California Code of Regulations › Title 8 - Industrial Relations › Division 1 - Department of Industrial Relations › Chapter 4 - Division of Industrial Safety › Subchapter 7 - General Industry Safety Orders › Group 26 - Driving and Pressurized Worksite Operations › Article 154 - Pressurized Worksite Operations › Section 6100 - Temperature, Illumination, Sanitation and Ventilation

Current through Register 2024 Notice Reg. No. 28, July 12, 2024
(a) Temperature of all working chambers which
						are subjected to compressed air shall, by means of after-coolers or other
						suitable devices, be maintained at a temperature not to exceed 85 degrees
						Fahrenheit.
(b) Illumination in
						compressed air chambers shall be by electricity exclusively and two independent
						electric-lighting systems with independent sources of supply shall be used. The
						emergency source shall be arranged to become automatically operative in the
						event of failure of the regularly used source. Electrical installations and
						equipment shall comply with applicable portions of the Electrical Safety Orders
						in Title 8 of the CCR.
(c) The
						minimum intensity of illumination on any walkway, ladder, stairway, or working
						level shall not be less than 10-foot candles, and in all work places the
						illumination shall at all times be such as to enable employees to see
						clearly.
(d) Sanitary, heated,
						illuminated, and ventilated dressing rooms and drying rooms shall be provided
						for all employees engaged in compressed air work. Such rooms shall contain
						suitable benches and lockers. Bathing accommodations (showers at the ratio of 1
						to 10 employees per shift) equipped with running hot and cold water along with
						suitable and adequate toilet accommodations shall be provided. One toilet for
						each 15 employees, or fractional part thereof, shall be provided. While in a
						compressed air environment and the toilet bowl is shut by a cover, there shall
						be an air space so that the bowl or bucket does not implode when the pressure
						is increased. All parts of caissons and other working compartments shall be
						kept in a sanitary condition.
(e)
						Ventilation in the locks and chambers, with the exception of the medical
						chamber, shall be such that the air quality meets the requirement of Section
						5144(i).
(f) Exhaust valves and exhaust pipes shall be
						provided and operated so that the working chamber shall be well ventilated, and
						there shall be no pockets of dead air. Outlets may be required at intermediate
						points along the main low pressure air supply line to the heading to eliminate
						such pockets of dead air. Ventilating air shall be not less than 30 cubic feet
						per minute per person.
(g) The air
						in the workplace shall be analyzed by the employer not less than once each
						shift, and records of such tests shall be kept on file at the place where the
						work is in progress. The test results shall be within the permissible exposure
						limits (PEL's) specified in the Section
						5155, for hazardous gases and
						within 10 percent of the lower explosive limit of flammable gases.
(h) Forced ventilation shall be provided
						during decompression. During the entire decompression period, forced
						ventilation through chemical or mechanical air purifying devices that will
						ensure a source of fresh air shall be provided.
(i) When an oxygen breathing gas system is
						used during decompression, the employer shall take one, or both, of the
						following steps to ensure that the concentration of oxygen inside the chamber
						or lock does not exceed twenty five percent (25%) by volume:
(1) The oxygen breathing gas system shall
						capture the oxygen that is not consumed by the user and directly exhaust it to
						a well ventilated area outside of the lock or chamber;
(2) An oxygen meter shall be used to
						continuously monitor the oxygen concentration inside the chamber or
						lock.