Chapter 3.2. California Occupational Safety and Health Regulations (CAL/OSHA)
Subchapter 2. Regulations of the Division of Occupational Safety and Health

Article 2. Permits--Excavations, Trenches, Construction and Demolition and the Underground Use of Diesel Engines in Work in Mines and Tunnels

§341. Permit Requirements.

(a) Scope and Application.

(1) This article specifies:

(A) Work activities that require permits;

(B) What permit holders must do to comply with permit requirements;

(C) What types of permits can be obtained; and

(D) How to apply for a permit.

(2) The purpose of a permit is to provide notice to the Division that an employer will undertake permit-required activity and to allow the Division an effective means of ensuring that the proposed permit-required activity will be performed safely.

(3) There are two types of permits: Project Permits and Annual Permits. Both types are defined below in subsection (b) and explained in subsections (c), (d), and (e).

(4) The Permit application process is explained in section 341.1.

(b) Definitions. The following definitions apply to this article:

(1) "Annual permit" means a permit issued pursuant to section 341.1(a)(2) that allows a qualifying employer to conduct specified permit-required activity at any jobsite for a period of one year.

(2) "Climbing a fixed tower crane" means altering the height of the revolving section of the crane by adding or removing tower sections with the use of a climbing frame.

(3) "Conduct permit-required activity" means either:

(A) Engage in permit-required activity by having employees who actually perform the activity; or

(B) Act in the role of a project administrator at a site where permit-required activity is taking place, regardless of whether this role involves having employees who actually perform the activity. Note:See definition of "permit required activity" below.

(4) "Emergency repair work to underground facilities" means the unscheduled repair or replacement of pipes or other underground structures for the purposes of protecting life or property.

(5) "Height" when used to describe a structure means the distance from the top of the structure, including any parapet walls, mechanical rooms or other penthouse structures, to the lowest point of the surrounding grade or ground level below. Mechanical screens, antennas, chimneys, flag poles, and similar attachments are not to be considered in determining the height of a structure.

(6) "Hold a project permit" or "Hold an annual permit" means to have a valid applicable permit which was obtained prior to the start of work. In the case of underground use of a diesel engine in a mine or tunnel the permit shall be obtained prior to placing the engine in the mine or tunnel.

(7) "Permit-required activity" means activity for which a permit is required by this Article. Note:See section 341(d) below for a description of these activities.

(8) "Project Administrator" means a person or entity that has overall onsite responsibility for the planning, quality, management, or completion of a project involving the erection or demolition of a structure. Examples of Project Administrators include, without limitation, general contractors, prime contractors, owner/builders, joint ventures, and construction managers.

(9) "Project permit" means a permit issued pursuant to section 341.1(a)(1) that authorizes an employer to conduct permit-required activity at the specific location(s) named in the permit.

(10) "Structure" means any creation by human activity of a piece of work, formation, or series of parts joined together, including but not necessarily limited to the following:

Billboards.

Bridges.

Buildings.

Chimneys.

Dams.

Elevated highways.

Falsework.

Outdoor signs.

Powerhouses.

Scaffolding.

Silos.

Smokestacks.

Tanks or tank towers.

Transmission or communication towers.

(c) Basic permit requirement.

(1) Project Permits.

(A) Work on permit-required activities on a project subject to Project Permit requirements shall not begin until a Project Permit has been issued for the project.

(B) Only one Project Permit is required per project as long as the Project Permit holder continues to act in the role of Project Administrator, even though the project may have more than one employer fitting the description of a Project Administrator. If the holder of the current Project Permit no longer continues to act in the role of Project Administrator, that Project Permit is no longer valid, and no project work shall continue until a new Project Permit has been issued. Note:See Sections 341.1(f) and 341.1(g) of this article for additional details regarding the scope of coverage of a Project Permit.

(2) Annual Permits.

(A) Any employer other than a Project Permit holder who conducts permit-required activity shall hold a current Annual Permit before engaging in the activity.

