Cal. Code Regs. tit. 8 § 1504
Access. A means of reaching a workspace or a work area.
Accessible. Within reach from a workspace or work area.
Adequate Ventilation. Ventilation which, under normal operating conditions, is sufficient to keep the concentration of a hazardous gas, vapor, mist, fume or dust below the amount which will produce harmful effects or below 20 percent of the lower explosive limit, whichever is lower.
Anchorage. A secure point of attachment for lifelines, lanyards or deceleration devices.
Approved. See section 1505.
Body Belt. A simple or compound strap with means for securing it about the waist and for securing a lanyard to it.
Body Harness. Straps which may be secured about the employee in a manner that will distribute the fall arrest forces over at least the thighs, pelvis, waist, chest and shoulders with means for attaching it to other components of a personal fall arrest system.
Buckle. Any device for holding the body belt or body harness closed around the employee's body.
Bulldozer. A tractor having a blade in front for moving earth or other materials.
Bull Float. A tool used to spread out and smooth a concrete surface.
Carryall. A self-loading and unloading vehicle pulled by a tractor or powered attachment, and used for movement and placing of earth or other materials.
Certified Safety Professional or CSP. A safety professional who has met education and experience standards, has demonstrated by examination the knowledge that applies to professional safety practice, continues to meet recertification requirements established by the Board of Certified Safety Professionals (BCSP), and is authorized by BCSP to use the Certified Safety Professional designation.
Closed Container. A container as herein defined, so sealed by means of a lid or other device that neither liquid nor vapor will escape from it at ordinary temperatures.
Combustible Liquid. A liquid having a flash point greater than 199.4°F (93°C) (formerly designated Class IIIB Combustible liquids).
Competent Person. One who is capable of identifying existing and predictable hazards in the surroundings or working conditions which are unsanitary, hazardous, or dangerous to employees, and who has authorization to take prompt corrective measures to eliminate them.
Connector. A device which is used to couple (connect) parts of the personal fall arrest system and positioning device systems together. It may be an independent component of the system, such as a carabiner, or it may be an integral component of part of the system (such as a buckle or deering sewn into a body belt or body harness, or a snap-hook spliced or sewn to a lanyard or self-retracting lanyard).
Contaminant. A harmful, irritating or nuisance material that is foreign to the environment.
NOTE: For definition of "harmful exposure" refer to section 5140 of General Industry Safety Orders.
Controlled Access Zone (CAZ). An area in which certain work may take place without the use of guardrails, personal fall arrest systems, or safety nets and access to the zone is controlled. Coon. To straddle and move horizontally on a beam while walking on the bottom flanges.
Crawling Board (Chicken Ladder). A plank with cleats spaced and secured at equal intervals and used by workers on roofs as a means of access.
Dangerous Equipment. Equipment (such as pickling or galvanizing tanks, degreasing units, machinery, electrical equipment, and other construction related equipment such as hoppers and conveyors) which, as a result of form or function, may be hazardous to employees who fall onto or into such equipment.
Deceleration Device. Any mechanism, such as a rope grab, rip-stitch lanyard, specially-woven lanyard, tearing or deforming lanyards, automatic self-retracting lifelines/lanyards, etc., which serves to dissipate a substantial amount of energy during a fall arrest, or otherwise limit the energy imposed on an employee during fall arrest.
Deceleration Distance. The additional vertical distance a falling employee travels, excluding lifeline elongation and free fall distance, before stopping, from the point at which the deceleration device begins to operate. It is measured as the distance between the location of an employee's body belt or body harness attachment point at the moment of activation (at the onset of fall arrest forces) of the deceleration device during a fall, and the location of that attachment point after the employee comes to a full stop.
Dedicated Pile Driver. A machine that is designed to function exclusively as a pile driver. These machines typically have the ability to both hoist the material that will be pile-driven and to pile-drive that material.
Defect. Any characteristic or condition which tends to weaken or reduce the strength or the safety of the tool, machine, object, or structure of which it is a part.
