Chapter 10
CONSTRUCTION HEALTH & SAFETY

Contents

Approved by Dan Thomas
Revised 01/13

NOTE:
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10.1 Policy

The Construction Health & Safety Program ensures the safety of Berkeley Lab employees, visitors, and subcontractors during construction activities at the Laboratory by flowing down Integrated Safety Management (ISM), 10 CFR 851, and other requirements to subcontractors. This is achieved by:

10.2 Scope

This policy applies to all construction activities. Construction activities may originate from construction subcontracts, service contracts, purchase orders, and in-house work orders.

10.3 Applicability

This program applies to all Berkeley Lab employees and all subcontractors performing construction work.

10.4 Exceptions

Work funded and managed by the University of California

10.5 Roles and Responsibilities

Role

Responsibilities

Project management and supervisory personnel

  • Implement and maintain an effective safety program
  • Ensure workers under their supervision maintain safe work areas and perform their tasks in a safe manner

Construction workers

Follow every precaution andBerkeley Lab safety rule and policy to protect themselves and their fellow workers

Subcontractor employers
  • Oversee the safety of their employees and/or visitors as required by the rules and regulations of this chapter; the Code of Federal Regulations 10 CFR 851, Worker Safety & Health Program; the California Code of Regulations CCR Title 8, Construction Safety Orders; 29 CFR 1926, Safety and Health Regulations for Construction; and all other local, state, and federally recognized current standards and codes
  • Understand and follow the contents of this chapter
  • Train/educate their employees and/or visitors in the contents of this chapter and requirements for conduct of work under the Berkeley Lab ISM Plan
  • Document all employee training

Subcontractor employees

Have the same safety rights and obligations as those of Laboratory employees

Subcontractor on-site Health and Safety Representative
  • Conducts regular inspections of the construction work site to identify and correct any instances of noncompliance with the project health and safety requirements
  • Assists in the development of the subcontractor's safety plan and job-site management system
  • Supports training of subcontractor personnel
  • Evaluates the subcontractor safety process continuously
  • Responds to questions regarding the subcontractor safety process
  • Attends pre-job meetings to discuss their site-specific safety plan
  • Conducts and documents job-site safety audits
  • Assists in the identification of jobs requiring an activity-based hazard analysis

Competent Persons
  • Identify existing and predictable hazards in the surroundings or working conditions that are unsanitary, hazardous, or dangerous to employees, and have the authorization to take prompt corrective measures to eliminate them

Qualified Persons
  • Use skills and knowledge to solve or resolve problems relating to the subject matter, the work, or the project (possess recognized degree, certification, or professional standing; or have extensive knowledge, training, and experience in the subject matter)

EHSS Construction Safety Engineer
  • Coordinates, tracks, and provides quality assurance for the EHSS document package review for Berkeley Lab construction projects
  • Conducts routine observations of construction work sites to identify and correct unsafe workplace conditions and behaviors

Berkeley Lab construction and project managers
  • Approve EHSS document packages submitted by subcontractors
  • Conduct routine observations of construction work sites to identify and correct unsafe conditions and behaviors

10.6 Definitions

Term

Definition

ANSI

American National Standards Institute

Authorized Person

A person approved or assigned by the employer to perform a specific type of duty or duties or to be at a specific location or locations at the job site

Construction work

Work for construction, alteration, and/or repair, including painting and decorating

Contamination

Refers to the impact of sources in any amount and at any degree below or above permissible levels for health and safety toward the environment or to life.

 

Controlled Access Zone

An area in which certain work (e.g., overhand bricklaying) may take place without the use of guardrail systems, personal fall arrest systems, or safety net systems, and access to the zone is controlled

Hazardous

When referring to a spill, "hazardous" means the spill is above the permissible levels for health and safety toward the environment and life and is regulated under government standards.

Integrated Safety Management (ISM)

The Department of Energy's systematic approach to analyzing work and hazards and implementing controls

Imminent danger

Any condition or practice that could reasonably be expected to cause death or serious physical harm (permanent or prolonged impairment of the body or temporary disablement requiring hospitalization) to employees or the public unless immediate actions are taken

Project Inspector

The Facilities Division's representative responsible for monitoring construction quality and verifying compliance with the terms and conditions of the design documents

Subcontractor

A firm that has sole contractual responsibility for execution of the construction work related to a project, and for compliance with all safety, health, and environmental codes, standards, and regulations

10.7 Required Work Processes

Work Process A. General Requirements

 

Work Process B. Review Safety Performance of Bidding Subcontractors

  1. Construction subcontractor selection shall include an evaluation of the subcontractor's prior safety performance, the subcontractor's current written safety programs, and qualifications of key EHSS personnel to assure Berkeley Lab that the subcontractor is capable of meeting safety-performance goals. All subcontractors being considered to perform construction activities at Berkeley Lab-controlled sites and property shall undergo such an evaluation.
  2. During the construction subcontractor selection process, Facilities Division Procurement personnel request evidence of the subcontractor's workers' compensation experience modification rates (EMRs).
    1. In general, the subcontractor must achieve an EMR of 1.0 or less to be considered for a contract award.
    2. Occasionally, a subcontractor's EMR may not be an accurate representation of safety performance (due to statistical variations in the EMR calculation from small payroll numbers, outlier workers' compensation events, etc.). In these cases, an evaluation of a minimum of the past three years of the subcontractor's OSHA Form 300 and 300A data may be used to qualify a subcontractor from a construction safety standpoint.
  3. Additionally, during the selection process a copy of the subcontractor's Cal/OSHA-required Injury and Illness Prevention Program (IIPP) is requested for review. The IIPP is a written program in which the subcontractor details the means and methods used to ensure the safety and health of the subcontractor's employees.
  4. The Berkeley Lab Project Management Team and Procurement personnel shall evaluate the information submitted by subcontractors. Subcontractors shall demonstrate an equivalent process in the selection of lower-tier subcontractors and shall submit evaluation criteria and results to Berkeley Lab.

Work Process C. Review Selected Subcontractors' EHSS Submittal Package(s)

  1. Each subcontractor shall provide Berkeley Lab with a written IIPP. The IIPP or the IIPP with a Site Specific Safety Plan shall contain at a minimum:
    1. The name of the on-site health and safety representative responsible for the implementation of the plan, his or her qualifications, and what roles this person will play during the project
    2. The company policy and senior company officer statement on environment, safety, and health
    3. The company safety management and safety oversight plan and correlation with Berkeley Lab's ISM Plan
    4. A list of those project activities for which subsequent activity-based hazard analyses are to be performed
    5. The company policy on substance abuse and testing policies, if applicable
    6. Code of Safe Practices
    7. How and when each contractor will conduct toolbox safety talks
    8. Provisions for conducting and documenting job-site safety inspections by supervision
    9. Training methods used to meet OSHA training requirements to ensure that Berkeley Lab's Safety Program requirements are communicated to all subcontractor personnel
    10. Incident reporting, first aid, and emergency procedures. Details for the management of work related injuries.
    11. The company safety recognition/incentive policy that will be in effect for this project
    12. List of all competent persons overseeing those tasks in which OSHA requires such person(s), such as excavation, confined space, fall protection, etc.
    13. All other requirements as in the Berkeley Lab Construction Specifications Section 01020, ES&H Manual General Requirements Program as tailored to the project
  2. The Berkeley Lab Project Manager and EHSS Construction Safety Engineer review, and the Project Manager approves, the submitted package before notice to proceed is given for the construction activity.
  3. Lower-tier subcontractors may use and abide by the general contractor's written (IIPP) or site-specific safety program.
  4. General contractors that engage lower-tier subcontractors shall submit written documentation for each lower-tier subcontractor that demonstrates the methods of compliance with the site-specific EHSS plan requirements

Work Process C.1 Job Hazard Analyses

  1. Subcontractor Activity-Based Hazard Analysis Submittal
    1. Subcontractors shall submit an Activity-Based Job Hazard Analysis for construction activities that meet the requirements for performing a JHA in C.2 below.
    2. The JHA shall be approved by the Berkeley Lab Project Manager before work commences.
    3. Each employee scheduled to work in the activities identified below shall receive safety training in those activities prior to working on them. The subcontractor shall maintain proof of employee training at the work site and make it available to the Berkeley Lab Project Manager upon request (toolbox safety meetings are an acceptable forum to meet this requirement).
    4. A subcontractor shall be responsible for submitting a JHA and work procedures to the Berkeley Lab Project Manager for review a minimum of seven days prior to the start of work for most work activities.
    5. The subcontractor must maintain two copies of the Berkeley Lab-approved JHA. The first copy should be maintained with the project files. The second copy shall be conspicuously posted on the job site/project.
  2. JHA Requirements
    1. A JHA shall be written based on the following conditions:
      1. Jobs with the highest injury or illness rates
      2. Jobs with the potential to cause severe or disabling injuries or illness, even if there is no history of previous accidents
      3. Jobs in which one simple human error could lead to a severe accident or injury
      4. Jobs new to your operation or that have undergone changes in processes and procedures
      5. Jobs complex enough to require written instructions
    2. If not otherwise specified in a particular project specification, the JHA shall be performed in accordance with the OSHA 3071 JHA processes. In general the JHA will include:
      1. Description of work phase or activity
      2. Identification of potential hazards associated with the activity
      3. The addressing of further hazards revealed by supplemental site information (e.g., site characterization data, as-built drawings) provided by the subcontractor's construction manager
      4. A list of the subcontractor's planned controls to mitigate the identified hazards
      5. Identification of specialized training required
      6. Identification of special permits required
      7. Name of the subcontractor's competent persons responsible for inspecting the activity and ensuring that all proposed safety measures are followed
    3. Construction activities for which a JHA is required include, but are not limited to:
      1. Roofing
      2. Hoisting and handling of materials
      3. Excavations
      4. Trenching and drilling
      5. Concrete placement and false work
      6. Welding
      7. Steel erection
      8. Work performed 6 feet or higher above ground
      9. Electrical work
      10. Demolition
      11. Work in confined spaces
      12. Work that causes the release of silica, such as demolition or drilling of concrete or work with materials that contain silica
      13. Work with epoxy coatings
      14. Work with or around hazardous materials
      15. Work on hilly terrain
      16. Use and handling of flammable materials
  3. Requirements for Reporting Hazardous Conditions
    1. Workers must be instructed to report to the subcontractor's designated representative hazards not previously identified or evaluated.
    2. If immediate corrective action is not possible or the hazard falls outside the project scope, the construction subcontractor must immediately notify affected workers, post appropriate warning signs, implement needed interim controls measures, and notify the Berkeley Lab Construction Manager of the actions taken.
    3. The subcontractor or the designated representative must stop work in the affected area until appropriate protective measures are established.
  4. Review of Subcontractor Engineered Protective Systems
    1. The subcontractor shall submit for review to the Berkeley Lab Project Manager any worker, environment, or property protective system that is required by EHSS regulation to be designed by a registered professional engineer.
    2. Berkeley Lab's review of such system is solely to verify that the subcontractor has had the required protective systems prepared and stamped by a registered professional engineer.
    3. Berkeley Lab's review of any documents showing the design or construction of protective systems for worker and property protection shall not relieve the subcontractor of the obligation to comply with applicable laws and standards for the design and construction of such protective work.
    4. The subcontractor shall indemnify and hold harmless Berkeley Laband the architect engineer from any and all claims, liability, costs, actions, and causes of action arising out of or related to the failure of such protective systems.
    5. The subcontractor shall defend Berkeley Lab, its officers, employees, agents, and the architect engineer in any litigation or proceeding brought with respect to the failure of such protective systems.
    6. The cost of required safety engineering services for safety and protective systems shall be borne solely by the subcontractor and shall be deemed to have been included in the amount bid for the work as stated in the subcontract.
  5. Coordination and Tracking of Construction EHSS Package Reviews
    1. The EHSS Division Construction Safety Engineer (CSE) is responsible for coordination, tracking, and quality assurance for the EHSS review of Berkeley Lab construction projects.
    2. The Construction Managers/Project Managers receive all required safety documents from the subcontractors and forward them as a package to the CSE.
    3. Most safety document packages will require review by several EHSS subject matter experts (SMEs, i.e., Radiation Safety, Environmental, Industrial Safety, Industrial Hygiene, Occupational Medicine, etc.).
    4. The CSE reviews the packages and distributes appropriate parts to the appropriate SMEs for their review, comment, and approval. The SMEs return their completed documents to the CSE, who combines comments, identifies and resolves conflicts, and performs a quality review to assure all required submittals are included in the final safety document package.
    5. The CSE signs the final package and returns it to Construction Manager/Project Manager to begin construction.
    6. Copies of the final safety document package and review comments are maintained by the CSE for use during construction. When the construction work is completed, the safety document package is filed with the project file.

Work Process D. Review of Subcontractors' Key Safety Personnel

  1. Subcontractor On-site Environmental Health and Safety Representative (EH&S Representative)
    1. The subcontractor shall provide a qualified on-site health and safety representative, accepted by the Berkeley Lab Project Manager, with the authority to enforce all safety requirements of this program, including implementation of the subcontractor's IIPP and project ES&H Plan.
    2. Berkeley Lab Project Management and EHSS will make a risk-based decision as to the qualification level of the subcontractor EH&S representative. Requirements may range from a full-time on-site safety professional (Certified Safety Professional) to a craft supervisor with competency as measured by experience training.
    3. During periods of active construction (i.e., excluding weekends, weather delays, or other periods of work inactivity), the subcontractor must have a designated representative on the construction work site who is knowledgeable of the project's hazards and has full authority to act on behalf of the subcontractor.
    4. The subcontractor's designated representative must make frequent and regular inspections of the construction work site to identify and correct any instances of noncompliance with the project health and safety requirements.
  2. Qualification Evaluation
    1. Based on the level of ES&H qualification determined necessary by Berkeley Lab, the subcontractor shall submit the following documentation, for review and acceptance by the Berkeley Lab Project Manager, in support of the proposed candidate:
      1. Professional certifications (Associate Safety Professional, Certified Safety Professional, Certified Industrial Hygienist etc.)
      2. Curriculum vitae detailing work experience and ES&H responsibilities on projects of similar scope for the previous five years, at a minimum
      3. Evidence of construction safety training with a minimum of the 10-hour OSHA training (the requirement will be modified as necessary and may require the 30-hour OSHA construction supervision training or successful completion of the OSHA 500 program)
      4. Proof of competent person or qualified person status attained by the proposed on-site EH&S representative.
    2. A subcontractor shall replace his or her EH&S representative at the discretion of the Berkeley Lab Project Manager within 24 hours upon written notification if the EH&S representative is unsuccessful in enforcing project safety requirements.
  3. Subcontractor EH&S Representative Responsibilities
    1. The subcontractor EH&S representative shall:
      1. Assist in the development of the subcontractor's safety plan and job-site management system
      2. Support training of subcontractor personnel
      3. Evaluate the subcontractor safety process continuously
      4. Respond to questions regarding the subcontractor safety process
      5. Attend pre-job meetings to discuss their site-specific safety plan
      6. Conduct and document job-site safety audits
      7. Assist in the identification of jobs requiring an Activity-Based Hazard Analysis
  4. Competent Person
    1. Each subcontractor shall provide Berkeley Lab with a written list of those persons on site capable of identifying existing and predictable hazards in the surrounding or working conditions that are unsanitary, hazardous, or dangerous to employees, and who has the authorization to take prompt corrective measures to eliminate them.
    2. Subcontractors shall ensure that each competent person listed has been trained in the following areas as applicable:
      1. Asbestos
      2. Cranes
      3. Confined space
      4. Demolition
      5. Excavations
      6. Fall protection
      7. Ladder
      8. Scaffold
      9. Steel erection
      10. Underground construction
  5. Qualified Person
    1. Each subcontractor shall provide to Berkeley Lab a written list of on-site persons whose recognized degree, certification, or professional standing, or extensive knowledge, training, and experience, have successfully demonstrated their ability to solve or resolve problems relating to the subject matter, the work, or the project.
    2. Subcontractors shall ensure that each qualified person listed has been trained in the following areas, as applicable:
      1. Asbestos
      2. Hazardous-waste operation
      3. Crane
      4. Chemical hazards
      5. Concrete and masonry construction
      6. Electrical, overhead lines (for more information, see Electrical Safety and Lockout/Tagout and Verification).
      7. Steel erection, open joists, site layout, and plans
      8. Hoists and rigging
      9. Scaffold
      10. Underground construction
      11. Gases, vapors, dust, mist
      12. Ventilation
      13. Material hoisting, personnel hoist, elevators
      14. Excavation

