California Code of Regulations
Title 8 - Industrial Relations
Division 1 - Department of Industrial Relations
Chapter 4 - Division of Industrial Safety
Subchapter 14 - Petroleum Safety Orders-Drilling and Production
Article 1 - Application and Variances
Section 6502 - Application

(a) These orders establish minimum safety standards and shall apply to the equipment and operations used in or appurtenant to the drilling for and production of petroleum and natural gas; servicing of oil and gas wells; storage and handling of petroleum, natural gas and their products; and shall include the construction, location, transportation, installation, testing, demolition, maintenance and operation of such equipment in "Employment" or a "Place of Employment" or by an "Employer" or an "Employee" as these terms are defined in Division 5, Part 1 of the Labor Code.

(b) These orders shall take precedence over other safety orders when applied to drilling for and production of crude oil and natural gas.

EXCEPTION: Existing installations which are in compliance with safety orders, or variances therefrom, in effect prior to the effective date of these safety orders, unless the hazard presented by the installations or equipment is in the judgment of the Chief of the Division of such severity as to warrant control by the application of the applicable sections of these orders.

(c) Where petroleum drilling or oil well servicing equipment is being used for drilling or servicing wells other than petroleum wells, the applicable sections of these orders shall apply to such operations.