§ 3441. Operation of Agricultural Equipment.

(a) Operating Instructions and Safe Work Practices.

(1) At the time of initial assignment and at least annually thereafter, the employer shall instruct every employee in the safe operation and servicing of all equipment with which the employee is, or will be involved including, instruction on the safe work practices and operating rules provided in subsection (a)(2).

(2) Agricultural equipment shall be operated in accordance with the following safe work practices and operating rules:

(A) Keep all guards in place when the machine is in operation;

(B) Permit no riders on agricultural equipment other than persons required for instruction or assistance in machine operation;

(C) Stop engine, disconnect the power source, and wait for all machine movement to stop before servicing, adjusting, cleaning, or unclogging the equipment, except where the machine must be running to be properly serviced or maintained, in which case all steps and procedures which are necessary to safely service or maintain the equipment shall be taken;

(D) Make sure everyone is clear of machinery before starting the engine, engaging power, or operating the machine;

(E) Lock out electrical power before performing maintenance or service on agricultural equipment. (See Article 3 of the Low-Voltage Electrical Safety Orders.) Note:For overhead electrical hazards see Section 3455 of this article.

(b) All self-propelled equipment shall, when under its own power and in motion, have an operator stationed at the vehicular controls. This shall not prohibit the operator occupying or being stationed at a location on the vehicle other than the normal driving position or cab if controls for starting, accelerating, decelerating and stopping are provided adjacent and convenient to the alternate position. If the machine requires steering other than ground or furrow steering or operates at ground speeds in excess of two miles per hour, steering controls shall also be provided at the alternate location. Seedling planters and other similar equipment traveling at a speed of two miles an hour or less where a control that will immediately stop the machine is located at the operator's work station will satisfy this requirement.

(1) Furrow guided self-propelled mobile equipment may be operated by an operator not on the equipment provided that all of the following are complied with:

(A) The operator has a good view of the course of travel of the equipment and any employees in the immediate vicinity.

(B) The steering controls, when provided, and the brake and throttle controls are extended within easy reach of the operator's station.

(C) The operator is not over 10 feet away from such controls and does not have to climb over or onto the equipment or other obstacles to operate the controls.

(D) The equipment is not traveling at over two miles per hour ground speed.

(c) Safe access to a safe place for all personnel riding on mobile equipment shall be provided.

(d) All self-propelled equipment shall be equipped with a braking device controlled from the operator's station, capable of preventing the vehicle from moving while parked.

(e) Where mobile farm equipment is towed by a tractor or truck and the tractor or truck driver cannot see the employees on the towed equipment, a positive signaling device shall be installed on the towed equipment, or there shall be a device on the towed equipment that can be actuated to stop the towing equipment in case of an emergency.

(f) Engine exhaust systems shall not be piped into or through an enclosed cab on tractors or other equipment.

(g) All tractors or self-propelled farm equipment used between an hour after sunset or an hour before sunrise shall be equipped with at least one headlight that will illuminate the area in front of the equipment at least 50 feet. There shall be at least one rear light to illuminate equipment at the rear. Additional lighting shall be provided where the operation requires field adjustment or the operator's attention.

(h) Adequate means of access shall be provided so that employees can safely reach the top of the load for manual loading or unloading of high loads.

HISTORY

1. Amendment of subsection (a) filed 1-9-76; effective thirtieth day thereafter (Register 76, No. 2).

2. Repealer and new section filed 5-13-77; effective thirtieth day thereafter (Register 77, No. 20).

3. New subsection (a)(6) filed 5-15-85; effective thirtieth day thereafter (Register 85, No. 20).

4. Amendment of subsection (a)(5) and repealer of subsection (a)(6) filed 9-19-2000; operative 10-19-2000 (Register 2000, No. 38).

5. Amendment filed 12-2-2002; operative 1-1-2003 (Register 2002, No. 49).

Note

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