Work Process E. Required Safety Training

  1. Training Requirements
    1. Subcontractors shall provide a workforce trained to the requirements set forth in general and in the specific substance- and subject-specific standards of 10 CFR 851, 29 CFR 1926 (and as applicable 29 CFR 1910), and CCR Title 8, Construction Safety Orders.
    2. Subcontractors shall be able to demonstrate satisfaction of training requirements.
  2. Site Orientation and Pre-job Training
    1. All subcontractors and their lower-tier subcontractors shall require and administer pre-job training/orientation on Berkeley Lab and subcontractor safety program requirements to all employees prior to engaging in work activities.
    2. The subcontractor shall maintain on the work site a detailed outline of the orientation and a signed and dated roster of all employees who have completed the project ES&H indoctrination. The orientation program shall address the following elements at a minimum:
      1. Berkeley Lab ISM Core Functions
      2. Employee rights and responsibilities
      3. Responsibility for stop work order (imminent danger)
      4. Construction subcontractor responsibilities
      5. Alcohol and drug abuse policy
      6. Subcontractor's disciplinary procedures
      7. First aid and medical facilities
      8. Site- and project-specific hazards
      9. Hazard recognition and procedures for reporting or correcting unsafe conditions or practices
      10. Procedures for reporting accidents and incidents
      11. Fire fighting and other emergency procedures, to include local warning and evacuation systems
      12. Hazard Communication Program
      13. Access to employee exposure monitoring data and medical records
      14. Protection of the environment, including air, water, and storm drains from construction pollutants
      15. Location of and access to reviewed project Illness and Injury Prevention Program, Hazard Analysis, and Hazard Abatement Plan
      16. Location and contents of required posting
  3. Weekly Toolbox Safety Talks
    1. All subcontractors are required to conduct and document weekly safety toolbox talks. These talks shall be conducted at the site and contain safety information that will increase safety awareness on this project. The weekly toolbox safety talks must relate to work that is under way or immediately forthcoming.
    2. Attendance by all site personnel is mandatory.
    3. An attendance roster of signatures shall be collected and filed with a copy of the toolbox talk.
    4. Copies of the attendance roster and toolbox talk shall be forwarded to Berkeley Lab upon request.
    5. Subcontractors may attend "All-Hands" toolbox talks if a separate list of signatures identifying the subcontractor personnel is maintained.
    6. Each subcontractor is responsible for ensuring employee attendance at the safety toolbox talks.
  4. Safety Instruction for Employees
    1. When workers are first employed they shall be given instruction regarding the hazards and safety precautions applicable to the type of work in question and directed to read the Code of Safe Practices in their company's IIPP.
    2. The subcontractor shall permit only qualified persons to operate equipment and machinery.
    3. Where employees are subject to known job-site hazards such as flammable liquids and gases, poisons, caustics, harmful plants and animals, toxic materials, confined spaces, etc., they shall be instructed in the recognition of the hazard, in the procedures for protecting themselves from injury, and in the first-aid procedure in the event of injury.

Work Process F. Emergency Procedures

  1. An emergency is any situation that poses an immediate threat to life or property. This would include but not be limited to collapse of all or part of building; fire; explosion; equipment failure such as collapse of a crane; release or exposure to toxic liquids, vapors, or fumes; presence of gas or other explosive atmospheres; flood; earthquake; etc. Violent or suspicious behavior may also be cause for initiating emergency procedures.
  2. Each subcontractor must ensure that they maintain one person currently qualified in American Red Cross or equivalent cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and first aid on site at all times.
  3. In the event of a life-threatening or other serious incident (fire, injury, etc.) requiring the assistance of outside personnel, contact Berkeley Lab emergency services immediately at:
    1. 7-9-1-1 for assistance; from an outside line, call 9-1-1
      1. Upon calling, the person shall state their name, their contractor's name, the location of the emergency, and the type of emergency. The caller must stay on the call until released by the emergency dispatcher. The Berkeley Lab Project Manager shall be contacted as soon as practicable.
  4. The Berkeley Lab Project Manager will provide direction to the subcontractor on evacuation procedures as the job progresses.
    1. For emergencies involving evacuation, all subcontractor personnel shall follow the developed, posted evacuation routes to their designated assembly points, and remain there until they are accounted for and an "all clear" or alternate directive is given.
    2. Subcontractors shall disclose to Berkeley Lab the designated assembly points for their employees. In the event of an evacuation, the subcontractor shall immediately notify the Laboratory of any missing personnel.
  5. After the emergency, the contractor shall ensure that all proper incident reports are completed and distributed in the required time frame.
  6. A list of "key" on-site and home-office personnel (with 24-hour phone numbers) shall be developed by each subcontractor and submitted to the Berkeley Lab Project Manager prior to commencement of work.
  7. The Berkeley Lab Project Manager or designated Berkeley Lab management team member in off-hours will take charge in the event of a major catastrophe. The applicable steps are to be followed:
    1. Stop work.
    2. Take whatever actions are needed to make people on the project safe.
    3. Call 7-9-1-1 for assistance, or from outside line, call 9-1-1.
    4. If necessary, call for site evacuation with roll call and clear the site-access roads.
    5. Issue instructions to all supervisors and employees.
    6. Set up security control at the emergency area.
    7. Refer all media requests to the Berkeley Lab Media Affairs Office.

Work Process G. Incident Site Control and Reporting

  1. Incident Control
    1. If a job-site accident occurs, the subcontractor shall immediately implement controls and restrictions on the accident site to ensure it remains undisturbed until the Berkeley Lab Project Manager issues a written release to resume work.
  2. Near Miss/Injury-free Event
    1. The subcontractor must complete all near-miss investigations and report these occurrences with recommendations / implementation of corrective actions. The report will be submitted to the Berkeley Lab Project Manager within 24 hours of the near miss.
  3. First-Aid Event
    1. The subcontractor must collect and log the contractors' incident reports and recommend corrective action. The incident logs and work-hour statistics will be sent to the Berkeley Lab Construction Safety Engineer by the first of each month.
  4. Medical Treatment Event
    1. If the injury is considered an emergency, immediately call 7-9-1-1 from Laboratory phones or 9-1-1 from any cell phone. The subcontractor must immediately notify the Berkeley Lab Project Manager. The subcontractor shall furnish a copy of OSHA Form 301(or equivalent) to the Berkeley Lab Project Manager within five days of the injury.
  5. Serious Injury Event
    1. The prime subcontractor must immediately notify the Berkeley Lab Project Manager of any serious event requiring medical treatment. Refer ALL media inquiries to Berkeley Lab Media Relations, Media Affairs Office, at (510) 486-7586 or (510) 610-3991.
  6. Fatality
    1. The subcontractor must notify the Berkeley Lab Project Manager, who will then notify the appropriate Department of Energy (DOE) office.
    2. The subcontractor must notify Cal/OSHA within eight hours.
    3. Refer ALL media inquiries to the Berkeley Lab Management Contact, Media Affairs Office, at (510) 486-7586 or (510) 610-3991.

Work Process H. Stop Work Order

  1. Initiating Stop Work Order
    1. A stop work order must be given when imminent danger is identified or where significant damage to equipment or property, or environmental degradation, could occur if the operation continued.
    2. Only those areas of a construction project immediately involved in the identified hazardous situation are to be included in the stop work order.
    3. Any employee who observes an imminent-danger situation must stop the work and report it to the subcontractor representative at the work site.
    4. Immediately after stopping work, the person issuing the order must report his/her action to the Berkeley Lab Project Manager and Berkeley Lab Construction Safety Engineer.
    5. The Berkeley Lab Project Manager and Berkeley Lab Construction Safety Engineer will be dispatched to the site to verify that the operation has stopped and that the stop work order was exercised in a justifiable and responsible manner.
    6. Work cannot restart until the Berkeley Lab Project Manager has agreed that the imminent danger has been eliminated and has notified the construction subcontractor that work may be resumed.
  2. Stop Work Memorandum Safety Deficiency Notice
    1. Following a stop work action, the Berkeley Lab Construction Safety Engineer will issue a Safety Deficiency Notice to the subcontractor; the notice will reference the appropriate OSHA regulation and the subcontractor provision that caused the work stoppage.
  3. Difference of Opinion
    1. Differences of opinion regarding a stop work order among the Berkeley Lab Project Manager, Berkeley Lab Construction Safety Engineer, and others must be immediately referred to the respective functional supervisors for resolution.
    2. The recommendations of the Berkeley Lab Construction Safety Engineer must be followed until a final decision is made. The Berkeley Lab EHSS Division Director makes the final determination.

Work Process I. Visitors

  1. Visitor Access
    1. All visitors must report to the project field office upon entering the project site.
    2. Access to the site shall be denied to any individual who does not have justifiable business on the job site.
    3. Any project site visitor who is permitted site access but has no official on-site business shall sign the release before being authorized to proceed beyond the project office.
  2. Visitor Tours
    1. Requests for tours of the project site shall be carefully screened and limited in frequency and numbers of people.
    2. Tours of the site shall be approved by the Berkeley Lab Project Manager and Berkeley Lab Construction Manager and shall be conducted during nonworking hours.
    3. Berkeley Lab shall establish the time and travel route for any tour.
    4. Areas that may present hazards to tour groups shall be off-limits.
    5. The tour's travel route shall be cleared of any tripping hazards, cleaned, and properly protected to avoid potential personal injury.
    6. A designated member of the Berkeley Lab management team shall guide the approved tours.
    7. All members of a tour group shall sign a release prior to touring the site.
  3. Visitor Protective Wear
    1. All visitors must wear long pants, shirts with sleeves over the shoulder, hard hats, safety glasses, and hard-soled work shoes or boots when on site. No penny loafers, dress shoes, or other inappropriate footwear shall be permitted.

Work Process J. Specific ES&H Requirements: Cranes

  1. Equipment Compliance
    1. Mobile cranes shall comply with CCR Title 8, General Industry Safety Orders, Article 93. Construction crane operations including assembly and disassembly shall comply with 29 CFR 1926 Subpart CC.
    2. Unless approved by the Berkeley Lab Rigging Supervisor, rigging equipment and devices shall comply with American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) B30.26, have legible load-rating markings that are traceable back to the manufacturer, and be made in the United States.
  2. Crane Lift Requirements
    1. A Crane Lift Plan shall be submitted by the crane subcontractor to the Construction Manager and shall be approved prior to any crane operation.
    2. Crane Lift Plans shall include the following:
      1. A scope of work, including a description of the load to be lifted, and lift origination and termination points
      2. Crane configuration (boom length, boom angle, load path of travel)
      3. Load weights
      4. Capacity (with deductions) of crane in proposed configuration
      5. Description of rigging, including lifting devices and attachment points
      6. Drawings or aerial photos of the proposed crane location(s)
      7. Drawing of work area control
      8. Cal/OSHA Annual Crane Certification
      9. Operators' licenses
      10. Proof of training for signal personnel
      11. Riggers' qualifications
      12. Name of qualified rigger in charge of assembly and disassembly (if assembled at Berkeley Lab)
      13. Assembly/disassembly procedure (if assembled at Berkeley Lab)
      14. Plan to safely work around overhead power lines (if applicable)
    3. All crane operators shall have a valid license from an approved agency or union and meet the requirements of 29 CFR 1926 Subpart CC.
    4. All crane signal personnel must meet the signal-person requirements of 29 CFR 1926 Subpart CC. Training certificates must be issued by a third-party qualified evaluator, or the CURRENT employer's qualified evaluator.
    5. All rigging personnel must meet the rigging competent-person requirements of 29 CFR 1926 Subpart CC. All cranes shall be equipped with rated load capacities, wind load ratings, and special hazard warnings.
    6. All rigging equipment shall be inspected prior to each use, as well as weekly, with a copy of the weekly inspection report submitted to the Berkeley LabConstruction Manager.
    7. Wedge sockets and fittings shall be the proper size to match the wire rope and shall move to wedge and hold the wire rope under load construction. The dead end shall be terminated according to ASME B30.5 and shall not be attached in any manner to the live side of the load line.
    8. An anti-two-block device or warning device is required on all cranes except pile-driving equipment.
    9. Unless approved by the Berkeley Lab Rigging Supervisor and project Construction Manager, multiple-piece lifts (Christmas treeing) are NOT permitted.
  3. Minimum Criteria for Cranes Used at Berkeley Lab
    1. A daily and monthly inspection shall be performed while the cranes are in use on the project.
    2. These daily and monthly forms must be maintained on file by the subcontractor, and made available to the Berkeley LabConstruction Manager or Berkeley Lab Construction Safety Engineer upon request for review and verification.
    3. If the crane manufacturer's rated load chart for the specific crane configuration is not available on the crane, the crane shall be immediately taken out of service.
    4. When two cranes are working in the same area, a procedure shall be submitted to the Berkeley Lab Construction Manager explaining method of coordination to be used between cranes to prevent a collision.
    5. Mobile cranes shall only be used with outriggers fully extended and tires off the ground unless the manufacturer allows otherwise.
    6. If the supporting ground for the crane is soft, the lift shall not be made until a firm bearing is provided, including crane mats if necessary.
    7. No lift shall be made if the crane is not level.
    8. If the full range of motion of the lift is not visible to the operator or signal person, radio communication shall be provided.
    9. For multiple-crane lifts, the cranes' rated capacity shall be reduced by not less than 25%.
  4. Berkeley Lab Critical (High Consequence/High Value) Lift Requirements
    1. High-consequence/high-value lifts are parts, components, assemblies, or lifting operations designated as such by the customer or program organizations because the effect of dropping, upsetting, or collision of items could:
      1. Cause significant work delay
      2. Cause undetectable damage, resulting in future operational or safety problems
      3. Result in significant release of radioactivity or other undesirable conditions
      4. Present a potentially unacceptable risk of personnel injury or property damage
    2. In addition, any lift/move that: requires the simultaneous use of both the main and auxiliary hoists of a given crane or the simultaneous use of two cranes; are within 50 feet of energized overhead power lines; or meet or exceed 85% of the configured crane capacity shall be considered a high-consequence/high-value lift/move.
    3. A detailed, step-by-step procedure in the form of an Engineering Note must be prepared for each high-consequence/high-value lift/move. A sample Engineering Note format may be obtained from https://dcc.lbl.gov/dcc/EngNotes.php.
    4. While high-consequence/high-value lift procedures are customarily prepared for one-time use, general high-consequence/high-value lift procedures may be employed to accomplish routine recurrent high-consequence/high-value lift operations. For example, a general high-consequence/high-value lift procedure may be used to lift shielding blocks or to lift a frequently lifted item in a shop.
    5. The customer — typically the Project Engineer — is responsible for preparing the high-consequence/high-value lift Engineering Note. The customer can discharge this responsibility by indicating on the Facilities Work Request that the scope of work should include preparation of the Engineering Safety Note and management of the move.
    6. The customer must notify all personnel whose approval of the engineering note is required early in the process. See Approval of High-Consequence/High-Value Lift Procedures, below.
    7. Approvers have special expertise and are available to provide guidance during the design of the lifting procedure.
    8. Please allow sufficient time for the review and approval process. There is no charge for the review and approval process.
    9. The procedure detailed in the engineering note must contain the following:
      1. Identification of the item to be moved
      2. Identification of the person in charge (PIC) of all aspects of the lift
      3. Special precautions
      4. Weight of the item
      5. Total hook load (all component parts of the item plus tackle and load-measuring devices)
      6. Determination of the center of gravity
      7. A list of each piece of equipment and each accessory (e.g., slings, spreader bars, yokes) to be used in the lift. Each must be identified by type and rated capacity. If a portable item to be used has no manufacturer's serial number, a Berkeley Lab identification number must be assigned by the PIC and affixed to the item.
      8. A list of surveillance procedures, checkpoints, and estimated instrument readings (if used) to enable confirmation that the lift is proceeding as planned
      9. Calculation of stresses to be generated in the item during lifting and determination of the adequacy and proper labeling of the attachment points of the item to be lifted
    10. A rigging sketch or sketches must include the following:
      1. Lifting points
      2. Load vectors at all stages of the lift/move
      3. Sling angles at all stages of the lift/move
      4. Accessories used and rated capacities
      5. Method(s) of attachment
      6. Method of rotating about either horizontal axis, if applicable
      7. Other factors affecting the capacity of the equipment or accessories
      8. Identification of the capacity (or limit) of equipment and load
      9. Identification of the expected load in each item of equipment and each accessory
      10. A load-path sketch with the expected height of the load at each point in the lift. Where appropriate, floor-loading diagrams must be included to provide for setting the load down at any point in the path, should that be necessary.
      11. A travel sketch, either as a part of the load-path sketch or a separate sketch, indicating the planned travel path and lifting, travel speeds, and floor load capacity
      12. An assessment of wind loading and weather concerns for all outdoor work. Obtain assistance from the Facilities Department Structural Engineering Group for wind-loading concerns.
      13. A checklist detailing each step of the procedure, with each step to be initialed by the PIC as it is completed
      14. A sign-off sheet for personnel involved in the lift to verify that they are familiar with the contents of the procedure
      15. Load tests and practice lifts, if required, paying specific attention to wire ropes and breaks
      16. Verification that all primary and secondary hoisting equipment is within the current inspection and test time requirements (for example, yearly periodic inspections and certification)
    11. When particular types of lifts are to be repeated many times (for example, lifts of items with special lifting features that do not allow variation of the parameters listed above, such as center of gravity, lift point, sling angle, and maximum weight) and set procedures are established for them, no new procedures are required.
    12. A new checklist must be completed for each separate lift. However, when the items to be lifted are different (for example, if they are unbalanced and do not have the same center of gravity), separate procedures must be written to specify the type of item to be lifted and the specific lifting equipment used.
    13. Where the design of the facility permits no significant variation in the travel path, the path does not have to be specified. The procedure must, however, clearly define the limits of the procedure. Also, when there is limited access to the crane operational view and control, the PIC's responsibility may be delegated to a specified operator.
  5. Approval of High-Consequence/High-Value Lift Procedures
    1. The procedure detailed in the engineering note must be reviewed and approved by:
      1. Berkeley Lab Customer Management
      2. Berkeley Lab Mechanical Engineering Department designee
      3. Berkeley Lab Facilities Department Structural Engineering Group
      4. Berkeley Lab Facilities Department Rigging Supervisor
      5. Berkeley Lab EHSS Crane Safety subject matter expert (SME)
    2. Any change to the procedure must be reviewed and approved as if it were an original procedure.
    3. All reviewers should be consulted early in the process to assure that their concerns are addressed, avoiding the need for later revisions to the procedure.
  6. High-Consequence/High-Value Lift Personnel
    1. Each person involved in a high-consequence/high-value lift must be familiar with the procedure before beginning work.
    2. A pre-lift meeting with all participating personnel must be held before the lift. All participating personnel must initial the procedure sign-off sheet to verify that they are familiar with the procedure.
    3. The project Construction Manager shall arrange for all reviewers/approvers to be available by phone, e-mail, or fax during the operation should the lift plan need to be modified and reapproved.