Division. The current Division of Occupational Safety and Health or any of its predecessors including the former Division of Industrial Safety or the Division of Occupational Safety and Health Administration. Reference to the former Division of Industrial Safety or Division of Occupational Safety and Health Administration in these Orders is meant to refer to their successor, the Division of Occupational Safety and Health, or any subsequent successor agency.
Drop Line (Safety Line). A vertical line from a fixed anchorage, independent of the work surface, to which the lanyard is affixed.
Elevator, Construction. Any means used to hoist persons or material of any kind on a building under course of construction, when operated within guides, by any power other than muscular power.
Emergency Medical Services.
NOTE: Equivalent training includes, but is not limited to, training which is equivalent to that provided by the American National Red Cross, or training required for certification as mobile intensive care paramedics as provided under chapter 2.5, article 3, sections 1480 through 1484.4 of the California Health and Safety Code; and, courses that are given by nationally recognized voluntary health organizations, official agencies, such as Mine Safety and Health Administration, or accredited teaching institutions.
Employer.
Excavation, Trenches, Earthwork.
Exhaust Retrofit. An emission control device installed on a vehicle after the vehicle's manufacture, including, but not limited to, modified or added sections of exhaust pipe that connects the emission control device to the engine.
Exit. Exit is a continuous and unobstructed means of egress to a public way, and shall include intervening doors, doorways, corridors, exterior exit balconies, ramps, stairways, smoke-proof enclosures, horizontal exits, exit passageways, exit courts, and yards.
Failure. Load refusal, breakage, or separation of component parts. Load refusal is the point where the ultimate strength is exceeded.
Falsework and Shoring for Concrete Construction. Temporary formwork and vertical shoring, etc., to support concrete and placing operations for supported slabs of concrete structures.
Fire Area. An area of a building separated from the remainder of the building by construction having a fire resistance of at least 1 hour and having all communicating openings properly protected by an assembly having a fire resistance rating of at least 1 hour.
Fire Extinguishers, Portable.
Fires.
Flammable Liquid. Any liquid having a vapor pressure not exceeding 40 pounds per square inch (absolute) at 100 °F (37.8 °C) and having a flashpoint at or below 199.4 °F (93 °C). Flammable liquids are divided into four categories as follows:
Flash point of the liquid. The temperature at which it gives off vapor sufficient to form an ignitable mixture with the air near the surface of the liquid or within the vessel used as determined by appropriate test procedure and apparatus as specified below.
Floor Area. The area included within the surrounding exterior walls of a building or portion thereof, exclusive of vent shafts and courts. The floor area of a building, or portion thereof, not provided with surrounding exterior walls shall be the usable area under the horizontal projection of the roof or floor above.
Free Fall. The act of falling before a personal fall arrest system begins to apply force to arrest the fall.
Free Fall Distance. The vertical displacement of the fall arrest attachment point on the employee's body belt or body harness between onset of the fall and just before the system begins to apply force to arrest the fall. This distance excludes deceleration distance, and lifeline/lanyard elongation, but includes any deceleration device slide distance or self-retracting lifeline/lanyard extension before they operate and fall arrest forces occur.
Grade (Adjacent Ground Elevation). The lowest point of elevation of the finished surface of the ground, paving or sidewalk, within the area between the building and the property line, or when the property line is more than 5 feet from the building, between the building and a line 5 feet from the building.
Guardrail. (See Railing)
Guy. A line that steadies a mast or structure by pulling against an off-center load.
Handrail. A rail used to provide employees with a handhold for support. Haulage Vehicle, as used in these Orders. A self-propelled vehicle including its trailer, used to transport materials on construction projects. The term "haulage vehicle" includes trucks, truck and trailer combinations, and all other similar equipment used for haulage.
Hazardous Substance. One which by reason of being explosive, flammable, extremely flammable, poisonous, corrosive, oxidizing, irritant, or otherwise harmful is likely to cause injury.
