PERMANENT RULES
LABOR AND INDUSTRIES
Date of Adoption: August 8, 2001.
Purpose: Chapter 296-307 WAC, Safety standards for agriculture and minor housekeeping changes throughout chapters 296-24, 296-36, 296-45, 296-54, 296-56, 296-62, 296-78, 296-155 and 296-350 WAC, WISHA administrative rules.
As a result of the new safety and health core rules, chapter 296-800 WAC, which were adopted on May 9, 2001, additional clarifying and housekeeping changes were needed. The majority of the changes are references that needed to be updated throughout WISHA's other rules. Also, the agricultural industry voiced their concern at the public hearings for the Safety and Health Core Rules that some of the core rules would apply to them. We subsequently met with stakeholders in the agricultural industry to address their concerns. It was agreed that some of the rules in the safety and health core rule book, which were taken from chapter 296-62 WAC, General occupational health standards, should be included in chapter 296-307 WAC, Safety standards for agriculture. They are:
| Employer chemical hazard communication. | |
| Lighting. | |
| Environmental tobacco smoke. |
A summary of the adopted rules follows:
WAC 296-24-23505 Cabs.
| Added a reference to subsection (3) referencing the portable fire extinguisher requirements located in WAC 296-800-300. |
| Added a reference to subsection (21) referencing the portable fire extinguisher requirements located in WAC 296-800-300. |
| Added a reference to subsection (7) referencing the portable fire extinguisher requirements located in WAC 296-800-300. |
| Added a reference to subsection (8) referencing the portable fire extinguisher requirements located in WAC 296-800-300. |
| Added a reference to subsection (14) referencing the portable fire extinguisher requirements located in WAC 296-800-300. |
| Added a reference to subsection (7) referencing the portable fire extinguisher requirements located in WAC 296-800-300. |
| Added a reference to subsection (14) referencing the portable fire extinguisher requirements located in WAC 296-800-300. |
| Deleted the following definitions: "Means of egress," "exit access," "exit," "exit discharge," "low hazard contents," "high hazard contents" and "ordinary hazard contents." |
| These requirements are located in WAC 296-800-300. | |
| Repealed this section. |
| Requirements relating to employee alarm systems are located in WAC 296-800-300. |
| Repealed this section. |
| Repealed this section. |
| Repealed this section. |
| Repealed this section. |
| Repealed this section. |
| Repealed this section. |
| Repealed this section. |
| Added a reference to subsection (2) referencing the portable fire extinguisher requirements located in WAC 296-800-300. |
| Requirements relating to guarding of stairway floor openings are located in WAC 296-800-250 and 296-800-260. | |
| Requirements relating to guarding of temporary floor openings are located in 296-800-250 and 296-800-260. | |
| Requirements relating to guarding of floor holes are located in WAC 296-800-250 and 296-800-260. | |
| Requirements relating to floor hole covers are located in WAC 296-800-250 and 296-800-260. | |
| Requirements relating to doors or gates opening directly on a stairway are located in WAC 296-800-250. |
| Requirements relating to the guarding of open-sided floors or platforms four feet or more above adjacent floor or ground level are located in WAC 296-800-250. | |
| Deleted the words "floors" and "platforms" from the title of this section. |
| Requirements relating to stairway railings and guards are located in WAC 296-800-250. | |
| Repealed this section. |
| Deleted the words "care and use" from this section. Requirements relating to the care and use of ladders are located in WAC 296-800-290. |
| Moved the table from WAC 296-24-78009, relating to the classification of various species of wood acceptable for use in a ladder, to this section for better organization of information. |
| Requirements relating to the care and use of ladders are located in WAC 296-800-290. | |
| Moved the table relating to the classification of various species of wood acceptable for use in a ladder to WAC 296-24-78005 for better organization of information. | |
| Remaining requirements left in this section relate to ladder tests. | |
| Changed the title of this section to "ladder tests." |
| Added a reference to subsection (7) referencing the portable fire extinguisher requirements located in WAC 296-800-300. |
| Added a reference to subsection (2) referencing the portable fire extinguisher requirements located in WAC 296-800-300. |
| Added a reference to subsection (9) referencing the portable fire extinguisher requirements located in WAC 296-800-300. |
| Added a reference to subsection (7) referencing the portable fire extinguisher requirements located in WAC 296-800-300. |
| Added a reference to subsection (6) referencing the portable fire extinguisher requirements located in WAC 296-800-300. |
| Added a reference to subsection (3) referencing the portable fire extinguisher requirements located in WAC 296-800-300. |
| Added a reference to subsection (4) referencing the portable fire extinguisher requirements located in WAC 296-800-300. |
| Added a reference to subsection (3) referencing the portable fire extinguisher requirements located in WAC 296-800-300. |
| Updated a reference. |
| Updated a reference. |
| Updated references. |
| Deleted the definition of "Illumination." This definition is located in the safety and health core rules, chapter 296-800 WAC. | |
| Renumbered section. |
| Updated a reference. |
| Added a reference to subsection (3) referencing the portable fire extinguisher requirements located in WAC 296-800-300. |
| Added a reference to subsection (7) referencing the portable fire extinguisher requirements located in WAC 296-800-300. |
| Added a reference to subsection (4) referencing the portable fire extinguisher requirements located in WAC 296-800-300. | |
| Added a reference to subsection (7) referencing the portable fire extinguisher requirements located in WAC 296-800-300. |
| Added a reference to subsection (12) referencing the portable fire extinguisher requirements located in WAC 296-800-300. |
| Added a reference to subsection (3) referencing the portable fire extinguisher requirements located in WAC 296-800-300. |
| Added a reference to subsection (20) referencing the portable fire extinguisher requirements located in WAC 296-800-300. |
| Added a reference to subsection (22) referencing the portable fire extinguisher requirements located in WAC 296-800-300. |
| Added a reference to subsection (12) referencing the portable fire extinguisher requirements located in WAC 296-800-300. |
| Updated a reference in subsection (4). |
| Changed the title of this section to "First-aid rule summary." |
| Created this section to include requirements relating to first-aid trained personnel being available. |
| Created this section to include requirements relating to first-aid training. |
| Created this section to include requirements relating to documenting first-aid training. |
| Created this section to include requirements relating to appropriate first-aid supplies. |
| Created this section to include requirements relating to first-aid stations. |
| Repealed this section. Requirements are located in WAC 296-307-03920. |
| Added a reference relating to first-aid in subsection (12). |
| Updated a reference in the note. |
| Updated a reference in the note. |
| Deleted a reference in subsection (17). |
| Created this part to incorporate related health standards currently located in chapter 296-800 WAC that are applicable to the agriculture industry. |
| Created this section to include an introduction and summary relating to an employer's chemical hazard communication program. |
| Created this section to include requirements relating to developing, implementing, maintaining, and making available a written chemical hazard communication program. |
| Created this section to include requirements relating to identifying and listing all the hazardous chemicals in your workplace. |
| Created this section to include requirements relating to obtaining and maintaining material safety data sheets for each hazardous chemical used. |
| Created this section to include requirements relating to making sure that material safety data sheets are readily accessible to your employees. |
| Created this section to include requirements relating to labeling containers that hold hazardous chemicals. |
| Created this section to include requirements relating to informing and training your employees about hazardous chemicals in your workplace. |
| Created this section to include requirements relating to laboratories using hazardous chemicals. |
| Created this section to include requirements relating to handling chemicals in factory-sealed containers. |
| Created this section to include requirements relating to the department translating chemical hazard communication documents upon request. |
| Created this section to include requirements relating to the department attempt to obtain a material safety data sheet upon request. |
| Created this section to include items or chemicals exempt from this rule, and exemptions from labeling. |
| Created this section to include applicable definitions. |
| Created this section to include lighting requirements. |
| Created this section to include requirements relating to providing and maintaining adequate lighting. |
| Created this section to include environmental tobacco smoke requirements. |
| Created this section to include requirements relating to controlling tobacco smoke in your building. |
| Created this section to include requirements relating to controlling tobacco smoke that comes in from the outside. |
| These requirements are located in WAC 296-800-350. | |
| Repealed this section. |
Citation of Existing Rules Affected by this Order: Amending WAC 296-24-23505 Cabs, 296-24-260 Helicopters, 296-24-33009 Container and portable tank storage, 296-24-33015 Service stations, 296-24-47509 Systems utilizing containers other than DOT containers, 296-24-47513 Storage of containers awaiting use or resale, 296-24-47517 Liquefied petroleum gas service stations, 296-24-55001 Definitions, 296-24-68215 Public exhibitions and demonstrations, 296-24-75003 Protection for floor openings, 296-24-75007 Protection of open-sided floors, platforms and runways, 296-24-78003 Application of requirements, 296-24-78005 Materials, 296-24-78009 Care and use of ladders, 296-36-190 Fire prevention and fire fighting, 296-45-67545 Refueling operations, 296-54-521 Motor vehicles, 296-54-59330 Log unloading, booms, and rafting grounds--Boats and mechanical devices on waters, 296-56-60083 Cranes and derricks, 296-56-60171 General requirements, 296-56-60207 General requirements, 296-59-105 Handcharge makeup methods, 296-62-05209 Access to records, 296-62-07619 Hygiene facilities and practices, 296-62-07719 Hygiene facilities and practices, 296-62-09001 Definitions, 296-62-31335 Showers and change rooms, 296-62-40025 Appendix A--National Research Council recommendations concerning chemical hygiene in laboratories (nonmandatory), 296-78-56505 Boats and mechanical devices on water, 296-155-270 Flammable and combustible liquids, 296-155-275 Liquefied petroleum gas (LP-gas), 296-155-525 Cranes and derricks, 296-155-575 Helicopters and helicopter cranes, 296-155-730 Tunnels and shafts, 296-155-745 Compressed air, 296-307-018 What are the employer's responsibilities?, 296-307-039 How many people at the worksite must be first-aid trained?, 296-307-07013 What rules apply to vehicles used to transport employees?, 296-307-12040 Pesticide safety training--Standards for workers--40 CFR, 170.130, 296-307-13025 Pesticide safety training--Standards for pesticide handlers--40 CFR, 170.230 and 296-307-14505 What records must an employer keep for pesticide applications?; and repealing WAC 296-24-59203 Exemptions, 296-24-631 Employee alarm systems, 296-24-63101 Scope and application, 296-24-63103 General requirements, 296-24-63105 Installation and restoration, 296-24-63107 Maintenance and testing, 296-24-63109 Manual operation, 296-24-63199 Appendix A--Employee alarm systems, 296-24-75009 Stairway railings and guards, 296-307-042 Must an employer provide first-aid kits?, and 296-350-60025 Reassuming jurisdiction or forwarding an appeal to the board.
Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 49.17.010, [49.17].040, and [49.17].050.
Adopted under notice filed as WSR 01-12-103 on June 20 [6], 2001.
Changes Other than Editing from Proposed to Adopted Version: As a result of written and oral comments received, the following changes are as a result of the public hearings, to clarify language or for better organization:
WAC 296-307-039 First aid rule summary.
| Added the words "first aid" to the title of this section. | |
| In the definition of "first aid" removed the following language, "Tests, such as X rays, must not be confused with treatment. For example, an employee thought he broke his arm and went to the hospital to get X rays. If the X rays show no broken bones, they are not considered first aid. On the other hand, if they do show a broken bone, they would be considered medical treatment." | |
| Deleted the definition of "First-aid station." |
| Modified the first bullet in this section to read, "Make sure that every two years, employees successfully complete first-aid training in the following core elements:" |
| Removed the language in the first-aid kit table relating to "ten package," "24 package" and "36 package" and replaced it with "first-aid kit." Also, added a reference in the table to see "WAC 296-307-03925" for first-aid station requirements. | |
| Added a note that reads, "Kits should be checked at least weekly to ensure adequate number of needed items are available." | |
| Added a note that reads, "Kits may be carried in any motor vehicle that is used near the crew." |
| Delete the requirement relating to the first-aid station having to be "well marked." |
| Modified the language in the second bullet to read, "Make sure that employees, who must travel between workplaces during a work shift, such as when their work is carried out at more than one geographical location, can immediately obtain the required MSDS information in an emergency. (MSDSs may be kept at a central location at the primary workplace facility and accessed by means such as voice communication or laptop computer.)" |
| Added the following note that reads, "The Employer Chemical Hazard Communication information and training requirements also apply to pesticides. Employers who have employees who are exposed to pesticides must be in compliance with this rule and the Worker protection standards, WAC 296-307-12040." |
Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted at Request of a Nongovernmental Entity: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's Own Initiative: New 24, Amended 44, Repealed 11.
Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Clarify, Streamline, or Reform Agency Procedures: New 24, Amended 44, Repealed 11.
Number of Sections Adopted Using Negotiated Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Pilot Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Other Alternative Rule Making: New 24, Amended 44, Repealed 11.
Other Findings Required by Other Provisions of Law as Precondition to Adoption or Effectiveness of Rule: The
environmental tobacco smoke, lighting and hazard communication
requirements from chapter 296-62 WAC, General occupational health
standards, were incorporated into chapter 296-800 WAC, Safety and
health core rules, which were adopted on May 9, 2001, and
effective on September 1, 2001. Even though chapter 296-800 WAC
was adopted, the agriculture industry is required to follow rules
in chapter 296-62 WAC. Since the requirements were removed from
chapter 296-62 WAC with the safety and health core rule filing we
need to incorporate these requirements into chapter 296-307 WAC,
Safety standards for agriculture. As a result, the effective
date for these rules will be September 1, 2001, which is less
than the required thirty day time period normally followed, RCW 34.05.380. The department believes the earlier effective date is
necessary because of imminent peril to the public health, safety,
or welfare and to ensure continued protection for the agriculture
industry.
Effective Date of Rule:
September 1, 2001.
August 8, 2001
Gary Moore
Director
OTS-4904.2
AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 98-24-096, filed 12/1/98,
effective 3/1/99)
WAC 296-307-018
What are the employer's responsibilities?
You must:
(1) Provide a safe and healthful working environment.
(2) Ensure that employees do not use defective or unsafe tools and equipment, including tools and equipment that may be furnished by the employee.
(3) Implement a written accident prevention program as required by these standards.
(4) Implement a hazard communication program as required by
((chapter 296-62 WAC, Part C)) WAC 296-307-550.
(5) Establish a system for reporting and recording accidents on the OSHA 200 log. (See chapter 296-27 WAC.)
(6) Provide safety education and training programs.
(7) Implement the requirements of WAC 296-62-074 through 296-62-07451 to ensure the safety of employees who are exposed to cadmium in the workplace.
(8) Implement the requirements of WAC 296-62-145 through 296-62-14529 to ensure the safety of employees who are exposed to confined spaces in the workplace.
[Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.040. 98-24-096, 296-307-018, filed 12/1/98, effective 3/1/99; Recodified as 296-307-018. 97-09-013, filed 4/7/97, effective 4/7/97. Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.040, [49.17.]050 and [49.17.]060. 96-22-048, 296-306A-018, filed 10/31/96, effective 12/1/96.]
"Qualified" means that the person holds a current certificate of first-aid training from the American Red Cross or another course with equivalent content and hours.
"Current certificate" means a first-aid training certificate that has not expired.
| Note: | The local department of labor and industries service location has a list of first-aid courses. |
(3) Exception: The above requirements do not apply to employees whose duties require them to work alone at isolated work stations. However, employees working alone must be checked at intervals by some method agreed upon by you and the employee.)) Your responsibility: Make sure first-aid trained personnel are available to provide quick and effective first aid.
You must:
Make sure that first-aid trained personnel are available to provide quick and effective first aid.
Make sure first-aid training contains required subjects.
Keep current and document your first-aid training.
Make sure appropriate first-aid supplies are readily available.
Provide a first-aid station when required.
| Note: | Additional requirements relating to first-aid are also located in the following sections: |
| - | WAC 296-307-07013(12), What rules apply to vehicles used to transport employees? |
| - | WAC 296-307-16175, First-aid requirements for operators of temporary worker housing. |
| - | WAC 296-307-16380, First-aid requirements for operators of cherry harvest camps. |
| Definitions: |
| First aid: | The extent of treatment you would expect from a person trained in basic first aid, using supplies from a first-aid kit. |
| Emergency medical service: | Medical treatment and care given at the scene of any medical emergency or while transporting any victim to a medical facility. |
[Recodified as 296-307-039. 97-09-013, filed 4/7/97, effective 4/7/97. Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.040, [49.17.]050 and [49.17.]060. 96-22-048, 296-306A-039, filed 10/31/96, effective 12/1/96.]
Choose one of the following two options to make sure that your employees have access to personnel who are trained in first aid.
Option 1:
Make sure first-aid trained persons are in your workplace to help your employees if they become hurt or ill on the job by doing the following:
- Make sure that:
⧫ Each person in charge of employees has first-aid training; or
⧫ Another person with first-aid training is present or available to your employees, whenever you have 2 or more employees present.
| Note: | This rule is met if persons other than an employee, such as the farm operator or spouse, hold a current first-aid certificate and are available during working hours. |
| EXCEPTION: | This rule does not apply to individual employees whose duties require them to work alone at isolated workstations. However, employees working alone must be checked at intervals by some method agreed upon by you and the employee. |
Option 2:
Develop and maintain a written first-aid response plan for your workplace. If you choose this option, you must do all of the following:
- Determine how many, if any, employees should be trained in first aid, based on the following factors:
⧫ What type(s) of occupational hazards are present in your workplace?