Work Process K. Specific ES&H Requirements: Demolition

  1. Demolition Procedures
    1. Berkeley Lab will monitor and review the safety procedures during demolition processes to ensure the safety of all subcontractors.
    2. The subcontractor who conducts these processes has sole responsibility to use and enforce the following procedures and meet all current DOE, federal, state, and/or local relevant to the operation(s).
  2. Requirements
    1. The Berkeley Lab Project Manager must develop detailed Utility Isolation Plans on all demolition projects; these plans must include drawings of all electrical and mechanical work.
    2. The subcontractor shall be responsible for submitting a Job Hazards Analysis and all other work procedures to the Berkeley Lab Project Manager for review and approval a minimum of seven days prior to the start of demolition for each phase.
    3. Prior to permitting employees to start demolition operations, a qualified person, designated by the subcontractor, must make an engineering survey. This survey shall determine the condition of the framing, floors, and walls, and will also determine the possibility of an unplanned collapse of any part of this structure. Adjacent structures will be checked for structural integrity. Written evidence of the results of this survey is to be given to the Berkeley LabProject Manager.
    4. Demolition work shall at all times be under the immediate supervision of a qualified person with the authority to secure maximum safety for employees engaged in demolition work.
    5. The subcontractors will be required to wear durable gloves, eye protection, steel-toe boots with steel shanks, and long-sleeved shirts in addition to their standard personal protective equipment (PPE) when performing selective demolition operations. The subcontractors are solely responsible for this and any other required PPE.
    6. Prior to beginning demolition operations, the Berkeley Lab Project Manager will obtain a site survey identifying the locations of asbestos- and lead-containing materials.
    7. The subcontractor shall employ a testing agency that can identify and/or verify areas suspected of containing these materials prior to their disturbance during the demolition operation at the subcontractor's own cost.
    8. The Berkeley Lab Project Manager shall be responsible for developing and documenting a detailed Utility Isolation Plan.
    9. All electric, gas, water, steam, sewer, and other service lines shall be shut off, capped, or otherwise controlled outside the building line before demolition work is started.
    10. If electric, gas, water, steam, sewer, or other utilities are necessary during demolition, their lines shall be temporarily relocated and protected.
    11. Before demolition begins, the building will be checked by Berkeley Lab management to determine whether any hazardous chemicals, gases, explosives, flammable materials, or similarly dangerous substances have been used in pipes, tanks, or other equipment on the property. If found, such substances will be decontaminated or eliminated before demolition is started.
    12. Any hazardous glass fragments shall be removed.
    13. All floor and wall openings that pose a fall exposure shall be protected by guardrails and/or covers.
    14. If debris is dropped through holes in the floor without the use of chutes, the area onto which the material is dropped will be completely enclosed with barricades not less than 42 inches high, and not less than 6 feet back from the project openings.         
    15. Signs shall be posted at each level, warning of the hazard of falling materials. Removal of debris from the lower area shall not be permitted until debris handling from above has ended.
    16. Floor openings not used as material drops will be covered with material that can withstand the weight of any potential load.
    17. The floor-opening cover will be secured to prevent it from being accidentally moved.
    18. Demolition of exterior wall construction and floor construction will begin at the top of the structure and proceed downward, except for the cutting of holes in floors or walls for chutes and material drops, preparation of storage space, and similar preparatory work.
    19. Each story of exterior wall and floor construction will be removed and dropped into the storage space prior to removing exterior walls and floor construction in the story below.
    20. Entrances to multistory structures being demolished shall be completely protected by sidewalk sheds, canopies, or both.
    21. Protection shall be provided from the face of the building for a minimum of 8 feet. Canopies shall be at least 2 feet wider (1 foot each side) than the opening or entrance being protected, and will be capable of sustaining a load of 150 pounds per square foot.
  3. Chutes
    1. Materials, chutes, or sections at an angle of more than 45 degrees from the horizontal will be entirely enclosed, except for openings equipped with closures at or about floor level where materials are inserted.
    2. The openings will not exceed 48 inches in height as measured along the wall of the chute.
    3. At all stories below the top floor, openings not being used will be kept closed or covered.
    4. Each chute shall have a substantial gate at or near the discharge end.
    5. The subcontractor's designated competent person shall control the operation of the gate and the backing and loading of trucks.
    6. When operations are not in progress, the area surrounding the discharge end of a chute shall be securely closed off.
    7. A standard guardrail will protect any chute opening into which debris is dumped.
    8. Any space between the chute and the openings in the floor through which the chute passes will be covered.
    9. Where material is dumped from mechanical equipment or wheelbarrows, a securely attached toe board or bumper not less than 4 inches thick and 6 inches in height will be provided at each chute opening.
  4. Removal of Materials through Floor Openings
    1. Unless approved by the Berkeley Lab Construction Manager, materials must not be removed through floor openings.
  5. Manual Removal of Floor
    1. Openings cut in floors will extend the full span of the arch between supports.
    2. Before demolishing a floor arch, debris and other material must be removed from the arch and other adjacent floor areas.
    3. Planks not less than 2 inches by 10 inches in cross section, full-size undressed, will be used to stand on while breaking down floor arches between beams.
    4. The planks must be placed to provide a safe support for workers if the arch between the beams collapses.
    5. The open space between planks shall not exceed 16 inches.
    6. Safe walkways meeting federal OSHA standards — not less than 18 inches wide, formed of planks not less than 2 inches thick, if wood, and of equivalent strength, if metal — will be provided so that workers can reach any point without walking on exposed beams.
    7. Planks will be laid together over solid bearings with the ends overlapping at least 1 foot.
    8. Demolition of floor arches will not be started until the arches and surrounding floor area for a distance of 20 feet have been cleared of debris and any other unnecessary materials.
  6. Removal of Materials with Equipment
    1. Mechanical equipment will not be used on floors or working surfaces unless the floor or surface is strong enough to support the imposed load.
  7. Storage of Materials
    1. No demolition materials are to be stored inside the building without the permission of the Berkeley Lab Construction Manager and the meeting of Cal/OSHA standards.
  8. Removal of Steel Construction
    1. Steel construction shall be dismantled column length by column length and tier by tier.
    2. If cutting and burning is to be done on steel, the steel must be checked for lead-based paint.
      1. If lead is found in the paint, proper precautions must be taken to prevent worker exposure.
    3. A fire permit along with a fire watch must be maintained for a minimum of 30 minutes after all cutting and burning has been completed.
  9. Demolition Using Mechanical Equipment
    1. When demolition balls and clam buckets are used for demolition, no craft personnel are permitted in an area where they can be adversely affected by this operation.
    2. Only employees necessary for the performance of the operations will be permitted in this area at any other time.
    3. The weight of the demolition ball shall not exceed 50% of the crane's rated load, or 25% of the nominal breaking strength of the line by which it is suspended, whichever is less. This is based on the length of the boom and the maximum angle of operation at which the ball will be used.
    4. The ball will be attached to the load line with a swivel-type connection to prevent twisting of the load line, and attached so that the weight cannot become accidentally disconnected.
    5. During demolition, the subcontractor-assigned competent person shall make continuing daily inspections in order to detect hazards that could result from weakened or deteriorated floors, walls, or loosened material.
    6. No subcontractor employee will be allowed to work where such hazards exist until these hazards are corrected by shoring, bracing, or other effective means.
  10. Training
    1. Subcontractors must train their employees in all applicable demolition operations and all applicable DOE, federal, state, and local laws, codes, and standards.

