Current through Register 2024 Notice Reg. No. 38, September 20, 2024
(a) Scope and Application. This section
establishes requirements for the use of chain or wire rope access equipment as
defined in Section
6755. Use of the equipment shall be
permitted only when it is not feasible to use fixed or portable ladders to
access constricted locations, such as tubes, pipes, shafts, flues, chimneys or
cyclones inside of pressure vessels,
(b) Equipment and materials used shall be
approved pursuant to Section
3206 of the General Industry Safety
Orders.
(c) Inspection and Load
Testing.
(1) The equipment shall be load
tested annually by a competent person, and the testing shall be documented in
writing annually by a competent person. The equipment shall be suspended
vertically, with the top lashing rings at full length and free of any
obstruction. A total static load equal to the weight rating of the equipment
shall be distributed throughout the length of the equipment. Stretch or sag
shall be determined by comparing the measurements of the vertical distance
between the rungs after load testing to the measurements at the time the
equipment was new. The appearance of any defects, signs of weakness, or undue
stretch or sag in the equipment under test shall result in the equipment being
taken out of service immediately and permanently.
(2) The equipment shall be visually inspected
by a competent person before each use. If any part of the equipment fails the
inspection, it shall immediately be taken out of service. At a minimum, the
visual inspection shall check for the following conditions:
(A) Broken or split rungs.
(B) Broken or split chains or cables in the
stringer.
(C) Damaged sections,
appearance of corrosion, or sharp/rough edges.
(D) Any hardware or fittings that is not
secure.
(E) Bent or dented rungs or
rails.
(F) Grease, oil or other
slip hazards on the ladder rungs.
(d) Equipment Use Plan. Before using chain or
wire rope access equipment, the employer shall prepare an equipment use plan.
The equipment use plan shall be in writing, shall be available to the Division
for inspection and shall have the following components:
(1) A description of the specific locations
where chain or wire rope access equipment is to be used.
(2) A description of tasks requiring access
using chain or wire rope access equipment.
(3) A justification as to why the use of
fixed or portable ladders is not feasible for each location identified for
equipment use. A single justification may be used for multiple locations that
have substantially the same characteristics. Among other things, these details
must include, but shall not be limited to, a description of the manner in which
the equipment is to be secured at the top to an anchorage.
(4) Installation details for each location. A
single set of details may be provided for multiple locations that have
substantially the same characteristics.
(5) Inspection instructions.
(6) Maintenance instructions.
(7) Maintenance log.
(e) Use.
(1)
Employees using chain or wire rope access equipment shall wear a safety harness
that is attached to a rescue retrieval system in accordance with Section
of Title
85157(k) of Title 8 at all
times while on the equipment.
(2)
The chain or wire rope access equipment shall be:
(A) Secured at the top to an anchorage as
described in the equipment use plan.
(B) Secured at the bottom to a substantial
anchorage.
EXCEPTION to subsection (e)(2)(B): During installation or
retrieval of the chain or wire rope access
equipment.
(3)
Only one person shall be on the equipment at a time.
(4) The user shall not hand-carry tools,
equipment or other materials while climbing on the equipment.
(5) Three points of contact shall be
maintained at all times while climbing on the equipment.
(6) The equipment shall not be used where the
user or equipment may contact energized electrical conductors.
(7) The equipment shall be kept free of oil,
grease, or other slippery materials.
(f) Training. Employees who use the equipment
shall be trained in the following:
(1)
Recognition of, and measures for addressing, the hazards associated with
climbing on or working from the equipment. These hazards include, but are not
necessarily limited to, fatigue, falling hazards, slipping and tripping
hazards, cuts and abrasions, and hazards presented by the specific
installation.
(2) Inspection and
correct use of the rescue retrieval system in accordance with subsection
(e)(1).
1. New
section filed 7-28-2011; operative 8-27-2011 (Register 2011, No.
30).
Note: Authority cited: Section
142.3, Labor
Code. Reference: Section
142.3, Labor
Code.
