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 16 - Gas Compressors and Engines
Section 6554 - Stationary Internal Combustion Engine Driving Air or Gas Compressors

(a) Air and gas compressor engines of over thirty (30) horsepower shall be provided with means other than manual for starting. Manual starting is permitted in emergencies only.

(b) In a gas compressor building or in buildings where there may be an accumulation of flammable gases, internal-combustion engine ignition systems or wires shall not be manipulated in a manner that may produce an open spark, unless tests indicate that the flammable gas or vapor content of the atmosphere is less than twenty percent (20%) of the lower explosive limit.

(c) Cylinder cocks of internal-combustion engines shall not be opened at any time when a flame or spark may be discharged from the cylinder cock into a gas compressor room or in buildings where there may be an accumulation of flammable gases, unless tests indicate that the flammable gas or vapor content of the atmosphere is less than twenty percent (20%) of the lower explosive limit.

(d) In addition to the throttle valve, other means shall be provided by the use of one or more valves, blinding, or other provisions giving equivalent safety, to prevent fuel gas entering cylinders and actuating moving parts while maintenance work is being performed upon an internal combustion engine, or upon the equipment connected to and driven by the engine, when such maintenance work would otherwise expose the employee to possible injury.

(e) The main fuel gas line to gas compressor engines and other internal combustion engines located in gas compressor buildings shall be equipped with a suitable master shut-off valve located outside the building but in any case within a reasonable distance of the engine.

(f) A check valve shall be provided in the engine or in the starting air line adjacent to each internal combustion engine cylinder using compressed air as the means of starting.

(g) The compressed air supply for starting an engine shall be prevented from so functioning while maintenance work is being performed on an idle internal combustion engine, or on the equipment connected to and driven by the engine, when such maintenance work is of a nature that employees may be endangered should the starting air cause the engine to move or turn over. This shall be accomplished by one of the following means:

(h)

(i) Provisions shall be made to prevent the contact of flammable liquids with exhaust pipes of internal combustion engines.