Work Process L. Specific ES&H Requirements: Electrical Work

  1. Compliance
    1. Use of electricity on construction job sites poses serious hazards, such as electrocution, burns, fires, explosions, and arc flash/blast.
    2. All construction work performed by Berkeley Lab employees and subcontractors shall comply with applicable local codes/regulations, federal and California OSHA standards, and other codes/regulations. These include, but are not limited to, National Fire Prevention Association (NFPA) codes such as the National Electrical Code (NFPA 70); the Standard for Electrical Safety in the Workplace (NFPA 70E); the Electrical Standard for Industrial Machinery (NFPA 79); and the National Electrical Safety Code (ANSI C2). The most current versions and stringent requirements shall always apply.
    3. In addition, compliance with all elements of this section and PUB-3000 is required. Requirements specific to electrical are found in PUB-3000, Electrical Safety. Electricians and apprentices shall be certified in accordance with California law, and shall carry certification cards.
  2. Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters
    1. All 120-volt, single-phase, 15-, 20-, and 30-ampere receptacle outlets used by employees shall be protected by approved ground fault circuit interrupters (GFCIs).
    2. Receptacles other than 120-volt, single-phase, 15-, 20-, and 30-ampere receptacles shall be protected by approved GFCIs, or by continuous enforcement by one or more designated persons of a written assured equipment-grounding conductor program that ensures proper installation and maintenance of equipment-grounding conductors for all cord sets, receptacles that are not a part of the permanent wiring of the building or structure, and equipment connected by cord and plug.
      1. The program should conform to the requirements of OSHA Standard 29 CFR 1926.404(b)(iii).
    3. Workers shall test GFCI receptacles according to the manufacturer's instructions before each use.
  3. Electric Power Tools
    1. All subcontractors shall have a system in place for routine testing and maintaining of electrical tools, equipment, extension cords, and other electrical equipment.
      1. The program shall be in writing, with a copy provided to the Berkeley Lab Construction Safety Engineer for review.
    2. Tools with damaged cords or cord caps, missing or damaged covers, missing grounding pins, or other damage that may affect its safe use shall be removed from the project.
    3. All electrical equipment (such as saws, hammers, drills, vibrators, and float machines) shall bear the label of a Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory (NRTL), such as Underwriters Laboratories (UL), CSA, ETL, or the like.
    4. All tools shall be of the grounding type. Cord-connected tools shall be grounded through an approved grounding attachment plug.
      1. Exception: Tools identified as "Double Insulated" are not required to be grounded.
  4. Electric Equipment
    1. Stationary electric equipment with exposed metal parts like housings, boxes, and hoist frames shall be grounded.
  5. Extension Cords
    1. Only heavy-duty cords identified as hard or extra-hard usage (see National Electrical Code [NEC] Table 400.4) (such as types S, ST, SO, STO) are acceptable.
    2. Cords shall be maintained in their original designed configuration.
    3. Any cord that is damaged or has a grounding pin removed shall be removed from service.
    4. The subcontractor shall remove from the project site cords that have been spliced or repaired.
    5. Cords may not be repaired or taped in any manner.
    6. A cord's wire gauge shall be sized for the designated use, but in no case less than 14 gauge.
    7. For an overall length over 100 feet, use one size larger than required for the connected load.
    8. All extension cords shall be plugged into job-site power that has proper overcurrent and ground-fault protection.
    9. All extension cords shall be kept out of walkways and out of wet conditions on the floor.
  6. Temporary Wiring and Lighting
    1. Upon installation, repair, or modification of job-site receptacles, the installing subcontractor shall test each receptacle for proper polarity and GFCI operation.
    2. Temporary wiring shall be cable assemblies or multiconductor cords or cables identified for hard usage or extra-hard usage (see NEC Table 400.4).
    3.  All wiring methods shall suit the conditions and environment where installed. No single conductor cable will be permitted. Temporary wiring shall be removed immediately upon completion of construction or purpose for which the wiring was installed.
    4. Temporary lighting shall not be put on the same circuit as temporary receptacles.
    5. A separate lighting circuit for stairways and exit areas is required.
    6. The subcontractor(s) installing all wiring and lighting shall be responsible for the maintenance of such materials.
  7. Working near Overhead Electrical Lines
    1. The subcontractor performing the work must have adjacent overhead electrical lines de-energized, blanketed, or protected by other means from contact with equipment or personnel.
    2. An unqualified worker and the longest conductive object that he or she may contact shall not come closer to an energized overhead line than the following distances:
      1. 50 kV and below — 10 feet
      2. Over 50kV — 10 feet plus 4 inches per each 10kV over 50kV
    3. Any qualified electrical worker working within the above clearances shall have a work plan approved by EHSS.
  8. Electric Welding
    1. The frame of a portable welding machine operating from an electric power circuit shall be grounded.
    2. Switching equipment for shutting down the welding machine shall be provided on or near the welding machine.
    3. The electrode holder and connecting cable shall be fully insulated.
    4. Light holders shall not be used for heavy work, and welders shall avoid standing on damp or wet surfaces while welding.
    5. All equipment shall be checked regularly to make certain that electrical connections and insulation on the holders and cable are in good order.
    6. Cables shall be kept dry and free from oil and grease.
      1. They shall be arranged in such a manner that they do not lie in water, oil, or ditches, or on bottoms of tanks.
    7. Electrical repairs and maintenance work on welding machines shall be done by a certified electrician.
    8. Electric stubs shall be placed in containers provided by the subcontractor for this purpose.
    9. Welders shall be taught to keep welding cables in an orderly fashion and away from places where they could cause a stumbling hazard or become damaged. Where possible, they shall be strung overhead, high enough to permit free passage of vehicles and persons.
  9. Electrical Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and Insulated Tools
    1. PPE requirements are specifically defined by PUB-3000, Electrical Safety, and NFPA 70E.
    2. Qualified workers who are potentially exposed to electrical hazards that cannot be controlled through some engineering means must be provided with and use PPE appropriate for the specific work to be performed and the associated hazard level. This includes testing, troubleshooting, and zero-energy verification tasks.
    3. Flame-resistant (FR) apparel used for protection from electrical hazards shall be inspected before each use.
    4. Clothing that is contaminated or damaged to the extent its protective qualities are impaired shall not be used.
    5. Protective items that become contaminated with grease, oil, or flammable liquids or combustible materials shall not be used.
    6. The garment manufacturer's instructions for care and maintenance of FR apparel shall be followed.
    7. Rubber-insulating gloves shall be used with leather protectors.
      1. The rubber portion of Class 0 and 00 gloves shall extend ½ inch beyond the leather protectors, 1 inch beyond the leather protectors for Class 1, and an additional inch for each higher class.
      2. Rubber-insulating gloves shall be dielectrically tested every six months and stamped with the date tested or the date to be tested.
      3. Gloves shall be stored in a proper storage bag, as flat as possible (not folded), and shall not be stored with other materials.
      4. The qualified person shall inspect and inflate gloves before each use.
    8. Qualified employees shall use insulated tools when working inside the Limited Approach Boundary where tools or handling equipment might accidentally contact exposed live parts.  
      1. Workers using insulated tools shall inspect them for damage before each use.
      2. Insulated tools shall be protected from damage to the insulating material.
      3. Insulated tools shall be rated for the voltages on which they are used, shall meet ASTM F1505 requirements, and shall be labeled with the ASTM approval mark.
      4. Insulated tools shall be designed and constructed for the environment to which they are exposed and the manner in which they are used.
  10. Electrical Test Equipment
    1. Test instruments, equipment, and their accessories shall be rated for circuits and equipment to which they will be connected.
    2. All test equipment shall be NRTL listed and labeled and shall be Category III or IV rated.
    3. Test instruments and equipment and all associated test leads, cables, power cords, probes, and connectors shall be visually inspected for external defects and damage before the equipment is used on any shift.
    4. If there is a defect or evidence of damage that might expose an employee to injury, the defective or damaged item shall be removed from service, and not used it until repairs and tests necessary to render the equipment safe have been made.
  11. Additional requirements
    1. See ES&H Manual Electrical Safety Program Appendix R, Subcontractor and Vendors: What you need to know about performing electrical work, and Lockout/Tagout at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory for additional subcontractor requirements. 

Work Process M. Specific ES&H Requirements: Control of Hazardous Energies (Lockout/Tagout)

  1. Compliance
    1. It is Laboratory policy to prevent the unintended or unexpected startup or release of hazardous energy during servicing, maintenance, or modification activities.
    2. No person shall install, service, remove, or perform maintenance on any equipment or machinery that may involve an energy hazard, until that equipment has been de-energized, locked, tagged, and verified to be in a zero-energy state in accordance with this document.
  2. Requirements
    1. Subcontractors who work on equipment with hazardous energy source(s) (electrical, mechanical, pneumatic, chemical, hydraulic, water, steam, gas) shall have a lockout/tagout (LOTO) plan approved by EHSS. The LOTO plan shall comply with 29 CFR 1910.147, 29CFR 1910.333, and the Berkeley Lab Lockout/Tagout and Verification Program, at a minimum.

Work Process N. Specific ES&H Requirements: Excavation and Trenching

  1. Permits
    1. This section provides requirements to ensure the safety of all workers who are required to work in and around excavations, and to provide guidelines for obtaining the Berkeley Lab Penetration Permit.
    2. The subcontractor shall be responsible for submitting a Job Hazards Analysis and work procedures to the Berkeley Lab Project Manager for review and approval a minimum of seven days prior to the start of excavation.
    3. All work that will require excavation or drilling requires a Berkeley Lab permit.
    4. Permits are required when excavating or drilling will penetrate 1½ inches or deeper from a surface.
    5. Subcontractors must obtain the permit through the Berkeley Lab Construction Manager a minimum of 10 days prior to the start of work.
    6. Work may not proceed unless there is an approved, signed permit at the job or project site.
    7. Permits must also be posted in a conspicuous place at the job or project site.
    8. For excavations 20 feet or deeper, a registered professional engineer hired by the subcontractor shall design all shoring, sloping, or benching. All designs shall be submitted to the Berkeley LabProject Managerand filed at the subcontractor's field office prior to the start of work.
  2. Competent Person Responsibilities
    1. A competent person must be identified and assigned by the subcontractor.
    2. The competent person is responsible for the excavation and shall be on site during all operations relating to the open excavation.
    3. The competent person must be able to identify existing and predictable hazards in the surroundings, or working conditions that are unsanitary, hazardous, or dangerous to subcontractors.
    4. The competent person is authorized to take prompt corrective measures.
    5. The competent person in charge of the excavation work ensures that:
      1. All preparatory work is conducted as described in this program before any excavation work begins.
      2. Excavation and trenching work is performed within the guidelines of this program.
      3. Soil classification is performed before subcontractors are allowed in the excavation.
      4. A permit is obtained from the nearest Cal/OSHA district office before subcontractors are allowed within 5 feet or less of the excavation.
    6. The competent person is responsible for ensuring that:
      1. Excavated materials and stockpiled materials are placed a minimum of 2 feet from the edge of the excavation.
      2. Loose soil or rocks are removed from the sides of excavation walls.
      3. Excavations 4 feet in depth or greater have a stairway, ladder, ramp, or other safe means of egress within 25 feet of any employee in the excavation.
      4. Proper handrails and toe boards are erected and maintained at the top of the excavation when required for fall protection.
      5. The number of workers in the excavation is limited to only those persons required to perform the work.
    7. The competent person responsible for the crew working in the excavation shall inspect the excavation throughout the work period, and stop operations when unsafe conditions exist.
    8. The competent person shall inspect all excavation before entry:
      1. At the start of each shift
      2. After heavy rains. Water shall not be allowed to accumulate in excavations at any time. Pumps, drains, or other means shall be used to remove water constantly.
      3. After freezing and/or thawing temperatures occur
      4. After any condition that can change the integrity of the soil
    9. The competent person must be able to identify conditions where hazardous material may exist.
    10. The competent person ensures that the atmosphere in the excavation shall be tested prior to entry and periodically throughout the operation.
    11. When conditions change, such as with atmospheric conditions, the competent person must immediately remove any person in harm's way, and immediately notify the Berkeley Lab Project Manager.
  3. Effects of Excavating and Trenching on Adjoining Property
    1. The subcontractor shall evaluate the stability of adjacent structures before starting an excavation, and document and monitor their stability daily thereafter.
    2. Removal of rock or concrete by blasting and pile driving causes vibrations that may be sufficient to damage structures nearby; removal of earth may result in the movement of bracing systems and underpinning; lowering the water table may lead to soil consolidation resulting from the lowering of a water table, etc.
    3. A review of the subsurface conditions (determined from on-site borings) and the plans of existing buildings (where available) are necessary to evaluate lateral and vertical integrity. Prior to (and possibly after ceasing) operations, the subcontractor shall complete an inspection to evaluate the condition of adjoining/existing property.
    4. The following shall influence the degree of inspection:
      1. The distance of the structures from the hazard
      2. The severity of the hazard
      3. The general condition of the structures
      4. Requirements by local laws, contract, and/or liability
    5. Where job operations such as pile driving and blasting cause vibrations that may affect nearby structures, the subcontractor must make vibration measurements, making data available to the Berkeley Lab Project Manager. This enables the job to monitor and set up procedures to keep the energy ratio of the vibrations at a safe level.
    6. Where settlement of the nearby street, utilities, and structures may occur because of excavation and foundation work, the streets, utilities, and structures shall be regularly checked for vertical and horizontal movement, and a log maintained by the subcontractor. Any movement shall be investigated immediately.
    7. All inspection reports shall be copied to the Berkeley LabConstruction Manager.
  4. Soil Classification
    1. Soil classification is a method of categorizing soils and/or rock into categories. Soil classification must be made by the competent person or soils engineer.
    2. All unclassified soil shall be treated as Type C Soil. Type C Soil means:
      1. Cohesive soil with unconfined compressive strength of 0.5tsf (48 kPa) or less; or
      2. Granular soils including gravel, sand, loamy sand; or
      3. Submerged soil or soil from which water is freely seeping; or
      4. Submerged rock that is not stable; or
      5. Material in a sloped, layered system where the layers dip into the excavation or a slope of four horizontal to one vertical (4H:1V) or steeper
  5. Surface Encumbrances
    1. All surface encumbrances located so as to create a hazard to subcontractors shall be removed or supported, as necessary, to safeguard workers in the excavation.

