Chapter 4 of 421% of exam

Safety

CSLB weights Safety at about 21% of the C-12 exam: job site safety, environmental impact and traffic control. This page is a short survey; the PrepPass C-12 Earthwork and Paving study guide teaches the section with the Cal/OSHA rules, the stormwater permit, the work-zone manual and a full practice exam.

Job site safety

A program, daily equipment checks, and the heat, noise and silica numbers.

Tailgate meetings
At least every 10 working days.
8 CCR §1509(e)
Heat
Shade above 80°F; high-heat procedures at 95°F; one quart of water per employee per hour.
8 CCR §3395

Environmental impact

Stormwater coverage starts at one acre; washouts, tracking control and covered hazardous waste keep the work out of the storm drain.

Stormwater permit
One acre or more, or part of a larger common plan; a QSD writes the SWPPP and a QSP implements it.
SWRCB Order WQ 2022-0057-DWQ
Concrete washout
At least 50 feet from storm drains and watercourses; not over 75 percent full; covered before and during storms.
Caltrans 2024 Standard Specifications §13-9.03

Traffic control

A work zone has four areas, tapers are sized by speed and offset, and flaggers are trained and visible.

Taper length
L = WS²/60 at 40 mph or less; L = WS at 45 mph or more; shifting taper 0.5 L; shoulder taper 0.33 L.
California MUTCD 2026 Edition, Tables 6B-3 and 6B-4
Flaggers
STOP/SLOW paddle, trained, visible garments; retroreflective material visible at 1,000 feet at night.
8 CCR §1599; California MUTCD 2026 Edition §6D.05

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