Helicopter. A rotary wing aircraft which depends principally for its support and motion in the air upon the lift generated by one or more power-driven rotors, rotating on substantially vertical axes. It can hover, fly backward and sideways, in addition to forward flight. (The following definitions (A) through (K) apply to helicopter operations only.):
Jacking Operation. The task of lifting a slab (or group of slabs) vertically from one location to another (e.g., from the casting location to a temporary (parked) location, or from a temporary location to another temporary location, or to its final location in the structure), during the construction of a building/structure where the lift-slab process is being used.
Jobsite vehicle. A vehicle which is operated on a jobsite exclusively and is excluded from the provisions of applicable traffic and vehicular codes, and haulage and earthmoving vehicles regulated by the provisions of Article 10 of these Orders.
Ladders.
Lanyard. A flexible line to secure a wearer of a safety belt or harness to a drop line, lifeline, or fixed anchorage.
Leading Edge. The edge of a floor, roof, or formwork for a floor or other walking/working surface (such as the deck) which changes location as additional floor, roof, decking, or formwork sections are placed, formed, or constructed. A leading edge is considered to be an "unprotected side and edge" during periods when it is not actively and continuously under construction.
Lifeline. A horizontal line (i.e. catenary line) between two fixed anchorages, independent of the work surface, to which the lanyard is secured either by tying off or by means of a suitable sliding connection. For the purposes of these orders, lifelines may be vertical as well as horizontal (i.e. when used with a body harness).
Lift-Slab. An operation whereby a concrete slab is lifted into an elevated position by means of jacks located above the slab on columns or other supporting members.
Limited Access Zone. An area alongside a masonry wall which is under construction and which is clearly demarcated to limit access by employees.
Linemen's Body Belt. A leather or web (cotton or nylon) belt designed specifically for employees working on poles. It consists of a waist belt, generally cushioned, with a front buckle, two D rings for attaching safety straps and a multiple-looped strap for holding, rings, snaphooks, holsters and other tool holding devices.
Liquid. As applied to flammable and combustible liquids means any material which has a fluidity greater than that of 300 penetration asphalt when tested in accordance with ASTM Test for Penetration for Bituminous Materials, D-5-7.1.
Loading Device. A mobile mechanical-powered machine of the skip loader type used for picking up materials and loading or dumping them into haulage vehicles, bins, or hoppers, excluding boom-type excavators and endless belt or chain conveyors.
Lower Levels. Those areas or surfaces to which an employee can fall. Such areas or surfaces include, but are not limited to, ground levels, floors, platforms, ramps, runways, excavations, pits, tanks, material, water, equipment, structures, or portions thereof.
Lumber.
Mast Tower. A single vertical member on which a cantilevered platform, suitable for carrying material, may be moved up and down.
Material Hoist. A hoist for raising and lowering materials only, with the hoisting of persons being prohibited.
Mechanical Equipment. All motor or human propelled wheeled equipment used for roofing work, except wheelbarrows and mopcarts.
Midrail. A rail approximately midway between the top rail and platform, that is secured to the uprights erected along the exposed sides and ends of platforms.
Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory (NRTL). A laboratory which has been recognized by the Department of Labor, Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) as meeting the requirements of 29 CFR 1910.7.
O.D. O.D. means optical density and refers to the light refractive characteristics of a lens.
Opening. An opening in any floor or platform, 12 inches or more in the least horizontal dimension. It includes: stairway floor openings, ladderway floor openings, hatchways and chute floor openings.
Personal Fall Arrest System. A system used to arrest an employee in a fall from a working level. It consists of an anchorage, connectors, a body belt or body harness and may include a lanyard, deceleration device, lifeline, or suitable combinations of these. As of January 1, 1998, the use of a body belt for fall arrest is prohibited.
Personal Fall Restraint System. A system used to prevent an employee from falling. It consists of anchorages, connectors, body belt/harness. It may include, lanyards, lifelines, and rope grabs designed for that purpose.
Personal Fall Protection System. A personal fall protection system includes personal fall arrest systems, positioning device systems, fall restraint systems, safety nets and guardrails.
Personal Protective Equipment. Protection where modified by the words head, eye, body, hand, and foot, as required by the Orders in Subchapter 4, means the safeguarding obtained by means of safety devices and safeguards of the proper type for the exposure, and of such design, strength, and quality as to eliminate, preclude, or mitigate the hazard.