Work Process O. Specific ES&H Requirements: Fall Protection

  1. This section provides requirements for developing and implementing work controls required for fall protection. This section is applicable to all fall-protection activities covered by PUB-3000, Fall Protection Program. The worker must use and enforce the following proceduresand meet all current DOE, federal, state, and/or Berkeley Lab policies relevant to the operation(s).
  2. Requirements
    1. Any work task on a walking/working surface with an unprotected sideor edge 6 feet or more above a lower level requires fall-protection hazard controls.
    2. These hazard controls may include: guardrail systems, safety-net systems, personal fall-arrest systems, or other fall-protection measures.
      1. Exception: Work on a flat or low sloped roof (slope less than 4 in 12), where all work is conducted at least 15 feet from any unprotected edge, is permitted without additional fall-protection hazard controls.
    3. Access to roofs and other areas requiring fall-protection hazard controls will be identified with a sign that states: "Warning — Fall Protection Required for Work on This Roof – Contact Your Division Safety Coordinator."
    4. "Fall protection" refers to any form of hazard controls that may include guardrail systems, safety-net systems, personal fall-arrest systems, or other fall-protection measures.
    5. Any work task on an aerial lift (boom, scissor, or one-man lifts) requires fall-protection hazard controls when working above the protection system at floor openings, unprotected perimeters greater than 6 feet, and whenever a fall of more than 6 feet could occur.
      1. Exception: Use of a personal fall-arrest system is only required on scissor lifts when an engineered anchor point is provided by the manufacturer.
    6. Steel erectors and sheet metal installers must use 100% positive fall protection above 6 feet at all times.
    7. The work control procedure(s) for fall protection for construction and non-construction subcontractors shall be documented on the subcontractor's approved Job Hazards Analysis.
    8. The work control procedure(s) for employee (and subcontractors and guests using Berkeley Lab procedures) shall be documented on the Berkeley Lab written Fall Protection Plan (Fall Protection Planning Matrix), provided by the EHSS Division.
    9. The Berkeley Lab Fall Protection Planning Matrix is a supplement to any existing individual or task-specific Job Hazards Analysis.
    10. Regardless of the work control procedure(s) used to define the fall-protection hazard controls, procedures for rescue shall be detailed on the work control document.
    11. Work tasks excepted from additional fall-protection hazard controls:
      1. During scaffold erection and dismantling, the designated competent person overseeing the operation shall determine the feasibility of positive fall protection. If it is deemed that positive fall protection is infeasible, the competent person shall put a fall-protection plan in writing that meets the Cal/OSHA requirements found in the Construction Safety Orders, Section 1635.1-1667, and submit it to Berkeley Lab Project Management for review prior to commencing the operation.
      2. The 6-foot fall policy does not apply to climbing up and down ladders. However, when working from ladders above 6 feet, the employee must have either have a positive fall protection or must maintain three-point contact (consisting of two feet and one hand) at all times.
      3. Double lanyards, nets, guardrails, or other means shall be used to maintain the 100% positive 6-foot fall protection. The subcontractor is solely responsible for the development, implementation, and enforcement of this policy.
    12. Emergency rescue equipment shall be on site and readily available by the subcontractor.
  3. Control Descriptions
    1. Horizontal distance (without fall protection) from unprotected edge = 15 feet minimum, except for roofers.
    2. Free-fall distance shall not exceed 6 feet.
    3. Guardrails and parapets must be 39 to 45 inches high, and must withstand 200 pounds at top. Guardrails must have midrails and toe boards if tools or materials could fall on others below. Cable must be a minimum ¼-inch diameter, and flagged at 6-foot intervals, with no sag under pressure below 39 inches. Pipe must be 1½-inch-diameter minimum, and wood must be 2x4 at minimum.
    4. Skylights must be covered with minimum 200-pound-force covers, guardrails, or fall restraint/fall arrest, within a 15-foot distance.
    5. Warning line system (low-slope roofs only):
      1. Construction: "Non-Conforming Guardrail," a minimum of 15 feet from unprotected edge
    6. Systems requirements: Uprights withstand 16-pound force at 30 inches; line to be rope, wire, or chain of 500-pound strength; flagging at 6-foot intervals; height 34–39 inches; line attached to uprights; no slide-through.
    7. Fall restraint: Worker's center of gravity cannot fall over the unprotected edge in any direction.
    8. Vertical lifelines shall be a minimum of ¾-inch manila rope or equivalent, secured above the point of operation to anchorage or structural member capable of supporting a minimum of 5,000 pounds. (Only one worker per lifeline.)
    9. Horizontal lifelines shall be secured above the point of operation to anchorage or structural member capable of supporting a minimum of 5,000 pounds.
    10. Lanyards shall be a minimum of ⅝-inch nylon rope or equivalent with a 900-pound shock-absorbing system and a maximum length to provide for a fall of no more than 6 feet plus deployed shock absorber. The rope shall have a nominal breaking strength of 5,000 pounds.
  4. Ladders
    1. Ladders shall be inspected daily by the subcontractor's competent person.
    2. The use of ladders with broken or missing rungs or steps, broken or split rails, or other faulty or defective construction is prohibited.
      1. When ladders with such defects are discovered, they shall immediately be withdrawn from service and tagged to prevent use, or destroyed.
    3. Portable ladders shall be used at such a pitch that the horizontal distance from the top support to the foot of the ladder is about one-quarter of the working length of the ladder (the length along the ladder between the foot and the top support).
    4. Ladders shall not be used in a horizontal position as platforms, runways, or scaffolds.
    5. Extension ladders and side rails shall extend to least 36 inches above the landing.
      1. When this is not practical, grab rails, which provide a secure grip for an employee moving to or from the point of access, shall be installed.
    6. Ladders shall not be placed in passageways, doorways, driveways, or any location where they may be displaced by activities conducted on any other work, unless protected by barricades or guards.
    7. When ascending or descending a ladder, the user shall face the ladder using at least one hand to grasp the ladder.
    8. An employee shall not carry an object that could cause a loss of balance and a fall.
    9. Portable ladder feet shall be placed on a substantial base, and the area around the top and bottom of the ladder shall be kept clear.
    10. Extension ladders in use shall be tied off, blocked, or otherwise secured to prevent their being displaced.
    11. When working from ladders, special consideration for fall-protection equipment shall be taken when working near the building perimeter or open shafts.
    12. Each subcontractor employee shall be trained by their competent person to recognize the hazards relating to ladders.
    13. All ladders brought onto the job site or built on the job must meet all ANSI, OSHA, and Cal/OSHA requirements.
    14. Stepladders, A-Frame Ladders
      1. Stepladders shall only be used in an open (fully extended) position. The top and top step of a stepladder shall not be used as a step.
    15. Portable Metal/Aluminum or Wood Ladders
      1. Portable metal/aluminum or wood ladders are not permitted on any project.
        1. The only exception to this policy is metal ladders designed and used specifically for attachment to scaffolds or skeleton steel during steel erection.
    16. Job-Made Ladders
      1. The maximum length of single- and double-cleat ladders shall not exceed 24 feet between supports (base and top landing).
      2. If ladders are to connect different landings, or if the length required exceeds the recommended maximum length, use two or more separate ladders staggered with a protected platform between each ladder.
      3. If ladders are to be used by masons or hod carriers, the length shall not exceed 20 feet.
      4. All job-made ladders, landings, and lashings shall be inspected at least every week by the creating subcontractor, and any defects shall be corrected immediately.
    17. Fall Protection Requirement while Working from Ladders
      1. The 6-foot fall policy does not apply to moving up and down ladders. However, when working from ladders above 6 feet, Title 8, Subchapter 4 (Construction Safety Orders), Article 25 (Ladders), Section 1675(k) applies.
      2. Therefore, when working on ladders above 6 feet, one shall not be permitted to stand and work on the top three rungs or cleats of a ladder unless there are members of the structure that provide a firm handhold, or the employee is protected by a personal fall-protection system (e.g., positioning device or fall-restraint system) in accordance with the requirements of Article 24 of Construction Safety Orders.
  5. Material and Personnel Hoists
    1. All hoists shall comply with the manufacturers' specifications and limitations applicable to their operation.
    2. Where manufacturers' specifications are not applicable, the using subcontractor's professional engineer who is competent in the field shall determine limitations to the equipment.
    3. Rated load capacities, recommended operating speeds, and special hazard warnings or instructions shall be posted on cars and platforms.
    4. Following assembly or erection of hoists, and before they are put into service, the subcontractor shall inspect and test all functions and safety devices.
    5. A similar inspection and test is required following any major alterations.
    6. The subcontractor shall inspect all hoists monthly.
    7. The subcontractor shall maintain records at the site.
    8. When the hoist platform/cage is on an upper level, the first-floor level shall be guarded to prevent entry of personnel or storage of material.
    9. Material hoists shall conform to the regulations of ANSl A10.5 and Cal/OSHA, Construction Safety Orders, Sections 1605.1 to 1605.21; and personnel hoists to ANSl A10.4 and Cal/OSHA, Construction Safety Orders, Section 1604.I, 1604.30.
  6. Scaffolding
    1. The following rules are required during the erection and use of scaffolds by all subcontractors:
      1. All scaffolds are to be built under the direct supervision of a competent person.
      2. All rolling scaffolds shall have the wheels locked while the scaffold is in use.
      3. Tubular welded rolling scaffolds require a horizontal/diagonal brace.
      4. All rolling scaffolds shall be fully planked while in use and guardrails with toe boards must in place when the scaffold reaches a height of 6 feet.
      5. Baker-style scaffolds shall have proper guardrails with toe boards when next to shaft openings and/or windows at all times, regardless of the scaffold platform height from the floor.
      6. Properly secured ladder access shall be provided for all scaffolds.
      7. Cross bracing does not take the place of a guardrail.
      8. End rails shall be part of the guardrail system on all scaffolds.
      9. Scaffolds shall be secured to the structure when the scaffold height is four times the minimum base dimension and every 26 feet thereafter.
      10. Independent lifelines for each worker on a swing scaffold are required. They shall be secured to a firm anchorage point separate from the scaffold anchorage.
      11. Scaffolds higher than four times their least base dimension shall be tied off to a structure or use outriggers.
      12. Scaffolds shall be constructed on a firm, stable base. If scaffolds are constructed on soft ground, proper mudsills shall be used.
      13. Never erect a scaffold without a base using screw jacks and sole plates.
      14. Never put an open pipe end directly on concrete, a wood support, asphalt paving, or soil, as it may shift during use.
      15. Fall protection shall be provided at all heights above 6 feet regardless of scaffold type.
      16. The person who removes a guardrail must replace it; failure to do so may result in removal from the project.
    2. Requirements for Fall Protection
      1. During scaffold erection and dismantling, the designated competent person overseeing the operation shall determine the feasibility of positive fall protection.
      2. If positive fall protection is deemed infeasible, the competent person shall put a fall-protection plan in writing that meets the Cal/OSHA requirements found in the Construction Safety Orders, Section 1635.1-1667, and submit it to Berkeley Lab Project Management for review prior to commencing the operation.

Work Process P. Specific ES&H Requirements: Confined Spaces

  1. Plans and Procedures
    1. Confined spaces are work locations that meet regulatory definitions, and require additional rigorous analysis and work authorization beyond the usual safe work practices and procedures required by Berkeley Lab ISM systems.
    2. Work control for subcontractors who enter sewers, vaults, pits, excavations, trenches, and other confined spaces will be under the subcontractor's Berkeley Lab approved Permit-required Confined Spaces Program as managed by Berkeley Lab's Construction Health & Safety Program.
    3. A subcontractor must use its own safety plan for confined-space procedures.
      1. The plan must be reviewed and approved by the Berkeley Lab Confined Space Program Manager before work may commence.
      2. The safety plan's procedures must meet or exceed federal and/or Cal/OSHA requirements for entering permit-required confined spaces and include the completion of a permit form acceptable to Berkeley Lab.
  2. Confined Space Descriptions
    1. A confined space:
      1. Is large enough and so configured that an employee can bodily enter and perform assigned work; and
      2. Has limited or restricted means for entry or exit (for example, tanks, vessels, silos, storage bins, hoppers, vaults, and pits are spaces that may have limited means of entry); and
      3. Is not designed for continuous employee occupancy
    2. Non-Permit Confined Space: a confined space that does not contain or, with respect to atmospheric hazards, have the potential to contain any hazard capable of causing death or serious physical harm
    3. Permit-Required Confined Space: a confined space that has one or more of the following characteristics:
      1. Contains or has a potential to contain a hazardous atmosphere
      2. Contains a material that has the potential for engulfing an entrant
      3. Has an internal configuration such that an entrant could be trapped or asphyxiated by inwardly converging walls or by a floor that slopes downward and tapers to a smaller cross section
      4. Contains any other recognized serious safety or health hazard
  3. Scope and Application
    1. This section applies to all Berkeley Lab spaces that have the characteristics of a confined space, including those classified or not classified as:
      1. Not a confined space
      2. Non-permit confined space
      3. Permit-required confined space
  4. Requirements
    1. Subcontractor entry into confined spaces will be managed under the requirements of Cal/OSHA Title 8, General Industry Safety Orders, Article 108, Confined Spaces, Section 5157, which is authorized for application to the construction industry under the Cal/OSHA Construction Safety Orders. Article 108 is the functional equivalent to 29 CFR 1910.146.
    2. The Berkeley Lab Confined Spaces Program is implemented by Berkeley Lab Construction Safety.
  5. Record keeping
    1. Copies of all subcontractor atmosphere testing, entry logs, training, and any medical records shall be given to Berkeley Lab Project Manager for record retention.

Work Process Q. Specific ES&H Requirements: Fire Hazards and Prevention

  1. Plans
    1. To reduce the possibility of fire damage and associated losses during construction, alteration, or demolition, the subcontractor shall develop a fire safety plan to assure that the listed requirements in NFPA 241 (2004 edition), Article 87 of the California Fire Code and the CCR Title 8, Section 36, Fire Protection and Prevention, are addressed.
    2. The fire safety plan must be submitted to the Berkeley Lab Fire Marshal for review and approval.
    3. Berkeley Lab employees and their visitors must support the subcontractor's fire safety plan, or if the work is being done by Berkeley Lab, they must support the Berkeley Lab fire safety plan for the construction, alteration, or demolition project. 
  2. Requirements
    1. Prior to commencing work, the following requirements are to be reviewed, and the appropriate measures put in place by the subcontractor to assure their compliance.
      1. Fire Department access roads must be established and maintained.
      2. Required means of egress must be provided and maintained.
      3. An adequate water supply of sufficient volume, duration, and pressure must be provided, and water mains and hydrants made operational as soon and as long as combustibles are present.
      4. Type and number of fire extinguishers must be provided consistent with the hazards present and consistent with NFPA 10. Fire hoses may be substituted for extinguishers as approved by the Berkeley Lab Fire Marshal.
      5. Sprinkler protection is to be retained as long as reasonable.
      6. Temporary standpipes are to be provided, where required.
      7. Combustible debris shall not be allowed to accumulate.
      8. Heating devices shall be of an approved type and kept away from combustibles.
    2. Smoking shall not be permitted.
    3. Fire Safety Permits shall be obtained for all hot-work operations.
    4. The subcontractor shall provide fire watches as required by Fire Safety Permits.
    5. All modifications or shutdown of fire suppression and/or detection systems shall be approved by the Fire Marshal.
    6. The subcontractor shall provide fire hoses, if required.
    7. Access to all fire-fighting equipment shall be maintained, and equipment shall be kept in operating condition.
    8. Acceptable communication methods (fire alarm, phone) must be in place for reporting a fire alarm or other life-safety emergency. Reporting instructions must be conspicuously posted.
    9. Firewalls, doors, automatic closing devices, and exit stairways are to be established as early as practical, and fire cutoffs shall be maintained as long as practical.
    10. Containers of flammable and combustible liquids must meet Department of Transportation (DOT) regulations, and shall not be stored near exits or stairs.
    11. Handling and storage of flammable and combustible liquids shall follow NFPA 30 and CCR Title 8, Article 36, latest edition. Flammable and combustible gases must follow NFPA 54 and 58, as applicable.
  3. Evacuation
    1. The required means of egress must be identified and maintained.
    2. Stairways and ladders must be kept clear and free of combustible storage.
    3. Temporary lighting must be installed and maintained in working condition.
    4. Post and maintain exit signs. Exit paths must be clear and well marked.
  4. Fire Extinguishers
    1. Each subcontractor must ensure that their employees are trained in the proper use of fire extinguishers.
    2. The subcontractor must properly select, maintain, and provide fire extinguishers to protect the area affected by the work.
    3. Subcontractors may not rely on the use of Berkeley Lab extinguishers in their plans.
    4. In no event shall a Berkeley Lab extinguisher be moved as part of a plan to protect an area.
    5. Extinguisher placement shall follow NFPA 10, latest edition.
  5. Fire Prevention
    1. All temporary electric installations shall be in accordance with all current existing codes.
    2. Storage of any material within 10 feet of fire hydrants is strictly prohibited.
    3. The subcontractor shall police the work areas on a regular basis to prevent accumulation of material.
    4. Motors or machinery shall not be left running during nonworking hours except as specifically directed by Berkeley Lab Project Management.
    5. All heating equipment shall have necessary safety devices and shall be wired, piped, and operated according to all applicable codes, rules, and regulations.
    6. All tarps and blankets shall be of fire-retardant material.
    7. All fuel and solvent containers shall be placed on drip pans.
    8. Open burning or fires shall not be permitted on site. Anyone doing so is subject to immediate dismissal.
    9. Solid fuel shall not be permitted on the site.
    10. All gas cylinders such as propane, oxygen, and acetylene shall be stored and tied in a vertical position in areas designated by Berkeley Lab Project Management. All stored cylinders shall be capped. Oxygen will not be stored within 20 feet of any other gas.
    11. All gas cylinders in use shall be tied in the vertical position and capped at the end of the working day.
    12. All oxygen and acetylene in use shall be on proper carts with required separations (by 5 feet or a fire-rated wall) and with a fire extinguisher readily available.
    13. During welding or cutting operations, a fire extinguisher will be required and shall be the responsibility of the subcontractor performing this work.
    14. Roofer's kettles shall be kept away from finished walls and material storage areas. A minimum of two 20# ABC fire extinguishers are required next to the kettles.
    15. Individuals are not permitted to wear oil- or tar-soaked clothing.
    16. Spark screens are required on hoist engines.
  6. In the Event of a Fire
    1. In the event of a fire, alert people nearby, activate an alarm, extinguish the fire if safe to do so (avoiding smoke or fumes), and notify management. Listed below is a more detailed list.
      1. Notify and evacuate all personnel.
      2. Call the Fire Department by dialing 7-9-1-1 from a Laboratory telephone or by operating a nearby manual fire-alarm station.
      3. If a telephone or manual fire-alarm station is not practical, cell phone users may call (925) 447-6880 to reach the Laboratory's Fire Dispatch Center (NOTE: This is an emergency number and the call will be treated as a 911. Use this number only to report a fire or life safety emergency!).
      4. A properly trained user, confident in his or her ability to use the extinguisher safely, may attempt to extinguish a small fire.
      5. Notify Berkeley Lab management.
  7. Gasoline-Powered Equipment
    1. Requirements
      1. Most construction sites have gasoline-powered equipment and thus introduce the hazard of potential fire and dangerous fumes.
      2. All welding equipment, generators, and equipment that must be used inside the confines of an enclosed space must be propane or electric-powered unless otherwise approved by Berkeley Lab in writing.
      3. Use only approved metal safety cans for filling engine tanks (must have an automatic safety-latch closer and flash arrestors). No plastic cans.
      4. Shut down engine when refueling.
      5. Have a suitably sized (at a minimum 20-pound) ABC dry-chemical-type extinguisher available where flammable liquids are handled.
      6. Do not smoke near gasoline.
    2. Fumes
      1. Gas engines exhaust carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide. Carbon dioxide is heavier than air; carbon monoxide (CO) is slightly lighter. A mixture of the gases usually is heavier than air, although heat may cause it to rise. Both have no color, taste, or smell. Low concentrations cause headache and nausea. Death is swift in high concentrations. A few minutes may be too long. Don't discount this hazard. If anyone exhibits symptoms, do not attempt rescue without proper personal protective equipment.
      2. Do not run gas engines in pits, manholes, or confined spaces without positive ventilation. When an engine is in an enclosed space, always pipe gas-engine exhausts to outside air. Start the blower before starting the engine. If the engine stops, be sure the space is well blown out before sending anyone in to restart. Always check for CO gas with CO tester at least once per shift.
      3. Danger spots are deep excavations, pits, manholes, shanties, pipe or crawl spaces under basement floors, and where gas heaters are used. Treat these spaces as confined spaces.
  8. Flammable or Combustible Liquids
    1. When drums are used for storage of flammable or combustible liquids, use drum pumps designed specifically for flammable or combustible liquids and listed by an NRTL. Storage arrangements for flammable or combustible liquids shall follow NFPA 30.
  9. Oxyacetylene Burning and Welding
    1. The task of cutting metal with an acetylene flame shall be assigned only to experienced subcontractor employees.
      1. Goggles meeting a minimum requirement of 7, 8, or 9 tinted shade shall be worn at all times while cutting.
      2. Proper gloves shall be worn.
      3. Outer clothing shall be free from oil or grease and made of fire-resistant material.
      4. Sleeves and pockets shall be kept buttoned.
      5. High-top shoes and fire-resistant leggings or high boots shall be worn.
    2. Where welding or cutting is required as described above, a Hot Work Permit shall be required. The Berkeley Lab Construction Manager shall issue this permit.
    3. Subcontractors shall provide some means of catching sparks and slag when cutting or welding.
    4. Subcontractors must keep portable, hand-operated 20# ABC fire extinguishers close at hand at all times.
    5. Subcontractors shall provide a one-hour fire watch prior to, during, and after all burning or welding operations.
    6. Acetylene shall never be used at a pressure of more than 15 pounds per square inch, as it is likely to explode above this pressure.
    7. All torches used shall feature built-in anti-reverse flow valves.
  10. Storage and Handling of Oxygen Cylinders
    1. Compressed oxygen plus oil is explosive. No oil or grease of any kind may come in contact with the valve, regulator, or any other portion of the cylinder or apparatus.
    2. Oxygen cylinders, except those in actual use or required for the day's supply, shall be stored in a place designated by Berkeley Lab Construction Management, where unauthorized persons will not tamper with them.
    3. Oxygen cylinders shall be stored in a vertical position with caps in place and chained.
    4. Open flames of any description shall not be employed in any building used for the storage of oxygen cylinders.
    5. If cylinders are stored on the ground or open platforms, such locations shall not be adjacent to a large amount of combustible material.
  11. Acetylene
    1. When cylinders of acetylene are not in use, outlet valves shall be kept tightly closed and valve caps replaced, even on cylinders considered empty.
    2. Cylinders shall be stored in a safe, dry, well-ventilated place without undue exposure to the heat of the stoves, radiators, furnaces, or the direct rays of the sun, and as designated by Berkeley Lab Construction Management.
    3. Cylinders of dissolved acetylene shall at all times be stored in an upright position, with the valve end up and capped and chained.
    4. Under no circumstance shall an attempt be made to transfer acetylene from one cylinder to another, or to compress acetylene into a cylinder.
    5. When transporting, moving, and storing compressed-gas cylinders, valve protection caps shall be in place and secured.
    6. When oxygen and acetylene cylinders are hoisted, they shall be secured on a cradle, sling board, or pallet. They shall not be hoisted or transported by means of magnets or choker slings.
    7. They shall not be used as a weight for crane cables.
    8. Oxygen and acetylene cylinders not in use shall be separated by 20 feet or a half-hour fire-rated wall.
    9. Gauges shall be removed and properly stored at the end of each work shift.
    10. Cylinders shall be handled carefully, never dropped, and placed so they will not fall or be struck by other objects.
    11. Partially used cylinders shall be closed at the valves.
    12. When exhausted, cylinders shall be returned as quickly as possible to the storage building or area, and from there to the manufacturer.
      1. Empty cylinders shall be marked "Empty" and stored apart from full cylinders to prevent confusion.
      2. Valves shall be closed and valve protection caps replaced.
    13. Carts shall have fire extinguishers attached.
    14. Fuel and oxygen hoses, including couplings, shall be inspected frequently to ensure they are not frayed or otherwise damaged.
    15. Storage of compressed-gas hoses shall only be in a ventilated gang box.
  12. Spray-on Fireproofing
    1. Spray-on fireproofing operations can create a number of safety, health, and environmental hazards if not carefully managed.
    2. Blowing wind can further aggravate hazards from overspray and fallout of spray-on fireproofing.
    3. The following shall be required to keep potential hazards to a minimum:
      1. Subcontractors who spray and mix fireproofing material shall wear National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NlOSH)-approved respirators for toxic dusts.
      2. Other trades shall be kept out of the areas being sprayed.
      3. The subcontractor shall clean spray fallout as it accumulates on floors, bagging it or placing it in closed containers.
    4. When fireproofing is completed in an area or on a floor, the material shall be completely removed from the floor before overspray protection is removed.
    5. As overspray protection is removed, all fireproofing material that has collected on or in the overspray protection shall be completely removed.
    6.  No material shall be allowed to fall outside of the building or left on the floor.
    7. Dust created by dumping dried bagged material into the mixer shall be controlled.
    8. Empty bags shall be neatly stacked and tied.
    9. No dried material shall be allowed to contaminate the area.
    10. To contain overspray, exteriors shall be enclosed.
    11. To avoid disturbing fireproofing on exterior columns and spandrel beams, considerable care shall be taken when removing protection.
      1. Plastic tarps are recommended, as spray fireproofing will not stick to them.
    12. Special care shall be taken to minimize overspray to avoid causing exceedingly slippery conditions.
    13. The subcontractor is solely responsible to keep the spray-on fireproofing work area cleaned up on a continuous daily basis.

