Los Angeles County Municipal Code Part 6 Health Hazard Control

No person, firm, corporation or other employer shall use or permit to be used, in the conduct of any business, manufacturing establishment or other place of employment, any process, material or condition known to have any possible adverse effect on the health of any person or persons employed therein, unless arrangements have been made to maintain the occupational environment to the extent that such injury will not result. Every industrial establishment shall be continually maintained in a sanitary condition.

(Ord. 8588 § 9 (part), 1964; Ord. 7583 Part 3 Ch. 16 § 1154, 1959.)

The director shall review and approve or disapprove all plans and specifications pertaining to the design of ventilation systems for the control of occupational health hazards and shielding for a source of radiation, and shall have the authority to require the submission of such plans and specifications. The employer shall submit all plans and specifications at the request of the director, and shall not use, operate or allow any person to work with any hazardous materials or sources of radiation until the director has approved said installation.

(Ord. 8588 § 9 (part), 1964; Ord. 7583 Part 3 Ch. 16 § 1191, 1959.)

No employee shall be exposed to concentrations of dust, fumes, mists, vapors or gases in excess of the maximum acceptable concentrations set forth in the Rules and Regulations established by this Division and set out at Part 3 of Appendix 1 of this Title 11. When excess concentrations of dust, fumes, mists, vapors or gases are present, a local exhaust ventilation system meeting the requirements of the Rules and Regulations shall be provided.

(Ord. 8588 § 9 (part), 1964; Ord. 7583 Part 3 Ch. 16 § 1159, 1959.)

The director may authorize substitute procedures or controls in lieu of the specific design or installation requirements established by the Rules and Regulations when he finds the conditions of such variance will protect protection equivalent to that required therein. Such variance shall not be effective until the specific conditions thereof are approved, in writing, by the director.

(Ord. 8588 § 9 (part), 1964; Ord. 7583 Part 3 Ch. 16 § 1160, 1959.)

The director shall make available information concerning maximum acceptable concentrations of toxic vapors, gases, fumes, mists, dusts and such environmental standards as may pertain to the health and safety of the employees of industrial establishments in its area of jurisdiction.

(Ord. 8588 § 9 (part), 1964; Ord. 7583 Part 3 Ch. 16 § 1155, 1959.)

It shall be the policy of the department of public health to continuously review new data concerning toxic substances and to keep this Division 1 and the Rules and Regulations established by this Division 1 up to date.

(Ord. 2006-0040 § 96, 2006; Ord. 8588 § 9 (part), 1964; Ord. 7583 Part 3 Ch. 16 § 1156, 1959.)

Whenever in the judgment of the director such action will promote the objective of this Division 1 by avoiding or resolving uncertainty as to their application, the director may declare any specifically named material, compound, substance or mixture thereof to be a "toxic substance" subject to requirements established by this Division 1 and interpreted by the Rules and Regulations which he determines to fall within the scope of the definition of the "toxic substance."

(Ord. 8588 § 9 (part), 1964; Ord. 7583 Part 3 Ch. 16 § 1157, 1959.)

The director shall make health and sanitary surveys and studies of industrial establishments to determine whether or not manufacturing processes or procedures may cause adverse conditions which may be responsible for or cause ill health of industrial workers. The result of such survey or study shall be brought to the attention of each establishment involved,

together with any recommendations which may be deemed necessary for the adequate protection of the health and well- being of the workers.

(Ord. 8588 § 9 (part), 1964; Ord. 7583 Part 3 Ch. 16 § 1158, 1959.)

Whenever necessary to control fumes, dust, mists, gases or vapors to comply with Section 11.22.670, a reliable, adequate ventilating system shall be installed and maintained so that the concentration of such substances is below the maximum acceptable concentration, or the process shall be so located, isolated and arranged that persons are not exposed to such quantities as constitute a toxic substance. Respirators may be provided and used in lieu of reducing the concentration of dust, fumes, mists, gases or vapors only when the use of such respirators is of a temporary or intermittent nature and only when such respirators are approved for protection against the particular toxic substance.

(Ord. 8588 § 9 (part), 1964; Ord. 7583 Part 3 Ch. 16 § 1162, 1959.)

Where the removal of harmful dusts, fumes, mists, vapors or gases at their source is impracticable, the employee who may be liable to harmful exposure shall be protected by means of respiratory or other protective equipment approved by the director.

(Ord. 8588 § 9 (part), 1964; Ord. 7583 Part 3 Ch. 16 § 1149, 1959.)

Respiratory protective equipment, including filter, cartridge and supplied-air respirators, hose masks, canister-type gas masks, supplied-air hoods and helmets, and self-contained oxygen breathing apparatus, shall be of a type approved by the director.

(Ord. 8588 § 9 (part), 1964; Ord. 7583 Part 3 Ch. 16 § 1150, 1959.)

The use of respiratory equipment shall, in general, be regarded as emergency protection against occasional relatively brief exposure.

(Ord. 8588 § 9 (part), 1964; Ord. 7583 Part 3 Ch. 16 § 1151, 1959.)

It shall be the duty of the employer to provide and replace, when necessary, such respiratory and other personal protective equipment as may be required, and to maintain same in efficient and sanitary condition.

(Ord. 8588 § 9 (part), 1964; Ord. 7583 Part 3 Ch. 16 § 1152, 1959.)

The employer shall provide the means for cleaning and sanitizing all respiratory equipment, and it shall be the duty of the employer to cause such equipment to be maintained in a clean and sanitary condition. Respiratory equipment shall not be passed on from one man to another until such equipment is cleaned and sanitized. When filter or cartridge-type respirators are used, each employee shall have such respirator for his own exclusive use. Respiratory equipment and replacement units shall be stored, when not in use, in approved containers.

(Ord. 8588 § 9 (part), 1964; Ord. 7583 Part 3 Ch. 16 § 1153, 1959.)