(B) An employer who conducts activity subject to Annual Permit requirements shall obtain an Annual Permit once per year and shall notify the Division each time the permit holder begins permit-required activity at a new site.

(d) Work Activities Subject to Permit Requirements and the Types of Permits Required to Conduct the Activities.

(1) To erect, raise or lower, or dismantle a fixed tower crane, the fixed tower crane erector, climber, or dismantler shall hold a Project Permit. NoteNo.1:See Section 341.1 of this article for additional details on Project Permit requirements for fixed tower cranes. NoteNo.2:See Sections 344.70 et seq. of Title 8 of the California Code of Regulations for additional requirements applicable to permits to operate a fixed tower crane.

(2) To engage in the underground use of a diesel engine in any mine or tunnel, each employer or entity who is to operate the diesel engine shall hold a Project Permit. The permit shall be obtained prior to placing the engine in the mine or tunnel.

(3) To conduct the demolition or dismantling of any building or structure more than 36 feet in height, the Project Administrator shall hold a Project Permit and all other employers directly engaging in demolition or dismantling activity shall hold an Annual Permit.

(4) To conduct any of the following activities on a structure intended to be more than 36 feet high when completed, the Project Administrator shall hold a Project Permit and all other employers directly engaging in these activities shall hold an Annual Permit:

(A) Erection and placement of structural steel or erection and placement of structural members made of materials other than steel. Note:No permit is required for work limited to the erection or placement of reinforcing bars used in reinforced concrete construction.

(B) Installation of metal decking or decking made of substitute materials.

(C) Installation of curtain walls, precast panels, or fascia.

(D) Forming or placement of concrete structures or concrete decks on steel structures.

(E) Installation of structural framing, including roof framing, or the installation of panelized roof systems. Note:No permit is required for work limited to the installation of interior partitions.

(5) To conduct the following activities, the employer shall hold an Annual or a Project Permit, and may apply for either:

(A) Construction of trenches or excavations 5 feet or deeper into which any person is required to descend. Note:For purposes of this subsection, "descend" means to enter any part of the trench or excavation once the excavation has attained a depth of 5 feet or more.

(B) Erection and placement of scaffolding, vertical shoring, or falsework intended to be more than 36 feet high when completed.

(e) Exceptions to Permit Requirements. The provisions of this section shall not apply to the following:

(1) Government Bodies - United States of America, its officers or agencies, State of California, county, city and county, city, or district.

(2) Any public utility subject to the jurisdiction of the Public Utilities Commission.

(3) Construction of trenches or excavations for the purpose of performing emergency repair work to underground facilities.

(4) Construction or final use of excavations or trenches where the construction or final use does not require a person to descend into the excavation or trench.

(5) Excavation for the construction of graves as defined in Section 7014 of the Health and Safety Code.

(6) Excavation for the construction of swimming pools. Note:The construction of motion picture, television, or theater stages and sets does not require a permit unless the conditions specified in Section 6500(b) of the California Labor Code have occurred. For purposes of this requirement, stages and sets include, without limitation, scenery, props, backdrops, flats, greenbeds, and grids.

<General Materials (GM) - References, Annotations, or Tables>

Note: Authority and reference cited: Sections 60.5, 6308 and 6501, Labor Code. Reference: Sections 6500, 6501 and 6508, Labor Code.

HISTORY

1. New Article 2 (Sections 341-341.5) filed 8-1-74 as an emergency; effective upon filing (Register 74, No. 31).

2. Certificate of Compliance filed 10-25-74 (Register 74, No. 43).

3. Amendment filed 7-9-80; effective thirtieth day thereafter (Register 80, No. 28).

4. Amendment of subsection (a) filed 12-5-84; effective thirtieth day thereafter (Register 84, No. 49).

5. Amendment of subsection (a) filed 12-5-85; effective thirtieth day thereafter (Register 85, No. 49).

6. New subsection (a)(4) filed 3-18-91; operative 3-18-91 (Register 91, No. 15).

7. Repealer and new section filed 9-29-2006; operative 10-29-2006 (Register2006, No. 39).