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The California Division of Occupational Safety and Health (Cal/OSHA) operates a state plan with provisions that are at least as protective as, and often different from, federal OSHA standards.
Federal OSHA has the right to exercise concurrent authority to perform inspections and take enforcement action in certain circumstances, so it is important to ensure compliance with both state and federal laws.
Cal/OSHA has adopted several standards that relate to conveyors. Most are found under Title 8, Division 1, Chapter 4, Subchapter 7 – General Industry Safety Orders
The sections listed under “Power transmission equipment, prime movers, machines and machine parts” (8 CCR 3940-4086) reference conveyors in general industry.
8 CCR 3940-3945 in particular describe the purpose, definitions, and standards for guarding equipment including conveyors. Included are:
- Types of guarding needed;
- Guard standards;
- Proper guard clearances;
- Guard materials; and
- Openings for oiling of machinery.
8 CCR 3999 defines guarding requirements specifically for screw conveyors and belt conveyors, discusses crossover requirements and standards, describes standards regarding electrically released brakes, and requires that employees must be clear of any conveyor before it is powered on.
Sections listed under “Group 8, Point of operation and other hazardous parts of machinery” (8 CCR 4184-4647) describe requirements for machine guarding on any machine “having a grinding, shearing, punching, pressing, squeezing, drawing, cutting, rolling, missing, or similar action.” Generally, the rules state that all such machines, or any machine that presents a similar hazard, must be guarded at the point of operation.
Also contained within this section are standards for conveyors in specialized industries, including:
- 8 CCR 4298 – Woodworking machines and equipment (Hog mills)
- 8 CCR 4412 – Pulp, paper and paperboard mills (Conveyors)
- 8 CCR 4533 – Food and tobacco machinery (Screw conveyors)
- 8 CCR 6365 – Logging and Sawmill (Conveyors)
California’s state requirements for machine guarding and lockout/tagout may also relate to the operation of conveyors. More information can be found at:
Related information
Citations
- Title 8, Division 1, Chapter 4, Subchapter 7 – General Industry Safety Orders
- 1910.212 – Machine Guarding
- 1910.147 – Lockout/Tagout
Special industries
OSHA has incorporated by reference the 1910.6(e)(17) ANSI B20.1-1957 Safety Code for Conveyors, Cableways, and Related Equipment for certain standards within the following special industries: