Oregon Administrative Rules › Chapter 437 - DEPARTMENT OF CONSUMER AND BUSINESS SERVICES, OREGON OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH DIVISION › Division 4 - AGRICULTURE › Section 437-004-1750 - Helicopters

Current through Register Vol. 63, No. 7, July 1, 2024
(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.