§ 2940. General Provisions.

(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.

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.

(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.

HISTORY

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).

Note

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