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 1 - General Physical Conditions and Structures › Article 5 - Window Cleaning › Section 3281 - Definitions

Current through Register 2024 Notice Reg. No. 28, July 12, 2024
(a) For the purpose
						of Articles 5 and 6, certain terms are defined as follows, except for Appendix
						D:
Anchor. The fitting, fastened to the window frame or
						  wall, to which the belt terminal is attached.
Anchor, double head. An anchor having two heads.
Anchor, single head. An anchor having one head.
Anchorage. A secure point of attachment for safety
						  lines, lanyards or deceleration devices, and which is independent of the means
						  of supporting or suspending the employee.
Anemometer. An instrument for measuring wind
						  velocity.
Angulated Roping. A suspension method where the upper
						  point of suspension is inboard from the attachments on the suspended unit, thus
						  causing the suspended unit to bear against the face of the building.
Belt Terminal. That part of the window cleaner's safety
						  belt which is fastened to the terminal strap to be attached to the anchor
						  during the operation of window cleaning.
Belts, Window Cleaner's. The equipment meeting the
						  requirements of Section
						  3284, attached to the body of the
						  window cleaner while cleaning windows and shall include the terminal
						  straps.
Buckle. Any device for holding the body belt and body
						  harness closed around the wearer's body.
Buckle, Friction. Single Pass, Fixed Bar. A buckle
						  which maintains its position on the webbing by means of a single pass of the
						  webbing over the fixed center bar.
Buckle, Friction. Single Pass, Sliding Bar. A buckle
						  which maintains its position on the webbing by means of a single looping of the
						  webbing over the sliding center bar.
Buckle, Friction. Double Pass. A buckle which maintains
						  its position on the webbing by friction and requires a double pass of the
						  webbing over the center bar.
Buckle, Tongue. A buckle which depends upon a tongue
						  passed through holes in the webbing or strength member of the belt to maintain
						  its position.
Building. Any building or structure more than one story
						  in height or having window sills more than 12 feet above grade, which is a
						  place of employment.
Building Engineer of Record. A civil or structural
						  engineer that designed the building or structure or the referenced portion of
						  the building or structure.
Building Face Roller. A rotating cylindrical member
						  designed to ride on the face of the building wall to prevent the platform from
						  abrading the face of the building and to assist in stabilizing the
						  platform.
Building Maintenance. Operations such as window
						  cleaning, caulking, metal polishing, reglazing, and general maintenance on
						  building surfaces.
Building Official. Any state, county, city or local
						  building inspector.
Cable. A conductor, or group of conductors, enclosed in
						  a weatherproof sheath, that may be used to supply electrical power and/or
						  control current for equipment or to provide voice communication
						  circuits.
Carriage. A wheeled vehicle used for the horizontal
						  movement and support of other equipment.
Certification. A written, signed and dated statement
						  confirming the performance of a requirement of this orders.
Combination Cable. A cable having both steel structural
						  members capable of supporting the platform, and copper or other electrical
						  conductors insulated from each other and the structural members by
						  nonconductive barriers.
Competent Person. One who is capable of identifying
						  existing and predictable hazards in the surroundings or working conditions
						  which are unsanitary, hazardous, or dangerous to employees, and who has
						  authorization to take prompt corrective measures to eliminate them.
Connector. A device which is used to couple (connect)
						  parts of the system together. It may be an independent component of the system
						  (such as a carabineer), or an integral component of part of system (such as a
						  buckle or dee-ring sewn into a body belt or body harness, or a snap-hook
						  spliced or sewn to a lanyard or self-retracting lanyard).
Continuous Pressure. The need for constant manual
						  actuation for a control to function.
Control. A mechanism used to regulate or guide the
						  operation of the equipment.
Controlled Descent Apparatus (CDA). A CDA is a device
						  used by window cleaners to achieve a controlled descent during window cleaning
						  operations. The descent control capability of the CDA is derived by frictional
						  forces developed when a line(s) passes over and/or around and/or through fixed
						  members of the friction device designed to be readily controlled by the window
						  cleaner.
Danger Zone. The "Danger Zone" is the area within six
						  feet of the edge of a building's roof or protruding ledge. This area is only
						  considered a "Danger Zone" if the roof or protruding ledge is not provided with
						  a guardrail that stands 42 inches in height, a 42 inch high parapet, or a
						  combination thereof.
Davit. A device, used singularly or in pairs, for
						  suspending a powered platform from work, storage and rigging locations on the
						  building being serviced. Unlike outriggers, a davit reacts its operating load
						  into a single roof socket or carriage attachment.
