Current through Register 2024 Notice Reg. No. 38, September 20, 2024
(a) Safe Access. All work locations shall be safely accessible whenever work is to be performed.
(b) Employer's Responsibility. The employer shall furnish such safety devices and safeguards as may be necessary to make the employment or place of employment as free from danger to the safety and health of employees as the nature of the employment reasonably permits. The employer shall examine or test each safety device at such intervals as may be reasonably necessary to ensure that it is in good condition and adequate to perform the function for which it is intended. Any device furnished by the employer found to be unsafe shall be repaired or replaced.
(1) Employees shall be instructed to inspect each safety device, tool or piece of equipment, each time it is used and to use only those in good condition. The employer shall require the use of safety devices and safeguards where applicable.
(2) The training shall establish employee proficiency in the work practices required by this section and shall introduce the procedures necessary for compliance with these Orders.
(3) The employer shall ensure that each employee has demonstrated proficiency in the work practices involved before that employee is to be considered properly instructed/trained commensurate with the requirements of this section and Section 3203 of the General Industry Safety Orders.
(c) Qualified Electrical Workers. Only qualified electrical workers shall work on energized conductors or equipment connected to energized high-voltage systems. Except for replacing fuses, operating switches, or other operations that do not require the employee to contact energized high-voltage conductors or energized parts of equipment, clearing "trouble" or in emergencies involving hazard to life or property, no such employee shall be assigned to work alone. Employees in training, who are qualified by experience and training, shall be permitted to work on energized conductors or equipment connected to high-voltage systems while under the supervision or instruction of a qualified electrical worker.
(d) Observers. During the time work is being done on any exposed conductors or exposed parts of equipment connected to high-voltage systems, a qualified electrical worker, or an employee in training, shall be in close proximity at each work location to:
(1) act primarily as an observer for the purpose of preventing an accident, and
(2) render immediate assistance in the event of an accident. Such observer will not be required in connection with work on overhead trolley distribution circuits not exceeding 1,500 volts D.C. where there is no conductor of opposite polarity less than 4 feet there from, or where such work is performed from suitable tower platforms or other similar structures.
(e) Information Transfer.
(1) Communication between employers. Before work begins, employers shall communicate to each other the following:
(A) The characteristics of the installation that are related to the safety of the work to be performed and are listed in subsections (f)(1)(A) through (f)(1)(E) of this section.
(B) Conditions that are related to the safety of the work to be performed, that are listed in subsections (f)(1)(F) through(f)(1)(H) of this section.
(C) Information about the design and operation of the installation in order to conduct the assessments required by this section.
(D) Any other information about the design and operation of the installation that is requested and is related to the protection of the employees.
(E) Unique hazardous conditions related to the job.
(F) Any unanticipated hazardous conditions discovered or found while performing work. Employers shall provide this information to the other employer within 2 working days after discovering the hazardous condition.
(G) The employers shall coordinate their work rules and procedures so all employees are protected as required by these Orders.
(2) The employer shall ensure that each of their respective employees are instructed in the hazardous conditions relevant to the employee's work as specified in subsection (e)(1) of this section.
(f) Existing Characteristics and Conditions.
(1) Existing characteristics and conditions of electric lines and equipment that are related to the safety of the work to be performed shall be determined before work on or near the lines or equipment is started. Such characteristics and conditions include, but are not limited to:
(A) The nominal voltages of lines and equipment,
(B) The maximum switching-transient voltages,
(C) The presence of hazardous induced voltages,
(D) The presence of protective grounds and equipment grounding conductors,
(E) The locations of circuits and equipment, including electric supply lines, communication lines, and fire protective signaling circuits,
(F) The condition of protective grounds and equipment grounding conductors,
(G) The condition of poles, and
(H) Environmental conditions relating to safety.
(g) Job Briefing.
(1) Before each job.
(A) In assigning an employee or a group of employees to perform a job, the employer shall provide the employee in charge of the job with all available information that relates to the determination of existing characteristics and conditions required by subsection (f).
(B) The employer shall ensure that the employee in charge conducts a job briefing that meets (g)(2) Subjects to be covered, (g)(3) Number of briefing, (g)(4) Extent of the briefing, of this section with the employees involved before they start each job.
(2) Subjects to be covered. The briefing shall cover at least the following subjects: hazards associated with the job, work procedures involved, special precautions, energy-source controls, and personal protective equipment requirements.
(3) Number of briefings.
(A) If the work or operations to be performed during the work day or shift are repetitive and similar, at least one job briefing shall be conducted before the start of the first job of each day or shift.
(B) Additional job briefings shall be held if significant changes, which might affect the safety of the employees, occur during the course of the work.
(4) Extent of briefing.
(A) A brief discussion is satisfactory if the work involved is routine and if the employees, by virtue of training and experience, can reasonably be expected to recognize and avoid the hazards involved in the job.
(B) A more extensive discussion shall be conducted:
1. If the work is complicated or particularly hazardous, or
2. If the employee cannot be expected to recognize and avoid the hazards involved in the job.
NOTE to subsection (g)(4): The briefing must address all the subjects listed in subsection (g)(2) of this section.
(h) Conductive Articles. When an employee performs work within reaching distance of exposed energized parts of equipment, the employer shall ensure that the employee removes all exposed conductive articles, such as keychains or watch chains, rings, or wrist watches or bands, unless such articles do not increase the hazards associated with contact with the energized parts.
1. Repealer of Article 85 (Sections 2940-2944) and new Article 85 (Sections 2940-2945 and Appendices A, B and C) filed 8-9-79; effective thirtieth day thereafter (Register 79, No. 32).
2. Editorial correction renumbering former Article 85 to Article 36 filed 11-2-83 (Register 83, No. 45).
3. Amendment filed 12-10-87; operative 1-9-88 (Register 88, No. 1).
4. Amendment of subsection (b), new subsections (b)(1)-(3) and (e)-(g)(4)(B)2. and subsection relettering filed 2-27-2018; operative 4-1-2018 (Register 2018, No. 9).
Note: Authority cited: Section 142.3, Labor Code. Reference: Section 142.3, Labor Code.
