437-004-1750 Helicopters (1) Scope. This applies to the use of helicopters to harvest ornamental trees. (2) Briefing. You must hold a briefing before each day’s work that covers the safety and communication procedures for the pilot and ground personnel. (3) Flight path. There must be an established flight path from the pick up point. All employees in the area must know this path before lifting the first load from a new job site or when there is a change in procedures. (4) Area under the flight path. Equipment or employees must not occupy the area under the flight path during helicopter flight. (5) Drop zone — where. A pilot and responsible supervisor must establish the location of the drop zone, decking areas, loading areas, and designated safety zones, taking into consideration current operating conditions. Notify all workers on the landing when a change in operating procedures is necessary. (6) Drop zone — how big. The landing drop zone must be large enough to handle all incoming bundles of trees without crowding the landing crew. (7) Under the load of helicopter. Workers must never be under the load or the helicopter except one person to hook up or unhook the load. Workers may approach the load to pull the rigging only after the helicopter leaves the area above the landing. (8) Landing. Landings must have minimal slope for drainage in the drop zone and decking area to prevent bundles from rolling. (9) Approach. The approach to the landing must be as clear as possible. (10) Loads. Loads must be properly slung. Tag lines must be short enough to prevent their being drawn up into the rotors. On freely suspended loads, you must use pressed sleeves, swedged eyes or equivalent means to prevent hand splices from spinning open or cable clamps from loosening. (11) Electric cargo hooks. All electrically operated cargo hooks must have an electrical activating device that prevents inadvertent operation. They must also have an emergency mechanical control for releasing the load. A competent person must test the hooks before each day’s operation to assure that the release functions properly, both electrically and mechanically. (12) Hardhats. Workers must wear hardhats secured with chin straps, eye protection and other personal protective equipment when in the load receiving area. NOTE: See Division 4/I for specific requirements about Personal Protective Equipment. (13) Clothing. Workers must not wear loose-fitting clothing that could flap in rotor downwash and snag on the hoist line. (14) Flying objects. Take all necessary precautions to protect employees from flying objects in the rotor downwash. Secure or remove all loose gear within 100 feet of the pickup or landing area. (15) Hook approach. There must be a safe way for employees to reach the hoist line hook and engage or disengage cargo slings. (16) Rubber gloves. Workers must wear rubber gloves when handling suspended lines or they must use a grounding device to discharge static charges before touching the load. (17) Weight limit. The weight of lifted loads must not exceed the helicopter manufacturer’s rating. (18) Limited visibility. The employer must ensure that when there is limited visibility because of dust or other conditions workers use special caution to keep clear of main and stabilizing rotors. The employer must also take precautions to eliminate, as far as practical, the dust or other conditions reducing visibility. (19) Signal systems. The employer must instruct the aircrew and ground personnel on the signal systems in use and must review the system with the employees before flight operations begin. This applies to both radio and hand signal systems. (20) Approach limit. Do not allow workers to approach within 50 feet of the helicopter when the rotor blades are turning, unless work duties require their presence in that area. (21) Stay in view. Require employees who must approach the helicopter when blades are rotating to approach or leave in full view of the pilot and stay in a crouched position. Do not allow workers to be in the area from the cockpit or cabin rearward while blades are rotating. (22) Communication. There must be constant reliable communication between the pilot and a designated member of the ground crew in the pickup and landing area. The designated member must be clearly distinguishable from other ground personnel. (23) Fire. There must be no open fires where they could be spread by the rotor downwash. (24) Fueling. Helicopter fueling areas must be separate from all other operations. (a) Refueling of any type helicopter with aviation gasoline or Jet B (Turbine) type fuel must never be allowed while the engine is running. (b) Refuel helicopters that use Jet A (turbine kerosene) type fuel with engines running only if these criteria are met: (A) No unauthorized employees are within fifty (50) feet of the operation or equipment; and (B) Fire extinguishers are available and have a combined rating of at least 16A:160BC. (c) Train employees in the refueling operation and the use of the available fire extinguishing equipment. (d) There must be no smoking, open flames, exposed flame heaters, flare pots or open flame lights within fifty (50) feet of the fueling area or fueling equipment. The fueling area must be posted with “NO SMOKING” signs. EXCEPTION: Aircraft pre-heaters are exempt. However, do not fuel while the heaters are in operation. (e) Before refueling, ground the fueling equipment and the helicopter and electrically bond the fueling nozzle to the helicopter. Using conductive hose does not accomplish this bonding. All grounding and bonding connections must be electrically and mechanically firm to clean unpainted metal parts. (f) Pump fuel only by hand or power, do not pour or use gravity flow. Nozzles must be self-closing or have deadman controls and must not be blocked open. Do not drag nozzles on the ground. (g) In case of a spill, immediately stop fueling until the person in charge determines that it is safe to resume the operation. Statutory/Other Authority: ORS 654.025(2) & 656.726(3) Statutes/Other Implemented: ORS 654.001 - 654.295 History: OSHA 4-1998, f. 8-28-98, cert. ef. 10-1-98