NOTE: See "approved."
Personnel Hoist. A mechanism for use in connection with the construction, alteration, maintenance, or demolition of a building structure, or other work. It is used for hoisting and lowering workers or materials, or both, is equipped with a car that moves on guide members during its vertical movement, and includes its hoistway.
Platform. An elevated working area or surface used for supporting workers, materials and equipment.
Powder-Actual Tools.
Precast Concrete. Concrete members (such as walls, panels, slabs, columns, and beams) which have been formed, cast, and cured prior to final placement in a structure.
Positioning Device System. A body belt or body harness system rigged to allow an employee to be supported on an elevated surface, such as a wall, and work with both hands free while leaning.
Qualified Person, Attendant or Operator. A person designated by the employer who by reason of training, experience or instruction has demonstrated the ability to safely perform all assigned duties and, when required, is properly licensed in accordance with federal, state, or local laws and regulations.
Radiant Energy. Energy that travels outward in all directions from its source.
Railing. A barrier consisting of a top rail and a midrail secured to uprights and erected along the exposed sides and ends of platforms.
Ramp. A surfaced sloping passageway connecting two different levels.
Readily Available. Means in a location with no obstacles to prevent immediate acquisition for use.
Reeving. A rope system in which the rope travels around drums and sheaves.
Reshoring. The construction operation in which shoring equipment (also called reshores or reshoring equipment) is placed, as the original forms and shores are removed, in order to support partially cured concrete and construction loads.
Roofing (or Bearer) Bracket. A bracket used in slope roof construction, having provisions for fastening over the ridge and secured to some suitable object.
Rope. Refers to wire rope unless otherwise specified.
Rope Grab. A deceleration device which travels on a lifeline and automatically, by friction, engages the lifeline and locks so as to arrest the fall of an employee. A rope grab usually employs the principle of inertial locking, cam/level locking, or both.
ROPS. ROPS means roll-over protective structure.
Runway. An elevated passageway.
S.A.E. S.A.E. means Society of Automotive Engineers.
Safety Belt or Harness. A device specifically for the purpose of securing, suspending, or retrieving a worker in or from a hazardous work area.
Safety Factor. Ratio of the ultimate breaking strength of a member or piece of material or equipment to the actual working stress or safe load when in use.
Safety Line. One that is provided to protect a worker from falls caused by failure of scaffolds, working platforms, or loss of balance, and shall extend to within 4 feet of ground or other stable surface.
Safety-Monitoring System. A safety system in which a competent person is responsible for recognizing and warning employees of fall hazards.
Self-Retracting Lifeline/Lanyard. A deceleration device containing a drum-wound line which can be slowly extracted from, or retracted onto, the drum under slight tension during normal employee movement, and which, after onset of a fall, automatically locks the drum and arrests the fall.
Safety Strap. A web strap designed specifically for use in conjunction with a linemen's belt as an aid in climbing poles and to secure the employee to the pole in a manner that permits work with both hands.
Scaffolds and Staging.
NOTE: The term "scaffold" is used with inclusion of the platform and all supporting members when reference is made to loading factors.
NOTE: Load requirements for light-duty interior scaffolds are contained in Section 1640(c)(1).
Shall. Mandatory.
Sheet Pile. A pile, or sheeting, that may form one of a continuous interlocking line, or a row of timber, concrete, or steel piles, driven in close contact to provide a tight wall to resist the lateral pressure of water, adjacent earth, or other materials.
Shore. A supporting member that resists a compressive force imposed by a load.
Should. Recommended.
Side Pull or Side Loading. A load applied at any angle to the vertical plane of the boom.
Single-User Toilet Facility. A toilet facility with a locking mechanism, controlled by the user, with one toilet, or one toilet and one urinal.
Skip. A container with sides in which materials are hoisted.
Snaphook. A connector comprised of a hook-shaped member with a normally closed keeper, or similar arrangement, which may be opened to permit the hook to receive an object and, when released, automatically closes to retain the object.