Work Process R. Specific ES&H Requirements: Hand and Power Tools

  1. Use of Power Tools
    1. The subcontractor is responsible for the safe condition and maintenance of all tools and equipment to be used by all contractor employees.
    2. The subcontractor superintendent shall ensure that his or her employees know how to safely use tools they are required to work with.
  2. Requirements
    1. Know the application, limitation, and potential hazards of the tool used.
    2. Select the proper tool for the job.
    3. Remove adjusting keys and wrenches before turning on tools.
    4. Do not use tools with frayed cords or loose or broken switches.
    5. Keep guards in place and in working order.
    6. Have ground prongs in place or use tools marked "double insulated."
    7. Keep work areas free of clutter.
    8. Stay alert to potential hazards in the working environment such as damp locations or the presence of highly combustible materials.
    9. Use safety glasses; dust, or facemasks; or other protective clothing and equipment when necessary.
    10. Do not surprise or distract anyone using a power tool.
    11. Do not use hammers with broken or cracked handles, chisels and punches with mushroomed heads, wrenches with sprung jaws, or bent or broken wrenches.
    12. Handheld electrical tools must be equipped with a "dead-man" or "quick-release" control so that power is shut off automatically when the operator releases the control.
    13. Portable circular saws must be equipped with guards above and below the base plate or shoe. The lower guard must retract when the blade is in use and automatically return to the guarding position when the tool is withdrawn from work.
    14. All handheld portable electrical equipment must have a grounded frame or be double insulated and identified as such.
    15. All magazine-fed or powder-actuated tools shall reference Powder-Actuated Fastening Tools section.
  3. Training
    1. Subcontractors shall provide training or retraining on safe tool usage and maintenance to employees.
  4. Powder-Actuated Fastening Tools
    1. To reduce the possibility of injuries, only low-velocity powder-actuated fastening tools shall be used.
    2. The stud, pin, or fastener of these tools shall be adjusted to a velocity of no more than 300 feet per second when measured 6½ feet from the muzzle by accepted ballistic test methods.
    3. Subcontractor superintendents shall enforce compliance with federal OSHA regulations governing the use of the tools, along with the contents of this section.
    4. The use of powder-actuated fastening tools shall be governed by the following rules:
      1. Tools shall meet requirements of the latest edition of ANSI A10.3.
      2. Only subcontractor employees qualified by instructions of the manufacturer's qualified representative and/or licensed by state or local authorities shall be assigned to use a powder-actuated fastening tool.
      3. All qualified employees shall carry proof of training in the form of a training identification card at all times.
      4. Only cartridges and fasteners supplied by the tool's manufacturer shall be used.
      5. Powder-actuated fastening tools shall be handled with the same care as firearms. Horseplay by any contractor employee (i.e., pointing an armed or unarmed tool at anything other than the work, target practice, making safety devices inoperative, or other unsafe acts) will be grounds for immediate and permanent removal from the job site.
      6. All safety devices incorporated in the tool by the manufacturer shall be used at all times.
      7. A sign, minimum 8 x 10 inches with 1-inch letters stating "Powder-Actuated Tool in Use" or equivalent, shall be posted by the contractor in the area of use (ANSI A10.3).
      8. Piston Tool. A low-velocity type using a piston activated by the power of a blank cartridge furnished by the tool manufacturer to drive a stud, pin, or fastener into a work surface.
      9. Powder-Assisted Hammer-Drive Tool. A low-velocity type using a captive piston activated by a blow from a 4-pound hammer supplemented by the power of a blank cartridge furnished by the tool manufacturer to drive a stud, pin, or fastener into a work surface.
      10. All used and unspent cartridges shall be properly disposed of per manufacturer's recommendations.

Work Process S. Specific ES&H Requirements: Industrial Hygiene

  1. Hearing Conservation
    1. Subcontractors are solely responsible for any required noise testing for their employee(s) in their work areas.
    2. Subcontractor employees who are issued hearing protective equipment shall receive training, which includes informing employees of the effects of noise on hearing and the purpose, use, and care of hearing protection. This training is the responsibility of the subcontractor.
    3. Warning signs stating "High Noise Area – Hearing Protection Required" will be posted by the subcontractor on the periphery of all work areas where subcontractor employees may be exposed to excessive noise levels.
  2. Asbestos
    1. Asbestos can be found in most common insulation and surfacing materials.
    2. Examples of construction materials at Berkeley Lab facilities that frequently contain asbestos include pipe insulation, ceiling tiles or spray-on insulation, taping compound on gypsum wallboard, floor tiles and mastic, roofing material, and transite wallboard.
    3. Consequently, walls, floors, ceilings, or other suspect asbestos-containing material (ACM) should not be cut into or damaged without determining whether ACM is present. If ACM is found, special procedures are needed to ensure proper control of potential airborne fibers, surface contamination, and waste disposal.
    4. The subcontractor's superintendents must immediately stop work in the affected area and inform the Berkeley Lab Construction Manager if asbestos is suspected at a location.
    5. Subcontractors shall not touch, remove, demolish, or in any other manner disturb materials suspected to contain asbestos.
  3. Carbon Monoxide
    1. Carbon monoxide is formed by the incomplete combustion of carbonaceous materials such as coke, oil, gasoline, and natural or manufactured gas.
    2. Carbon monoxide is flammable, toxic, non-irritating, tasteless, odorless, and slightly lighter than air. When inhaled it combines with hemoglobin of blood, excluding oxygen from the tissues, ultimately resulting in asphyxia. Some common symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning are shortness of breath, headache, dizziness, muscular weakness, and nausea.
    3. Temporary heaters and/or gasoline motors used where people are working in confined and/or depressed areas produce the greatest carbon-monoxide poisoning exposures and are prohibited on project sites.
    4. Use of any device that discharges combustion into an inside work area of employee requires testing defined below:
      1. The air supply shall be tested at intervals sufficient to prevent carbon monoxide in the breathing air from exceeding 10 ppm.
      2. Test several different points within the area at the breathing heights of an employee.
      3. Maintain a record of these tests, noting the date, time, and result of each test.
      4. Remove employees from the area when the concentration of carbon monoxide reaches 25 PPM (.005%). Ventilation shall be provided to reduce the concentration below 25 PPM.
  4. Lead
    1. Most painted surfaces at Berkeley Lab have lead in some layer of paint at or beneath the surface. Though not currently used in paint at Berkeley Lab, lead was a common ingredient of paint used in the past. Most of these painted surfaces do not pose a significant risk to Berkeley Lab employees unless dust is produced by sanding, grinding, or welding wall material or painted metal surfaces.
    2. Lead bricks used for shielding are another common source of lead at Berkeley Lab.
      1. Moisture can react with unprotected lead to produce lead derivatives (a white, dusty appearance) on the surface.
      2. Because it can easily become airborne, this powdery material can become a hazard when these bricks are disturbed.
      3. Even when lead oxide and carbonate have not been produced, loose lead particulate can be spread when the brick surface is handled.
      4. Ingestion or inhalation of this dust can be hazardous. Consequently, bricks not permanently set in place as shielding or in a designated storage area must be painted or wrapped with tape to control this hazard.
    3. Subcontractors with concerns regarding lead safety must contact the Berkeley LabProject Manager.
    4. Subcontractors shall not touch, remove, demolish, or in any other manner disturb materials that are suspected to contain lead unless procedures have been approved by the Berkeley Lab Project Manager.
    5. Subcontractors' superintendents will immediately stop work in the affected area and will inform Berkeley Lab if lead is suspected at a location.
  5. Silica Dust
    1. Silica is the main component in sand, quartz, and granite rock.
    2. Excessive amounts of silica dust may be generated during activities such as sandblasting, rock drilling, roof bolting, foundry work, stonecutting, drilling, quarrying, brick concrete cutting, gunite operations, lead-based paint encapsulant applications, asphalt paving, cement products manufacturing, demolition operations, hammering, and chipping and sweeping concrete or masonry.
    3. Silica can cause silicosis, a serious and sometimes fatal respiratory disease. Silicosis develops from breathing silica dust on the job. Symptoms of silicosis can either be chronic, appearing after 5 to 10 years of exposure to invisible silica dust without using respiratory protection; or acute, appearing after only a few weeks of working in thick clouds of silica without respiratory protection.
    4. Silica can cause lung cancer with prolonged, heavy occupational exposures. Workers with impaired lung function due to silica exposure are also more susceptible to other respiratory disease such as tuberculosis.
    5. To determine whether a product contains silica, the Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) shall be obtained and inspected by the subcontractor.
    6. If silica is present in the products, the following safe working procedures shall be followed to eliminate or control silica dust exposure:
      1. Subcontractor-initiated engineering controls shall be used to eliminate the hazard whenever feasible.
      2. Subcontractor-initiated air tests or historical data are required to confirm the controls in place are working and determine whether personal protective equipment is or is not required.
    7. After working with products that contain silica, each individual will be required to thoroughly wash his or her hands before eating, drinking, or smoking.
    8. Eating, drinking, or smoking near silica is strictly prohibited.
    9. Wet down dry materials and surfaces before cutting, chipping, grinding, sanding, sweeping, or cleaning. All block-cutting operations shall be performed by the wet cut method.
    10. Use power tools with built-in dust-extraction units to capture dust before it is released into the air.
    11. For abrasive blasting, replace silica sand with safer materials. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health highly discourages the use of sand or any abrasive containing more that 1% crystalline silica. Garnet, slags, and steel grit and shot may be good substitutes.
    12. Control of Crystalline Silica Dust
      1. The subcontractor shall provide all necessary control measures at the work site to keep worker exposure to crystalline silica dust within the OSHA established permissible exposure limits (PEL).
      2. Dust-control measures may require spraying of water or engineering controls at the dust-generating points.
      3. It also may include the use of respirators, industrial-grade HEPA vacuums, and HEPA-filtered locally exhausted tools.
      4. Construction operations known to cause the release of silica dusts include, but are not limited to:
        1. Chipping, sawing, grinding, hammering, and drilling of concrete, rock, or brick
        2. Work with cementitious materials such as grout, mortar, stucco, gunite, etc.
        3. Dry sweeping of dust originating from concrete or rock

