction or a fall, or shall assure that employees are able to
rescue themselves.
(j) A safety, secondary, belay, or backup line, or other appropriate fall arrest
device shall be used when the main line is the primary means of support, unless
the employer can demonstrate that the second line or other fall arrest device
would create a greater hazard or would otherwise be infeasible.
(1) When a safety line is used in conjunction with the main line, each line
shall be provided with a separate anchor, and shall be separately fixed to the
employee's harness. This shall not prohibit both lines from being attached to
a single harness attachment point.
(k) Precautions (e.g., barricades, warning lines) shall be taken to control
vehicular traffic and/or prevent unauthorized persons from walking or working
beneath employees performing rope access operations.
(l) The employer shall conduct a pre-rope access briefing to discuss the objective(s)
of the rope access work to be performed, any unusual site-specific hazards or
environmental conditions that could affect the safety of the employee, and emergency
procedures to be followed (e.g., employee rescue).
NOTE: Authority cited: Section 142.3, Labor Code. Reference: Section 142.3, Labor Code.