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 25 - Industrial Trucks, Tractors, Haulage Vehicles, and Earthmoving Equipment
Section 3657 - Elevating Employees with Lift Trucks

Universal Citation: 8 CA Code of Regs 3657

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

(a) Scope and application. Where a lift truck is used to elevate personnel, the operation shall comply with subsections (a) through (j) of this standard. Where a variable reach (boom type) rough terrain lift truck is used to elevate personnel, the operation shall comply with subsection (k), in addition to subsections (a) through (j). This section is not intended to preclude the application of other sections of Article 25, including, but not necessarily limited to, sections 3650, 3664 and 3668.

(b) A work platform shall be used in accordance with the following conditions:

(1) The platform shall be of sufficient size to accommodate the personnel and material being elevated but not less than 2 feet by 2 feet.

(2) Where the platform is not attached to the boom, the base of the platform shall be secured to the forks or the base of the fork carriage to prevent tipping, slipping or falling.

(3) The platform shall meet the guardrail and toeboard requirements of section 3210.

EXCEPTION: Guardrails need not be provided where a clearance restriction or the nature of the work prohibits the use of guardrails, provided that a safety belt with lanyard, or harness with lanyard is used in accordance with section 3656(e).

(4) The platform floor shall have no spaces or holes greater than one inch.

(5) The platform floor shall have a slip resistant surface.

(c) Lift trucks used to elevate personnel shall be equipped with a means to prevent the raised platform from lowering at a rate in excess of 135 feet per minute in case of a failure in the load supporting hydraulic control circuits.

(d) Where the truck is operated under conditions which expose the operator to danger from falling objects, the truck shall be equipped with overhead protection.

(e) There shall be an operator in the control position on the truck while employees are on the elevated platform.

(f) When a truck is equipped with vertical only, or vertical and horizontal controls that elevate with the lifting carriage or forks (upper controls), means shall be provided whereby personnel on the platform can shut off the motive power of the truck.

(g) Means shall be provided to render inoperative all operating controls other than those on the elevating platform when the controls on the elevating platform have been selected for use. Only one location of controls shall be capable of being operated at one time.

(h) All bridge cranes and other moving or motorized equipment which could overrun or otherwise injure the elevated worker shall be shut down or locked out.

(i) Personnel shall not sit, climb or stand on the platform guardrails or use planks, ladders or other devices to gain elevation.

(j) When elevating personnel, the lift truck operator shall:

(1) Use a securely attached safety work platform.

(2) Make sure the lifting mechanism is operating smoothly.

(3) Make sure that the mast is vertical if the lift truck is equipped with a mast. The mast shall not be tilted forward or rearward while persons are elevated.

(4) Place the truck in neutral and set the parking brake when the truck is stationery.

(5) Lift and lower personnel smoothly and with caution.

(6) Make sure the path of the work platform travel is clear of hazards such as projections, overhead obstructions, and electrical wires.

(7) Never travel with personnel on the work platform other than to make minor movements for final positioning of the platform.

EXCEPTION: Minor movement of a variable reach (boom type) rough-terrain lift truck is permitted for construction operations when positioning the platform along a straight line where the path of movement is free from excavations, holes, obstructions and debris.

(k) Where a variable reach (boom type) rough-terrain lift truck is used to elevate personnel, the operation shall comply with the following conditions, in addition to the requirements of subsections (a) through (j) of this section:

(1) If the lift truck is provided with a load chart for elevating personnel, the work platform shall be loaded and positioned within the limitations on the load chart.

(2) If the lift truck is not provided with a load chart for elevating personnel, the combined weight of the work platform, load, and personnel shall not exceed one third of the rated capacity of the rough-terrain lift truck at the load center position as indicated on the load chart for regular loads.

(3) The rough-terrain lift truck shall be placed on firm footing. When used, outriggers or stabilizers shall be placed on a solid surface. If necessary, pads or cribbing shall be used to provide a firm footing.

(4) Each person on a work platform supported by a variable reach rough-terrain lift truck shall use a personal fall restraint system or positioning device system as defined in section 3207 of these Orders, those systems shall be used in accordance with the requirements of Section 1670 of the Construction Safety Orders.
(A) A lanyard shall be attached to each person's harness or safety belt and to an anchorage provided on the work platform.

(B) Anchorages shall be capable of supporting the greater of 3000 pounds or twice the intended load. Each person's lanyard shall be attached to an approved anchorage point.

(C) For positioning device systems, the combination of anchorage location and lanyard length shall be arranged so that workers cannot fall more than two feet from the work platform.

(D) For personal fall restraint systems, the combination of anchorage location and lanyard length shall be arranged to allow the movement of employees only as far as the sides of the work platform.

(5) When elevating personnel with a variable reach rough-terrain lift truck, the operator shall:
(A) Maintain the platform at level throughout the personnel lifting operation.

(B) Alert elevated personnel before moving the platform, then move the platform smoothly and with caution.

(C) Never travel with personnel on the work platform.

EXCEPTION: Minor movement of the lift truck is permitted for construction operations when positioning the work platform along a straight line where the path of movement is free from excavations, holes, obstructions and debris.

(D) Level the lift truck before elevating personnel when operating on a side slope.

1. Repealer and new section filed 2-13-75; effective thirtieth day thereafter (Register 75, No. 7).
2. Amendment of subsection (a) and repealer and new subsection (b) filed 7-26-78; effective thirtieth day thereafter (Register 78, No. 30).
3. Amendment of subsection (h)(3) filed 12-26-80; effective thirtieth day thereafter (Register 80, No. 52).
4. Amendment of subsection (h)(3) filed 4-29-81; effective thirtieth day thereafter (Register 81, No. 18).
5. Amendment of subsections (a), (g) and (h) filed 4-30-85; effective thirtieth day thereafter (Register 85, No. 18).
6. Amendment of subsection (a) filed 11-26-90; operative 12-26-90 (Register 91, No. 4).
7. Editorial correction of HISTORY 6 correcting date to 11-26-90 (Register 91, No. 23).
8. Editorial correction of HISTORY 6 (Register 95, No. 24).
9. Amendment of subsection (a), new subsection (h), subsection relettering and new subsection (i)(9) filed 8-27-2004; operative 9-26-2004 (Register 2004, No. 35).
10. Amendment filed 5-3-2011; operative 6-2-2011 (Register 2011, No. 18).

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

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