Work Process T. Specific ES&H Requirements: Walking and Working Surfaces

  1. Housekeeping
    1. During construction, alteration, or repairs, the subcontractor completing the work shall daily keep work areas, passageways, and stairs in and around buildings or other structures clear of form and scrap lumber that contain protruding nails and other debris.
    2. Combustible scrap and debris shall be removed at regular intervals during the course of construction.
    3. Safe means shall be provided to facilitate such removal.
    4. Containers shall be provided for the collection and separation of waste, trash, oily and used rags, and other refuse.
    5. Any dumpster in use shall feature an "open door" policy or have a proper step platform built up to its side.
    6. Containers for garbage and other oily, flammable, or hazardous wastes such as caustics, acids, or harmful dusts shall be equipped with covers.
    7. Garbage and other waste shall be disposed of daily.
    8. The storage of material shall not create hazards.
    9. Bags, bundles, and other containers or materials must be stacked, blocked, interlocked, and limited in height so that they do not slide or collapse.
    10. Subcontractor storage areas must be kept free from materials that may cause tripping, fire, or harboring of rats and other pests.
    11. Masonry blocks shall not be stacked above two pallets, and blocks must be wrapped while stacked.
    12. Subcontractors are solely responsible for the cleanup of their immediate work areas on a daily basis.
    13. Subcontractors are required to participate in a general cleanup effort on a weekly basis.
    14. If a subcontractor fails to complete housekeeping tasks, Berkeley Lab management may assign those duties to another subcontractor, and back-charge the failing subcontractor for all expenses incurred.
    15. The site will be kept clean at all times.
  2. Material Handling and Storage
    1. All materials shall be handled and stored with the utmost care.
    2. Subcontractors shall ensure that employees are properly trained in moving, lifting, grabbing, hoisting, team lifting, and any accessories for handling materials.
    3. No employees are to be exposed to material handling that may injure themselves or others in their area.
    4. All temporary storage of materials shall be secure, neat, orderly, and out of walkways.
    5. Materials shall not be haphazardly piled or strewn about in any work area.
    6. Berkeley Lab management shall designate areas for storage for each subcontractor's materials.
    7. The subcontractor must inform Berkeley Lab five days prior to a material shipment arriving at the project site to ensure proper planning for storage.
    8. The subcontractor is solely responsible for any materials brought onto the site.
    9. Any equipment used to move and store materials shall be in good condition, and shall meet the manufacturer's specifications and all applicable federal, state, and local standards and codes.
    10. All personnel using such equipment shall be properly trained in the operation of such equipment. The subcontractor is solely responsible for training and retraining, if required.
  3. Protection of Openings, Open Side Floors, and Decks
    1. Falls of workers from, and workers struck by materials falling from, floors and decks of structures during construction are not frequent, but are usually severe. This section presents the common methods of worker protection in these two loss areas.
    2. Frequently, railings and covers are moved to allow material to be hoisted or other work to be performed, and then replaced. In either case, procedures and designs to facilitate swift and safe removal and replacement shall be developed during pre-job or pre-operational planning and strict enforcement of those procedures required.
    3. 100% positive fall protection is required and must be maintained during the installation and removal of these devices.
    4. The use of metal banding or chains (except when furnished by the equipment manufacturer) is prohibited as perimeter or other fall protection.
  4. Floor and Roof Openings/Covers
    1. Floor and roof openings shall be protected by a standard railing or cover. All skylights shall be protected in the same manner.
    2. Covers shall support without failure at least twice the weight of subcontractors, equipment, and materials placed on the cover at any one time.
    3. All covers shall be secured so as to prevent displacement.
    4. All covers shall be color coded or marked with the words "hole" or "cover."
  5. Standard Railing
    1. Railings shall be constructed of wood, or in an equally substantial manner from other materials, and shall consist of a top rail not less than 42 inches or more than 45 inches in height measured from the upper surface of the top rail to the floor, platform, runway, or ramp level, and must have a midrail.
    2. The midrail shall be halfway between the top rail and the floor, platform, runway, or ramp. Selected lumber, free from damage that affects its strength, shall be used for railings constructed of wood.
    3. A standard toe board shall be 4 inches (nominal) minimum in vertical height from its top edge to the level of the floor, platform, runway, or ramp. It shall be securely fastened in place and have not more than ¼-inch clearance above floor level. It may be made of any substantial material, either solid, or with openings not over 1 inch in greatest dimension. Toe boards shall be provided on all open sides and ends of railed scaffolds at locations where persons are required to work or pass under the scaffold and at all interior floor, roof, and shaft openings.
    4. Toe boards shall be capable of withstanding, without failure, a force of at least 50 pounds applied in any downward or outward direction at any point along the toe board.
    5. For wood railings, the posts shall be at least 2-x-4-inch stock spaced not more than 8 feet apart.
    6. The top rail shall be of 2-x-4-inch stock, and the intermediate rail shall be at least a 1-x-6-inch board.
    7. No double-headed nails are to be used in the construction of these railings.
    8. When wire rope is used for guardrails, the cables shall be ⅜-inch minimum-diameter wire rope of 13,500 pounds minimum breaking strength.
    9. Posts shall not be more than 6 feet on center. For cable safety railings, cables shall be looped and triple clamped at the connecting points. Single cables running past each other with one clamp are not acceptable.
    10. AT NO TIME WILL ANY GUARDRAIL BE USED AS A HORIZONTAL ANCHORAGE FOR PERSONAL FALL-ARREST EQUIPMENT UNLESS SPECIFICALLY DESIGNED BY AN ENGINEER AND APPROVED BY A BERKELEY LAB STRUCTURAL ENGINEER.
  6. Rebar Protection
    1. During the construction of reinforced-concrete buildings, subcontractors erect forms or perform other duties over exposed vertical or upturned reinforcing bars, bolts, or other protrusions (i.e., conduits/pipes). Serious injuries and deaths have resulted from falls on these protrusions. Also, floor slab reinforcing that extends beyond a section of slab in place can cause an incident.
    2. Subcontractors are not permitted to work above vertical protruding reinforcing steel unless it has been protected to eliminate impalement hazard.
    3. Several approved methods to protect against this hazard are:
      1. Empty steel drums placed over the dowels until the column reinforcing is placed. The drums are then moved forward as the work progresses.
      2. Shallow boxes made from scrap lumber used in the same manner as (i), above
      3. Plank covers for rows of bond bars
      4. 4-x-4-inch wood blocks drilled to bar size and used as above
      5. Troughs or continuous 2-x-4-inch wood rails secured to avoid displacement
      6. Cal/OSHA approved, steel-lined, flat-head rebar caps
      7. Wire mesh or reinforcing bars extending beyond a section of slab in place shall be bent down and secured to eliminate a tripping hazard. Otherwise, subcontractors shall be prohibited from walking over the area.
  7. Safety Signs and Banners
    1. Warning, Danger, No Trespassing, and other signs, correctly posted, help protect the public and subcontractor employees from incidents.
    2. The subcontractor shall post and maintain in good condition the proper signs wherever hazardous conditions exist. A sufficient supply of the necessary signs shall be kept on hand for replacement and to cover new hazards as they develop. Additional posting requirements to be completed by the subcontractors are found in the federal OSHA's  Construction Standards. Such requirements include but are not limited to posting for lasers, powder-actuated tools, and overhead hazards. (Reference: OSHA 1926.200).
  8. Broken Fluorescent Lights
    1. In addition to cuts from glass fragments, serious injury can result from broken fluorescent tubes due to the release of the small amounts of mercury vapor that they contain. Mercury vapor, even in very minute quantities, is poisonous.
    2. A person near a fluorescent tube that breaks or who is cut shall be taken to Berkeley Lab medical clinic immediately to take necessary precautions.
    3. Special regulations also affect the disposal of fluorescent lamp ballasts that contain PCBs. Subcontractors who complete work with fluorescent lamps shall get prior approval from the Berkeley Lab Construction Manager.

Work Process U. Specific ES&H Requirements: Personal Protective Equipment

  1. Issuing Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
    1. Each individual subcontractor is responsible for issuing the PPE devices to their employees. Federal, state, and local safety rules shall be checked regarding the use of such equipment.
    2. Where available, use equipment approved by an NRTL.
    3. Used PPE shall never be given to an employee without having been cleaned and sterilized.
  2. Requirements
    1. PPE requirements shall be posted at the main entrance to the job site.
  3. Head Protection
    1. All subcontractors and visitors shall wear hard hats 100% of the time while on the job site.
    2. Impact-resistant hard hats provide protection only when their inside web suspension is intact and adjusted to correct head size with proper crown clearance.
    3. No soft-top webbing shall be permitted.
  4. Eye Protection
    1. All subcontractors and visitors shall wear eye protection 100% of the time while on the job site.
    2. Eye protection with side shields and/or one-piece goggles must be worn by all subcontractors and visitors while on the construction job site.
    3. All subcontractors involved in pumping or pouring of concrete shall provide their employees at the point of concrete discharge with a wire-mesh face screen along with required safety glasses to prevent caustic burns to the face.
    4. Cup-type chipper goggles shall be used by workers in heavy breaking or drilling.
    5. Face shields shall be worn for protection from flying particles produced by light drilling, breaking, chipping, and power saws. They are particularly effective for subcontractors who wear corrective glasses.
      1. Adapters for use with hard hats or caps are required.
      2. Shaded spectacle glasses or shaded face shields shall be worn by subcontractors engaged in oxyacetylene burning and welding and by subcontractors engaged as electric welders' helpers. Shades 7, 8, 9, or darker are required.
      3. All subcontractors doing electric or arc welding shall use welding masks and hoods.
      4. Subcontractors shall consult suppliers for the exact shade to match the amperage tube used.
  5. Respiratory Protection
    1. Berkeley Lab is committed to maintaining an injury-free workplace, and makes every effort to protect all employees and contractors from harmful airborne substances. Whenever possible, subcontractors must accomplish this through engineering controls such as ventilation or substitution with a less harmful substance, and through administrative controls limiting the duration of exposure. When these methods are not adequate, or if the exposures are brief and intermittent, or simply to minimize employee exposure to airborne substances, subcontractors must provide respirators to allow their employees to breathe safely in potentially hazardous environments.
    2. Berkeley Lab recognizes that respirators have limitations, and their successful use depends on an effective respiratory protection program.
    3. The Berkeley Lab Respiratory Protection Program is designed to be a guide for all subcontractors to identify, evaluate, and control exposures to respiratory hazards; and to select and coordinate all aspects required for the proper use, care, and maintenance of the equipment.
    4. In all instances, the subcontractor is to abide by his or her own company's respiratory protection program.
  6. Responsibility
    1. Subcontractor management shall provide leadership by example and demonstrate interest by ensuring that adequate resources are available for effective implementation of their company's respiratory protection program and the project's program.
    2. All employees are to work conscientiously to carry out the Berkeley Lab Respiratory Protection Program.
    3. Subcontractor employees exposed to dust, fumes, and/or gases shall be provided proper respiratory protection designed to protect against the substance encountered. The subcontractor is solely responsible for the proper fit testing, training, and maintenance per Cal/OSHA and federal OSHA standards, and to provide the appropriate equipment.
    4. All training documentation must be provided to Berkeley Lab management prior to start of work.
  7. Hand Protection
    1. Various types of gloves are made to protect hands against particular hazards, i.e., rubber gloves to handle alkalis and other chemicals; leather gloves to handle rough items such as reinforcing steel, lumber, and masonry; and special leather gloves to protect against welding heat sparks and slag. Their use is required as appropriate.
    2. All subcontractor employees working with metal studs, sheet metal, metal decking, ceiling grids, and cleanup or housekeeping activities must wear cut-resistant gloves.
  8. Foot Protection
    1. Subcontractors shall wear foot guards when working with soil tampers or where falling objects could be dropped on one's shoes.
    2. Thin-sheet-steel insoles are available when needed to protect against nail punctures during stripping operations.
    3. All personnel must wear sturdy work boots with durable sidewalls, toes, and soles. Soft shoes or sneakers are not permitted. Visitors shall wear appropriate, sturdy shoes or be kept out of the construction area. Metatarsal guards are required when chipping concrete or asphalt.
  9. Body Protection
    1. All personnel shall wear shirts and long trousers to protect against the elements and work-site hazards. No sleeveless shirts, tank tops, mesh shirts, short, or sweatpants will be permitted. Sleeves shall extend a minimum of 4 inches from the top of the shoulder.
    2. Special clothing is required when working in very hot, cold, or wet workplaces, or when working with some chemicals, such as alkalis. Subcontractors must provide their employees with the proper clothing in these situations.
  10. Special Protective Equipment
    1. All subcontractors working in certain operations (chemical work, etc.) shall be provided and wear the specialized protection equipment designed for that particular operation (wood-soled shoes, nonsparking tools, chemical goggles, etc.). The MSDS shall be consulted regarding protective equipment required.

Work Process V. Specific ES&H Requirements: Traffic Control

  1. Controls
    1. When signs, signals, and barricades do not provide the necessary protection on or adjacent to a highway or street during operations, flagmen or other appropriate traffic controls shall be provided by the subcontractor completing the operation.
    2. Signaling directions by flagmen shall conform to American National Institute D6.1-I971.
    3. For hand signaling, flagmen shall use red flags at least 18 inches square or sign paddles; in periods of darkness, they shall use red lights.
    4. Flagmen shall be provided with and shall wear a red or orange warning garment while flagging.
    5. Warning garments worn at night shall be of reflective material.
    6. All subcontractors receiving materials are solely responsible for traffic control during the unloading processes and shall provide the necessary personnel to complete such tasks.
    7. All efforts shall be made to ensure trucks are unloaded on site.

Work Process W. Specific ES&H Requirements: Permits

  1. General
    1. Permits are required for the activities listed below and must be obtained prior to start of work. Permits must be posted conspicuously at the work site.
  2. Fire Safety Permit
    1. All hot work requiring the use of open flames and/or heat- or spark-producing equipment requires a Fire Safety Permit from the Berkeley Lab Fire Department.
    2. Construction subcontractors may request a Fire Safety Permit directly from the Fire Department or through the Project Manager.
    3. Upon request for a Fire Safety Permit, the Fire Department's representative meets the requester at the work location to discuss precautions to be taken, including the placement of fire extinguishers or a fire watch.
  3. Penetration Permit
    1. All work that requires excavating, drilling, or driving stakes or poles 15/8 inches or deeper into a surface requires a permit.
    2. A permit is also required to penetrate any depth into existing concrete surfaces such as floor slabs, walls, beams, or columns.
    3. The permit is issued by the Berkeley Lab Utilities Engineer.
      1. Subcontractors may obtain the permit through the Project Manager.

