Subchapter 4. Construction Safety Orders

1. Demonstrate your interest in safety by establishing a firm and positive accident prevention policy that includes the supplying of tangible items like hard hats, good ladders, first aid materials, and safety devices on equipment.

2. Provide that capable, responsible supervisors make regular inspections of all excavations, forms, scaffolds, stairs, ladders, structures, machinery, and equipment at frequent intervals; take immediate corrective measures to eliminate hazards directly under control of the employer, or report violations of Safety Orders and safe practices to the responsible employer.

3. Make certain that the foremen assume their share of the responsibility for accidents, and require a written report from them on each. Require that each report suggests a feasible means of avoiding future accidents of a similar nature.

4. Monthly, or more frequent, meetings of all foremen should be held under direction of the superintendent for a discussion of safety problems and accidents that have occurred. Have something specific ready for discussion, such as safety regulations, or any changes in equipment and methods that are to be adopted for safety reasons.

5. Display safety posters and warning signs. A sign indicating how many consecutive accident-free days have passed is often worthwhile.

6. Consider the advisability of posting a list of all foremen who have kept their crews accident free for a certain period of time.

7. Consider the advisability of establishing various forms of safety competition, including suitable rewards or recognition to individuals and crews with good records.

8. Require foremen to give individual safety instructions and orders, as needed, to new workers and those found to be working unsafely.

9. Consider the advisability of having the foremen call short “toolbox” or “tail-gate” safety meetings with their crews about once a week on the job, to emphasize some particular safety problem that needs special attention.

10. Keep track of your safety record and keep everyone posted as to progress. A graph or chart, indicating gains or losses, is good for this purpose.

11. Encourage safety suggestions from all workers and, if the suggestion cannot be followed promptly, explain why to the worker.

12. Consider the advisability of giving each worker a copy of certain important safety rules that they are expected to follow.

13. Arrange for frequent and regular field safety inspections.

1. Amendment filed 4-3-85, effective thirtieth day thereafter (Register 85, No. 14).

2. Change without regulatory effect deleting appendices' introduction and index and amending Plate A-1 filed 6-14-93 pursuant to title 1, section 100, California Code of Regulations (Register 93, No. 25).

1. Safe Access and Movement

2. Schedule Work for Safety

3. Work Procedures

1. Amendment filed 4-3-85; effective thirtieth day thereafter (Register 85, No. 14).

1. New NOTE filed 4-3-85; effective thirtieth day thereafter (Register 85, No. 14).

2. Change without regulatory effect providing more legible illustrations filed 8-4-2008 pursuant to section 100, title 1, California Code of Regulations (Register 2008, No. 32).

1. All persons shall follow these safe practices rules, render every possible aid to safe operations, and report all unsafe conditions or practices to the foreman or superintendent.

2. Foremen shall insist on employees observing and obeying every rule, regulation, and order as is necessary to the safe conduct of the work, and shall take such action as is necessary to obtain observance.

3. All employees shall be given frequent accident prevention instructions. Instructions shall be given at least every 10 working days. When applicable, the accident prevention instructions shall also include specific instruction on the safe use, care and maintenance of fall protection equipment (i.e. fall arrest systems, positioning device systems, safety nets, etc.) used at the jobsite.

4. Anyone known to be under the influence of drugs or intoxicating substances which impair the employee's ability to safely perform the assigned duties shall not be allowed on the job while in that condition.

5. Horseplay, scuffling, and other acts which tend to have an adverse influence on the safety or well-being of the employees shall be prohibited.

6. Work shall be well planned and supervised to prevent injuries in the handling of materials and in working together with equipment.

7. No one shall knowingly be permitted or required to work while the employee's ability or alertness is so impaired by fatigue, illness, or other causes that it might unnecessarily expose the employee or others to injury.

8. Employees shall not enter manholes, underground vaults, chambers, tanks, silos, or other similar places that receive little ventilation, unless it has been determined that it is safe to enter.

9. Employees shall be instructed to ensure that all guards and other protective devices are in proper places and adjusted, and shall report deficiencies promptly to the foreman or superintendent.

10. Crowding or pushing when boarding or leaving any vehicle or other conveyance shall be prohibited.

11. Workers shall not handle or tamper with any electrical equipment, machinery, or air or water lines in a manner not within the scope of their duties, unless they have received instructions from their foreman.

12. All injuries shall be reported promptly to the foreman or superintendent so that arrangements can be made for medical or first aid treatment.

13. When lifting heavy objects, the large muscles of the leg instead of the smaller muscles of the back shall be used.

14. Inappropriate footwear or shoes with thin or badly worn soles shall not be worn.

15. Materials, tools, or other objects shall not be thrown from buildings or structures until proper precautions are taken to protect others from the falling objects.

1. Amendment filed 4-3-85; effective thirtieth day thereafter (Register 85, No. 14).

2. Amendment of first paragraph and provision number 3. filed 7-30-97; operative 8-29-97 (Register 97, No. 31).

16. Employees shall cleanse thoroughly after handling hazardous substances, and follow special instructions from authorized sources.

17. Hod carriers should avoid the use of extension ladders when carrying loads. Such ladders may provide adequate strength, but the rung position and rope arrangement make such climbing difficult and hazardous for this trade.

18. Work shall be so arranged that employees are able to face ladder and use both hands while climbing.

19. Gasoline shall not be used for cleaning purposes.

20. No burning, welding, or other source of ignition shall be applied to any enclosed tank or vessel, even if there are some openings, until it has first been determined that no possibility of explosion exists, and authority for the work is obtained from the foreman or superintendent.

21. Any damage to scaffolds, falsework, or other supporting structures shall be immediately reported to the foreman and repaired before use.

22. All tools and equipment shall be maintained in good condition.

23. Damaged tools or equipment shall be removed from service and tagged “DEFECTIVE.”

24. Pipe or Stillson wrenches shall not be used as a substitute for other wrenches.

25. Only appropriate tools shall be used for the job.

26. Wrenches shall not be altered by the addition of handle-extensions or “cheaters.”

27. Files shall be equipped with handles and not used to punch or pry.

28. A screwdriver shall not be used as a chisel.

29. Wheelbarrows shall not be pushed with handles in an upright position.

30. Portable electric tools shall not be lifted or lowered by means of the power cord. Ropes shall be used.

31. Electric cords shall not be exposed to damage from vehicles.

32. In locations where the use of a portable power tool is difficult, the tool shall be supported by means of a rope or similar support of adequate strength.

33. Only authorized persons shall operate machinery or equipment.

34. Loose or frayed clothing, or long hair, dangling ties, finger rings, etc., shall not be worn around moving machinery or other sources of entanglement.

35. Machinery shall not be serviced, repaired or adjusted while in operation, nor shall oiling of moving parts be attempted, except on equipment that is designed or fitted with safeguards to protect the person performing the work.