California Code of Regulations
Title 8 - Industrial Relations
Division 1 - Department of Industrial Relations
Chapter 4 - Division of Industrial Safety
Subchapter 18 - Ship Building, Ship Repairing and Ship Breaking Safety Orders
Article 5 - Scaffold Construction
Section 8364 - Built-up Staging. Painters' Exterior Suspended Staging (for Use of Painters Only)

(a) Scaffold platforms shall be at least 14 inches wide, consisting of a stage ladder, as specified in the following table: two, 2x10-inch or 2x12-inch "Structural Planks" edge to edge or one 2x14-inch dressed "Structural Plank"; or a beam-type platform consisting of longitudinal side stringers with cross beams set on edge and spaced not more than 4 feet apart on which longitudinal platform planks are laid, free from damage affecting their strength are laid. Scaffolds shall be limited to a maximum width of 20 inches for the ladder-type (between side rails), and 24 inches for the plank and beam-types. The span between stirrups, hangers or falls shall not be more than 10 feet on plank-type platforms, and not more than 16 feet on beam-type platforms. Where double planks are used side by side on suspended scaffolds, as specified above, they shall be firmly cleated together so as to act as a unit.

(b)

(c)

(d) Swinging or Stage Ladders:

SPECIFICATIONS FOR SIDE RAILS OF LADDERS

Swinging or stage ladders used for suspended staging shall be reinforced with five-sixteenths-inch rods spaced at least every 5 feet to prevent side rails from spreading. The rungs shall be of straight-grained oak, ash, or hickory, not less than 1 1/8 inches diameter, with 7/8 -inch tenons mortised into the side rails not less than 7/8 -inch and shall be spaced no more than 18 inches on centers.

(e) Beam-type Platforms:

(f) Safety lines of at least five-eighths-inch diameter manila or three-fourths-inch sisal rope * with a figure 8 knot every 6 feet, hanging from above and securely tied, shall be provided between each pair of hangers or falls. Such lines shall reach to a point at least 6 feet below the lowest position at which the staging can be used. One such line shall be provided for each employee.

(g) The ropes supporting a swinging scaffold shall be equivalent in strength to first-grade 3/4 -inch diameter manila rope properly rigged into a set of standard 6-inch blocks consisting of at least one double and one single block. The rope shall be inspected before being used on each job to ascertain whether it is sound and free from flaws or deterioration from contact with any solution containing chemicals.

(h) The extension from the top block to the support of rope falls supporting scaffolds or boatswains' chairs shall be wire rope at least one-half inch in diameter or metal of equivalent strength, but in no case shall it be of structural reinforcing steel.

(i) When substances injurious to fiber rope are used, every employee on the staging shall be required to wear a safety belt with lanyard securely attached to a life line by a mechanical safety device or a sliding hitch.

(j) Whenever any washing solutions injurious to fiber rope are being used, the free ends of the falls and life lines shall be coiled in barrels or other suitable receptacles.

(k) All staging referred to in this section, suspended at an elevation of 5 feet or more, shall have a guardrail with midrail of wood or other equally rigid material of sufficient strength to prevent employees from falling, and said railing shall be not less than 42 inches nor more than 45 inches above the platform of such stagings. The guardrail shall be made of 2-inch by 4-inch lumber in one piece or equivalent.

NOTE: Three-eighths-inch wire rope, if kept taut at all times is considered equivalent; fiber line is not.

(l) When the surfaces being worked upon lead away from the vertical, the staging shall be securely tied in by means of a sufficient number of lines to render it stable and to bring it into contact with the surface.

(m) When boatswains' chairs are used by employees using blow torches or open flames, the slings shall be at least three-eighths-inch galvanized wire rope.

(n) When air hose, water hose, electric cable, or other equipment of this type is used on staging, it shall be securely fastened at not more than 15 feet from the working end and independent of the operator.