Work Process X. Specific ES&H Requirements: Forklift Trucks (Powered Industrial Trucks and Heavy Equipment)

  1. Users must familiarize themselves with and comply with OSHA Standard 29 CFR 1910.178 and 1926 Subpart O. This standard is summarized as follows:
    1. Modifications and additions must not be performed by the customer or user without the manufacturer's prior authorization or without a qualified engineering analysis.
    2. Where such authorization is granted, capacity, operation, and maintenance instruction plates, tags, or decals must be changed accordingly. Note: Prior to modifications or additions, the Facilities Department and EHSS shall be contacted for approval.
    3. If the forklift truck is equipped with front-end attachments other than factory-installed attachments, the user must ensure that the truck is marked with a card or plate that identifies the current attachments, shows the approximate weight of the truck with current attachments, and shows the lifting capacity of the truck with current attachments at maximum lift elevation with the load laterally centered.
    4. The user must see that all nameplates, caution markings, and instruction markings are in place and legible.
    5. The user must consider that changes in load dimension may affect truck capacities.
    6. Motor vehicles (heavy equipment) intended primarily for off-roadway use shall be equipped with appropriate safety features, including an operating emergency brake system; head-, tail-, and brake lights; windshield wipers; and backup alarms.
  2. Forklift Trucks
    1. Users must familiarize themselves with and comply with NFPA 30-1969. NFPA standards specify certain hazardous locations, Class I through Class III, in which various types of trucks should not be used unless they comply with NFPA requirements.
    2. Precautions must be taken to prevent emissions and hazardous sparks when flammable materials are present.
    3. All forklift trucks must carry fire extinguishers, usually 1.1 kg (2½ lb) ABC, regardless of their location classification.
    4. Repairs or refueling of gasoline and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) trucks shall be done according to NFPA standards to avoid health hazards, burns, and explosions.
    5. Only authorized fuel and fuel-tank equipment are to be used in gasoline and liquefied petroleum gas trucks.
  3. Licensing and Certification
    1. All persons operating forklifts at the Laboratory are requiredto carry a valid Forklift Operator Certification.

Work Process Y. Specific ES&H Requirements: Accident and Injury Information

  1. Contaminated Spills
    1. A contaminated spill is the introduction of an undesirable element or substance into the ground that may or may not negatively impact the environment. This can be caused by several sources both past and present.
    2. Berkeley Lab's primary concern is to protect the workers and the environment in the event of an incidental spill.
    3. If a spill occurs, it shall be isolated and contained to prevent contamination of the surrounding area, waterways, sewer systems, or any other environmental impact.
    4. The subcontractor is responsible for all costs associated with the cleanup and disposal of the contaminated/hazardous materials.
    5. If a spill occurs, the MSDS for the chemical will provide the emergency information necessary to address the spill. The emergency cleanup team will need a copy of the MSDS to begin the cleanup process.
    6. The subcontractor shall immediately notify the Berkeley LabProjectManager in the event of any spill.
    7. All subcontractors shall assign trained employees who are capable of handling spills to the project. Whenever chemicals are brought on site, the MSDS shall be reviewed by the subcontractor and its information communicated to all personnel exposed to its usage.
    8. All subcontractor records regarding spills shall be copied and given to the Berkeley Lab Project Manager for filing.
  2. CPR and First Aid
    1. All subcontractors shall have at least one person certified in first aid and CPR at the job site at all times.
      1. Subcontractors are solely responsible to ensure the required and proper CPR and first-aid training of their employees.
    2. Subcontractors shall provide an ANSI Z 308.1-approved first-aid kit on the job site.
      1. The subcontractor site superintendent must ensure that the kit is properly stocked, maintained, and inspected weekly per OSHA requirements.
      2. The first-aid kit will also contain equipment and materials to be compliant with Cal/OSHA, General Industry Safety Orders, Section 1593 — Blood-borne Pathogens, including mouth-to-mouth resuscitation devices, powdered bleach, and disposable latex gloves.
    3.  Only trained first-aid personnel shall administer first aid at the job site.
    4. Subcontractors shall supply their employees with appropriate amounts of potable water.
  3. Bloodborne Pathogens
    1. Bloodborne pathogens are disease-causing organisms transmitted through contact with infected blood and other bodily fluids.
    2. Diseases such as the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and hepatitis B are among the most common forms of bloodborne pathogens.
    3. Any exposure to an infected individual's body fluids may result in transmission of bloodborne pathogens, which could lead to disease or death.
    4. When dealing with blood or other bodily fluids, subcontractor employees are required to follow universal precautions.
      1. According to the concept of universal precautions, all human blood and other human body fluids are treated as if known to be infectious for HIV, hepatitis B, and other bloodborne pathogens.
    5. All subcontractors certified in first aid must wear disposable latex gloves and eye protection while performing first aid on an injured individual.
    6. If rescue breathing or CPR is performed, a resuscitation mask shall be provided by the subcontractor to protect the injured and the provider.
    7. The subcontractor shall immediately contain and clean all blood spills with an antiviral solution, or with a solution of bleach and water.
    8. Any material saturated with blood shall be considered regulated waste, including liquid or semiliquid blood or other potentially infectious materials; contaminated items that would release blood or other potentially infectious materials in a liquid or semiliquid state if compressed; and items caked with dried blood or other potentially infectious materials.
      1. Discarded Band-Aids and gauze containing small amounts of blood products are not considered regulated waste.
    9. The cleanup and disposal of all regulated waste shall be the sole responsibility of the subcontractor under his or her bloodborne pathogen control program.
    10. At least one of each subcontractor's on-site workers shall be trained in first aid and CPR, and shall also be trained in the decontamination of blood spills. Subcontractors are solely responsible for this training.

Work Process Z. Specific ES&H Requirements: Hazard Communication

  1. General
    1. The OSHA Hazard Communication Standard requires that all employers with employees potentially exposed to hazardous chemicals at their work site establish a hazard communication program.
    2. The regulation is more commonly known as "HazCom" or the "Right-to-Know Law."
    3. This program shall transmit information to employees about the hazardous chemicals they are, or may be, exposed to at the site.
      1. This is accomplished by labels on containers, MSDS, a hazardous-chemical job-site survey, and training programs.
    4. Subcontractors and their second-tier subs must obtain and maintain the on-site file of all MSDS supplied by distributors, manufacturers, and subcontractors. While all MSDS may not be uniform in appearance, they shall convey the same message:
      1. Identity of the product
      2. Known acute and chronic health effects
      3. Exposure limits
      4. Threshold limit values (TLV)
      5. If the product is a suspected carcinogen
      6. PPE to be used
      7. Emergency and first-aid procedures
      8. Identification of the party responsible for the MSDS
      9. Target organ affected
  2. Container Labeling
    1. Subcontractors and their second-tier subs ensure that an MSDS is obtained with each shipment of any material on the hazardous substance survey list. Should one not be obtained at that time,the subcontractorshall follow up in writing to the parties involved to obtain one within 72 hours of the notification.
    2. Subcontractors and their second-tier subs and/or their designee shall verify that all containers received for use have:
      1. Been clearly labeled as to content
      2. Appropriate warnings noted
      3. Names and addresses of the manufacturers listed
        1. A written description of the labeling system used by each subcontractor must be submitted, along with alternatives to the original label used.
        2. All secondary containers used with small quantities of a given material shall also be properly labeled.
        3. Labels may be in writing, pictures, a numerical system, or any combination of the above.
        4. The message shall be understood as to the nature of the hazard, PPE needed, parts of the body affected, and emergency procedures to take.
  3. Employee Training and Education
    1. All subcontractors must train their own employees.
    2. Training of all personnel can include, but is not limited to:
      1. In-house seminars
      2. Guest speakers
      3. Use of visual aides
      4. On-site updates of new products and materials and other related hazards
    3. Instruction shall include, but not limited to:
      1. How to read and understand the information provided on the MSDS and labels supplied by the subcontractors and suppliers
      2. An overview of the requirements contained in the Hazard Communication Standard
      3. Discussion of chemicals included in welding or burning, cement, cleaning solvents, gluing processes, wood dust processes, and other such common items
    4. After attending the training session, each employee will sign a form to verify that he or she has been properly trained per the Hazard Communication Standard, and that the project's policy regarding this standard is understood. The form is to be filed at the job site.
    5. Training of all new subcontractors will take place as they are assigned to their respective position.
  4. Hazardous Nonroutine Tasks
    1. Periodically, employees must perform hazardous nonroutine tasks. An example of a nonroutine task is confined-space entry, such as checking the bottom of caissons, entering manholes, etc. Prior to starting work on such projects, the subcontractor must give each affected employee information about hazardous chemicals to which he or she may be exposed during such activity. The information shall include, but not be limited to:
      1. Specific chemical or process hazards
      2. Protective safety measures that the employee will take to prevent exposure
      3. Measures the project has taken to lessen the hazard, including ventilation, respirators, presence of other employees, and emergency procedures
  5. Subcontractor Hazard Communication
    1. All subcontractors are solely responsible to abide by the Hazard Communication Standard in training their own employees, their MSDS record keeping, their notification procedures, and any other aspects of the requirement.
    2. All subcontractors must supply the Berkeley Lab Project Manager with a written copy of their hazard communication program along with the MSDS of any chemical materials brought on to the job site.
    3. The exchange of MSDS shall take place initially when the subcontractor comes onto the site, at regular site-safety meetings, and/or at any other designated time by the Berkeley Lab Project Manager.
    4. All subcontractors must abide by this exchange and are to immediately inform the Berkeley Lab Project Manager of any new chemical substances brought onto the job site.

Work Process AA. Specific ES&H Requirements: Procurement of Hazardous Materials

  1.  General
    1. The subcontractor shall submit to the Berkeley Lab Project Manager, for review by the Berkeley Lab EHSS Division, any proposed procurement, stocking, installing, or other use of materials containing asbestos, cadmium, chromates, or lead. Additionally, the subcontractor shall submit the product MSDS for architectural and surface coatings, solvents, adhesives, sealants, oils, compressed gases, pesticides, herbicides, welding materials, or other chemicals used in the construction process, for review and acceptance by the Berkeley Lab EHSS Division prior to the start of work.
    2. All materials and applications shall comply with all requirements of the Bay Area Air Quality Management District (BAAQMD) regulations, including, but not limited to architectural coatings, general solvent and surface coatings, solvent cleaning operations, adhesive and sealants, visible emissions, and asbestos.
    3. The subcontractor shall keep and maintain proof of compliance with the above-referenced regulations, including any recordkeeping obligations, for two years after completion of the project. The subcontractor shall make such documents or evidence available if requested by the BAAQMD or Berkeley Lab.

Work Process BB. Specific ES&H Requirements: Radiation Areas

  1. General
    1. The EHSS Division must be notified before work begins in areas where workers may be exposed to ionizing radiation from Berkeley Lab operations.
    2. Workers may be required to use a personal dosimeter and take radiation safety training from EHSS before beginning work.
    3. Training will be handled on a case-by-case basis. The length of training will range from 15 minutes to one hour, depending on the facility in which work is to be done.
    4. Dosimeters issued to subcontractor personnel must be returned at the designated times and at the conclusion of the job.

Work Process CC. Specific ES&H Requirements: Return to Work

  1. General
    1. To provide prompt quality medical services and to return injured employees to the project as soon as possible, each subcontractor shall establish a "light-duty" or "restricted-duty" policy for their employees in the event they are injured on this project and cannot perform normal daily duties. This applies to all subcontractors.
    2. Restricted duty shall be an assignment provided to an employee who, because of a job-related injury or illness, is physically or mentally unable to perform all or any part of his/her normal assignment during all or any part of the normal workday or shift.
    3. All work-related injuries must be reported to Berkeley LabProject Management immediately.
    4. If any employee has any doubt as to where to go for medical treatment for a job-related injury, he or she must contact Berkeley LabProject Management.
    5. The policy is to return subcontractor employees to work as soon as possible after a job-related injury or illness has occurred. All possible opportunities will be considered to provide restricted-duty assignments. The subcontractor must also consider restricted-duty assignments for employees injured off the job, whenever possible.
    6. When an injured employee returns to work, all physical and mental limitations must be evaluated to prevent additional injury or aggravation. The safety of other employees working with the injured individual must also be considered.
    7. Injured employees may return to work on restricted duty under the following circumstances.
      1. The employee's attending physician has determined the physical restrictions.
      2. The contractor has a task that can be assigned that meets the restrictions
      3. The project managers, supervisors, and foreman are informed of the restrictions.
      4. The employee must receive full medical release from a physician before resuming normal work activities. No employee on restricted duty will be allowed to work more than 40 hours per week.
      5. The injured employee will remain on the project where the injury occurred while on restricted duty.

Work Process DD. Noncompliance

  1. To ensure compliance with this program and all other established OSHA standards, Berkeley Lab hereby implements this procedure of noncompliance to all subcontractors working on Berkeley Lab-controlled property.
    1. This is established to promote safety and eliminate offenders and repeat offenders, and may lead to contract termination with a subcontractor.
    2. This program may be used or superseded with more severe discipline based on the degree of the infraction(s).
    3. In any case, the Berkeley Lab Project Team has sole authority in the type of discipline, including removal from the project.
      1. First offense: Give a verbal warning and keep written record of the offense; notify the worker's supervisor.
      2. Second offense: Give a written warning and bring the worker's supervisor into the office for a discussion with the subcontractor superintendent, the Berkeley Lab Project Manager, and the Berkeley Lab Construction Safety Engineer.
      3. A copy of the written warning is sent to the office of the offending worker's employer, with a statement that if the offense is repeated, the worker will be removed from the project and the contract could be terminated.
      4. Third offense: The worker is removed from the project.
      5. If repeat occurrences with other crewmembers are found, these offenders' supervisor shall be subject to removal from the project.

Work Process EE. Work-site ES&H Observations

  1. General
    1. EHSS Division Construction Safety Engineers and Facilities Division Construction Management conduct routine observations of construction work sites to identify and correct unsafe workplace conditions and behaviors.
    2. Both "at-risk" and "safe" conditions and behaviors are identified during the observations.
    3. These conditions are recorded in a construction safety observation database that is used to track and report trends in construction-safety performance.
  2. Determining Classification of At-Risk Observations
    1. The observer classifies each at-risk condition or behavior as de minimis, low, medium, or high and enters it into the construction safety observation database.
    2. Classifications of at-risk observations are based on a risk-assessment methodology that uses a risk-assessment table having a 4x4 matrix of impact and probability.
    3. The risk-assessment table is based on the Risk Registry Risk Assignment Matrix found in Appendix P of the Berkeley Lab Facilities Division, Construction Projects Department, Project Management Manual.

      At-Risk Observation Classification Risk Assessment Table

       

      No Injury

      First Aid

      Medium Severity

      High Severity

      High Probability

      De minimis

      Medium

      High

      High

      Medium Probability

      De minimis

      Low

      Medium

      High

      Low Probability

      De minimis

      Low

      Low

      Medium

      No Probability

      De minimis

      De minimis

      De minimis

      De minimis
  3. Construction Safety Observation Relationship to the Occurrence Reporting and Processing System (ORPS) and Noncompliance Tracking System (NTS) Reporting
    1. All medium and high construction safety at-risk observations are reported to the appropriate responsible individuals for review as possible ORPS and NTS reportable events.

10.8 Source Requirements

Subcontractors shall comply with requirements; in case of conflict or overlap of the above references, the most stringent provision shall apply.

Source Requirements Documents

Other Driving Requirements

10.9 Reference Documents

Document number

Title

Type

 07.07.011.001

 EHSS Manual, Electrical Safety Program

Program

07.07.020.001

EHSS Manual, Lockout/Tagout and Verification

Program

07.11.001.001

EHSS Manual, Fire Prevention and Protection

Program

07.07.024.001

EHSS Manual, Personal Protective Equipment Program

Program

07.07.008.001

EHSS Manual, Cranes Hoisting and Rigging Program

Program

07.07.008.001

EHSS Manual, Forklifts and Other Powered Industrial Trucks

Program

07.07.014.001

EHSS Manual, Fall Protection Program

Program

07.07.006.001

EHSS Manual, Confined Spaces

Program

07.07.002.001

EHSS Manual, Asbestos Hazards and Controls Program

Program

07.07.019.001

EHSS Manual, Lead Hazards and Controls Program

Program

07.07.001.000

EHSS Manual, Elevated Work — Aerial Lifts, Ladders, and Scaffolds Program

Program

 

 

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