MEMO

Subject: Proper Clothing for Survey Work

Note: Field Supervisors are charged with the responsibility of monitoring and enforcing all Safety issues. Field Inspections should include inspection of “Personal Protective” clothing.

3380. Personal Protective Devices.

  1. Footwear:
  • Tennis shoes are no longer allowed on any Survey Projects.
  • The Bureauof Engineering has instructed the Survey Division to wear adequate foot protection per Cal OSHA 3385.(see addendum)
  • Heavy puncture resistant, non-slip soles are required(see addendum)
  • Safety toe protective footwear that meets (ANSI) , Footwear Z41.1 – 1967 requirements is highly recommended
  • If boots do not meet (ANSI), Footwear Z41.1 – 1967 requirements, toe protectors must be worn where any danger of heavy objects falling, rolling or crushing is present.
  • Boots at least ankle high are highly recommended for ankle support

3385. Foot Protection.

  1. Pants:
  • Long pants made of a durable material are mandatory on any project that requires kneeling, digging, working in brush or any other situation required by your supervisor.
  • Long pants made of a durable material are required in any hillside or brush covered area
  • Long pants made of a durable material are required when working on any railroad right of way
  • Long pants made of a durable material are required when working on any construction site.
  • Short pants are allowed only in cases other than the above
  • It will be the District Supervisors responsibility to determine the proper clothing for the job assignments
  • It will be the Party Chiefs responsibility to enforce proper clothing wear as determined by Supervision

3. Shirts:

  • All shirts should be sleeved.
  • No tank tops or muscle shirts are allowed
  • All shirts should be clean and in good order
  • Objectionable logos and sayings are not appropriate

3383. Body Protection.

4. Safety Vests:

  • Safety vests are to be worn on all projects
  • Safety vests must be clean, visible and in good order (not torn etc.)
  • Safety vests must conform to Bureau of Engineering Safety standards outlined by the Bureau Safety Engineer and be approved by the Division Manager

5. Hard Hats:

  • All Survey vehicles must carry enough hard hats to outfit the crew assigned for the day no matter what type of project is originally assigned
  • Hard hats must be clean and serviceable
  • Hard hats should be inspected regularly for cracks or other defects
  • Hard hats must be worn on all Railroad projects and in all rail road right of ways
  • All construction projects where there are construction crews working, require Hard hats
  • Any project that involves pits, tunnels, or overhead construction requires a hard hat

3381. Head Protection.

General Appearance:

  • All Survey personnel are required to represent the City Of Los Angeles as professionals
  • Often we need to talk to citizens, obtain access to private property, meet with and talk to other City employees, talk to City Council liaisons etc.
  • As Surveyors are looked on as not quite Engineers, we need to elevate our image by looking professional.

Note: A good rule of thumb is, would your grandmother or wife be comfortable letting someone of your appearance into their yard?

Subject: Safety Responsibilities

  • The Lead Construction Inspector on a City Of Los Angeles

Construction project is the person in charge of Safety. What he or she says goes as far as safety is concerned. He can close down the job, refuse to let a Survey Crew work on the job and cite persons for violations.

  • Cal OSHA is the State Organization responsible for ALL construction safety in California. If they are on the job, they are in charge of safety and supersede the Inspector. They also can cite and fine persons in violation.
  • If neither of the above is on the job, the Party Chief or lead Survey person becomes responsible for the safety of the crew.
  • All crew members are also responsible for being safe and watching out for each other

ADDENDUM

Section 3385, Foot Protection of the General Industry Safety Orders (GISO), and Section 1517 of the Construction Safety Orders (CSO) require:

  • Employee footwear must be appropriate for the hazard to which the employee will be exposed and provide protection from hot, corrosive, poisonous substances, falling objects, crushing or penetrating actions which may cause injuries to the foot.
  • The footwear shall also provide protection from slips, falls, and moisture for employees who are required to work in abnormally wet locations.
  • Footwear which is defective or inappropriate to the extent that its ordinary use creates the possibility of foot injury shall not be worn.
  • Safety-toe footwear shall meet the requirements and specifications in the American National Standards (ANSI) , Footwear Z41.1 – 1967

It is the City of Los Angeles, Bureau of Engineering, Survey Division policy that employees are responsible to provide their own footwear.

Per the U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Safety and Health Administrations – Criteria for personal protective equipment – 1926.95:

This section shall become effective on February 13, 2008

1926.95(b)

Employee owned equipment: Where employees provide their own protective equipment, the employer shall be responsible to assure its adequacy, including proper maintenance, and sanitation of such equipment.

1926.95(c)

Design: All personal protective equipment shall be of safe design and construction for the work to be performed.

1926.95(d) (2)

The employer is not required to pay for non-specialty safety-toe protective footwear (including steel-toe shoes or steel toe boots) ……..

1926.95 (d) (4)

The employer is not required to pay for:

1926.95(d) (4) (i)

Everyday clothing such as long-sleeved shirts, long pants, street shoes, and normal work boots; or

1926.95 (d) (4) (ii)

Ordinary clothing, skin creams, or other items, used solely for protection from weather, such as winter coats, jackets, gloves, parkas, rubber boots, hats, raincoats, ordinary sunglasses, and sunscreen.

The Survey Division will furnish footwear for special work activities including, metal toe covers and high top rubber boots (some with steel toes) for wet conditions.

Supervisors are responsible to ensure that employees wear appropriate footwear for the task and/or work area in which they are assigned.

Field Work – as a minimum, appropriate footwear for employees working in field work assignments is defined as:

“Serviceable leather work shoes or boots with soles made of neolite, neoprene, crepe rubber, or similar material which will not disintegrate or be affected by petroleum solutions and will retain a non-slip surface under wet, damp, oily or muddy conditions.”

  • UNNACCEPTABLE FOOTWEAR

The following are examples of unacceptable footwear for employees who work in field assignments:

  • Sandals, slippers and loafers
  • open toe shoes and/or high heels
  • footwear with leather soles or
  • any type of “loose or open weave upper

“Loose open weave upper” is defined as footwear which has been fabricated with loose open weave which would allow liquids to easily penetrate the fabric.”

The reference to loose open weave is not intended to prohibit the use of footwear which has been fabricated with portions of Gortex, nylon, or other similar tightly woven fabrics which prohibits or impedes penetration of the fabric.

Generally shoes that are not specifically fabricated for use in work environments found in highway maintenance and or highway construction activities would fall into the category of prohibited footwear for the purpose of this interpretation.

For example, athletic or running shoes are not acceptable foot protection for field work in maintenance, construction, surveys, or similar work.

  • FOOT PROTECTION FROM CRUSHING HAZARDS

When working with heavy materials where the employee’s foot can be crushed or cut, steel toed shoes (ANSI Z241.1 – 1969) are required unless toe caps are used. Toe caps are available on all Survey Vehicles.