⧫ How likely is it that a workplace injury or illness will occur?
⧫ How serious are the occupational hazards in your workplace?
⧫ How remote is your workplace?
⧫ How complex is your worksite in terms of size, design, etc.?
⧫ What medical emergencies have occurred at your workplace in the past?
⧫ How far away and how long does it take to get to emergency medical services?
| Note: | Employers who require their employees to provide first aid must comply with the bloodborne pathogen rule, WAC 296-62-080. |
Make sure your first-aid response plan:
- Fits your work location, type of work, and environmental conditions.
- Identifies the available emergency medical services and access numbers and where they are posted.
- Describes the type of first-aid training employees receive, if applicable.
- Identifies the location(s) of first-aid supplies and/or first-aid stations.
- Identifies the contents of first-aid kits.
- Describes how first-aid supplies or kits will be inspected and maintained.
- Describes how injured or ill employees will have access to first-aid trained employees.
[]
| Note: | Assess your workplace to determine if there are certain job hazards, if the time and distance from emergency medical services indicate a need for training beyond the items listed below. |
Make sure that every two years, employees successfully complete first-aid training in the following core elements:
- Role and responsibilities of the first-aid provider.
- Assessing a scene.
- Performing an initial and ongoing assessment of an injured or ill person.
- Scene safety.
- Body substance isolation/bloodborne pathogens.
- Performing an emergency move.
- Placing an ill person in the recovery position.
- Opening and maintaining an airway.
- Providing rescue breathing.
- Managing an obstructed airway.
- Performing adult/one-rescuer CPR.
- Recognizing the warning signs and symptoms of medical problems.
- Recognizing and caring for an injured or ill person with decreased levels of responsiveness.
- Controlling external bleeding and recognizing internal bleeding.
- Recognizing and caring for victims of shock.
- Recognizing and stabilizing spinal injury.
- Recognizing and manually stabilizing suspected skeletal injuries.
- Knowledge of voluntary provisions of first aid, consent and confidentiality.
[]
Keep a written record of your employees' first-aid training by keeping rosters, first-aid cards, or certificates. You may store your documentation on a computer, as long as the information is readily available when requested by personnel of the department of labor and industries.
[]
Make sure first-aid supplies are readily available. (See first-aid kit table.)
Make sure first-aid supplies at your workplace are appropriate to:
- Your occupational setting.
The response time of your emergency medical services.
First-Aid Kit Table
| Number of employees normally assigned to worksite | Minimum first-aid supplies required at worksite |
| 1 - 15 Employees | 1 First-aid kit |
| 16 - 30 Employees | 2 First-aid kits |
| 31 - 50 Employees | 3 First-aid kits |
| Over 50 Employees (within 1/2 mile radius of supplies) | First-aid station (see WAC 296-307-03925) |
| Note: | First-aid kits from your local retailer or safety supplier should be adequate for most nonindustrial employers. |
| The following is a list of suggested items for your first-aid kit: | |
| 1 absorbent compress, 4 x 8 inches | |
| 16 adhesive bandages, 1 x 3 inches | |
| 1 adhesive tape, 5 yards long | |
| 10 antiseptic single-use packages, 0.5 g application | |
| 6 burn treatment single-use packages, 0.5 g application | |
| 1 eye covering (for two eyes) | |
| 1 eye wash, 1 fluid ounce | |
| 4 sterile pads, 3 x 3 inches | |
| 2 pair of medical exam gloves | |
| 1 triangular bandage, 39 x 39 x 55 inches | |
| Optional first-aid kit contents | |
| Bandage compresses, 2 x 2 inches, 3 x 3 inches and 5 x 5 inches | |
| Self-activating cold packs, 4 x 5 inches | |
| Roller bandages, 6 yards long | |
| Mouth-to-mouth barrier for CPR | |
| Kits should be checked at least weekly to ensure adequate number of needed items are available. | |
| Kits may be carried in any motor vehicle that is used near the crew. |
Make sure that first-aid supplies are:
- Easily accessible to all your employees.
- Stored in containers that protect them from damage, deterioration, or contamination. Containers must be clearly marked, not locked, and may be sealed.
- Able to be moved to the location of an injured or acutely ill worker.
[]
Provide a first-aid station with at least one first-aid trained employee available if there are fifty or more employees per shift at one location.
Make sure the first-aid station:
- Is available to employees during all working hours.
- Is equipped with first-aid supplies that are appropriate for your number of employees, occupational setting, and working conditions.
Has at least one portable first-aid kit.
| Note: | Kits may be carried in any motor vehicle that is used near the crew. The vehicle may be considered a first-aid station when it is identified as one and when the driver is trained in first-aid. |
[]
(1) The vehicles are well equipped, covered against the weather, and maintained in good mechanical condition at all times.
(2) A sufficient number of properly secured seats are provided in each vehicle to accommodate the number of employees transported. When emergency conditions make it necessary to transport more employees than the seating capacity can accommodate, all employees must ride within the vehicle. No employee may ride on fenders or running boards of the vehicle.
(3) No employees may ride in or on any vehicle with their legs hanging over the end or sides. All trucks without tail gates should have safety bars.
(4) The vehicles have storage strong enough to retain sharp tools that could present a hazard to employees being transported.
(5) All dump-trucks used to transport employees have an adequate safety chain or locking device to ensure that the body of the truck is not raised while employees are riding in it.
(6) Explosives or highly inflammable materials are not carried in or on the vehicle while it is used to transport employees.
(7) Exhaust systems are installed and maintained in proper condition, and are designed to eliminate the employee exposure to exhaust gases and fumes.
(8) Within the cab, crew trucks must carry only the number of passengers for which they are designed. In any seating arrangement, the driver must be able to maintain full freedom of motion. The driver's normal vision must be free from obstruction by passengers or the seating arrangement.
(9) All enclosed crew trucks have an emergency exit in addition to the regular entrance.
(10) Trucks used for hauling gravel may be used as crew trucks if they meet the following requirements:
(a) Steps in proper places;
(b) Wooden floors;
(c) Securely fastened seats;
(d) Truck is properly covered; and
(e) Compliance with all other general regulations covering crew trucks.
(11) Half-ton vehicles must haul no more than six persons including driver. Three-quarter-ton vehicles must haul no more than eight persons including driver.
(12) The vehicle is equipped with the first-aid supplies required by WAC 296-307-042, two blankets, and a fire extinguisher.
| Note: | Additional requirements relating to first aid are located in WAC 296-307-039. |
[Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.040. 98-24-096, 296-307-07013, filed 12/1/98, effective 3/1/99; Recodified as 296-307-07013. 97-09-013, filed 4/7/97, effective 4/7/97. Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.040, [49.17.]050 and [49.17.]060. 96-22-048, 296-306A-07013, filed 10/31/96, effective 12/1/96.]
(a) Agricultural employer assurance. The agricultural employer shall assure that each worker, required by this section to be trained, has been trained according to this section during the last five years, counting from the end of the month in which the training was completed.
Note:
In addition to the training required by this section, the agricultural employer shall assure without exception, that all
employees are trained in accordance with WAC ((
296-62-054 through 296-62-05427,)) 296-307-550, Employer chemicalhazard communication.
(b) Requirement for workers performing early entry
activities. Before a worker enters a treated area on the
agricultural establishment during a restricted-entry interval to
perform early entry activities permitted by WAC 296-307-12020 and
contacts anything that has been treated with the pesticide to
which the restricted-entry interval applies, including but not
limited to, soil, water, or surfaces of plants, the agricultural
employer shall assure that the worker has been trained.
(c) Requirements for other agricultural workers.
(i) Information before entry. Except as provided in (b) of this subsection, before a worker enters any areas on the agricultural establishment where, within the last thirty days a pesticide to which this part applies has been applied or the restricted-entry interval for such pesticide has been in effect, the agricultural employer shall assure that the worker has been provided the pesticide safety information specified in subsection (3) of this section, in a manner that agricultural workers can understand, such as by providing written materials or oral communication or by other means. The agricultural employer must be able to verify compliance with this requirement.
(ii) Training before the start of a work period. The agricultural employer shall assure that a worker has been trained before the worker enters any areas on the agricultural establishment where, within the last thirty days a pesticide to which this chapter applies has been applied or a restricted-entry interval for such pesticide has been in effect, the agricultural employer shall assure that the worker has been trained.
(2) Exceptions. The following persons need not be trained under this section:
(a) A worker who is currently certified as an applicator of restricted-use pesticides under chapter 17.21 RCW.
(b) A worker who satisfies the training requirements of chapter 17.21 RCW.
(c) A worker who satisfies the handler training requirements of WAC 296-307-13025(3).
(d) A worker who is certified or licensed as a crop advisor by the Washington state department of agriculture under RCW 15.58.230: Provided, That a requirement for such certification or licensing is pesticide safety training that includes all the information set out in WAC 296-307-13025 (3)(d).
(3) Training programs.
(a) General pesticide safety information shall be presented to workers either orally from written materials or audiovisually. The information must be presented in a manner that the workers can understand (such as through a translator) using nontechnical terms. The presenter also shall respond to workers' questions.
(b) The person who conducts the training shall meet at least one of the following criteria:
(i) Be currently certified as an applicator of restricted-use pesticides under chapter 17.21 RCW; or
(ii) Be currently designated as a trainer of certified applicators or pesticide handlers by the Washington state department of agriculture in accordance with chapters 15.58 and 17.21 RCW; or
(iii) Have completed a pesticide safety train-the-trainer program approved by the Washington state department of agriculture in accordance with chapters 15.58 and 17.21 RCW; or
(iv) Satisfy the training requirements in WAC 296-307-13025(3).
(c) Any person who issues a Washington state department of agriculture-approved Worker Protection Standard worker training card must assure that the worker who receives the training card has been trained in accordance with subsection (4)(d) of this section.
(d) The training materials shall convey, at a minimum, the following information:
(i) Where and in what form pesticides may be encountered during work activities.
(ii) Hazards of pesticides resulting from toxicity and exposure, including acute and chronic effects, delayed effects, and sensitization.
(iii) Routes through which pesticides can enter the body, including information on wearing work clothing that protects the body from pesticide residues.
(iv) Signs and symptoms of common types of pesticide poisoning.
(v) Emergency first aid for pesticide injuries or poisonings.
(vi) How to obtain emergency medical care.
(vii) Routine and emergency decontamination procedures, including preventing pesticides from entering the body by:
&sqbul; Emergency eyeflushing techniques;
&sqbul; Washing work clothes separately from other clothes before wearing them again;
&sqbul; Washing before eating, drinking, using chewing gum or tobacco, or using the toilet;
&sqbul; Washing/showering with soap and water, shampooing hair, and putting on clean clothes after work; and
&sqbul; Washing immediately in the nearest clean water if pesticides are spilled on the body. As soon as possible shower, shampoo, and change into clean clothes.
(viii) Hazards from chemigation and drift.
(ix) Hazards from pesticide residues on clothing.
(x) Warnings about taking pesticides or pesticide containers home.
(xi) Requirements of this part designed to reduce the risks of illness or injury resulting from workers' occupational exposure to pesticides, including application and entry restrictions, the design of the warning sign, posting of warning signs, oral warnings, the availability of specific information about applications, and the protection against retaliatory acts.
(4) Verification of training.
(a) Except as provided in subsection (4)(b) of this section, if the agricultural employer assures that a worker possesses a Washington state department of agriculture-approved Worker Protection Standard worker training card, then the requirements of subsection (1) of this section will have been met.
(b) If the agricultural employer is aware or has reason to know that a Washington state department of agriculture-approved Worker Protection Standard worker training card has not been issued in accordance with this section, or has not been issued to the worker bearing the card, or the training was completed more than five years before the beginning of the current month, a worker's possession of that certificate does not meet the requirements of subsection (1) of this section.
[Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.040. 98-24-096, 296-307-12040, filed 12/1/98, effective 3/1/99; Recodified as 296-307-12040. 97-09-013, filed 4/7/97, effective 4/7/97. Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.040, [49.17.]050 and [49.17.]060. 96-20-082, 296-306A-12040, filed 9/30/96, effective 11/1/96.]
Note:
In addition to the training required by this section, the agricultural employer shall assure, without exception, that all
employees are trained in accordance with WAC ((
296-62-054 through 296-62-05427,)) 296-307-550, Employer chemical
hazard communication.
(2) Exceptions. The following persons need not be trained
under this section:
(a) A handler who is currently certified as an applicator of restricted-use pesticides under chapter 17.21 RCW.
(b) A handler who is certified or licensed as a crop advisor by the Washington state department of agriculture under RCW 15.58.230: Provided, That a requirement for such certification or licensing is pesticide safety training that includes all the information set out in WAC 296-307-13025 (3)(d).
(3) Training programs.
(a) General pesticide safety information shall be presented to handlers either orally from written materials or audiovisually. The information must be presented in a manner that the handlers can understand (such as through a translator). The presenter also shall respond to handlers' questions.
(b) The person who conducts the training shall meet at least one of the following criteria:
(i) Be currently certified as an applicator of restricted-use pesticides under chapter 17.21 RCW; or
(ii) Be currently designated as a trainer of certified applicators or pesticide handlers by the Washington state department of agriculture under chapters 15.58 or 17.21 RCW; or
(iii) Have completed a pesticide safety train-the-trainer program approved by a state, federal, or tribal agency having jurisdiction.
(c) Any person who issues a Washington state department of agriculture-approved Worker Protection Standard handler training card must assure that the handler who receives the training card has been trained in accordance with (d) of this subsection.
(d) The pesticide safety training materials must convey, at a minimum, the following information:
(i) Format and meaning of information contained on pesticide labels and in labeling, including safety information such as precautionary statements about human health hazards.
(ii) Hazards of pesticides resulting from toxicity and exposure, including acute and chronic effects, delayed effects, and sensitization.
(iii) Routes by which pesticides can enter the body.
(iv) Signs and symptoms of common types of pesticide poisoning.
(v) Emergency first aid for pesticide injuries or poisonings.
(vi) How to obtain emergency medical care.
(vii) Routine and emergency decontamination procedures.
(viii) Need for and appropriate use of personal protective equipment.
(ix) Prevention, recognition, and first-aid treatment of heat-related illness.
(x) Safety requirements for handling, transporting, storing, and disposing of pesticides, including general procedures for spill cleanup.
(xi) Environmental concerns such as drift, runoff, and wildlife hazards.
(xii) Warnings about taking pesticides or pesticide containers home.
(xiii) Requirements of this part that must be followed by handler employers for the protection of handlers and other persons, including the prohibition against applying pesticides in a manner that will cause contact with workers or other persons, the requirement to use personal protective equipment, the provisions for training and decontamination, and the protection against retaliatory acts.
(4) Verification of training.
(a) Except as provided in (b) of this subsection, if the handler employer assures that a handler possesses a Washington state department of agriculture-approved Worker Protection Standard handler training card, then the requirements of subsection (1) of this section will have been met.
(b) If the handler employer is aware or has reason to know that a Washington state department of agriculture-approved Worker Protection Standard handler training card has not been issued in accordance with this section, or has not been issued to the handler bearing the card, or the handler training was completed more than five years before the beginning of the current month, a handler's possession of that card does not meet the requirements of subsection (1) of this section.
[Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.040. 98-24-096, 296-307-13025, filed 12/1/98, effective 3/1/99; Recodified as 296-307-13025. 97-09-013, filed 4/7/97, effective 4/7/97. Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.040, [49.17.]050 and [49.17.]060. 96-20-082, 296-306A-13025, filed 9/30/96, effective 11/1/96.]
(a) The address or exact location where the pesticide was applied or stored;
| Note: | If you apply pesticides to one acre or more, the location must be shown on the map on the required form for at least the first application. |
(c) The product name on the registered label and the United States Environmental Protection Agency registration number, if applicable, of the pesticide that was applied or stored;
(d) The crop or site to which the pesticide was applied (application crop or site);
(e) The amount of pesticide applied per acre, or other appropriate measure;
(f) The concentration of pesticide applied;
(g) The total area to which pesticide was applied;
(h) If applicable, the licensed applicator's name, address, and telephone number and the name of the individual(s) making the application;
(i) The direction and estimated velocity of the wind at the time the pesticide was applied;
Exception:
Wind information does not have to be recorded for applications of baits in bait stations and pesticide applications within
structures.
(j) Any other reasonable information required by the
department.
(2) A commercial pesticide applicator must provide a copy of the pesticide application records to the owner or lessee of the lands to which the pesticide is applied. Pesticide application records may be provided on any form that includes all required information.
(3) You must update records on the same day that a pesticide is applied. You may use a copy as the record of the pesticide application. You must maintain the records for at least seven years after the date of the application.
(4) You must ensure that pesticide application records are readily accessible to employees and their designated representatives in a central location in the workplace. The records must be available beginning on the day the application is made and for at least thirty days after. You may view the pesticide application records and make your own record from that information.