Stairs, Stairways. A series of steps and landings having 2 or more risers leading from one level or floor to another.
Standard. Standard as referred to ladders, ROPS, railings, etc., means as described elsewhere in the Orders, ultimately based upon standards established by ANSI, SAE, engineers competent in specialized fields, equipment manufacturers and other duly recognized authorities.
Standing Rope (Guy). A supporting rope which maintains a constant distance between the points of attachment to the two components connected by the rope.
Story. That portion of a building included between the upper surface of any floor and the upper surface of the floor next above, except that the topmost story shall be that portion of a building included between the upper surface of the topmost floor and the ceiling or roof above. If the finished floor level directly above a basement, cellar or unused underfloor space is more than 6 feet above grade as defined herein for more than 50 percent of the total perimeter or is more than 12 feet above grade as defined herein at any point, such basement, cellar or unused underfloor space shall be considered as a story.
Structural Competence. The ability of the machine and its components to withstand the stresses imposed by applied loads.
Structure. That which is built or constructed, an edifice or building of any kind, or any piece of work artificially built up or composed of parts joined together in some definite manner.
Toeboard. A barrier secured along the sides and ends of a platform at the platform level used to guard against the falling of material.
Trench Jack. Screw, pneumatic or hydraulic type jacks used as cross bracing in a trench shoring system.
Trench Shield. A shoring system composed of plates and bracing, welded or bolted together, which can safely support the walls of a trench from the ground level to the trench bottom and which can be moved along as work progresses.
Unprotected Sides and Edges. Any side or edge (except at entrances to points of access) of a walking/working surface, e.g., floor, roof, ramp, or runway where there is no wall or standard guardrail or protection provided.
Vertical Slip Forms. Forms which are jacked vertically during placement of concrete.
Wall opening. A gap or void 30 inches or more high and 18 inches or more wide, in a wall or partition, through which employees can fall to a lower level.
Cal. Code Regs. Tit. 8, § 1504
2. Amendment of subsection (a) filed 10-22-90; operative 11-21-90 (Register 90, No. 48).
3. Amendment of section adding definition for "Competent Person" and amending subsections under Excavation, Trenches, and Earthwork filed 8-26-91; operative 9-25-91 (Register 92, No. 13).
4. Addition of "Handrail," new subsections (D), (E) and (I) and relettering under Ladders filed 6-1-92; operative 7-1-92 (Register 92, No. 23).
5. New definition "Jacking Operation" filed 8-11-92; operative 9-10-92 (Register 92, No. 33).
6. Amendment of "Qualified Person" definition filed 5-22-95; operative 6-21-95 (Register 95, No. 21).
7. Amendment of definition of "Explosives" filed 6-26-97; operative 7-26-97 (Register 97, No. 26).
8. Amendment of "Lifeline" and adoption of twenty-five new definitions filed 7-30-97; operative 8-29-97 (Register 97, No. 31).
9. Amendment of definition of "Lumber" filed 6-19-2001; operative 7-19-2001 (Register 2001, No. 25).
10. Amendment of definition of "scaffolds and staging" repealing subsections (B) and (C), adding new subsection (B), relettering subsections and amending newly designated subsections (C)-(F), (P) and (DD) filed 7-11-2003; operative 8-10-2003 (Register 2003, No. 28).
11. Amendment of subsection (a) and repealer of definition "Explosives" filed 7-11-2003; operative 8-10-2003 (Register 2003, No. 28).
12. New definition of "Jobsite vehicle" filed 3-5-2008; operative 4-4-2008 (Register 2008, No. 10).
13. Amendment of definition of "Lumber" redesignating subsection (C) as subsection (C)1. and adopting subsections (C)2.-3. filed 11-2-2010; operative 12-2-2010 (Register 2010, No. 45).
14. Amendment of definition of "Ladders" filed 8-5-2011; operative 9-4-2011 (Register 2011, No. 31).
15. Editorial correction of definitions of "Combustible Liquid" and "Flammable Liquid" (Register 2011, No. 32).
16. New definition of "Certified Safety Professional or CSP" filed 8-29-2011; operative 9-28-2011 (Register 2011, No. 35).