Davit, Fixed. A davit designed to remain at a fixed
						  location.
Davit, Ground Rigged. A davit which cannot be used to
						  raise a suspended working platform above the building face being
						  serviced.
Davit, Mobile. A davit designed to be used in
						  association with a roof car.
Davit, Portable. A davit designed and dedicated for a
						  specific building or roof area, capable of being moved manually from work
						  location to work location within the dedicated area.
Davit, Roof Rigged. A davit used to raise the suspended
						  working platform above the building face being serviced. This type of davit can
						  also be used to raise a suspended working platform which has been
						  groundrigged.
Davit Socket, Pivoted. An anchoring device that pivots
						  inboard from the building face and transfers loads imposed by the davit to the
						  roof structure or parapet.
Davit, Transportable. A davit designed to be
						  structurally compatible with and capable of being moved from building to
						  building or worksite (geographical area) to worksite.
Deceleration Device. A mechanism, such as a rope grab,
						  ripstitch lanyard, specially woven lanyard, tearing or deforming lanyard, or
						  automatic self retracting-safety line/lanyard, which serves to dissipate a
						  substantial amount of energy during a fall arrest, or otherwise limits the
						  energy imposed on an employee during fall arrest.
Deceleration Distance. The additional vertical distance
						  a falling employee travels, excluding safety line elongation and free fall
						  distance, before stopping, from the point at which the deceleration device
						  begins to operate. It is measured as the distance between the location of an
						  employee's body belt or body harness attachment point at the moment of
						  activation (at the onset of fall arrest forces) of the deceleration device
						  during a fall, and the location of that attachment point after the employee
						  comes to a full stop.
Equivalent. Alternative design, material or method that
						  is acceptable to the Division and which the employer can demonstrate will
						  provide an equal or greater degree of safety for employees than the method,
						  material or design specified in the standard.
Extension Device. A hand tool used to perform window
						  cleaning on surfaces beyond the normal reach of the window cleaner.
Free Fall. The act of falling before the personal fall
						  arrest system begins to apply force to arrest the fall.
Free Fall Distance. The vertical displacement of the
						  fall arrest attachment point on the employee's body belt or body harness
						  between onset of the fall and just before the system begins to apply force to
						  arrest the fall. This distance excludes deceleration distance, safety line and
						  lanyard elongation but includes any deceleration device slide distance or
						  self-retracting safety line/lanyard extension before they operate and fall
						  arrest forces occur.
From the Inside. From a position in which all of the
						  window cleaner's body except one arm and shoulder shall be on the interior side
						  of the line of the window frame and with both feet on the floor.
From the Outside. From a position in which more of the
						  window cleaner's body than one arm and shoulder is outside of the line of the
						  window frame.
Grade. The ground, floor, sidewalk, roof, or any other
						  approximately level solid surface of sufficient area and having sufficient
						  structural strength to be considered as a safe place to work.
Ground Rigging. A method of suspending a working
						  platform starting from grade to a point of suspension above grade.
Guide Button. A building face anchor designed to engage
						  a guide track mounted on a platform.
Guide Roller. A rotating cylindrical member, operating
						  separately or as part of a guide assembly, designed to provide continuous
						  engagement between the platform and the building guides or guideways.
Guide Shoe. A device attached to the platform designed
						  to provide a sliding contact between the platform and the building
						  guides.
Height of Suspension. Where the term height of
						  suspension is used in Articles 5 and 6 of these Orders, it refers to the
						  specific suspension height on buildings or structures to the level below. To
						  determine the suspension height, the distance is measured from the highest
						  point of suspension for the building maintenance equipment (outrigger beam,
						  davit, or roof carriage) to the level below. If the building maintenance
						  equipment is suspended from roof tie-backs, the highest point is measured from
						  the top of the parapet or roof's edge. The lowest measurement point at the
						  level or ground below includes, but is not limited to, roofs, sidewalks,
						  streets, parking garages, and driveways.
Hoisting Machine. A device intended to raise and lower
						  a suspended or supported unit.
Hoist Rated Load. The hoist manufacturer's maximum
						  allowable operating load.
Installation. All the equipment and affected parts of a
						  building which are associated with the performance of building maintenance
						  using powered platforms.
Interlock. A device designed to ensure that operations
						  or motions occur in proper sequence.
Intermittent Stabilization. A method of platform
						  stabilization in which the angulated suspension wire rope(s) are secured to
						  regularly spaced building anchors to assure that the platform continuously
						  bears against the building within predetermined limits.
