This information is provided free of charge by the Department of Industrial Relations from its web site at www.dir.ca.gov. These regulations are for the convenience of the user and no representation or warranty is made that the information is current or accurate. See full disclaimer at https://www.dir.ca.gov/od_pub/disclaimer.html.
 
Subchapter 7. General Industry Safety Orders

Group 26. DIVING AND PRESSURIZED WORKSITE OPERATIONS

ARTICLE 154. PRESSURIZED WORKSITE OPERATIONS

Return to index
New query

§ARTICLE 154. PRESSURIZED WORKSITE OPERATIONS
APPENDIX B

The information contained in the following pages is adapted from the U. S. Navy Diving Tables and is to be used when an employee will enter a compressed air environment more than once within a 12-hour period.
The Division may accept alternate methods of decompression for repetitive exposures provided the licensed physician submits proposed procedures to the Division for its review and approval.
The Department of the Navy is in no way liable for the use or misuse of Tables 3, 4, and 5.


TABLE 3


Image 1 (3.25" X 7") Not available for Offline Print to STP or FAX


INSTRUCTIONS FOR USE OF TABLE 3

The tabulated compressed air exposure times are in minutes. The times at the various pressures in each vertical column are the maximum exposures during which a compressed air worker will remain within the group listed at the head of the column.
To find the repetitive group designation enter the table on the exact or next greater working pressure than that to which exposed and select the listed exposure time exact or next greater than the actual exposure time. The repetitive group designation is indicated by the letter at the head of the vertical column where the selected exposure time is listed.
For example: An exposure in compressed air was for 45 minutes at 26 psig. To determine the repetitive group enter the table at 27 psig (the next higher pressure, as 26 psig is not listed) and move horizontally until 50 minutes (the next greater tabulated exposure time, as 45 minutes is not listed), then move vertically to the top of the column where "H" is shown as the repetitive group.


TABLE 4


Image 2 (5" X 5.75") Not available for Offline Print to STP or FAX


INSTRUCTIONS FOR USE OF TABLE 4 Open air interval time in the table is in hours and minutes (2:20 means 2 hours and 20 minutes). The open air interval must be at least 10 minutes. Find the repetitive group designation from Table 3 on the diagonal slope. Enter the table horizontally to select the listed open air interval time that is exactly or NEXT GREATER than the actual open air interval time. The repetitive group designation for the end of the open air interval is at the head of the vertical column where the selected open air interval time is listed. For example: A previous compressed air exposure was for 4.5 minutes at 30 psig. The compressed air worker decompresses according to Table 2 and remains in open air for 1 hour and 30 minutes and wishes to find the new repetitive group designation. From Table 3 the repetitive group at the start of the open air interval is "I". Now enter Table 4 at "I" on the diagonal slope and move horizontally to the column having 2:02 listed, which is the next greater time, since 1: 30 in not tabulated. A sufficient amount of Inert gas has now been lost to place the compressed air worker in group "F". * NOTE:Compressed air exposures following open air intervals of more than 12 hours are not considered multiple exposures. ACTUAL compressed air exposure time will be used for the determination of decompression time for open air intervals greater than 12 hours.


TABLE 5


Image 3 (4" X 4.5") Not available for Offline Print to STP or FAX


INSTRUCTIONS FOR USE OF TABLE 5

The compressed air exposure times listed in this table are called "residual nitrogen times" and are the times a compressed air worker is to consider already spent in compressed air when starting a repetitive exposure to a specific pressure. They are in minutes.
Enter the table horizontally with the repetitive group designation from the Open Air Interval Credit Table (table 4). The time in each vertical column is the number of minutes that would be required (at the pressure listed at the head of the column) to saturate to the particular group.
For example: The final group designation from the Open Air Interval Credit Table (table 4) on the basis of a previous exposure and open air interval is "H." It is planned to re-enter compressed air at a pressure of 42 psig. What time must be added to the actual time spent in compressed air? Enter table 5 on row H. Since 42 psig is greater than 40 psig but less than 45 psig, use the longer time of 33 minutes. This means that the compressed air worker enters the compressed air environment as though the worker had already been at 42 psig for 33 minutes.
The exposure time listed in table 5 is added to the actual time spent in compressed air. Decompression is carried out based on the sum of the actual exposure time and the time from table 5 for the pressure encountered. Note: Authority cited: Section 142.3, Labor Code. Reference: Section 142.3, Labor Code. Authority cited: Section 142.3, Labor Code. Reference: Section 142.3, Labor Code.

HISTORY

1. New appendix filed 4-4-2006; operative 5-4-2006 (Register 2006, No. 14).

Go BackGo Back to Article 153 Table of Contents