17. New definition of "Exhaust retrofit" filed 2-1-2012; operative 3-2-2012 (Register 2012, No. 5).
18. Amendment of definitions of "Combustible Liquid" and "Flammable Liquid" and new definitions of "Fire Area" and "Flash point of the liquid" filed 5-5-2014; operative 5-6-2014 pursuant to Government Code section 11343.4(b)(3) (Register 2014, No. 19).
19. New definition of "Single-User Toilet Facility" filed 3-3-2020; operative 7-1-2020 (Register 2020, No. 10).
20. New definition of "Dedicated Pile Driver" filed 7-26-2022; operative 7-26-2022 pursuant to Government Code section 11343.4(b)(3) (Register 2022, No. 30). Filing deadline specified in Government Code section 11349.3(a) extended 60 calendar days pursuant to Executive Order N-40-20 and an additional 60 calendar days pursuant to Executive Order N-71-20.
Note: Authority cited: Section 142.3, Labor Code. Reference: Section 142.3, Labor Code.
2. Amendment of subsection (a) filed 10-22-90; operative 11-21-90 (Register 90, No. 48).
3. Amendment of section adding definition for "Competent Person" and amending subsections under Excavation, Trenches, and Earthwork filed 8-26-91; operative 9-25-91 (Register 92, No. 13).
4. Addition of "Handrail," new subsections (D), (E) and (I) and relettering under Ladders filed 6-1-92; operative 7-1-92 (Register 92, No. 23).
5. New definition "Jacking Operation" filed 8-11-92; operative 9-10-92 (Register 92, No. 33).
6. Amendment of "Qualified Person" definition filed 5-22-95; operative 6-21-95 (Register 95, No. 21).
7. Amendment of definition of "Explosives" filed 6-26-97; operative 7-26-97 (Register 97, No. 26).
8. Amendment of "Lifeline" and adoption of twenty-five new definitions filed 7-30-97; operative 8-29-97 (Register 97, No. 31).
9. Amendment of definition of "Lumber" filed 6-19-2001; operative 7-19-2001 (Register 2001, No. 25).
10. Amendment of definition of "scaffolds and staging" repealing subsections (B) and (C), adding new subsection (B), relettering subsections and amending newly designated subsections (C)-(F), (P) and (DD) filed 7-11-2003; operative 8-10-2003 (Register 2003, No. 28).
11. Amendment of subsection (a) and repealer of definition "Explosives" filed 7-11-2003; operative 8-10-2003 (Register 2003, No. 28).
12. New definition of "Jobsite vehicle" filed 3-5-2008; operative 4-4-2008 (Register 2008, No. 10).
13. Amendment of definition of "Lumber" redesignating subsection (C) as subsection (C)1. and adopting subsections (C)2.-3. filed 11-2-2010; operative 12-2-2010 (Register 2010, No. 45).
14. Amendment of definition of "Ladders" filed 8-5-2011; operative 9-4-2011 (Register 2011, No. 31).
15. Editorial correction of definitions of "Combustible Liquid" and "Flammable Liquid" (Register 2011, No. 32).
16. New definition of "Certified Safety Professional or CSP" filed 8-29-2011; operative 9-28-2011 (Register 2011, No. 35).
17. New definition of "Exhaust retrofit" filed 2-1-2012; operative 3-2-2012 (Register 2012, No. 5).
18. Amendment of definitions of "Combustible Liquid" and "Flammable Liquid" and new definitions of "Fire Area" and "Flash point of the liquid" filed 5-5-2014; operative 5/6/2014 pursuant to Government Code section 11343.4(b)(3) (Register 2014, No. 19).
19. New definition of "Single-User Toilet Facility" filed 3-3-2020; operative 7/1/2020 (Register 2020, No. 10).
20. New definition of "Dedicated Pile Driver" filed 7-26-2022; operative 7/26/2022 pursuant to Government Code section 11343.4(b)(3) (Register 2022, No. 30).