(5) New or newly assigned employees must be made aware of the accessibility of the application records before working with pesticides or in an area containing pesticides.
(6) When storing pesticides, you must, at least once a year, perform an inventory of the pesticides stored in any work area.
(7) The pesticide inventory records must include the following information:
(a) The location where the pesticide is stored;
(b) The year, month, day, and time the pesticide was first stored;
(c) The product name used on the registered label and the United States Environmental Protection Agency Registration Number, if applicable, of the pesticide that is stored; and
(d) The amount of pesticide in storage at the time of the inventory.
(8) You must maintain a record of pesticide purchases made between the annual inventory dates.
(a) Instead of this purchase record, you may obtain from distributors from whom you buy pesticides, a statement obligating the distributor to maintain the purchase records on your behalf to meet the requirements of this section.
(b) We may require you to submit all purchase records covering the purchases during a specified period of time or in a specified geographical area.
(9) When you end all pesticide activities, you must file the records with us. Anyone who succeeds or replaces you must retain the records required by this section, but that person is not liable for any violations you commit.
(10) You must ensure that the records required under this section are readily accessible to us for inspection. You must also provide copies of the records on request, to:
(a) An employee or the employee's designated representative in the case of an industrial insurance claim filed under Title 51 RCW with the department of labor and industries;
(b) Treating health care personnel; or
(c) The pesticide incident reporting and tracking review panel.
(11) The designated representative or treating health care personnel are not required to identify the employee represented or treated.
(12) We will keep the name of any affected employee confidential according to RCW 49.17.080(1).
(13) When treating health care personnel request records under this section, and the record is required to determine treatment, you must provide copies of the record immediately. Information for treating health care personnel must be made immediately available by telephone, if requested, with a copy of the records provided within twenty-four hours. For all other requests, you must provide copies of the records within seventy-two hours.
(14) If requested, you must provide copies of records on a form provided by the department.
(15) If you suspect that an employee is ill or injured because of an exposure to one or more pesticides, you must immediately provide the employee with a copy of the relevant pesticide application records.
(16) If you refuse to provide a copy of a requested record, the requester may notify the department of the request and your refusal.
(a) Within seven working days, we will request that you provide us with all pertinent copies of the records, except that in a medical emergency we will request within two working days.
(b) You must provide copies of the records to us within twenty-four hours after we request.
(17) We inspect for the records required under this section
as part of any on-site inspection of a workplace conducted under
this chapter or chapter 49.17 RCW. We will determine, during the
inspection, whether the records are readily transferable to a
form adopted by the department, and readily accessible to
employees. However, your records will not be inspected more than
once in any calendar year, unless a previous inspection has found
recordkeeping violations. If recordkeeping violations are found,
we may conduct reasonable multiple inspections, according to
department rules. (((See WAC 296-27-16018, Compliance
inspections, and WAC 296-27-16026, Programmed inspections.)))
Nothing in this section limits our inspection of records
pertaining to pesticide-related injuries, illnesses, fatalities,
accidents, or complaints.
(18) If you fail to maintain the records, or provide access to or copies of the records required under this section, you will be subject to penalties authorized under RCW 49.17.180.
(19) The department of labor and industries and the department of agriculture will jointly adopt by rule, forms that satisfy the information requirements of this section and RCW 17.21.100.
[Recodified as 296-307-14505. 97-09-013, filed 4/7/97, effective 4/7/97. Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.040, [49.17.]050 and [49.17.]060. 96-22-048, 296-306A-14505, filed 10/31/96, effective 12/1/96.]
PART Y - OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH STANDARDSThousands of chemicals can be found in today's workplaces. These chemicals may have the capacity to cause health problems, from minor skin irritations to serious injuries or diseases like cancer.
The employer chemical hazard communication rule was developed to make sure employers and employees are informed about chemical hazards in the workplace.
This rule applies to:
Employers engaged in businesses where chemicals are used, distributed, or produced for use or distribution.
Contractors or subcontractors that work for employers engaged in businesses where chemicals are used, distributed, or produced for use or distribution.
| Note: |
| If you produce, import, distribute and/or repackage chemicals, or choose not to rely on labels or material safety data sheets provided by the manufacturer or importer, you must comply with Chemical hazard communication for manufacturers, importers and distributors, WAC 296-62-054. |
| You may withhold trade secret information under certain circumstances, see Trade secrets, WAC 296-62-053, to find out what information may be withheld as a trade secret and what information must be released. |
| EXEMPTIONS: |
| For the purposes of this employer hazard communication rule, if you are engaged in agricultural production of crops or livestock, "employee" does not mean: | |
| - Immediate family members of the officers of any corporation, partnership, sole proprietorship or other business entity or officers of any closely held corporation. |
| Certain products, chemicals, or items are exempt from this rule. Below is a summarized list of these exemptions. See WAC 296-307-55055 at the end of this rule to get complete information about these exemptions: | |
| - Any hazardous waste or substance | |
| - Tobacco or tobacco products | |
| - Wood or wood products that are not chemically treated and will not be processed, for example, by sawing and sanding | |
| - Food or alcoholic beverages | |
| - Some drugs, such as retail or prescription medications | |
| - Retail cosmetics | |
| - Ionizing and nonionizing radiation | |
| - Biological hazards | |
| - Any consumer product or hazardous substance when workplace exposure is the same as that of a consumer | |
| ⧫ Retail products used in offices in the same manner and frequency used by consumers can be termed "consumer products." Consumer products include things such as: Correction fluid, glass cleaner, and dishwashing liquid. |
| Example: | If you use a household cleaner in your workplace in the same way that a consumer would use it when cleaning their house, the exposure should be the same as the consumer's. ("In the same way" means using the household cleaner in the same manner and frequency.) A janitor using a household cleaner, such as bleach, throughout the day, is not considered to be consumer use. |
| Manufactured items that remain intact are exempt for this rule. | |
| The following are examples: |
| Item | Covered by this rule | Not covered by this rule |
| Brick | sawed or cut in half | used whole or intact |
| Pipe | cut by a torch | bent with a tube bender |
| Nylon rope | burning the ends | tying a knot |
| Manufactured items that are fluids or in the form of particles are not exempt for this rule. |
To inform and train your employees about the hazards of chemicals they may be exposed to during normal working conditions, or in foreseeable emergencies by:
Making a list of the hazardous chemicals present in your workplace
Preparing a written Chemical Hazard Communication Program for your workplace
Informing your employees about this rule and your program
Providing training to your employees about working in the presence of hazardous chemicals
Getting and keeping the material safety data sheets (MSDSs) for the hazardous chemicals
Making sure that labels on containers of hazardous chemicals are in place and easy to read
You must:
Develop, implement, maintain, and make available a written Chemical Hazard Communication Program
Identify and list all the hazardous chemicals present in your workplace
Obtain and maintain material safety data sheets (MSDSs) for each hazardous chemical used
Make sure that material safety data sheets (MSDSs) are readily accessible to your employees
Label containers holding hazardous chemicals
Inform and train your employees about hazardous chemicals in your workplace
Follow these rules for laboratories using hazardous chemicals
Follow these rules for handling chemicals in factory sealed containers
The department must:
Translate certain chemical hazard communication documents upon request
Attempt to obtain a material safety data sheet (MSDS) upon request
Exemption: Items or chemicals exempt from the rule, and exemptions from labeling
Definitions
[]
Develop, implement, maintain, and make available a written Chemical Hazard Communication Program specifically for your workplace. The Chemical Hazard Communication Program must, at a minimum, include:
- A list of hazardous chemicals known to be present in your workplace
- Procedures for making sure all containers are properly labeled
- A description of how you are going to obtain and maintain your material safety data sheets (MSDSs)
- A description of how you are going to train and inform your employees about hazardous chemicals in their workplace
- A description of how you are going to inform your employees about:
⧫ Chemical hazards used during nonroutine tasks
⧫ The hazards associated with chemicals contained in unlabeled pipes in their work areas
You must:
Make sure your written Chemical Hazard Communication Program includes the following communication methods you will apply if you produce, use, or store hazardous chemicals at your workplace(s) in such a way that the employees of other employer(s) may be exposed:
- Provide the other employer(s) with a copy of the relevant material safety data sheets (MSDSs), or provide access to the MSDSs in a central location at the workplace
- Inform the other employer(s) of any precautionary measures that need to be taken to protect employees during normal operating conditions and in foreseeable emergencies
- Describe how to inform the other employer(s) of the labeling system used in the workplace
| Note: | |
| Examples of employees of other employers who could be exposed to chemical hazards that you produce, use, or store in your workplace include employees of construction companies, cleaning services, or maintenance contractors visiting or working on-site. | |
| Your employees have the right to get chemical hazard communication information from other employers at workplaces where they are working; and employees of other employers have the right to get the information from you when they are working at your workplace. | |
| Include in your written Chemical Hazard Communication Program the methods that you will use to share information with other employers and their employees at your workplace(s) regarding: | |
| Access to MSDSs | |
| Precautionary measures such as personal protective equipment (PPE) and emergency plans | |
| Any labeling systems used at the workplace. | |
| If you rely on another employer's chemical hazard communication program to share the information required and the program meets the requirements of this rule, document in your own written Chemical Hazard Communication Program. |
Make your Chemical Hazard Communication Program available to your employees.
| Note: | Where employees must travel between workplaces during a workshift, that is, if their work is carried out at more than one geographical location, the written Chemical Hazard Communication Program may be kept at the primary workplace facility. |
[]
Identify all hazardous chemicals in your workplace. This includes any chemical that is known to be present in your workplace in such a way that employees may be exposed to it under normal conditions of use or in a foreseeable emergency.
Create a list of these chemicals using the chemical or common name on the material safety data sheet (MSDS). This list:
Must be compiled for the workplace as a whole, or for individual work areas.
Is necessary to make sure that all hazardous chemicals are identified and that MSDS, and labeling rules are met.
Must be current.
| Note: | The following are some ways to determine whether a product is hazardous: |
| Look for words on the label, such as "CAUTION," "WARNING," or "DANGER." |
| Look for words or "hazard coding" that indicate that the chemical is flammable, an irritant, corrosive, carcinogenic, etc. "Hazard coding" refers to words, numbers, or colors that tell you a chemical is dangerous. |
| Check the product's MSDS for hazard information. | |
| Examples of hazardous chemicals are: Acids, adhesives, caustics, fuels, paints, varnishes, shellacs and pesticides. Too many other classes of hazardous chemicals exist to list them all here. If you have any questions about a chemical you have at your workplace, contact your local L&I office. |
[]
Obtain a MSDS for each hazardous chemical used as soon as possible if the MSDS is not provided with the shipment of a hazardous chemical from the chemical manufacturer or importer.
| Note: |
| To obtain a MSDS, you may try calling the manufacturer or checking their website. |
| If you have a commercial account with a retailer or wholesaler, you have the right to request and receive a MSDS about hazardous chemicals you purchase. |
| If a chemical is purchased from a retailer with no commercial accounts, you have the right to request and receive the manufacturer's name and address so that you can contact them and request a MSDS for the chemical. |
| Whoever prepares the MSDS is required to mark all blocks on the form, even if there is no relevant information for that section. |
| If you have problems getting a MSDS within 30 calendar days after making a written request to the chemical manufacturer, importer, or distributor, you can get help from WISHA. You may contact your local regional office for assistance or make a written request for assistance to the: | |
| Department of Labor and Industries | |
| Right-to-Know Program P.O. Box 44610 |
|
| Olympia, Washington 98504-4610 |
| Include in your request: |
| A copy of the purchaser's written request to the chemical manufacturer, importer, or distributor |
| The name of the product suspected of containing a hazardous chemical |
| The identification number of the product, if available |
| A copy of the product label, if available |
| The name and address of the chemical manufacturer, importer, or distributor from whom the product was obtained |
Maintain a MSDS for each hazardous chemical:
- Keep copies of the required MSDSs for each hazardous chemical present in your workplace. These may be kept in any form, including as a part of operating procedures.
- Each MSDS must be in English. You may also keep copies in other languages.
| Note: |
| If you choose not to rely on MSDSs or labels provided by the manufacturer or importer, you must comply with the chemical hazard communication standard for manufacturers, importers, and distributors, WAC 296-62-054. |
| It may be more appropriate to address the hazards of a process rather than individual hazardous chemicals. MSDSs can be designed to cover groups of hazardous chemicals in a work area. |
[]
Reviser's note: The section above appears as filed by the agency pursuant to RCW 34.08.040; however, the reference to WAC 296-370-55015 is probably intended to be WAC
296-307-55015.
NEW SECTION
WAC 296-307-55020
Make sure material safety data sheets are
readily accessible to your employees.
You must:
Make sure that MSDSs are readily accessible, easily obtained without delay during each work shift to employees when they are in their work area(s).
Make sure that employees, who must travel between workplaces during a work shift, such as when their work is carried out at more than one geographical location, can immediately obtain the required MSDS information in an emergency. (MSDSs may be kept at a central location at the primary workplace facility and accessed by means such as voice communication or laptop computer.)
| Note: |
| Electronic access (such as computer or fax), microfiche, and other alternatives to maintaining paper copies of the MSDSs are permitted as long as they do not create barriers to immediate employee access in each workplace. |
| Barriers to immediate access of electronic MSDSs may include: |
| Power outages |
| Equipment failure |
| System delays |
| Deficient user knowledge to operate equipment |
| Location of equipment outside the work area | |
| Solutions to eliminating these and other possible barriers to access may require the availability of back-up systems, employee training, and providing access equipment in the work areas. |
[]
| EXEMPTIONS: | The following is a summary of items that are exempt from this rule. For complete information about each of these, see WAC 296-307-55055. |
| Pesticides, when labeled as required by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) | |
| Food, food additives, color additives, drugs, cosmetics, or medical/veterinary devices or products | |
| Alcoholic beverages not intended for industrial use | |
| Consumer products labeled, as required, by the Consumer Product Safety Commission | |
| Agriculture or vegetable seeds treated and labeled as required by the Federal Seed Act |
| Note: | You are not required to label portable containers into which hazardous chemicals are transferred from labeled containers, if the chemical is used and controlled by the employee who performed the transfer within the same shift. |
Make sure that each container of hazardous chemicals in the workplace is labeled, tagged, or marked with the following information:
The identity of the hazardous chemical(s) using either the chemical or common name
| Note: | You are not required to list each component in a hazardous mixture on the label. If a mixture is referred to on a material safety data sheet (MSDS) by a product name, then the product name should be used as the identifier. |
| Name of Chemical |
| Physical Hazards |
| Health Hazards; |
| Health effects information |
| Affected Target Organs |
⧫ Signs
⧫ Placards
⧫ Process sheets
⧫ Batch tickets
⧫ Operating procedures or
⧫ Other such written materials, as long as the alternate method identifies the containers and conveys the required label information.
| Note: |
| You may use words, pictures, symbols or any combination to communicate the hazards of the chemical. Be sure to train your employees so they can demonstrate a knowledge of the labeling system you use. |
| Place illustration here. |
| Some alternative labeling systems do not communicate target organ information, so the employee will have to rely on training provided by the employer to obtain this information. |
Not remove or deface existing labels on incoming containers of hazardous chemicals (such as those marked with United States Department of Transportation (USDOT) markings, placards, and labels), unless the container is immediately labeled with the required information. You do not need to put on new labels if existing labels already provide the required information. If the package or container is sufficiently cleaned of residue and purged of vapors to remove any potential health or physical hazard, existing labels can be removed.
Make sure that labels or other forms of warning are legible, in English, and prominently displayed on the container, or readily available in the work area throughout each work shift.
| Note: |
| Employers with non-English speaking employees may use other languages in the warning information in addition to the English language. |
| Place illustration here. |
| Above is an example of a labeled container. You may use a laminated or coated label, affixed to the container with a wire, to avoid deterioration of labels due to a solvent, such as acetone. |
Make sure if the hazardous chemical is regulated by WISHA or OSHA in a substance-specific health rule, that the labels or other warnings are used according to those rules.
[]
| Note: | The employer chemical hazard communication information and training requirements also apply to pesticides. Employers who have employees who are exposed to pesticides must be in compliance with this rule and the worker protection standards, WAC 296-307-12040. |
Provide employees with effective information on hazardous chemicals in their work area at the time of their initial job assignment. Whenever a new physical or health hazard related to chemical exposure is introduced into their employees' work areas, information must be provided.
Inform employees of:
⧫ The requirements of this rule.
⧫ Any operations in their work area where hazardous chemicals are present.
⧫ The location and availability of your written Chemical Hazard Communication Program, including the list(s) of hazardous chemicals and material safety data sheets (MSDSs) required by this rule.
