California Code of Regulations › Title 8 - Industrial Relations › Division 1 - Department of Industrial Relations › Chapter 4 - Division of Industrial Safety › Subchapter 20 - Tunnel Safety Orders › Article 19 - Shafts and Hoisting Systems › Section 8498 - Hoisting Signals

Current through Register 2024 Notice Reg. No. 28, July 12, 2024
(a)
					 Every shaft or incline shall be provided with two efficient means of
					 interchanging distinct and definite signals between the top of the shaft and
					 the lowest level and any intermediate level from which hoisting is being done,
					 and from the conveyance at any point in the shaft. One system shall be a
					 closed-circuit voice communication system to each landing station, with speaker
					 microphones so located that the hoisting engineer can communicate with the
					 individual landing stations during hoist use.
(b) Special care shall be taken to keep the
					 signal apparatus in good order and to prevent electric signal and telephone
					 wires from making contact with other electric conductors. The primary and
					 secondary signal systems shall be tested at the beginning of each shift and as
					 often as necessary at other times to ensure they are in working
					 order.
(c) Signals to the hoist
					 engineer shall be given only by persons authorized to do so.
(d) Hoisting signals shall be posted at the
					 hoist and at each level.
(e) Where
					 mobile cranes are used at shafts, there shall be a qualified signal person in
					 direct voice communication with the hoisting engineer safely stationed where
					 they can observe the load in the shaft and relay signals to the hoisting
					 engineer, except where the load is in full view of the hoisting engineer or the
					 load is provided with guides.
(f)
					 Any signal not readily understood by the hoisting engineer shall be interpreted
					 as a "stop" signal, and no movement of the shaft conveyance shall be undertaken
					 until a clear and understandable signal is received.
(g) Where it is necessary to use bells or
					 similar equipment for hoisting or lowering signals, the following system or
					 code shall be used:
Signals from tunnel to hoist engineer:
2--1
bells, to hoist rock.
1
bell, to stop if in motion.
1--2--1
bells, to release skip.
2
bells, to lower.
3--1
bells, employee on; run slowly;
								employees to be hoisted.
3--2
bells, employee on; run slowly;
								employees to be lowered.
7
bells and repeat, accident.
3--3--1
bells, hoist cautiously.
3--3--2
bells, lower cautiously.
3--2--1
bells, ready to blast.
The signals 3--3--1 and 3--3--2 may be used to move cage,
						skip, bucket or other conveyance, whenever there is a need to hoist or lower
						cautiously whether or not men are aboard.
The signal "ready to blast" shall be followed by the
						signal "ready to hoist" coming from the hoisting engineer.
Engineer's signal that he/she is ready to hoist, is to
						raise the bucket, cage, or skip about 2 feet and lower it again.
Legible copies of the signals shall be posted in a
						convenient location at the collar of the shaft, at each station and at the
						operator's station. This signal code must include proper signal for each level
						or station.
1.
						Amendment of section and new NOTE filed 3-5-96; operative 4-4-96 (Register 96,
						No. 10).
Note: Authority cited: Sections
						  142.3 and
						  7997, Labor
						  Code. Reference: Sections
						  142.3 and
						  7997, Labor
						  Code.