California Code Regulations Compliance for Emergency Preparedness

Chapter 4. Division of Industrial Safety

Subchapter 7. General Industry Safety Orders
Group 1. General Physical Conditions and Structures Orders
Article 2. Standard Specifications

§3220. Emergency Action Plan.

• (a) Scope and Application. This section applies to all emergency action plans. The emergency action plan shall be in writing, except as provided in the last sentence of subsection (e)(3) of this section, and shall cover those designated actions employers and employees must take to ensure employee safety from fire and other emergencies.
• (b) Elements. The following elements, at a minimum, shall be included in the plan:
  • (1) Emergency escape procedures and emergency escape route assignments;
  • (2) Procedures to be followed by employees who remain to operate critical plant operations before they evacuate;
  • (3) Procedures to account for all employees after emergency evacuation has been completed;
  • (4) Rescue and medical duties for those employees who are to perform them;
  • (5) The preferred means of reporting fires and other emergencies; and
  • (6) Names or regular job titles of persons or departments who can be contacted for further information or explanation of duties under the plan.
• (c) Alarm System.
  • (1) The employer shall establish an employee alarm system which complies with Article 165.
  • (2) If the employee alarm system is used for alerting fire brigade members, or for other purposes, a distinctive signal for each purpose shall be used.
• (d) Evacuation. The employer shall establish in the emergency action plan the types of evacuation to be used in emergency circumstances.
• (e) Training.
  • (1) Before implementing the emergency action plan, the employer shall designate and train a sufficient number of persons to assist in the safe and orderly emergency evacuation of employees.

§3221. Fire Prevention Plan.

• (a) Scope and Application. This section applies to all fire prevention plans. The fire prevention plan shall be in writing, except as provided in the last sentence of subsection (d)(2) of this section.
• (b) Elements. The following elements, at a minimum, shall be included in the fire prevention plan:
  • (1) Potential fire hazards and their proper handling and storage procedures, potential ignition sources (such as welding, smoking and others) and their control procedures, and the type of fire protection equipment or systems which can control a fire involving them;
  • (2) Names or regular job titles of those responsible for maintenance of equipment and systems installed to prevent or control ignitions or fires; and
  • (3) Names or regular job titles of those responsible for the control of accumulation of flammable or combustible waste materials.
• (c) Housekeeping. The employer shall control accumulations of flammable and combustible waste materials and residues so that they do not contribute to a fire emergency. The housekeeping procedures shall be included in the written fire prevention plan.
• (d) Training.
  • (1) The employer shall apprise employees of the fire hazards of the materials and processes to which they are exposed.
  • (2) The employer shall review with each employee upon initial assignment those parts of the fire prevention plan which the employee must know to protect the employee in the event of an emergency. The written plan shall be kept in the workplace and made available for employee review. For those employers with 10 or fewer employees, the plan may be communicated orally to employees and the employer need not maintain a written plan.
• (e) Maintenance. The employer shall regularly and properly maintain, according to established procedures, equipment and systems installed in the workplace to prevent accidental ignition of combustible materials.

Subchapter 7. General Industry Safety Orders
Group 16. Control of Hazardous Substances
Article 109. Hazardous Substances and Processes

§5193. Bloodborne Pathogens.

• (c) Exposure Response, Prevention and Control.
  • (1) Exposure Control Plan.
    • (A) Each employer having an employee(s) with occupational exposure as defined by subsection (b) of this section shall establish, implement and maintain an effective Exposure Control Plan which is designed to eliminate or minimize employee exposure and which is also consistent with Section 3203.
    • (B) The Exposure Control Plan shall be in writing and shall contain at least the following elements:
      • The exposure determination required by subsection (c)(3);
        1. The schedule and method of implementation for each of the applicable subsections: (d) Methods of Compliance, (e) HIV, HBV and HCV Research Laboratories and Production Facilities, (f) Hepatitis B Vaccination and Post-exposure Evaluation and Follow-up, (g) Communication of Hazards to Employees, and (h) Recordkeeping, of this standard;
        2. The procedure for the evaluation of circumstances surrounding exposure incidents as required by subsection (f)(3)(A).
        3. An effective procedure for gathering the information required by the Sharps Injury Log.
        4. An effective procedure for periodic determination of the frequency of use of the types and brands of sharps involved in the exposure incidents documented on the Sharps Injury Log;
        5. Note: Frequency of use may be approximated by any reasonable and effective method.
        6. An effective procedure for identifying currently available engineering controls, and selecting such controls, where appropriate, for the procedures performed by employees in their respective work areas or departments;
        7. An effective procedure for documenting patient safety determinations made pursuant to Exception 2. of subsection (d)(3)(A); and
        8. An effective procedure for obtaining the active involvement of employees in reviewing and updating the exposure control plan with respect to the procedures performed by employees in their respective work areas or departments.
    • (C) Each employer shall ensure that a copy of the Exposure Control Plan is accessible to employees in accordance with Section 3204(e).
    • (D) The Exposure Control Plan shall be reviewed and updated at least annually and whenever necessary as follows:
      1. To reflect new or modified tasks and procedures which affect occupational exposure;
      2. a. To reflect changes in technology that eliminate or reduce exposure to bloodborne pathogens; and
         b. To document consideration and implementation of appropriate commercially available needleless systems and needle devices and sharps with engineered sharps injury protection;
      3. To include new or revised employee positions with occupational exposure;
      4. To review and evaluate the exposure incidents which occurred since the previous update; and
      5. To review and respond to information indicating that the Exposure Control Plan is deficient in any area.
    • (E) Employees responsible for direct patient care. In addition to complying with subsections (c)(1)(B)6. and (c)(1)(B)8., the employer shall solicit input from non-managerial employees responsible for direct patient care who are potentially exposed to injuries from contaminated sharps in the identification, evaluation, and selection of effective engineering and work practice controls, and shall document the solicitation in the Exposure Control Plan.
    • (F) The Exposure Control Plan shall be made available to the Chief or NIOSH or their respective designee upon request for examination and copying.
  • (2) Information and Training.
    • (A) Employers shall ensure that all employees with occupational exposure participate in a training program which must be provided at no cost to the employee and during working hours.
    • (B) Training shall be provided as follows:
      1. At the time of initial assignment to tasks where occupational exposure may take place;
      2. At least annually thereafter.
    • (C) For employees who have received training on bloodborne pathogens in the year preceding the effective date of the standard, only training with respect to the provisions of the standard which were not included need be provided.
    • (D) Annual training for all employees shall be provided within one year of their previous training.

Subchapter 7. General Industry Safety Orders
Group 27. Fire Protection
Article 157. Portable Fire Extinguishers

§6151. Portable Fire Extinguishers.

• (g) Training and Education.
  • (1) Where the employer has provided portable fire extinguishers for employee use in the workplace, the employer shall also provide an educational program to familiarize employees with the general principles of fire extinguisher use and the hazards involved with incipient stage fire fighting.
  • (2) The employer shall provide the education required in subsection (g)(1) of this Section upon initial employment and at least annually thereafter.
  • (3) The employer shall provide employees who have been designated to use fire fighting equipment as part of an emergency action plan with training in the use of the appropriate equipment.
  • (4) The employer shall provide the training required in subsection (g)(3) of this Section upon initial assignment to the designated group of employees and at least annually thereafter.