Provide employees with effective training about hazardous chemicals in their work area at the time of their initial job assignment. Whenever a new physical or health hazard related to chemical exposure is introduced, the employees must be trained. Make sure that employee training includes:
Methods and observations that may be used to detect the presence or release of a hazardous chemical in the work area. Examples of these methods and observations may include:
⧫ Monitoring conducted by you
⧫ Continuous monitoring devices
⧫ Visual appearance or odor of hazardous chemicals when being released
⧫ Physical and health hazards of the chemicals in the work area, including the likely physical symptoms or effects of overexposure
⧫ Steps employees can take to protect themselves from the chemical hazards in your workplace, including specific procedures implemented by you to protect employees from exposure to hazardous chemicals. Specific procedures may include:
&sqbul; Appropriate work practices
&sqbul; Engineering controls
&sqbul; Emergency procedures
&sqbul; Personal protective equipment to be used
&sqbul; Details of the Chemical Hazard Communication Program developed by you, including an explanation of the labeling system and the MSDS, and how employees can obtain and use the appropriate hazard information.
Tailor information and training to the types of hazards to which employees will be exposed. The information and training may be designed to cover categories of hazards, such as flammability or cancer-causing potential, or it may address specific chemicals. Chemical-specific information must always be available through labels and MSDSs.
Make reasonable efforts to post notices in your employees' native languages (as provided by the department) if those employees have trouble communicating in English.
| Note: |
| Interactive computer-based training or training videos can be used provided they are effective. |
| Your MSDSs may not have WISHA permissible exposure limits (PELs) listed. In some cases, WISHA PELs are stricter than the OSHA PELs and other exposure limits listed on the MSDSs you receive. If this is the case, you must refer to the WISHA PEL table, WAC 296-62-075, for the appropriate exposure limits to be covered during training. |
[]
| Note: | Laboratories are required to have a written Chemical Hygiene Plan under WAC 296-62-400, if applicable. They are not required to have a written Chemical Hazard Communication Program. |
| You may combine your Accident Prevention Program and Chemical Hazard Communication Program to assist you in developing a Chemical Hygiene Plan for your laboratory. |
(1) Make sure that labels on incoming containers of hazardous chemicals are in place and readable.
(2) Maintain material safety data sheets (MSDSs) received with incoming shipments of hazardous chemicals and make them available to laboratory employees when they are in their work areas.
(3) Provide laboratory employees with information and training as described in: "Inform and train your employees about hazardous chemicals in your workplace," WAC 296-307-55030, except for the part about the location and availability of the written Chemical Hazard Communication Program.
| Note: | Laboratory employers that ship hazardous chemicals are considered to be either chemical manufacturers or distributors. When laboratory employers ship hazardous chemicals they must comply with the rule, "Hazard communication standards for chemical manufacturers, importers and distributors," WAC 296-62-054. |
[]
This applies to situations where employees only handle chemicals in factory-sealed containers that are not opened under normal use (such as those found in marine cargo handling, trucking, warehousing, or retail sales). You must:
(1) Make sure that labels on incoming containers of hazardous chemicals are in place and readable.
(2) Keep or obtain material safety data sheets.
Keep any MSDSs that are received with incoming shipments of the sealed containers of hazardous chemicals
If a factory-sealed container of hazardous chemicals comes without a MSDS, obtain one as soon as possible, if an employee requests it
(3) Make sure that the MSDSs are readily accessible during each work shift to employees when they are in their work area(s).
(4) Inform and train your employees about hazardous chemicals in your workplace, to protect them in case of a hazardous chemical spill or leak from a factory-sealed container. You do not have to cover the location and availability of the written Chemical Hazard Communication Program.
[]
Upon receipt of a written or verbal request, prepare and make available (within available resources) to employers or the public, a translation into Cambodian, Chinese, Korean, Spanish, or Vietnamese of any of the following:
An employer's written Chemical Hazard Communication Program
A material safety data sheet or
Written materials prepared by the department to inform employees of their rights described in this rule, regarding chemical hazard communication
| Note: | Written requests for translations should be directed to: |
| Department of Labor and Industries | |
| Right-to-Know Program | |
| P.O. Box 44610 | |
| Olympia, Washington 98504-4610 |
[]
Upon receipt of an employer's written request for a material safety data sheet, attempt to obtain the MSDS from the chemical manufacturer, importer, or distributor. When the department receives the MSDS, the department must forward a copy of it to the purchaser at no cost. Small business employers will be given priority for this service.
[]
Listed below are the full descriptions of the items or chemicals that are exempt, or not covered, by this rule:
Any consumer product or hazardous substance, defined in the Consumer Product Safety Act (15 U.S.C. 2051 et seq.) and Federal Hazardous Substance Act (15 U.S.C. 1261 et seq.) respectively, where you can show that it is used in the workplace for the purpose intended by the chemical manufacturer or importer of the product, and the use results in a duration and frequency of exposure that is not greater than the range of exposures that could reasonably be experienced by consumers when used for the purpose intended.
Any hazardous waste, defined by the Hazardous Waste Management Act chapter 70.105 RCW, when subject to regulations issued under that act by the department of ecology, that describes specific safety, labeling, personnel training, and other rules for the accumulation, handling, and management of hazardous waste.
Any hazardous waste, defined by the Solid Waste Disposal Act, as amended by the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act of 1976, as amended (42 U.S.C. 6901 et seq.), when subject to regulations issued under that act by the Environmental Protection Agency.
Any hazardous substance, defined by the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA) (42 U.S.C. 9601 et seq.), when the hazardous substance is the focus of remedial or removal action being conducted under CERCLA in accordance with Environmental Protection Agency regulations.
Tobacco or tobacco products.
Wood or wood products, including lumber that will not be processed, where the chemical manufacturer or importer can establish that the only hazard they pose to the employees is the potential for flammability or combustibility. Wood or wood products that have been treated with hazardous chemicals covered by this rule, and wood that may be subsequently sawed or cut, generating dust, are not exempt.
Articles, meaning manufactured items other than a fluid or particle that:
⧫ Are formed to a specific shape or design during manufacture;
⧫ Have end use function(s) dependent in whole or in part upon their shape or design during end use; and
⧫ Under normal conditions of use, do not release more than very small quantities, for example minute or trace amounts of a hazardous chemical such as emissions from a marking pen or a newly varnished wood chair, and do not pose a physical hazard or health risk to employees.
Food or alcoholic beverages that are sold, used, or prepared in a retail establishment such as a grocery store, restaurant, or drinking place, and foods intended for personal consumption by employees while in the workplace.
Any drug, defined in the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. 301 et seq.), when it is in solid, final form for direct administration to the patient (for example, tablets or pills); drugs that are packaged by the chemical manufacturer for sale to consumers in a retail establishment (for example over-the-counter drugs); and drugs intended for personal consumption by employees while in the workplace (for example, first-aid supplies). Aerosolized or cytotoxic drugs administered by a health care worker are not excluded.
Cosmetics packaged for sale to consumers in a retail establishment, and cosmetics intended for personal consumption by employees while in the workplace. Ionizing and nonionizing radiation.
Biological hazards.
This rule does not require labeling of the following chemicals:
Any pesticide, defined in the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (7 U.S.C. 136 et seq.), when subject to the labeling requirements of that act and labeling regulations issued under that act by the Environmental Protection Agency.
Any chemical substance or mixture, in the Toxic Substance Control Act (15 U.S.C. 2601 et seq.), when subject to the labeling requirements of that act, and labeling requirements issued under that act by the Environmental Protection Agency.
Any food, food additive, color additive, drug, cosmetic, or medical/veterinary device or product, including materials intended for use as ingredients in such products (for example, flavors and fragrances), as such terms are defined in the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. 301 et seq.) or the Virus-Serum Toxin Act of 1913 (21 U.S.C. 151 et seq.) and regulations issued under those acts, when they are subject to the labeling requirements under those acts by either the Food and Drug Administration or the Department of Agriculture.
Any distilled spirits (beverage alcohols), wine, or malt beverage intended for nonindustrial use, defined in the Federal Alcohol Administration Act (27 U.S.C. 201 et seq.) and regulations issued under that act, when subject to the labeling requirements of that act and labeling regulations issued under that act by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms.
Any consumer product or hazardous substance, as defined in the Consumer Product Safety Act (15 U.S.C. 2051 et seq.) and Federal Hazardous Substances Act (15 U.S.C. 1261 et seq.) respectively, when subject to a consumer product safety rule or labeling requirement of those acts, or regulations issued under those acts by the Consumer Product Safety Commission.
Agricultural or vegetable seed treated with pesticides and labeled in accordance with the Federal Seed Act (7 U.S.C. 1551 et seq.), and the labeling requirements issued under that act by the Department of Agriculture.
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Chemical
Any element, chemical compound, or mixture of elements and/or compounds.
Chemical manufacturer
An employer with a workplace where one or more chemicals are produced for use or distribution.
Chemical name
The scientific designation of a chemical in accordance with one of the following:
The nomenclature system developed by the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC)
The chemical abstracts service (CAS) rules of nomenclature
OR
A name which will clearly identify the chemical for the purpose of conducting a hazard evaluation.
Combustible liquid
A combustible liquid has a flashpoint of at least 100F (37.8C) and below 200F (93.3C). Mixtures with at least 99% of their components having flashpoints of 200F (93.3C) or higher are not considered combustible liquids.
Commercial account
An arrangement in which a retail distributor sells hazardous chemical(s) to an employer, generally in large quantities over time, and/or at costs that are below the regular retail price.
Common name
Any designation or identification such as:
Code name
Code number
Trade name
Brand name
Generic name used to identify a chemical other than by its chemical name.
Compressed gas
A gas or mixture of gases that, when in a container, has an absolute pressure exceeding:
40 psi at 70F (21.1C)
OR
104 psi at 130F (54.4C) regardless of the pressure at 70F (21.1C)
Compressed gas can also mean a liquid with a vapor pressure that exceeds 40 psi at 100F (37.8C).
Container
Any container, except for pipes or piping systems, that contains a hazardous chemical. It can be any of the following:
Bag
Barrel
Bottle
Box
Can
Cylinder
Drum
Reaction vessel
Storage tank.
Designated representative
Any individual or organization to which an employee gives written authorization.
A recognized or certified collective bargaining agent without regard to written employee authorization.
The legal representative of a deceased or legally incapacitated employee.
Director
The director means the director of the department of labor and industries or their designee.
Distributor
A business, other than a chemical manufacturer or importer, that supplies hazardous chemicals to other distributors or to employers. See WAC 296-62-054 for requirements dealing with manufacturers, distributors and importers - hazard communication.
Employee
The term employee and other terms of like meaning, unless the context of the provision containing such term indicates otherwise, means an employee of an employer who is employed in the business of his or her employer whether by way of manual labor or otherwise and every person in this state who is engaged in the employment of or who is working under an independent contract the essence of which is personal labor for an employer under this standard whether by way of manual labor or otherwise.
Employer
An employer is any person, firm, corporation, partnership, business trust, legal representative, or other business entity which engages in any business, industry, profession, or activity in this state and employs one or more employees or who contracts with one or more persons, the essence of which is the personal labor of such person or persons and includes the state, counties, cities, and all municipal corporations, public corporations, political subdivisions of the state, and charitable organizations: Provided, That any persons, partnership, or business entity not having employees, and who is covered by the Industrial Insurance Act must be considered both an employer and an employee.
Explosive
A chemical that causes a sudden, almost instant release of pressure, gas, and heat when exposed to a sudden shock, pressure, or high temperature.
Exposure or exposed
An employee has been, or may have possibly been, subjected to a hazardous chemical, toxic substance or harmful physical agent while working. An employee could have been exposed to hazardous chemicals, toxic substances, or harmful physical agents in any of the following ways:
Inhalation
Ingestion
Skin contact
Absorption
Related means.
The terms exposure and exposed only cover workplace exposure involving a toxic substance or harmful physical agent in the workplace different from typical nonoccupational situations in the way it is:
Used
Handled
Stored
Generated
OR
Present.
Flammable
A chemical covered by one of the following categories:
Aerosol flammable means an aerosol that, when tested by the method described in 16 CFR 1500.45 yields either a flame projection more than 18 inches at full valve opening or a flashback (a flame extending back to the valve) at any degree of valve opening;
Gas, flammable means:
A gas that, at temperature and pressure of the surrounding area, forms a flammable mixture with air at a concentration of 13% by volume or less; or
A gas that, at temperature and pressure of the surrounding area, forms a range of flammable mixtures with air wider than 12% by volume, regardless of the lower limit;
Liquid, flammable means any liquid having a flashpoint below 100F (37.8C), except any mixture having components with flashpoints of 100F (37.8C) or higher, the total of which make up 99% or more of the total volume of the mixture.
Solid, flammable means a solid, other than a blasting agent or explosive as defined in WAC 296-52-417 or 29 CFR 1910.109(a), that is likely to cause fire through friction, moisture absorption, spontaneous chemical change, or retained heat from manufacturing or processing, or which can be ignited readily. Solid, inflammable also means that when the substance is ignited, it burns so powerfully and persistently that it creates a serious hazard. A chemical must be considered to be a flammable solid if, when tested by the method described in 16 CFR 1500.44, it ignites and burns with a self-sustained flame at a rate greater than one-tenth of an inch per second along its major axis.
Flashpoint
The minimum temperature at which a liquid gives off a vapor in sufficient concentration to ignite when tested by any of the following measurement methods:
Tagliabue closed tester: (See American National Standard Method of Test for Flash Point by Tag Closed Tester, Z11.24-1979 (ASTM D 56-79)) for liquids with a viscosity of less than 45 Saybolt Universal Seconds (SUS) at 100F (37.8C), that do not contain suspended solids and do not have a tendency to form a surface film under test; or
Pensky-Martens closed tester: (See American National Standard Method of Test for Flash Point by Pensky-Martens Closed Tester, Z11.7-1979 (ASTM D 93-79)) for liquids with a viscosity equal to or greater than 45 SUS at 100F (37.8C), or that contain suspended solids, or that have a tendency to form a surface film under test; or
Setaflash closed tester: (See American National Standard Method of Test for Flash Point by Setaflash Closed Tester (ASTM D 3278-78).)
| Note: | Organic peroxides, which undergo auto accelerating thermal decomposition, are excluded from any of the flashpoint measurement methods specified above. |
Any potential event that could result in an uncontrolled release of a hazardous chemical into the workplace. Examples of foreseeable emergencies include equipment failure, rupture of containers, or failure of control equipment.
Hazardous chemical
Any chemical that is a physical or health hazard.
Hazard warning
Can be a combination of words, pictures, symbols, or combination appearing on a label or other appropriate form of warning which shows the specific physical and health hazard(s), including target organ effects, of the chemical(s) in the container(s).
| Note: | See definition for physical hazard and health hazard to determine which hazards must be covered. |
Any chemical with the potential to cause acute or chronic health effects in exposed employees. The potential must be statistically significant based on evidence from at least one study conducted under established scientific principles. Health hazards include:
Chemicals which are carcinogens
Toxic or highly toxic agents
Reproductive toxins
Irritants
Corrosives
Sensitizers
Hepatotoxins
Nephrotoxins
Neurotoxins
Agents which act on the hematopoietic system
Agents which damage the lungs, skin, eyes, or mucous membranes.
See WAC 296-62-054 for more definitions and explanations about the scope of health hazards covered by this part.
See WAC 296-62-054 for the criteria used for determining whether or not a chemical is considered hazardous for purposes of this rule.
Identity
Any chemical or common name listed on the material safety data sheet (MSDS) for the specific chemical. Each identity used must allow cross-references among the:
Required list of hazardous chemicals
Chemical label
MSDSs.
Importer
The first business within the customs territory of the USA that:
Receives hazardous chemicals produced in other countries
AND
Supplies them to distributors or employers within the USA.
See WAC 296-62-054 for requirements dealing with manufacturers, importers and distributors - hazard communication.
Material safety data sheet (MSDS)
Written or printed material that tells you about the chemical(s), what it can do to and how to protect yourself, others, or the environment.
For requirements for developing MSDSs see WAC 296-62-054 -- manufacturers, importers, and distributors - hazard communication.
Mixture
Any combination of 2 or more chemicals (if that combination did not result from a chemical reaction).
Organic peroxide
This is an organic compound containing the bivalent-0-0-structure. It may be considered a structural derivative of hydrogen peroxide if one or both of the hydrogen atoms has been replaced by an organic radical.
Oxidizer
A chemical other than a blasting agent or explosive as defined in WAC 296-52-417 or CFR 1910.109(a), that starts or promotes combustion in other materials, causing fire either of itself or through the release of oxygen or other gases.
Permissible exposure limits (PELs)
PELs are airborne concentrations of substances measured by their concentration in the air no matter what amount is breathed by the employee. The permissible exposure limits (PELs) must include the following four categories:
Permissible exposure limits - Time-weighted average (PEL-TWA) is the time-weighted average airborne exposure to any 8-hour work shift of a 40-hour work week and must not be exceeded.
Permissible exposure limits - Short-term exposure limit (PEL-STEL) is the employee's 15-minute time-weighted average exposure which must not be exceeded at any time during a work day unless another time limit is specified in a parenthetical notation below the limit. If another time period is specified, the time-weighted average exposure over that time period must not be exceeded at any time during the working day.
Permissible exposure limits - Ceiling (PEL-C) is the employee's exposure which must not be exceeded during any part of the work day. If instantaneous monitoring is not feasible, then the ceiling must be assessed as a 15-minute time-weighted average exposure which must not be exceeded at any time over a working day.
