California Code of Regulations › Title 8 - Industrial Relations › Division 1 - Department of Industrial Relations › Chapter 4 - Division of Industrial Safety › Subchapter 4 - Construction Safety Orders › Article 23 - Suspended Scaffolds › Section 1662 - Boatswains' Chairs

Current through Register 2024 Notice Reg. No. 28, July 12, 2024
(a)
					 Persons shall be trained and/or experienced in the use of boatswains' chairs
					 before being permitted to use such equipment.
(b) When a boatswains' chair is suspended
					 over an area traversed by employees, pedestrians or vehicular traffic, the
					 ground area immediately below shall be effectively blocked by barricades, or an
					 attendant shall be stationed to keep the area clear. Warnings signs shall also
					 be posted below.
(c) An employee
					 using a boatswains' chair shall wear a safety belt with attached lanyard
					 secured to a separate drop line or other means affording equivalent
					 safety.
(d) Rope attachment to a
					 block shall be by a thimble and splice.
(e) Hooks shall be provided with a means to
					 prevent accidental disengagement or a shackle shall be used in place of a
					 hook.
(f) Each double block of luff
					 (or watch) tackle shall be branded or otherwise clearly marked so as to
					 indicate the fully extended length in feet from block to block. A knot or
					 splice shall be made in the end of the line to prevent it from running through
					 the block.
(g) Thimbles shall not
					 be used where the chair connects to the hook.
(h) Tackle shall consist of rope equivalent
					 in strength to at least 5/8 inch rope of first grade Manila as well as
					 properly-sized blocks.
(i) The
					 chair shall be suspended from its four corners by means of rope slings. It
					 shall have a seat not less than 24 inches long by 10 inches wide and, if of
					 soft wood, 2 inches thick (1 1/8 inches if of oak or ash). It shall be
					 reinforced across the full width by cleats securely fastened to each end. The
					 seat may be constructed of material other than wood, provided the material used
					 is equivalent in strength to 2 inches of soft wood or 1 1/8 inches of oak or
					 ash. If constructed of material of equivalent strength, cleats across the full
					 width of the seat shall be provided unless structural analysis indicates that
					 they are not necessary. Other design and construction of equivalent safety and
					 strength may be substituted.
(j)
					 Boatswains' chairs with fiber rope slings shall not be used to support an
					 employee with welding, burning torch, sandblasting equipment, or chemicals
					 harmful to fiber rope. In such cases, the slings shall be at least 3/8 inch
					 wire rope, or equivalent. Further, the wire rope shall be protected against
					 burning or welding arc by covering with a rubber hose or other equally
					 effective means.
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(k) Fiber rope seat slings shall be of 5/8
					 inch Manila rope, or equivalent, reeved through the four seat holes so as to
					 cross each other on the underside of the seat.
(l) Boatswains' chairs, their supports and
					 all accessories shall be capable of supporting, without failure, at least 4
					 times the maximum load.
(m) Parapet
					 or cornice hooks or clamps used to support chairs shall be provided with rings
					 for tie-back use.
1.
						Amendment filed 11-14-75; effective thirtieth day thereafter (Register 75, No.
						6).
2. Amendment of subsection (b) filed 4-27-79; effective
						thirtieth day thereafter (Register 79, No. 17).
3. Renumbering and
						amendment of former Section
						1662 to Section
						1667, and renumbering and amendment
						of Section 1651 to Section
						1662 filed 7-24-87; operative
						8-23-87 (Register 87, No. 33).
4. Change without regulatory effect
						amending "Moused Hook" graphic in subsection (j) filed 6-25-2001 pursuant to
						section 100, title 1, California Code of
						Regulations (Register 2001, No. 26).
5. Change without regulatory
						effect repealing and adopting new illustration within subsection (j) filed
						5-19-2008 pursuant to section
						100, title 1, California Code of
						Regulations (Register 2008, No. 21).
Note: Authority cited: Section
						  142.3, Labor
						  Code. Reference: Section
						  142.3, Labor
						  Code.