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 30 - Back-up Posts, Kelly Pull-Back Posts, Back-up and Safety Lines for Pipe Tongs
Section 6605 - Back-up Posts, Kelly Pull-Back Posts, Back-up and Safety Lines for Pipe Tongs

(a) Back-up and safety lines shall be wire rope so designed, constructed, installed and maintained to conform to good engineering practices.

End fastenings used on the rope shall be made in accordance with the manufacturer's recommendation, except that a thimble is not required.

A "contractor's standby" (half hitch and clips) shall not be used as end fastenings on these lines.

(b) Tong back-up posts, kelly pull-back posts, tong back-up lines and safety lines shall not be attached to derrick or mast girts or legs unless the legs are so constructed and the lines so attached that the stresses imposed will not result in structural damage to the legs.

EXCEPTION: This subsection does not apply to tong back-up posts, tong back-up lines or safety lines in well servicing operations when the outside diameter of the pipe being handled is not over four and one-half inches (4 1/2").

(c) Each tong safety line shall be attached to prevent the tongs being pulled into the cathead or braking mechanism or, traveling with the rotating pipe.

A back-up line may also serve as a safety line.