Skin notation is the potential contribution to the overall employee exposure by the cutaneous route including mucous membranes and eye, either by airborne, or more particularly, by direct contact with the substance. These substances are identified as having a skin notation in the OSHA and WISHA PEL tables (29 CFR Part 1910 Subpart Z and WAC 296-62-075, respectively).
Physical hazard
A chemical that has scientifically valid evidence to show it is one of the following:
Combustible liquid
Compressed gas
Explosive
Flammable
Organic peroxide
Oxidizer
Pyrophoric
Unstable (reactive)
Water reactive.
Produce
Any one of the following:
Manufacture
Process
Formulate
Blend
Extract
Generate
Emit
Repackage.
Purchaser
An employer who buys one or more hazardous chemicals to use in their workplace.
Pyrophoric
A chemical is pyrophoric if it will ignite spontaneously in the air when the temperature is 130F (54.4C) or below.
Responsible party
Someone who can provide appropriate information about the hazardous chemical and emergency procedures.
Specific chemical identity
This term applies to chemical substances. It can mean the:
Chemical name
Chemical abstracts service (CAS) registry number
Any other information that reveals the precise chemical designation of the substance.
Trade secret
Any confidential:
Formula
Pattern
Process
Device
Information
Collection of information.
The trade secret is used in an employer's business and gives an opportunity to gain an advantage over competitors who do not know or use it.
See WAC 296-62-053 for requirements dealing with trade secrets.
Unstable (reactive)
An unstable or reactive chemical is one that in its pure state, or as produced or transported, will vigorously polymerize, decompose, condense, or will become self-reactive under conditions of shocks, pressure or temperature.
Use
Means to:
Package
Handle
React
Emit
Extract
Generate as a by-product
Transfer.
Water-reactive
A water-reactive chemical reacts with water to release a gas that is either flammable or presents a health hazard.
Work area
A room or defined space in a workplace where hazardous chemicals are produced or used, and where employees are present.
Workplace
The term workplace means an establishment, job site, or project, at one geographical location containing one or more work areas.
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| Note: | This section establishes minimal levels of lighting for safety purposes only. Guidelines pertaining to optimal levels of lighting and illumination may be found in Practice for Industrial Lighting, ANSI/IES RP7-1979. |
Provide and maintain adequate lighting for all work activities in your workplace. See the following table.
| Lighting Table | ||
| Activity | Minimum Acceptable average lighting level in an area: | Any one single measurement used to determine the average lighting level*cannot be less than: |
| (Foot-candles) | (Foot-candles) | |
| Indoor task | 10 | 5 |
| Outdoor task | 5 | 2.5 |
| Nontask activities for both indoor and outdoor | 3 | 1.5 |
| Lighting levels must be measured at thirty inches above the floor/working surface or at the task. |
Have adequate light for employees to see nearby objects that might be potential hazards or to see to operate emergency controls or other equipment, if general lighting is not available.
| Note: | Lighting levels can be measured with a light meter. |
| Conversion information: 1 foot candle = 1 lumen incident per square foot = 10.76 lux. |
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To control exposure to environmental tobacco smoke in your office work environment
You must:
Control tobacco smoke in your building
Control tobacco smoke that comes in from the outside
| Note: | This rule does not preempt any federal, state, municipal, or other local authority's regulation of indoor smoking that is more protective than this section. |
| Definitions: | Office work environment is an indoor or enclosed occupied space where clerical work, administration, or business is carried out. |
| In addition, it includes: | |
| Other workplace spaces controlled by the employer and used by office workers, such as cafeterias, meeting rooms, and washrooms. | |
| Office areas of manufacturing and production facilities, not including process areas. | |
| Office areas of businesses such as food and beverage establishments, agricultural operations, construction, commercial trade, services, etc. | |
| Smoking | |
| A person is smoking if they are: | |
| Lighting up | |
| Inhaling | |
| Exhaling | |
| Carrying a pipe, cigar or cigarette of any kind that is burning. |
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| EXEMPTION: | The minimum criteria specified in this rule do not apply to outdoor structures provided for smokers such as gazebos or lean-tos. |
Prohibit smoking in your office work environment
OR
Restrict smoking inside your office work environment to designated enclosed smoking rooms that meet the following minimum criteria:
Identify smoking rooms clearly with signs.
Make sure the designated smoking rooms are not in common areas, such as:
⧫ Places where nonsmoking employees are required to work or visit
⧫ Restrooms
⧫ Washrooms
⧫ Hallways
⧫ Stairways
⧫ Cafeterias/lunchrooms
⧫ Meeting rooms
Make sure that no employee is required to enter a designated smoking room while someone is smoking there.
Conduct cleaning and maintenance work in designated smoking rooms when smokers are not present.
You must:
Ventilate designated smoking rooms at a rate of at least 60 cubic feet per minute per smoker (calculated on the basis of the maximum number of smokers expected during the course of a normal working day), which can be supplied by transfer air from adjacent areas.
Maintain enough negative air pressure in designated smoking areas to prevent smoke from migrating into nonsmoking areas, at all times.
Operate a separate mechanical exhaust system in designated smoking rooms, to make sure exhausted air moves directly outside, and does not recirculate into nonsmoking areas.
Prohibit use of the designated smoking room if the mechanical exhaust system is not working properly, until repairs are completed.
| Note: | This ventilation rate is recommended for occupancies of no more than 7 people for every 100 square feet of net occupied space in the designated smoking room. |
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Use engineering or administrative controls to minimize the amount of tobacco smoke that comes into your office(s) from outside the building.
Make sure that outside smoking areas used by your employees are not close to doorways, air intakes, and other openings that may allow airflow directly into an office.
| Note: | By changing the way workers do their job, you can reduce work exposure to potential hazards. These changes are called administrative controls and include such things as: |
| Job rotation | |
| Wetting down dusty areas | |
| Having employees shower after exposure to potentially harmful substances | |
| Maintaining equipment properly | |
| Cleaning up work areas to control the effect of potential hazards | |
| Engineering controls let you plan or physically change the machinery or work environment to prevent employee exposure to potential hazards. This includes any modification of plant equipment, processes, or materials to reduce employees' exposure to toxic materials or harmful physical agents. |
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The following section of the Washington Administrative Code is repealed:
| WAC 296-307-042 | Must an employer provide first-aid kits? |
OTS-4903.1
REPEALER
The following section of the Washington Administrative Code is repealed:
| WAC 296-350-60025 | Reassuming jurisdiction or forwarding an appeal to the board. |
OTS-4894.1
AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending Order 94-07, filed 7/20/94,
effective 9/20/94)
WAC 296-24-23505
Cabs.
(1) Cab location.
(a) The general arrangement of the cab and the location of control and protective equipment shall be such that all operating handles are within convenient reach of the operator when facing the area to be served by the load hook, or while facing the direction of travel of the cab. The arrangement shall allow the operator a full view of the load hook in all positions.
(b) The cab shall be located to afford a minimum of 3 inches clearance from all fixed structures within its area of possible movement.
(c) The clearance of the cab above the working floor or passageway should be not less than seven feet.
(2) Access to crane. Access to the cab and/or bridge walkway shall be by a conveniently placed fixed ladder, stairs, or platform, requiring no step over any gap exceeding 12 inches. Fixed ladders shall be in conformance with the American National Standards Institute, Safety Code for Fixed Ladders, ANSI A14.3-1956.
(3) Fire extinguisher. A carbon dioxide, dry-chemical, or equivalent hand fire extinguisher should be kept in the cab. Carbon tetrachloride extinguishers shall not be used.
| Note: | For additional requirements relating to portable fire extinguishers see WAC 296-800-300. |
[Statutory Authority: Chapter 49.17 RCW. 94-15-096 (Order 94-07), 296-24-23505, filed 7/20/94, effective 9/20/94; Order 73-5, 296-24-23505, filed 5/9/73 and Order 73-4, 296-24-23505, filed 5/7/73.]
(2) Briefing. Prior to each day's operation, a briefing shall be conducted. This briefing shall set forth the plan of operation for the pilot and ground personnel.
(3) Slings and tag lines. Load shall be properly slung. Tag lines shall be of a length that will not permit their being drawn up into rotors. Pressed sleeve, swedged eyes, or equivalent means shall be used for all freely suspended loads to prevent hand splices from spinning open or cable clamps from loosening.
(4) Cargo hooks. All electrically operated cargo hooks shall have the electrical activating device so designed and installed as to prevent inadvertent operation. In addition, these cargo hooks shall be equipped with an emergency mechanical control for releasing the load. The hooks shall be tested prior to each day's operation to determine that the release functions properly, both electrically and mechanically.
(5) Personal protective equipment.
(a) Personal protective equipment for employees receiving the load shall consist of complete eye protection and hard hats secured by chin straps.
(b) Loose-fitting clothing likely to flap in the downwash and thus be snagged on hoist line shall not be worn.
(6) Loose gear and objects. Every practical precaution shall be taken to provide for the protection of the employees from flying objects in the rotor downwash. All loose gear within one hundred feet of the place of lifting the load, depositing the load, and all other areas susceptible to rotor downwash shall be secured or removed.
(7) Housekeeping. Good housekeeping shall be maintained in all helicopter loading and unloading areas.
(8) Operator responsibility. The helicopter operator shall be responsible for size, weight, and manner in which loads are connected to the helicopter. If, for any reason, the helicopter operator believes the lift cannot be made safely, the lift shall not be made.
(9) Hooking and unhooking loads. Employees shall not perform work under hovering craft except for that limited period of time necessary to guide, secure and unhook loads, or to hook loads. Regardless of whether the hooking or unhooking of a load takes place on the ground or a flat roof, or other location in an elevated work position in structural members, a safe means of access and egress, to include an unprogrammed emergency escape route or routes, shall be provided for the employees who are hooking or unhooking loads.
(10) Static charge. Static charge on the suspended load shall be dissipated with a grounding device before ground personnel touch the suspended load, or protective rubber gloves shall be worn by all ground personnel touching the suspended load.
(11) Weight limitation. The weight of an external load shall not exceed the manufacturer's rating.
(12) Ground lines. Hoist wires or other gear, except for pulling lines or conductors that are allowed to "pay out" from a container or roll off a reel, shall not be attached to any fixed ground structure, or allowed to foul on any fixed structure.
(13) Visibility. When visibility is reduced by dust or other conditions, ground personnel shall exercise special caution to keep clear of main and stabilizing rotors. Precautions shall also be taken by the employer to eliminate as far as practical reduced visibility.
(14) Signal systems. Signal systems between aircrew and ground personnel shall be understood and checked in advance of hoisting the load. This applies to either radio or hand signal systems. Handsignals shall be as shown in Figure L-1.
(15) Approach distance. No unauthorized person shall be allowed to approach within fifty feet of the helicopter when the rotor blades are turning.
(16) Approaching helicopter. Whenever approaching or leaving a helicopter with blades rotating, all employees shall remain in full view of the pilot and keep in a crouched position. Employees shall avoid the area from the cockpit or cabin rearward unless authorized by the helicopter operator to work there.
(17) Personnel. Sufficient ground personnel shall be provided when required for safe helicopter loading and unloading operations.
(18) Communications. There shall be constant reliable communication between the pilot, and a designated employee of the ground crew who acts as a signalperson during the period of loading and unloading. This signalperson shall be distinctly recognizable from other ground personnel.
(19) Fires. Open fires shall not be permitted in an area that could result in such fires being spread by the rotor downwash.
(20) Under no circumstances shall the refueling of any type helicopter with either aviation gasoline or Jet B (Turbine) type fuel be permitted while the engines are running.
(21) Helicopters using Jet A (Turbine-Kerosene) type fuel may be refueled with engines running provided the following criteria is met:
(a) No unauthorized persons shall be allowed within fifty feet of the refueling operation or fueling equipment.
(b) A minimum of one thirty-pound fire extinguisher, or a combination of same, good for Class A, B and C fires, shall be provided within one hundred feet on the upwind side of the refueling operation.
| Note: | For additional requirements relating to portable fire extinguishers see WAC 296-800-300. |
(d) There shall be no smoking, open flames, exposed flame heaters, flare pots, or open flame lights within fifty feet of the refueling area or fueling equipment. All entrances to the refueling area shall be posted with "NO SMOKING" signs.
(e) Due to the numerous causes of static electricity, it shall be considered present at all times. Prior to starting refueling operations, the fueling equipment and the helicopter shall be grounded and the fueling nozzle shall be electrically bonded to the helicopter. The use of conductive hose shall not be accepted to accomplish this bonding. All grounding and bonding connections shall be electrically and mechanically firm, to clean unpainted metal parts.
(f) To control spills, fuel shall be pumped either by hand or power. Pouring or gravity flow shall not be permitted. Self-closing nozzles or deadman controls shall be used and shall not be blocked open. Nozzles shall not be dragged along the ground.
(g) In case of a spill, the fueling operation shall be immediately stopped until such time as the person-in-charge determines that it is safe to resume the refueling operation.
(h) When ambient temperatures have been in the one hundred degrees Fahrenheit range for an extended period of time, all refueling of helicopters with the engines running shall be suspended until such time as conditions become suitable to resume refueling with the engines running.
(22) Helicopters with their engines stopped being refueled with aviation gasoline or Jet B (Turbine) type fuel, shall also comply with subsection (21)(a) through (g) of this section.
[Statutory Authority: Chapter 49.17 RCW. 94-15-096 (Order 94-07), 296-24-260, filed 7/20/94, effective 9/20/94; 89-11-035 (Order 89-03), 296-24-260, filed 5/15/89, effective 6/30/89; Order 76-28, 296-24-260, filed 9/28/76.]
(a) General. This section shall apply only to the storage of flammable or combustible liquids in drums or other containers (including flammable aerosols) not exceeding 60 gallons individual capacity and those portable tanks not exceeding 660 gallons individual capacity.
(b) Exceptions. This section shall not apply to the following:
(i) Storage of containers in bulk plants, service stations, refineries, chemical plants, and distilleries;
(ii) Class I or Class II liquids in the fuel tanks of a motor vehicle, aircraft, boat, or portable or stationary engine;
(iii) Flammable or combustible paints, oils, varnishes, and similar mixtures used for painting or maintenance when not kept for a period in excess of 30 days;
(iv) Beverages when packaged in individual containers not exceeding 1 gallon in size.
(2) Design, construction, and capacity of containers.
(a) General. Only approved containers and portable tanks shall be used. Metal containers and portable tanks meeting the requirements of and containing products authorized by Chapter I, Title 49 of the Code of Federal Regulations - October 1, 1972, (regulations issued by the hazardous materials regulations board, department of transportation), shall be deemed to be acceptable.
(b) Emergency venting. Each portable tank shall be provided with one or more devices installed in the top with sufficient emergency venting capacity to limit internal pressure under fire exposure conditions to 10 p.s.i.g., or 30 percent of the bursting pressure of the tank, whichever is greater. The total venting capacity shall be not less than that specified in WAC 296-24-33005 (2)(e)(iii) or (v). At least one pressure-actuated vent having a minimum capacity of 6,000 cubic feet of free air (14.7 p.s.i.a. and 60F) shall be used. It shall be set to open at not less than 5 p.s.i.g. If fusible vents are used, they shall be actuated by elements that operate at a temperature not exceeding 300F.
TABLE H-12
MAXIMUM ALLOWABLE SIZE OF
CONTAINERS AND PORTABLE TANKS
| Container Type |
Flammable liquids | Combustible Liquids | |||||||
| Class IA |
Class IB |
Class IC |
Class II |
& | Class III |
||||
| Glass or approved plastic |
1 pt. |
1 qu. |
1 gal. |
1 gal. |
1 gal. |
||||
| Metal (other than DOTdrums) |
1 gal. |
5 gal. |
5 gal. |
5 gal. |
5 gal. |
||||
| Safety cans | 2 gal. | 5 gal. | 5 gal. | 5 gal. | 5 gal. | ||||
| Metal drums (DOT spec.) |
60 gal. |
60 gal. |
60 gal. |
60 gal. |
60 gal. |
||||
| Approved portable tanks |
660 gal. |
660 gal. |
660 gal. |
660 gal. |
660 gal. |
||||
(i) Medicines, beverages, foodstuffs, cosmetics and other common consumer items, when packaged according to commonly accepted practices, shall be exempt from the requirements of (4)(a) and (b) of this section.
(c) Size. Flammable and combustible liquid containers shall be in accordance with Table H-12, except that glass or plastic containers of no more than 1-gallon capacity may be used for a Class IA or IB flammable liquid if:
(i) Such liquid either would be rendered unfit for its intended use by contact with metal or would excessively corrode a metal container so as to create a leakage hazard; and
(ii) The user's process either would require more than 1 pint of Class IA liquid or more than 1 quart of a Class IB liquid of a single assay lot to be used at one time, or would require the maintenance of an analytical standard liquid of a quality which is not met by the specified standards of liquids available, and the quantity of the analytical standard liquid required to be used in any one control process exceeds one-sixteenth the capacity of the container allowed under Table H-12 for the class of liquid; or
(iii) The containers are intended for direct export outside the United States.
(3) Design, construction, and capacity of storage cabinets.