Lanyard. A flexible length of rope, wire rope, or strap
						  which is used to secure the body belt or body harness to a deceleration device,
						  lifeline, or anchorage.
Lifeline. A flexible line for connection to an
						  anchorage at one end to hang vertically (vertical lifeline), or for connection
						  to anchorage at both ends to stretch horizontally (horizontal lifeline), and
						  which serves as a means for connecting other components to a personal fall
						  arrest system to the anchorage.
Live Load. The total static weight of workers, tools,
						  parts, and supplies that the equipment is designed to support.
Machine Screw or Bolt. A screw or bolt used to install
						  anchors on metal window frames or sections.
Manual Boatswain's Chair. A seat for one person,
						  suspended by a single line or tackle, which is designed to be raised and
						  lowered by the user.
Obstruction Detector. A control that will stop the
						  suspended or supported unit in the direction of travel if an obstruction is
						  encountered, and will allow the unit to move only in a direction away from the
						  obstruction.
Operating Control. A mechanism regulating or guiding
						  the operation of equipment that ensures a specific operating mode.
Operating Device. A device actuated manually to
						  activate a control.
Outrigger Beam. A device, used singularly or in pairs,
						  for suspending a working platform from work, storage, and rigging locations on
						  the building being serviced. Unlike davits, an outrigger reacts its operating
						  moment load as at least two opposing vertical components acting into two or
						  more distinct roof points and/or attachments.
Outrigger Beam, Fixed. An outrigger beam designed to
						  remain at a fixed location.
Outrigger Beam, Mobile. An outrigger beam designed to
						  be used in association with a roof car.
Outrigger Beam, Portable. An outrigger beam designed
						  and dedicated to a specific building or roof area, which is capable of being
						  moved from work location to work location within the dedicated area.
Outrigger Beam, Transportable. An outrigger beam
						  designed to be moved manually from building to building or worksite
						  (geographical area) to worksite.
Personal Fall Arrest System. A system used to arrest an
						  employee in a fall from a working level. It consists of: an anchorage,
						  connectors, a body harness and may include a lanyard, deceleration device,
						  safety line, or suitable combinations of these.
Platform Rated Load. The combined weight of workers,
						  tools, equipment and other material which is permitted to be carried by the
						  working platform at the installation, as stated on the load rating
						  plate.
Poured Socket. The method of providing wire rope
						  terminations in which the ends of the rope are held in a tapered socket by
						  means of poured spelter or resins.
Primary Brake. A brake designed to be applied
						  automatically whenever power to the prime mover is interrupted or
						  discontinued.
Prime Mover. The source of mechanical power for as
						  machine.
Rated Load. The manufacturer's recommended maximum
						  load.
Rated Strength. The strength of wire rope, as
						  designated by its manufacturer or vendor, based on standard testing procedures
						  or acceptable engineering design practices.
Rated Working Load. The combined static weight of
						  workers, materials, and suspended or supported equipment.
Roof Powered Platform. A working platform where the
						  hoist(s) used to raise or lower the platform is located on the roof.
Rope. The equipment used to suspend a component of an
						  equipment installation, i.e., wire rope.
Rope Grab. A deceleration device which travels on a
						  safety line and automatically frictionally engages the safety line and locks so
						  as to arrest the fall of an employee. A rope grab usually employs the principle
						  of inertial locking, cam/lever locking, or both.
Safe Manner. The term means the use of any of the
						  following methods of window cleaning in which the window cleaner is protected
						  in accordance with these orders when:
Standing on the sill.
Working from a ladder.
Working from a scaffold work platform.
Working from a boatswain's chair.
Working from a safe surface.
Safe Surface. A horizontal surface intended to be
						  occupied by employees, which is so protected by a fall protection system that
						  it can be reasonably assured that said occupants will be protected against
						  falls.
Safety Belt or Harness. A device used specifically for
						  securing a worker from the hazard of falls from elevated work areas and
						  include:
Body Belt. A strap with means both for securing it
						  about the waist and for attaching it to a lanyard, safety line, or deceleration
						  device.
Body Harness. A design of simple or compound straps
						  which may be secured about the wearer in a manner to distribute the fall arrest
						  forces over at least the thighs, pelvis, waist, chest and shoulders with means
						  for attaching it to other components of a personal fall arrest system.
Safety Device. (Approved). (See Section
						  3206 of the General Industry Safety
						  Orders.)
Safety Factor. The ratio of the nominal strength to the
						  nominal design load.
