California Code of Regulations
Title 8 - Industrial Relations
Division 1 - Department of Industrial Relations
Chapter 4 - Division of Industrial Safety
Subchapter 7 - General Industry Safety Orders
Group 4 - General Mobile Equipment and Auxiliaries
Article 24 - Elevating Work Platforms and Aerial Devices
Section 3646 - Operating Instructions (Elevating Work Platforms)

Universal Citation: 8 CA Code of Regs 3646

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

(a) No employee shall ride, nor tools, materials, or equipment be allowed on a traveling elevated platform unless the following conditions are met:

EXCEPTION: TV and Movie Camera Booms.

(1) The travel speed at Maximum Travel Height does not exceed 3 feet (0.9m) per second.

(2) Self-propelled units shall be equipped with electrical or other interlock means which will prevent driving them with the platform height greater than the Maximum Travel Height or at speeds greater than permitted at Maximum Travel Height.

(3) The surface upon which the unit is being operated is level with no hazardous irregularities or accumulation of debris which might cause a moving platform to overturn.

(b) Units shall be assembled, used, and disassembled in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions.

(d) Units shall not be loaded in excess of the design working load and shall be taken out of service when damaged or weakened from any cause. They shall not be used until repairs are completed.

(e) Employees shall not sit, stand or climb on the guardrails of an elevating work platform or use planks, ladders, or other devices to gain greater working height or reach.

(f) Employees shall not work on units when exposed to high winds, storms, or when they are covered with ice or snow (unless provisions have been made to ensure the safety of the employees).

(g) Employees climbing or descending vertical ladders shall have both hands free for climbing.

NOTE: Employees should remove foreign substances, such as mud or grease from their shoes.

(h) Where moving vehicles are present, the work area shall be marked with warnings such as flags, roped off areas or other effective means of traffic control shall be provided.

EXCEPTION: Aircraft service areas.

(i) Unstable objects such as barrels, boxes, loose brick, tools, debris, shall not be allowed to accumulate on the work level.

(j) In operations involving production of small debris, chips, etc., and the use of small tools and materials, and where persons are required to work or pass under the equipment, screens shall be required between toeboards and guardrails. The screen shall extend along the entire opening, shall consist of No. 18 gage U.S. Standard Wire 1/2 inch mesh, or equivalent.

(k) Mast-climbing work platforms, shall not be used as construction personnel hoists or material hoists.

EXCEPTIONS FOR (k):

1. Theatrical and Television Motion Picture Industry.

2. This does not prohibit the transfer of tools, materials and/or workers using personal fall protection at the location where the work is being performed.

(l) Employees shall be instructed by a qualified person in the safe use of the work platform in accordance with the manufacturer's operating instructions, and Section 3203, Injury and Illness Prevention Program.

(1) Instruction for employees who erect, disassemble, move, operate, use, repair, maintain, or inspect elevating work platforms shall include, but not be limited to, training in:

(A) The provisions of this section.

(B) The correct procedures for performing their assigned duties.

(C) The nature of hazards associated with the equipment, including electrical hazards, fall hazards and falling object hazards in the work area and correct procedures for dealing with those hazards.

(D) The safe operation and use of elevating work platforms and the proper handling of materials on the work platform.

(E) The maximum load capacity of the work platform based upon installed configuration.

1. Repealer of subsection (a)and new subsection (a) filed 8-18-77; effective thirtieth day thereafter (Register 77, No. 34).
2. Amendment filed 10-12-84; effective thirtieth day thereafter (Register 84, No. 41).
3. Amendment of subsection (e) filed 1-23-2001; operative 2-22-2001 (Register 2001, No. 4).
4. Amendment of subsection (c) and new subsections (k)-(l)(1)(E) filed 2-27-2006; operative 3-29-2006 (Register 2006, No. 9).

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

Disclaimer: These regulations may not be the most recent version. California may have more current or accurate information. We make no warranties or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the information contained on this site or the information linked to on the state site. Please check official sources.

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.