(a) Maximum capacity. Not more than 60 gallons of Class I or Class II liquids, nor more than 120 gallons of Class III liquids may be stored in a storage cabinet.
(b) Fire resistance. Storage cabinets shall be designed and constructed to limit the internal temperature to not more than 325F when subjected to a 10-minute fire test using the standard time-temperature curve as set forth in Standard Methods of Fire Tests of Building Construction and Materials, NFPA 251-1969. All joints and seams shall remain tight and the door shall remain securely closed during the fire test. Cabinets shall be labeled "Flammable -- Keep fire away," to meet specifications set forth in WAC 296-24-140.
(i) Metal cabinets constructed in the following manner shall be deemed to be in compliance. The bottom, top, door, and sides of cabinet shall be at least No. 18 gage sheet iron and double walled with 1 1/2-inch air space. Joints shall be riveted, welded or made tight by some equally effective means. The door shall be provided with a three-point lock, and the door sill shall be raised at least 2 inches above the bottom of the cabinet.
(ii) Wooden cabinets constructed in the following manner shall be deemed in compliance. The bottom, sides, and top shall be constructed of an approved grade of plywood at least 1 inch in thickness, which shall not break down or delaminate under fire conditions. All joints shall be rabbetted and shall be fastened in two directions with flathead woodscrews. When more than one door is used, there shall be a rabbetted overlap of not less than 1 inch. Hinges shall be mounted in such a manner as not to lose their holding capacity due to loosening or burning out of the screws when subjected to the fire test.
(4) Design and construction of inside storage rooms.
(a) Construction. Inside storage rooms shall be constructed to meet the required fire-resistive rating for their use. Such construction shall comply with the test specifications set forth in Standard Methods of Fire Tests of Building Construction and Materials, NFPA 251-1969. Where an automatic sprinkler system is provided, the system shall be designed and installed in an acceptable manner. Openings to other rooms or buildings shall be provided with noncombustible liquid-tight raised sills or ramps at least 4 inches in height, or the floor in the storage area shall be at least 4 inches below the surrounding floor. Openings shall be provided with approved self-closing fire doors. The room shall be liquid tight where the walls join the floor. A permissible alternate to the sill or ramp is an open-grated trench inside of the room which drains to a safe location. Where other portions of the building or other properties are exposed, windows shall be protected as set forth in the Standard for Fire Doors and Windows, NFPA No. 80-1968, for Class E or F openings. Wood at least 1 inch nominal thickness may be used for shelving, racks, dunnage, scuffboards, floor overlay, and similar installations.
(b) Rating and capacity. Storage in inside storage rooms shall comply with Table H-13.
| Fire protection* provided |
Fire resistance |
Maximum size |
Total allowable quantities (gals./sq. Ft./floor area) |
||
| Yes | 2 hours | 500 sq.ft. | 10 | ||
| No | 2 hours | 500 sq.ft. | 4 | ||
| Yes | 1 hour | 150 sq.ft. | 5 | ||
| No | 1 hour | 150 sq.ft. | 2 | ||
| * | Fire protection system shall be sprinkler, water spray, carbon dioxide, or other system. | ||||
(d) Ventilation. Every inside storage room shall be provided with either a gravity or a mechanical exhaust ventilation system. Such system shall be designed to provide for a complete change of air within the room at least six times per hour. If a mechanical exhaust system is used, it shall be controlled by a switch located outside of the door. The ventilating equipment and any lighting fixtures shall be operated by the same switch. A pilot light shall be installed adjacent to the switch if Class I flammable liquids are dispensed within the room. Where gravity ventilation is provided, the fresh air intake, as well as the exhaust outlet from the room, shall be on the exterior of the building in which the room is located.
(e) Storage in inside storage rooms. In every inside storage room there shall be maintained one clear aisle at least 3 feet wide. Containers over 30 gallons capacity shall not be stacked one upon the other. Dispensing shall be by approved pump or self-closing faucet only.
(5) Storage inside building.
(a) Egress. Flammable or combustible liquids, including stock for sale, shall not be stored so as to limit use of exits, stairways, or areas normally used for the safe egress of people.
(b) Containers. The storage of flammable or combustible liquids in containers or portable tanks shall comply with (4)(c) through (e) of this section.
(c) Office occupancies. Storage shall be prohibited except that which is required for maintenance and operation of building and operation of equipment. Such storage shall be kept in closed metal containers stored in a storage cabinet or in safety cans or in an inside storage room not having a door that opens into that portion of the building used by the public.
(d) Mercantile occupancies and other retail stores.
(i) In rooms or areas accessible to the public, storage shall be limited to quantities needed for display and normal merchandising purposes but shall not exceed 2 gallons per square foot of gross floor area. The gross floor area used for computing the maximum quantity permitted shall be considered as that portion of the store actually being used for merchandising flammable and combustible liquids.
(ii) Where the aggregate quantity of additional stock exceeds 60 gallons of Class IA, or 120 gallons of Class IB, or 180 gallons of Class IC, or 240 gallons of Class II, or 500 gallons of Class III liquids, or any combination of Class I and Class II liquids exceeding 240 gallons, it shall be stored in a room or portion of the building that complies with the construction provisions for an inside storage room as prescribed in (4) of this section. For water miscible liquids, these quantities may be doubled.
(iii) Containers in a display area shall not be stacked more than 3 feet or two containers high, whichever is the greater, unless the stacking is done on fixed shelving or is otherwise satisfactorily secured.
(iv) Shelving shall be of stable construction, of sufficient depth and arrangement such that containers displayed thereon shall not be easily displaced.
(v) Leaking containers shall be removed to a storage room or taken to a safe location outside the building and the contents transferred to an undamaged container.
(e) General purpose public warehouses. Storage shall be in accordance with Table H-14 or H-15 and in buildings or in portions of such buildings cut off by standard firewalls. Material creating no fire exposure hazard to the flammable or combustible liquids may be stored in the same area.
TABLE H-14
INDOOR CONTAINER STORAGE
| Class liquid |
Storage level |
Protected storage maximum per pile |
Unprotected storage maximum per pile |
||
| Gal. | Ht. | Gal. | Ht. | ||
| IA | Ground and upper floors |
2,750 | 3 ft. | 660 | 3 ft. |
| (50) | (1) | (12) | (1) | ||
| Basement | Not permitted | Not permitted | |||
| IB | Ground and upper floors |
5,500 | 6 ft. | 1,375 | 3 ft. |
| (100) | (2) | (25) | (1) | ||
| Basement | Not permitted | Not permitted | |||
| IC | Ground and upper floors |
16,500 | 6 ft | 4,125 | 3 ft. |
| (300) | (2) | (75) | (1) | ||
| Basement | Not permitted | Not permitted | |||
| II | Ground and upper floors |
16,500 | 9 ft. | 4,125 | 9 ft. |
| (300) | (3) | (75) | (3) | ||
| Basement | 5,500 (100) |
9 ft. (3) |
Not permitted | ||
| III | Ground and upper floors |
55,000 | 15 ft. | 13,750 | 12 ft. |
| (1,000) | (5) | (250) | (4) | ||
| Basement | 8,250 (450) |
9 ft. (3) |
Not permitted | ||
| Note 1: | When 2 or more classes of materials are stored in a single pile, the maximum gallonage permitted in that pile shall be the smallest of the 2 or more separate maximum gallonages. |
| Note 2: | Aisles shall be provided so that no container is more than 12 ft. from an aisle. Main aisles shall be at least 8 ft. wide and side aisles at least 4 ft. wide. |
| (Numbers in parentheses indicate corresponding number of 55-gal.
drums.) |
|
| Note 3: | Each pile shall be separated from each other by at least 4 ft. |
| Class liquid |
Storage level |
Protected storage maximum per pile |
Unprotected storage maximum per pile |
|||||
| Gal. | Ht. | Gal. | Ht. | |||||
| IA | Ground and upper floors |
Not permitted | Not permitted | |||||
| Basement | Not permitted | Not permitted | ||||||
| IB | Ground and upper floors |
20,000 | 7ft. | 2,000 | 7 ft. | |||
| Basement | Not permitted | Not permitted | ||||||
| IC | Ground and upper floors |
40,000 | 14 ft | 5,500 | 7 ft. | |||
| Basement | Not permitted | Not permitted | ||||||
| II | Ground and upper floors |
40,000 | 14 ft. | 5,500 | 7 ft. | |||
| Basement | 20,000 | 7 ft. | Not permitted | |||||
| III | Ground and upper floors |
60,000 | 14 ft. | 22,000 | 7 ft. | |||
| Basement | 20,000 | 7 ft. | Not permitted | |||||
| Note 1: | When 2 or more classes of materials are stored in a single pile, the maximum gallonage permitted in that pile shall be the smallest of the 2 or more separate maximum gallonages. |
| Note 2: | Aisles shall be provided so that no portable tank is more than 12 ft. from an aisle. Main aisles shall be at least 8 ft. wide and side aisles at least 4 ft. wide. |
| Note 3: | Each pile shall be separated from each other by at least 4 ft. |
(i) If the storage building is located 50 feet or less from a building or line of adjoining property that may be built upon, the exposing wall shall be a blank wall having a fire-resistance rating of at least 2 hours.
(ii) The total quantity of liquids within a building shall not be restricted, but the arrangement of storage shall comply with Table H-14 or H-15.
(iii) Containers in piles shall be separated by pallets or dunnage where necessary to provide stability and to prevent excessive stress on container walls.
(iv) Portable tanks stored over one tier high shall be designed to nest securely, without dunnage and adequate materials handling equipment shall be available to handle tanks safely at the upper tier level.
(v) No pile shall be closer than 3 feet to the nearest beam, chord, girder, or other obstruction, and shall be 3 feet below sprinkler deflectors or discharge orifices of water spray, or other overhead fire protection systems.
(vi) Aisles of at least 3 feet wide shall be provided where necessary for reasons of access to doors, windows or standpipe connections.
(6) Storage outside buildings.
(a) General. Storage outside buildings shall be in accordance with Table H-16 or H-17, and (6)(b) and (d) of this section.
| 1 Class |
2 Maximum per pile (see note 1) |
3 Distance between piles (see note 2) |
4 Distance to property line that can be built upon (see notes 3 & 4) |
5 Distance to street, alley, public way (see note 4) |
||||
| gal. | ft. | ft. | ft. | |||||
| IA | 1,100 | 5 | 20 | 10 | ||||
| IB | 2,200 | 5 | 20 | 10 | ||||
| IC | 4,400 | 5 | 20 | 10 | ||||
| II | 8,800 | 5 | 10 | 5 | ||||
| III | 22,000 | 5 | 10 | 5 |
||||
| Note 1: | When 2 or more classes of materials are stored in a single pile, the maximum gallonage in that pile shall be the smallest of the 2 or more separate gallonages. |
| Note 2: | Within 200 ft. of each container, there shall be 12-ft. wide access way to permit approach of fire control apparatus. |
| Note 3: | The distances listed apply to properties that have protection for exposures as defined. If there are exposures, and such protection for exposures does not exist, the distances in column 4 shall be doubled. |
| Note 4: | When total quantity stored does not exceed 50 percent of maximum per pile, the distances in columns 4 and 5 may be reduced 50 percent, but not less than 3 ft. |
(i) The building shall be a one-story building devoted principally to the handling and storing of flammable or combustible liquids or the building shall have 2 hour fire-resistive exterior walls having no opening within 10 feet of such storage.
(ii) Where quantity stored exceeds 1,100 gallons, or provisions of (6)(b)(i) cannot be met, a minimum distance of 10 feet between buildings and nearest container of flammable or combustible liquid shall be maintained.
TABLE H-17
OUTDOOR PORTABLE TANK STORAGE
| 1 Class |
2 Maximum per pile |
3 Distance between piles |
4 Distance to property line that can be built upon |
5 Distance to street, alley, public way |
|
| gal. | ft. | ft. | ft. | ||
| IA | 2,200 | 5 | 20 | 10 | |
| IB | 4,400 | 5 | 20 | 10 | |
| IC | 8,800 | 5 | 20 | 10 | |
| II | 17,600 | 5 | 10 | 5 | |
| III | 44,000 | 5 | 10 | 5 | |
| Note 1: | When 2 or more classes of materials are stored in a single pile, the maximum gallonage in that pile shall be the smallest of the 2 or more separate gallonages. |
| Note 2: | Within 200 ft. of each portable tank, there shall be a 12-ft. wide access way to permit approach of fire control apparatus. |
| Note 3: | The distances listed apply to properties that have protection for exposures as defined. If there are exposures, and such protection for exposures does not exist, the distances in column 4 shall be doubled. |
| Note 4: | When total quantity stored does not exceed 50 percent of maximum per pile, the distances in columns 4 and 5 may be reduced 50 percent, but not less than 3 ft. |
(d) Security. The storage area shall be protected against tampering or trespassers where necessary and shall be kept free of weeds, debris and other combustible material not necessary to the storage.
(7) Fire control.
(a) Extinguishers. Suitable fire control devices, such as small hose or portable fire extinguishers, shall be available at locations where flammable or combustible liquids are stored.
(i) At least one portable fire extinguisher having a rating of not less than 12-B units shall be located outside of, but not more than 10 feet from, the door opening into any room used for storage.
(ii) At least one portable fire extinguisher having a rating of not less than 12-B units must be located not less than 10 feet, nor more than 25 feet, from any Class I or Class II liquid storage area located outside of a storage room but inside a building.
| Note: | For additional requirements relating to portable fire extinguishers see WAC 296-800-300. |
(c) Open flames and smoking. Open flames and smoking shall not be permitted in flammable or combustible liquid storage areas.
(d) Water reactive materials. Materials which will react with water shall not be stored in the same room with flammable or combustible liquids.
[Statutory Authority: Chapter 49.17 RCW. 94-15-096 (Order 94-07), 296-24-33009, filed 7/20/94, effective 9/20/94; 91-24-017 (Order 91-07), 296-24-33009, filed 11/22/91, effective 12/24/91. Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.040 and 49.17.050. 85-10-004 (Order 85-09), 296-24-33009, filed 4/19/85; Order 76-6, 296-24-33009, filed 3/1/76; Order 74-27, 296-24-33009, filed 5/7/74; Order 73-5, 296-24-33009, filed 5/9/73 and Order 73-4, 296-24-33009, filed 5/7/73.]
(a) General provisions.
(i) Liquids shall be stored in approved closed containers not exceeding 60 gallons capacity, in tanks located underground, in tanks in special enclosures as described in (b) of this subsection, or in aboveground tanks as provided for in (3)(b)(i), (ii), (iii) and (iv) of this section.
(ii) Aboveground tanks, located in an adjoining bulk plant, may be connected by piping to service station underground tanks if, in addition to valves at aboveground tanks, a valve is also installed within control of service station personnel.
(iii) Apparatus dispensing Class I liquids into the fuel tanks of motor vehicles of the public shall not be located at a bulk plant unless separated by a fence or similar barrier from the area in which bulk operations are conducted.
(iv) The provisions of subsection (1) of this section shall not prohibit the dispensing of flammable liquids in the open from a tank vehicle to a motor vehicle. Such dispensing shall be permitted provided:
(A) The tank vehicle complies with the requirements covered in the Standard on Tank Vehicles for Flammable Liquids, NFPA 385-1966.
(B) The dispensing is done on premises not open to the public.
(C) The dispensing hose does not exceed 50 feet in length.
(D) The dispensing nozzle is a listed automatic-closing type without a latch-open device.
(vi) Class I liquids shall not be stored or handled within a building having a basement or pit into which flammable vapors may travel, unless such area is provided with ventilation designed to prevent the accumulation of flammable vapors therein.
(vii) Accurate inventory records shall be maintained and reconciled on all Class I liquid storage tanks for possible indication of leakage from tanks or piping.
(b) Special enclosures.
(i) When installation of tanks in accordance with WAC 296-24-33005(3) is impractical because of property or building limitations, tanks for flammable or combustible liquids may be installed in buildings if properly enclosed.
(ii) The enclosure shall be substantially liquid and vaportight without backfill. Sides, top, and bottom of the enclosure shall be of reinforced concrete at least 6 inches thick, with openings for inspection through the top only. Tank connections shall be so piped or closed that neither vapors nor liquid can escape into the enclosed space. Means shall be provided whereby portable equipment may be employed to discharge to the outside any liquid or vapors which might accumulate should leakage occur.
(iii) At automotive service stations provided in connection with tenant or customer parking facilities at or below grade level in large buildings of commercial, mercantile, or residential occupancy, tanks containing Class I liquids, installed of necessity in accordance with subsection (1)(b)(ii) of this section, shall not exceed 6,000 gallons individual or 18,000 gallons aggregate capacity.
(c) Inside buildings.
(i) Except where stored in tanks as provided in subsection (1)(b) of this section, no Class I liquids shall be stored within any service station building except in closed containers of aggregate capacity not exceeding 60 gallons. One container not exceeding 60 gallons capacity equipped with an approved pump is permitted.
(ii) Class I liquids may be transferred from one container to another in lubrication or service rooms of a service station building provided the electrical installation complies with Table H-19 and provided that any heating equipment complies with subsection (5) of this section.