Safety Line. A component consisting of a flexible line
						  for connection to an anchorage at one end to hang vertically (vertical safety
						  line), or for connection to anchorages at both ends to stretch horizontally
						  (horizontal safety line) and which serves as a means for connecting other
						  components of a personal fall arrest system to the anchorage.
Scaffold. The complete scaffold structure including the
						  work platform and all supporting members.
Scaffold, Rolling. A fixed-height or extensible
						  self-supporting scaffold that can be manually moved into place.
Scaffold, Suspended, Manually Operated (Swinging
						  Stage). A scaffold suspended from above by wire or fiber ropes and rigged with
						  manually operated pulley blocks or hoists or equivalent means so that the work
						  platform elevation is easily adjustable. Such scaffold is not designed for use
						  on a specific structure or group of structures.
Scaffold, Suspended, Permanent. A scaffold that is
						  designed for a specific building and is used on that building only.
Scaffold, Suspended, Power Driven. Permanent or
						  transportable suspended scaffolds equipped with one or more power units (not
						  manually powered) for raising or lowering the scaffold platform.
Scaffold, Suspended, Transportable. A powered or
						  manually operated work platform that is brought to a work site for the purpose
						  of performing maintenance or other work that by nature is of short
						  duration.
Secondary Brake. A brake designed to arrest the descent
						  of the suspended or supported equipment in the event of an overspeed
						  condition.
Self-Powered Platform. A working platform where the
						  hoist(s) used to raise or lower the platform is mounted on the platform.
Self-Retracting Safety Line/Lanyard. A deceleration
						  device which contains a drum-wound line which may be slowly extracted from, or
						  retracted onto, the drum under slight tension during normal employee movement,
						  and which, after onset of a fall, automatically locks the drum and arrests the
						  fall.
Sill. A surface that is part of the building or
						  structure, immediately below the window, and of sufficient width and design to
						  safely support window cleaners and their equipment.
Snap-Hook. A connector comprised of a hookshaped member
						  with a normally closed keeper, or similar arrangement, which may be opened to
						  permit the hook to receive an object and, when released, automatically closes
						  to retain the object. Snap-hooks are generally one of two types:
1. The locking type (double-acting) with a
						self-closing, self-locking keeper which remains closed and locked until
						unlocked and pressed open for connection or disconnection, or
2. The non-locking type with a self-closing
						keeper which remains closed until pressed open for connection or disconnection.
Speed Reducer. A positive type speed reducing
						  machine.
Stability Factor. The ratio of the stabilizing moment
						  to the overturning moment.
Stabilizer Tie. A flexible line connecting the building
						  anchor and the suspension wire rope supporting the platform.
Supported Equipment. Building maintenance equipment
						  that is held or moved to its working position by means of attachment directly
						  to the building or extensions of the building being maintained.
Suspended Equipment. Building maintenance equipment
						  that is suspended and raised or lowered to its working position by means of
						  ropes or combination cables attached to some anchorage above the
						  equipment.
Tail Line. The nonsupporting end of the wire rope used
						  to suspend the platform.
Terminal Strap (Runner). The portion of a window
						  cleaner's belt that attaches the terminals to the belt's waist band.
Tie-in Guides. The portion of a building that provides
						  continuous positive engagement between the building and a suspended or
						  supported unit during its travel on the face of the building.
Tie-off (Tieing-off). The act of an employee, wearing
						  personal fall protection equipment, connecting directly or indirectly to an
						  anchorage. It also means the condition of an employee being connected to an
						  anchorage.
Traction Hoist. A type of hoisting machine that does
						  not accumulate the suspension wire rope on the hoisting drum or sheave, and is
						  designed to raise and lower a suspended load by the application of friction
						  forces between the suspension wire rope and the drum or sheave.
Trolley Carriage. A carriage suspended from an overhead
						  track structure.
Verified. Accepted by design, evaluation, or inspection
						  by a professional engineer currently registered in the State of
						  California.
Waist Band. That part of the window cleaner's belt
						  which is attached to the body of the window cleaner. (Title 24, Part 2, Section
						  2-8501.)
Weatherproof. So constructed that exposure to adverse
						  weather conditions will not affect or interfere with the proper use or
						  functions of the equipment or component.
Winding Drum Hoist. A type of hoisting machine that
						  accumulates the suspension wire rope on the hoisting drum.
Working Platform. Suspended or supported equipment
						  intended to provide access to the face of a building and occupied by persons
						  engaged in building maintenance.
Wrap. One complete turn of the suspension wire rope
						  around the surface of a hoist drum. (Title 24, Part 2, Section
						  2-8501.)