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 6 - Precautions
Section 8391.3 - Illumination

Universal Citation: 8 CA Code of Regs 8391.3

Current through Register 2024 Notice Reg. No. 38, September 20, 2024

(a) General Requirements.

(1) The employer shall ensure that each work area and walkway is adequately lighted whenever an employee is present.

(2) For landside areas, the employer shall provide illumination that meets the levels set forth in Table F-1.

TABLE F-1 -- MINIMUM LIGHTING INTENSITIES IN FOOT-CANDLES

Lumens (foot-candles)Area or operation
3General areas on vessels and vessel sections such as access ways, exits, gangways, stairs, and walkways.
5General landside areas such as corridors, exits, stairs, and walkways.
5All assigned work areas on any vessel or vessel section.
5Landside tunnels, shafts, vaults, pumping stations, and underground work areas.
10Landside work areas such as machine shops, electrical equipment rooms, carpenter shops, lofts, tool rooms, warehouses, and outdoor work areas.
10Changing rooms, showers, sewered toilets, and eating, drinking, and break areas.
30First aid stations, infirmaries, and offices.

NOTE TO TABLE F-1: The required illumination levels in this table do not apply to emergency or portable lights.

(3) For vessels and vessel sections, the employer shall provide illumination that meets the levels set forth in Table F-1 or meet ANSI/IESNA RP-7-01, Recommended Practice for Lighting Industrial Facilities, ANSI approved July 26, 2001, which is incorporated by reference.

(4) When adequate illumination is not obtainable by permanent lighting sources, temporary lighting may be used as supplementation.

(5) The employer shall ensure that neither matches nor open-flame devices are used for lighting.

(b) Temporary lights. The employer shall ensure that temporary lights meet the following requirements:

(1) Lights with bulbs that are not completely recessed are equipped with guards to prevent accidental contact with the bulb;

(2) Lights are equipped with electric cords designed with sufficient capacity to safely carry the electric load;

(3) Temporary lights shall be equipped with heavy-duty electric cords with connections and insulation maintained in safe condition. Temporary lights shall not be suspended by their electric cords unless cords and lights are designed for this means of suspension;

(4) Temporary lighting stringers or streamers shall be so arranged as to avoid overloading of branch circuits;

(5) Each branch circuit shall be equipped with overcurrent protection of capacity not exceeding the rated current-carrying capacity of the cord used;

(6) Splices have insulation with a capacity that exceeds that of the original insulation of the cord; and

(7) Exposed, non-current-carrying metal parts of lights are grounded. The employer shall ensure that grounding is provided either through a third wire in the cord containing the circuit conductors or through a separate wire that is grounded at the source of the current. Grounding shall be done in accordance with the requirements of General Industry Safety Orders, Subchapter 5, Electrical Safety Orders.

(c) Portable lights.

(1) In any dark area that does not have permanent or temporary lights, where lights are not working, or where lights are not readily accessible, the employer shall provide portable or emergency lights and ensure that employees do not enter those areas without such lights.

(2) Where temporary lighting from sources outside the vessel is the only means of illumination, portable emergency lighting equipment shall be available to provide illumination for safe movement of employees.

(d) Explosion-proof, self-contained lights. The employer shall provide and ensure that each employee uses only explosion-proof, self-contained temporary and portable lights, approved for hazardous conditions by a nationally recognized testing laboratory (NRTL), in any area that the atmosphere is determined to contain a concentration of flammable vapors that are at or above 10 percent of the lower explosive limit (LEL).

1. New section filed 10-31-75; effective thirtieth day thereafter (Register 75, No. 44).
2. New NOTE filed 1-22-88; operative 2-21-88 (Register 88, No. 6).
3. Amendment filed 12-13-2011; operative 12-13-2011. Submitted to OAL for printing only pursuant to Labor Code section 142.3(a)(3) (Register 2011, No. 50).

Note: Authority cited: Section 142.3, Labor Code. Reference: Section 142.3, Labor Code.

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