(iii) Class II and Class III liquids may be stored and dispensed inside service station buildings from tanks of not more than 120 gallons capacity each.
(d) Labeling. No sale or purchase of any Class I, II, or III liquids shall be made in containers unless such containers are clearly marked with the name of the product contained therein.
(e) Dispensing into portable containers. No delivery of any Class I liquids shall be made into portable containers unless the container is constructed of metal, has a tight closure with screwed or spring cover, and is fitted with a spout or so designed that the contents can be poured without spilling.
(2) Dispensing systems.
(a) Location. Dispensing devices at automotive service stations shall be so located that all parts of the vehicle being served will be on the premises of the service station.
(b) Inside location. Approved dispensing units may be located inside of buildings. The dispensing area shall be separated from other areas in an approved manner. The dispensing unit and its piping shall be mounted either on a concrete island or protected against collision damage by suitable means and shall be located in a position where it cannot be struck by a vehicle descending a ramp or other slope out of control. The dispensing area shall be provided with an approved mechanical or gravity ventilation system. When dispensing units are located below grade, only approved mechanical ventilation shall be used and the entire dispensing area shall be protected by an approved automatic sprinkler system. Ventilating systems shall be electrically interlocked with gasoline dispensing units so that the dispensing units cannot be operated unless the ventilating fan motors are energized.
(c) Emergency power cutoff. A clearly identified and easily accessible switch(es) or a circuit breaker(s) shall be provided at a location remote from dispensing devices, including remote pumping systems, to shut off the power to all dispensing devices in the event of an emergency.
(d) Dispensing units.
(i) Class I liquids shall be transferred from tanks by means of fixed pumps so designed and equipped as to allow control of the flow and to prevent leakage or accidental discharge.
(ii) Only listed devices may be used for dispensing Class I liquids. No such device may be used if it shows evidence of having been dismantled.
(iii) Every dispensing device for Class I liquids installed after December 31, 1978, shall contain evidence of listing so placed that any attempt to dismantle the device will result in damage to such evidence, visible without disassembly or dismounting of the nozzle.
(iv) Class I liquids shall not be dispensed by pressure from drums, barrels, and similar containers. Approved pumps taking suction through the top of the container or approved self-closing faucets shall be used.
(v) The dispensing units, except those attached to containers, shall be mounted either on a concrete island or protected against collision damage by suitable means.
(e) Remote pumping systems.
(i) This subdivision shall apply to systems for dispensing Class I liquids where such liquids are transferred from storage to individual or multiple dispensing units by pumps located elsewhere than at the dispensing units.
(ii) Pumps shall be designed or equipped so that no part of the system will be subjected to pressures above its allowable working pressure. Pumps installed above grade, outside of buildings, shall be located not less than 10 feet from lines of adjoining property which is/or may be built upon, and not less than 5 feet from any building opening. When an outside pump location is impractical, pumps may be installed inside of buildings, as provided for dispensers in (b) of this subsection, or in pits as provided in (e)(iii) of this subsection. Pumps shall be substantially anchored and protected against physical damage by vehicles.
(iii) Pits for subsurface pumps or piping manifolds of submersible pumps shall withstand the external forces to which they may be subjected without damage to the pump, tank, or piping. The pit shall be no larger than necessary for inspection and maintenance and shall be provided with a fitted cover.
(iv) A control shall be provided that will permit the pump to operate only when a dispensing nozzle is removed from its bracket on the dispensing unit and the switch on this dispensing unit is manually actuated. This control shall also stop the pump when all nozzles have been returned to their brackets.
(v) An approved impact valve, incorporating a fusible link, designed to close automatically in the event of severe impact or fire exposure shall be properly installed in the dispensing supply line at the base of each individual dispensing device.
(vi) Testing. After the completion of the installation, including any paving, that section of the pressure piping system between the pump discharge and the connection for the dispensing facility shall be tested for at least 30 minutes at the maximum operating pressure of the system. Such tests shall be repeated at 5-year intervals thereafter.
(f) Delivery nozzles.
(i) A listed manual or automatic-closing type hose nozzle valve shall be provided on dispensers used for the dispensing of Class I liquids.
(ii) Manual-closing type valves shall be held open manually during dispensing. Automatic-closing type valves may be used in conjunction with an approved latch-open device.
(g) Special type dispensers.
(i) Emergency controls shall be installed at an acceptable location, but controls shall not be more than 100 feet from dispensers.
(ii) Instructions for the operation of dispensers shall be conspicuously posted.
(3) Marine service stations.
(a) Dispensing.
(i) The dispensing area shall be located away from other structures so as to provide room for safe ingress and egress of craft to be fueled. Dispensing units shall in all cases be at least 20 feet from any activity involving fixed sources of ignition.
(ii) Dispensing shall be by approved dispensing units with or without integral pumps and may be located on open piers, wharves, or floating docks or on shore or on piers of the solid fill type.
(iii) Dispensing nozzles shall be automatic-closing without a hold-open latch.
(b) Tanks and pumps.
(i) Tanks, and pumps not integral with the dispensing unit, shall be on shore or on a pier of the solid fill type, except as provided below.
(ii) Where shore location would require excessively long supply lines to dispensers, tanks may be installed on a pier provided that applicable portions of WAC 296-24-33005 relative to spacing, diking, and piping are complied with and the quantity so stored does not exceed 1,100 gallons aggregate capacity.
(iii) Shore tanks supplying marine service stations may be located above ground, where rock ledges or high water table make underground tanks impractical.
(iv) Where tanks are at an elevation which would produce gravity head on the dispensing unit, the tank outlet shall be equipped with a pressure control valve positioned adjacent to and outside the tank block valve specified in WAC 296-24-33005 (2)(h)(ii), so adjusted that liquid cannot flow by gravity from the tank in case of piping or hose failure.
(c) Piping.
(i) Piping between shore tanks and dispensing units shall be as described in WAC 296-24-33007, except that, where dispensing is from a floating structure, suitable lengths of oil-resistant flexible hose may be employed between the shore piping and the piping on the floating structure as made necessary by change in water level or shoreline.
(ii) A readily accessible valve to shut off the supply from shore shall be provided in each pipeline at or near the approach to the pier and at the shore end of each pipeline adjacent to the point where flexible hose is attached.
(iii) Piping shall be located so as to be protected from physical damage.
(iv) Piping handling Class I liquids shall be grounded to control stray currents.
(4) Electrical equipment.
(a) Application. This subsection shall apply to areas where Class I liquids are stored or handled. For areas where Class II or Class III liquids are stored or handled the electrical equipment may be installed according to the provisions of chapter 296-24 WAC Part L for ordinary locations.
(b) All electrical equipment and wiring shall be of a type specified by and shall be installed according to chapter 296-24 WAC Part L.
(c) So far as it applies, Table H-19 shall be used to delineate and classify hazardous areas for the purpose of installation of electrical equipment under normal circumstances. A classified area shall not extend beyond an unpierced wall, roof, or other solid partition.
(d) The area classifications listed shall be based on the
assumption that the installation meets the applicable
requirements of this section in all respects.
| Location | Class I, Group D division |
Extent of classified area |
|
| Underground tank: Fill opening |
1 |
Any pit, box or space below grade level, any part of which is within the Division 1 or 2 classified area. |
|
| 2 | Up to 18 inches above grade level within a horizontal radius of 10 feet from a loose fill connection and within a horizontal radius of 5 feet from a tight fill connection. | ||
| Vent--Discharging upward |
1 |
Within 3 feet of open end of vent, extending in all directions. |
|
| 2 | Area between 3 feet and 5 feet of open end of vent, extending in all directions. | ||
| Dispenser: Pits |
1 |
Any pit, box or space below grade level, any part of which is within the Division 1 or 2 classified area. |
|
| Dispenser enclosure | 1 | The area 4 feet vertically above base within the enclosure and 18 inches horizontally in all directions. | |
| Outdoor | 2 | Up to 18 inches above grade level within 20 feet horizontally of any edge of enclosure. | |
| Indoor: With mechanical ventilation |
2 |
Up to 18 inches above grade or floor level within 20 feet horizontally of any edge of enclosure. |
|
| With gravity ventilation |
2 |
Up to 18 inches above grade or floor level within 25 feet horizontally of any edge of enclosure. |
|
| Remote pump--Outdoor | 1 |
Any pit, box or space below grade level if any part is within a horizontal distance of 10 feet from any edge of pump. |
|
| 2 | Within 3 feet of any edge of pump, extending in all directions. Also up to 18 inches above grade level within 10 feet horizontally from any edge of pump. | ||
| Remote pump--Indoor | 1 | Entire area within any pit. | |
| 2 | Within 5 feet of any edge of pump, extending in all directions. Also up to 3 feet above floor or grade level within 25 feet horizontally from any edge of pump. | ||
| Lubrication or service room |
1 |
Entire area within any pit. |
|
| 2 | Area up to 18 inches above floor or grade level within entire lubrication room. | ||
| Dispenser for Class I liquids |
2 |
Within 3 feet of any fill or dispensing point, extending in all directions. |
|
| Special enclosure inside building per (1)(b) |
1 |
Entire enclosure. |
|
| Sales, storage and rest rooms |
Ordinary |
If there is any opening to these rooms within the extent of a Division 1 area, the entire room shall be classified as Division 1. |
|
(a) Conformance. Heating equipment shall be installed as provided in (b) through (e) of this subsection.
(b) Application. Heating equipment may be installed in the conventional manner in an area except as provided in (c), (d) or (e) of this subsection.
(c) Special room. Heating equipment may be installed in a special room separated from an area classified by Table H-19 by walls having a fire resistance rating of at least 1 hour and without any openings in the walls within 8 feet of the floor into an area classified in Table H-19. This room shall not be used for combustible storage and all air for combustion purposes shall come from outside the building.
(d) Work areas. Heating equipment using gas or oil fuel may be installed in the lubrication, sales, or service room where there is no dispensing or transferring of Class I liquids provided the bottom of the combustion chamber is at least 18 inches above the floor and the heating equipment is protected from physical damage by vehicles. Heating equipment using gas or oil fuel listed for use in garages may be installed in the lubrication or service room where Class I liquids are dispensed provided the equipment is installed at least 8 feet above the floor.
(e) Electric heat. Electrical heating equipment shall conform to subsection (4) of this section.
(6) Drainage and waste disposal. Provision shall be made in the area where Class I liquids are dispensed to prevent spilled liquids from flowing into the interior of service station buildings. Such provision may be by grading driveways, raising door sills, or other equally effective means. Crankcase drainings and flammable or combustible liquids shall not be dumped into sewers but shall be stored in tanks or drums outside of any building until removed from the premises.
(7) Sources of ignition. In addition to the previous restrictions of this section, the following shall apply: There shall be no smoking or open flames in the areas used for fueling, servicing fuel systems for internal combustion engines, receiving or dispensing of flammable or combustible liquids. Conspicuous and legible signs prohibiting smoking shall be posted within sight of the customer being served. The motors of all equipment being fueled shall be shut off during the fueling operation.
(8) Fire control. Each service station shall be provided with at least one fire extinguisher having a minimum approved classification of 6 B, C located so that an extinguisher will be within 75 feet of each pump, dispenser, underground fill pipe opening, and lubrication or service room.
| Note: | For additional requirements relating to portable fire extinguishers see WAC 296-800-300. |
[Statutory Authority: Chapter 49.17 RCW. 91-24-017 (Order 91-07), 296-24-33015, filed 11/22/91, effective 12/24/91. Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.040 and 49.17.050. 85-10-004 (Order 85-09), 296-24-33015, filed 4/19/85; 83-24-013 (Order 83-34), 296-24-33015, filed 11/30/83; Order 76-6, 296-24-33015, filed 3/1/76; Order 73-5, 296-24-33015, filed 5/9/73 and Order 73-4, 296-24-33015, filed 5/7/73.]
(2) Design pressure and classification of storage containers. Storage containers shall be designed and classified in accordance with Table H-31.
(3) Container valves and accessories, filler pipes, and discharge pipes.
(a) The filling pipe inlet terminal shall not be located inside a building. For containers with a water capacity of 125 gallons or more, such terminals shall be located not less than 10 feet from any building (see WAC 296-24-47505 (6)(b)), and preferably not less than 5 feet from any driveway, and shall be located in a protective housing built for the purpose.
TABLE H-31
| Container type |
For gases with vapor press. Not to exceed lb. per sq. in. gage at 100F (37.8C.) |
Minimum design pressures of container lb. per sq. in. gage |
|||||
| 1949 and earlier editions of ASME Code (Par. U-68 U-69) |
1949 edition of Code (Par. U-200, U-201); 1950, 1952, 1956, 1959, 1962, 1965, and 1968 (Division I) editions of ASME Code; All editions of API-ASME Code3 |
||||||
| 801 | 801 | 801 | 1001 | ||||
| 100 | 100 | 100 | 125 | ||||
| 125 | 125 | 125 | 156 | ||||
| 150 | 150 | 150 | 187 | ||||
| 175 | 175 | 175 | 219 | ||||
| 2002 | 215 | 200 | 250 | ||||
2Container type may be increased by increments of 25. The minimum design pressure of containers shall be 100% of the container type designations when constructed under 1949 or earlier editions of the ASME Code (Par. U-68 and U-69). The minimum design pressure of containers shall be 125% of the container type designation when constructed under: (1) The 1949 ASME Code (Par. U-200 and U-201), (2) 1950, 1952, 1956, 1959, 1962, 1965, and 1968 (Division I) editions of the ASME Code, and (3) all editions of the API-ASME Code.
3Construction of containers under the API-ASME Code is not authorized after July 1, 1961.
(b) The filling connection shall be fitted with one of the
following:
(i) Combination back-pressure check valve and excess flow valve.
(ii) One double or two single back-pressure check valves.
(iii) A positive shut-off valve in conjunction with either:
(A) An internal back pressure valve, or
(B) An internal excess flow valve.
(c) All openings in a container shall be equipped with approved automatic excess flow valves except in the following: Filling connections as provided in (3)(b) of this section; safety relief connections, liquid-level gaging devices as provided in WAC 296-24-47505 (7)(d), (19)(c) and (19)(h); pressure gage connections as provided in WAC 296-24-47505 (7)(e), as provided in (3)(d), (f) and (g) of this section.
(d) An excess flow valve is not required in the withdrawal service line providing the following are complied with:
(i) Such systems' total water capacity does not exceed 2,000 U.S. gallons.
(ii) The discharge from the service outlet is controlled by a suitable manually operated shut-off valve which is:
(A) Threaded directly into the service outlet of the container; or
(B) Is an integral part of a substantial fitting threaded into or on the service outlet of the container; or
(C) Threaded directly into a substantial fitting threaded into or on the service outlet of the container.
(iii) The shut-off valve is equipped with an attached handwheel or the equivalent.
(iv) The controlling orifice between the contents of the container and the outlet of the shut-off valve does not exceed five-sixteenths inch in diameter for vapor withdrawal systems and one-eighth inch in diameter for liquid withdrawal systems.
(v) An approved pressure-reducing regulator is directly attached to the outlet of the shut-off valve and is rigidly supported, or that an approved pressure-reducing regulator is attached to the outlet of the shut-off valve by means of a suitable flexible connection, provided the regulator is adequately supported and properly protected on or at the tank.
(e) All inlet and outlet connections except safety relief valves, liquid level gaging devices and pressure gages on containers of 2,000 gallons water capacity, or more, and on any container used to supply fuel directly to an internal combustion engine, shall be labeled to designate whether they communicate with vapor or liquid space. Labels may be on valves.
(f) In lieu of an excess flow valve openings may be fitted with a quick-closing internal valve which, except during operating periods shall remain closed. The internal mechanism for such valves may be provided with a secondary control which shall be equipped with a fusible plug (not over 220F melting point) which will cause the internal valve to close automatically in case of fire.
(g) Not more than two plugged openings shall be permitted on a container of 2,000 gallons or less water capacity.
(h) Containers of 125 gallons water capacity or more manufactured after July 1, 1961, shall be provided with an approved device for liquid evacuation, the size of which shall be three-fourths inch national pipe thread minimum. A plugged opening will not satisfy this requirements.
(4) Safety devices.
(a) All safety devices shall comply with the following:
(i) All container safety relief devices shall be located on the containers and shall have direct communication with the vapor space of the container.
(ii) In industrial and gas manufacturing plants, discharge pipe from safety relief valves on pipe lines within a building shall discharge vertically upward and shall be piped to a point outside a building.
(iii) Safety relief device discharge terminals shall be so located as to provide protection against physical damage and such discharge pipes shall be fitted with loose raincaps. Return bends and restrictive pipefittings shall not be permitted.
(iv) If desired, discharge lines from two or more safety relief devices located on the same unit, or similar lines from two or more different units, may be run into a common discharge header, provided that the cross-sectional area of such header be at least equal to the sum of the cross-sectional area of the individual discharge lines, and that the setting of safety relief valves are the same.
(v) Each storage container of over 2,000 gallons water capacity shall be provided with a suitable pressure gage.
