Subchapter 14. Petroleum Safety Orders--Drilling and Production
Article 28. Ladders and Ladderway Openings for Derricks and Masts

§6600. Pole Steps for Gin Pole Masts.

(a) Pole steps so arranged as to provide access from the ground or floor level, or from a base landing platform on the bed of the vehicle on which the mast is mounted, to each platform on the mast shall comply with the requirements in subsections (b) and (d) of this section. (See accompanying illustration for pole steps for portable and stationary gin pole masts.)

(b) When an employee has to perform any duty at the crown block level of a telescoping type gin pole mast in its operating position at a well, the upper section of the mast shall be lowered to a point where the duties can be performed from the pole steps on the lower section of the mast, unless access is provided to the crown block by means of a fixed ladder having a safety cage at the crown block level. (See accompanying illustration for pole steps for portable and stationary gin pole masts.)

(c) Ladder cages are not required on any portable or stationary gin pole mast except as provided for in subsection (b) of this section.

(d) Pole steps, as provided for in subsections (a) and (b) of this section, are acceptable as a type of ladder on the leg or legs of a gin pole mast if the leg is not more than sixteen inches (16 ") in diameter and the steps are constructed and installed as follows:

(1) Pole steps shall be designed, constructed, installed and maintained to conform to good engineering practices.

Diagram relocated at the bottom of Section 6600

(2) The length of the tread surface of the steps shall be not less than five and three-eighths inches (5 3/8 ") and not more than eight inches (8 "). For stirrup type steps, this minimum, clear length, shall be maintained to a distance of at least four inches (4 ") above the tread surface of the step before the material is curved or tapered toward the mast.

(3) Steps shall alternate, one step on one side of the mast, the next step on the other side of the mast, and shall be uniformly spaced in elevation at intervals of at least twenty-four inches (24 "), but not more than thirty-two inches (32 ") on each side of the mast.

The steps on each side of the mast shall be in vertical alignment.

(4) The outer ends of hook head type steps shall be turned upward at least three-fourths inch (3/4 ").

POLE STEPS

FOR PORTABLE AND STATIONARY GIN POLE MASTS

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

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

 HISTORY     1. Amendment of section heading and section, and new Note filed 5-8-95;
operative 6-7-95 (Register 95, No. 19).

2. Change without regulatory effect providing more legible illustrations filed
3-2-2009 pursuant to section 100, title 1, California Code of Regulations 
(Register 2009, No. 10).