FINAL STATEMENT OF REASONS

CALIFORNIA CODE OF REGULATIONS

TITLE 8: Chapter 4, Subchapter 7, Article 59, Section 4296

of the General Industry Safety Orders (GISO)

Automatic Starting of Woodworking Machines and Equipment After Power Failure

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There are no modifications to the information contained in the Initial Statement of Reasons.

SUMMARY AND RESPONSE TO ORAL AND WRITTEN COMMENTS

I. Written Comments

There were no written comments received.

II. Oral Comments

Oral Comments received at the May 17, 2001 Public Hearing

Mr. Richard Warner, Industrial Hygiene Manager, Southern California Edison

Comment:

Mr. Warner stated that he supports the proposed changes in the safety orders. Mr. Warner further stated that the regulation should extend beyond woodworking machinery to a broader area of concern when power outages occur.

Response:

This rulemaking action proposes to promulgate woodworking regulations that are at least as effective as federal OSHA’s woodworking regulations contained in 29 CFR 1910.213(b)(3). The federal regulations contained in 29 CFR 1910.213(b)(3) require that provisions be made to prevent woodworking machines from automatically restarting upon restoration of power if such restarting of machines might result in operator injury. To expand the regulation to include other industries and/or equipment would be outside the scope of this rulemaking action. Therefore, the Board does not believe modification to the proposal is necessary as a result of this comment. However, it is the Board staff’s intention to consider other areas of the safety orders for possible amendment to broadly address the issue of inadvertent restarting of electrically operated equipment following a power interruption.

The Board thanks Mr. Warner for his comments and participation in the Board’s rulemaking process.

Ms. Lyn Berman, Board Member

Comment:

Board member Berman asked if there is a way the Board could review the regulations to see if there are other safety orders where the provisions of this rulemaking action would warrant amendments.

Response:

See the response to Mr. Warner’s comment.

DETERMINATION OF MANDATE

This regulation does not impose a mandate on local agencies or school districts as indicated in the Initial Statement of Reasons.

ALTERNATIVES CONSIDERED

The Board invited interested persons to present statements or arguments with respect to alternatives to the proposed regulation. No alternative considered by the Board would be more effective in carrying out the purpose for which the action is proposed or would be as effective and less burdensome to affected private persons than the adopted action.