California Code of Regulations
Title 8 - Industrial Relations
Division 1 - Department of Industrial Relations
Chapter 4 - Division of Industrial Safety
Subchapter 20 - Tunnel Safety Orders
Article 19 - Shafts and Hoisting Systems
Section 8500 - Hoisting Operations

(a) Inexperienced or untrained employees shall not be permitted to operate the hoist (See Section 8499).

(b) Unauthorized persons shall not be allowed in the hoist room.

(c) There shall be no conversation involving the hoisting engineer while the hoist is in motion, or while he/she is attending to signals, except to receive orders or instructions.

(d) A shaft conveyance shall not be left at the collar of the shaft, or at a landing, but must be hung at least 10 feet from the collar of the shaft, or landing when not in use and before the hoist operator leaves his/her post.

(e) Whenever employees are working in a place to which they have been lowered by mechanical power, arrangements must be such that a hoisting engineer or a substitute will be within sight and sound of the signal system at the operator's station.

(f) The hoist shall not be operated and the cage, skip or bucket moved while oiling operations are under way unless clearance is obtained from the oiler. The hoisting engineer shall be notified when oiling operations are to commence and when they are finished.

(g) When employees are working in a shaft without a bulkhead over their heads, the skip, cage or bucket shall not be moved until the employees in the shaft are in the clear. Movement shall not be attempted without permission from those who issued the hold order.

(h) The hoist shall be operated with extreme caution whenever persons are being hoisted up or down.

(i) When a bucket is used for hoisting materials, buckets shall be trimmed prior to hoisting and means shall be provided that will prevent material from falling into the shaft or incline while the bucket is being dumped.

(j) Before any work is commenced in a shaft or incline served by a hoisting system, the hoisting engineer and other employees in the area shall be informed concerning the details and given appropriate instructions. A sign warning that work is being done in the shaft shall be installed at the shaft collar, the operator's station, and at each underground landing.

(k) When employees enter the sump of a shaft or incline a positive stop shall be provided to prevent a load from being lowered on top of them and the hoist engineer shall be notified that the load is not to be moved until the employees working in the sump give the hoisting engineer clearance.

(l) In shafts and inclines precautions shall be taken to prevent materials being hoisted from catching on rocks, timbers or other obstructions.

(m) All timbers, tools, etc., longer than the depth of the bucket, skip cage or other conveyance in which they are to be hoisted or lowered must be lashed at their upper ends to the cable or otherwise secured.

(n) Personnel shall not be permitted to ride on the tops of any shaft conveyance except when necessary to perform inspection, maintenance, or repair of the shaft or hoisting system, in which case they shall be protected by guardrails or approved fall protection systems.

(o) Personnel shall not be permitted to ride on any trip in which the conveyance is loaded with explosives, except in case of a person in charge of explosives and the cage operator. No other hoisting and other activity shall be permitted when transporting explosives.

(p) Personnel and materials or equipment, other than small tools and supplies secured in a manner that will not create a hazard to employees, shall not be hoisted together in the same conveyance. However, if the cage operator is protected from shifting of materials and equipment, then the cage operator may ride with material or equipment in cages or skips which are designed to be controlled by an operator within the cage or skip.

(q) During hoisting operations no load or conveyance shall be lowered directly to any place in a shaft or incline steeper than 20 degrees from the horizontal when employees are in the shaft. All such equipment shall be stopped at least 15 feet above them, and remain there until the signal to lower further is received from them.

(r) The door and gates of all shaft conveyances shall be closed and latched before a signal to move the shaft conveyance is given and they shall remain shut until the conveyance has come to a complete stop.

(s) Employees shall not enter or leave any conveyance if it is in motion or after a signal has been given to the hoisting engineer.

(t) General requirements for cranes and hoists.