(vi) A final stage regulator of an LP-gas system (excluding any appliance regulator) shall be equipped on the low-pressure side with a relief valve which is set to start to discharge within the limits specified in Table H-30.
(vii) When a regulator or pressure relief valve is installed inside a building, the relief valve and the space above the regulator and relief valve diaphragms shall be vented to the outside air with the discharge outlet located not less than 3 feet horizontally away from any opening into the building which is below such discharge. (These provisions do not apply to individual appliance regulators when protection is otherwise provided. In buildings devoted exclusively to gas distribution purposes, the space above the diaphragm need not be vented to the outside.)
(b) Safety devices for aboveground containers shall be provided as follows:
(i) Containers of 1,200 gallons water capacity or less which may contain liquid fuel when installed above ground shall have the rate of discharge required by WAC 296-24-47505 (10)(b) provided by a spring-loaded relief valve or valves. In addition to the required spring-loaded relief valve(s) suitable fuse plug(s) may be used provided the total discharge area of the fuse plug(s) for each container does not exceed 0.25 square inch.
(ii) The fusible metal of the fuse plugs shall have a yield temperature of 208F minimum and 220F maximum. Relief valves and fuse plugs shall have direct communication with the vapor space of the container.
(iii) On a container having a water capacity greater than 125 gallons, but not over 2,000 gallons, the discharge from the safety relief valves shall be vented away from the container vertically upwards and unobstructed to the open air in such a manner as to prevent any impingement of escaping gas upon the container; loose-fitting rain caps shall be used. Suitable provision shall be made for draining condensate which may accumulate in the relief valve or its discharge pipe.
(iv) On containers of 125 gallons water capacity or less, the discharge from safety relief devices shall be located not less than 5 feet horizontally away from any opening into the building below the level of such discharge.
(v) On a container having a water capacity greater than 2,000 gallons, the discharge from the safety relief valves shall be vented away from the container vertically upwards to a point at least 7 feet above the container, and unobstructed to the open air in such a manner as to prevent any impingement of escaping gas upon the container; loose-fitting rain caps shall be used. Suitable provision shall be made so that any liquid or condensate that may accumulate inside of the safety relief valve or its discharge pipe will not render the valve inoperative. If a drain is used, a means shall be provided to protect the container, adjacent containers, piping, or equipment against impingement of flame resulting from ignition of product escaping from the drain.
(c) On all containers which are installed underground and which contain no liquid fuel until buried and covered, the rate of discharge of the spring-loaded relief valve installed thereon may be reduced to a minimum of 30 percent of the rate of discharge specified in WAC 296-24-47505 (10)(b). Containers so protected shall not be uncovered after installation until the liquid fuel has been removed therefrom. Containers which may contain liquid fuel before being installed under ground and before being completely covered with earth are to be considered aboveground containers when determining the rate of discharge requirement of the relief valves.
(d) On underground containers of more than 2,000 gallons water capacity, the discharge from safety relief devices shall be piped vertically and directly upward to a point at least 7 feet above the ground.
Where there is a probability of the manhole or housing becoming flooded, the discharge from regulator vent lines shall be above the highest probable water level. All manholes or housings shall be provided with ventilated louvers or their equivalent, the area of such openings equaling or exceeding the combined discharge areas of the safety relief valves and other vent lines which discharge their content into the manhole housing.
(e) Safety devices for vaporizers shall be provided as follows:
(i) Vaporizers of less than 1 quart total capacity, heated by the ground or the surrounding air, need not be equipped with safety relief valves provided that adequate tests certified by any of the authorities referred to in WAC 296-24-47505(2), demonstrate that the assembly is safe without safety relief valves.
(ii) No vaporizer shall be equipped with fusible plugs.
(iii) In industrial and gas manufacturing plants, safety relief valves on vaporizers within a building shall be piped to a point outside the building and be discharged upward.
(5) Reinstallation of containers. Containers may be reinstalled if they do not show any evidence of harmful external corrosion or other damage. Where containers are reinstalled underground, the corrosion resistant coating shall be put in good condition (see (7)(f) of this section). Where containers are reinstalled above ground, the safety devices and gaging devices shall comply with (4) of this section and WAC 296-24-47505(19) respectively for aboveground containers.
(6) Capacity of containers. A storage container shall not exceed 90,000 gallons water capacity.
(7) Installation of storage containers.
(a) Containers installed above ground, except as provided in (7)(g) of this section, shall be provided with substantial masonry or noncombustible structural supports on firm masonry foundation.
(b) Aboveground containers shall be supported as follows:
(i) Horizontal containers shall be mounted on saddles in such a manner as to permit expansion and contraction. Structural metal supports may be employed when they are protected against fire in an approved manner. Suitable means of preventing corrosion shall be provided on that portion of the container in contact with the foundations or saddles.
(ii) Containers of 2,000 gallons water capacity or less may be installed with nonfireproofed ferrous metal supports if mounted on concrete pads or footings, and if the distance from the outside bottom of the container shell to the concrete pad, footing, or the ground does not exceed 24 inches.
(c) Any container may be installed with nonfireproofed ferrous metal supports if mounted on concrete pads or footings, and if the distance from the outside bottom of the container to the ground does not exceed 5 feet, provided the container is in an isolated location.
(d) Containers may be partially buried providing the following requirements are met:
(i) The portion of the container below the surface and for a vertical distance not less than 3 inches above the surface of the ground is protected to resist corrosion, and the container is protected against settling and corrosion as required for fully buried containers.
(ii) Spacing requirements shall be as specified for underground tanks in WAC 296-24-47505 (6)(b).
(iii) Relief valve capacity shall be as required for aboveground containers.
(iv) Container is located so as not to be subject to vehicular damage, or is adequately protected against such damage.
(v) Filling densities shall be as required for aboveground containers as specified in Table H-27. See WAC 296-24-47505.
(e) Containers buried underground shall be placed so that the top of the container is not less than 6 inches below grade. Where an underground container might be subject to abrasive action or physical damage due to vehicular traffic or other causes, then it shall be:
(i) Placed not less than 2 feet below grade, or
(ii) Otherwise protected against such physical damage.
It will not be necessary to cover the portion of the container to which manhole and other connections are affixed; however, where necessary, protection shall be provided against vehicular damage. When necessary to prevent floating, containers shall be securely anchored or weighted.
(f) Containers shall be given a protective coating before being placed underground. This coating shall be equivalent to hot-dip galvanizing or to two coatings of red lead followed by a heavy coating of coal tar or asphalt. In lowering the container into place, care shall be exercised to prevent damage to the coating. Any damage to the coating shall be repaired before backfilling.
(i) Containers shall be set on a firm foundation (firm earth may be used) and surrounded with earth or sand firmly tamped in place. Backfill should be free of rocks or other abrasive materials.
(g) Containers with foundations attached (portable or semiportable containers with suitable steel "runners" or "skids" and popularly known in the industry as "skid tanks") shall be designed, installed, and used in accordance with these rules subject to the following provisions:
(i) If they are to be used at a given general location for a temporary period not to exceed 6 months they need not have fire-resisting foundations or saddles but shall have adequate ferrous metal supports.
(ii) They shall not be located with the outside bottom of the container shell more than 5 feet above the surface of the ground unless fire-resisting supports are provided.
(iii) The bottom of the skids shall not be less than 2 inches or more than 12 inches below the outside bottom of the container shell.
(iv) Flanges, nozzles, valves, fittings, and the like, having communication with the interior of the container, shall be protected against physical damage.
(v) When not permanently located on fire-resisting foundations, piping connections shall be sufficiently flexible to minimize the possibility of breakage or leakage of connections if the container settles, moves, or is otherwise displaced.
(vi) Skids, or lugs for attachment of skids, shall be secured to the container in accordance with the code or rules under which the container is designed and built (with a minimum factor of safety of four) to withstand loading in any direction equal to four times the weight of the container and attachments when filled to the maximum permissible loaded weight.
(h) Field welding where necessary shall be made only on saddle plates or brackets which were applied by the manufacturer of the tank.
(i) For aboveground containers, secure anchorage or adequate pier height shall be provided against possible container flotation wherever sufficiently high floodwater might occur.
(j) When permanently installed containers are interconnected, provision shall be made to compensate for expansion, contraction, vibration, and settling of containers, and interconnecting piping. Where flexible connections are used, they shall be of an approved type and shall be designed for a bursting pressure of not less than five times the vapor pressure of the product at 100F. The use of nonmetallic hose is prohibited for permanently interconnecting such containers.
(k) Container assemblies listed for interchangeable installation above ground or under ground shall conform to the requirements for aboveground installations with respect to safety relief capacity and filling density. For installation above ground all other requirements for aboveground installations shall apply. For installation under ground all other requirements for underground installations shall apply.
(8) Protection of container accessories.
(a) Valves, regulating, gaging, and other container accessory equipment shall be protected against tampering and physical damage. Such accessories shall also be so protected during the transit of containers intended for installation underground.
(b) On underground or combination aboveground-underground containers, the service valve handwheel, the terminal for connecting the hose, and the opening through which there can be a flow from safety relief valves shall be at least 4 inches above the container and this opening shall be located in the dome or housing. Underground systems shall be so installed that all the above openings, including the regulator vent, are located above the normal maximum water table.
(c) All connections to the underground containers shall be located within a substantial dome, housing, or manhole and with access thereto protected by a substantial cover.
(9) Drips for condensed gas. Where vaporized gas on the low-pressure side of the system may condense to a liquid at normal operating temperatures and pressures, suitable means shall be provided for revaporization of the condensate.
(10) Damage from vehicles. When damage to LP-gas systems from vehicular traffic is a possibility, precautions against such damage shall be taken.
(11) Pits and drains. Every effort should be made to avoid the use of pits, except pits fitted with automatic flammable vapor detecting devices. No drains or blowoff lines shall be directed into or in proximity to sewer systems used for other purposes.
(12) General provisions applicable to systems in industrial plants (of 2,000 gallons water capacity and more) and to bulk filling plants.
(a) When standard watch service is provided, it shall be extended to the LP-gas installation and personnel properly trained.
(b) If loading and unloading are normally done during other than daylight hours, adequate lights shall be provided to illuminate storage containers, control valves, and other equipment.
(c) Suitable roadways or means of access for extinguishing equipment such as wheeled extinguishers or fire department apparatus shall be provided.
(d) To minimize trespassing or tampering, the area which includes container appurtenances, pumping equipment, loading and unloading facilities, and cylinder-filling facilities shall be enclosed with at least a 6-foot-high industrial type fence unless otherwise adequately protected. There shall be at least two means of emergency access.
(13) Container-charging plants.
(a) The container-charging room shall be located not less than:
(i) Ten feet from bulk storage containers.
(ii) Twenty-five feet from line of adjoining property which may be built upon.
(b) Tank truck filling station outlets shall be located not less than:
(i) Twenty-five feet from line of adjoining property which may be built upon.
(ii) Ten feet from pumps and compressors if housed in one or more separate buildings.
(c) The pumps or compressors may be located in the container-charging room or building, in a separate building, or outside of buildings. When housed in separate building, such building (a small noncombustible weather cover is not to be construed as a building) shall be located not less than:
(i) Ten feet from bulk storage tanks.
(ii) Twenty-five feet from line of adjoining property which may be built upon.
(iii) Twenty-five feet from sources of ignition.
(d) When a part of the container-charging building is to be used for a boiler room or where open flames or similar sources of ignition exist or are employed, the space to be so occupied shall be separated from container charging room by a partition wall or walls of fire-resistant construction continuous from floor to roof or ceiling. Such separation walls shall be without openings and shall be joined to the floor, other walls, and ceiling or roof in a manner to effect a permanent gas-tight joint.
(e) Electrical equipment and installations shall conform with WAC 296-24-47505 (17) and (18).
(14) Fire protection.
(a) Each bulk plant shall be provided with at least one approved portable fire extinguisher having a minimum rating of 12-B, C.
| Note: | For additional requirements relating to portable fire extinguishers see WAC 296-800-300. |
(15) Painting. Aboveground containers shall be kept properly painted.
(16) Lighting. Electrical equipment and installations shall conform to WAC 296-24-47505 (17) and (18).
(17) Vaporizers for internal combustion engines. The provisions of WAC 296-24-47511(8) shall apply.
(18) Gas regulating and mixing equipment for internal combustion engines. The provisions of WAC 296-24-47511(9) shall apply.
[Order 73-5, 296-24-47509, filed 5/9/73 and Order 73-4, 296-24-47509, filed 5/7/73.]
(2) General.
(a) Containers in storage shall be located so as to minimize exposure to excessive temperature rise, physical damage, or tampering by unauthorized persons.
(b) Containers when stored inside shall not be located near exits, stairways, or in areas normally used or intended for the safe exit of people.
(c) Container valves shall be protected while in storage as follows:
(i) By setting into recess of container to prevent the possibility of their being struck if the container is dropped upon a flat surface, or
(ii) By ventilated cap or collar, fastened to container capable of withstanding blow from any direction equivalent to that of a thirty-pound weight dropped four feet. Construction must be such that a blow will not be transmitted to a valve or other connection.
(d) The outlet valves of containers in storage shall be closed.
(e) Empty containers which have been in LP-gas service should preferably be stored in the open. When stored inside, they shall be considered as full containers for the purpose of determining the maximum quantity of LP-gas permitted by this section.
(3) Storage within buildings frequented by the public.
(a) DOT specification containers having a maximum individual water capacity of two and one-half pounds, used with completely self-contained hand torches and similar applications, are permitted to be stored or displayed in a building frequented by the public. The display of such containers shall be limited to a total of twenty-four units of each brand and size. The total quantity on display and in storage shall not exceed two hundred pounds LP-gas.
(b) Storage as provided in subsection (5) of this section shall not be permitted within or attached to such a building.
(4) Storage within buildings not frequented by the public (such as industrial buildings).
(a) The quantity of LP-gas stored shall not exceed three hundred pounds (approximately two thousand five hundred fifty cubic feet in vapor form) except as provided in subsection (5) of this section.
(b) Containers carried as a part of service equipment on highway mobile vehicles are not to be considered in the total storage capacity in (a) of this subsection provided such vehicles are stored in private garages, and are limited to one container per vehicle with an LP-gas capacity of not more than one hundred pounds. All container valves shall be closed.
(5) Storage within special buildings or rooms.
(a) The quantity of LP-gas stored in special buildings or rooms shall not exceed ten thousand pounds.
(b) The walls, floors, and ceilings of container storage rooms that are within or adjacent to other parts of the building shall be constructed of material having at least a two-hour fire resistance rating.
(c) A portion of the exterior walls or roof having an area not less than ten percent of that of the combined area of the enclosing walls and roof shall be of explosion relieving construction.
(d) Each opening from such storage rooms to other parts of the building shall be protected by a one and one-half-hour "(B)" fire door listed by a nationally recognized testing laboratory. Refer to federal regulation 29 CFR 1910.7 for definition of nationally recognized testing laboratory.
(e) Such rooms shall have no open flames for heating or lighting.
(f) Such rooms shall be adequately ventilated both top and bottom to the outside only. The openings from such vents shall be at least five feet away from any other opening into any building.
(g) The floors of such rooms shall not be below ground level. Any space below the floor shall be of solid fill or properly ventilated to the open air.
(h) Such storage rooms shall not be located adjoining the line of property occupied by schools, churches, hospitals, athletic fields or other points of public gathering.
(i) Fixed electrical equipment shall be installed in accordance with WAC 296-24-47505(18).
(6) Storage outside of buildings.
(a) Storage outside of buildings, for containers awaiting use or resale, shall be located in accordance with Table H-33 with respect to:
(i) The nearest important building or group of buildings;
(ii) The line of adjoining property which may be built upon;
(iii) Busy thoroughfares;
(vi) The line of
adjoining property occupied by schools, churches, hospitals,
athletic fields, or other points of public gathering.
TABLE H-33
| Quantity of LP-Gas Stored: |
Distance |
|||
| 500 | pounds or less | 0 | ||
| 501 | to | 2,500 pounds | 0* | |
| 2,501 | to | 6,000 pounds | 10 feet | |
| 6,001 | to | 10,000 pounds | 20 feet | |
| Over | 10,000 pounds | 25 feet | ||
| * | Container or containers shall be at least ten feet from any building on adjoining property, any sidewalk, or any of the exposures described in (a)(iii) or (iv) of this subsection. |
(7) Fire protection. Storage locations other than supply depots separated and located apart from dealer, reseller, or user establishments shall be provided with at least one approved portable fire extinguisher having a minimum rating of 8-B, C.
| Note: | For additional requirements relating to portable fire extinguishers see WAC 296-800-300. |
[Statutory Authority: Chapter 49.17 RCW. 88-23-054 (Order 88-25), 296-24-47513, filed 11/14/88. Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.040, 49.17.050, 49.17.240, chapters 43.22 and 42.30 RCW. 80-17-015 (Order 80-21), 296-24-47513, filed 11/13/80; Order 76-6, 296-24-47513, filed 3/1/76; Order 73-5, 296-24-47513, filed 5/9/73 and Order 73-4, 296-24-47513, filed 5/7/73.]
(2) Design pressure and classification of storage containers. Storage containers shall be designed and classified in accordance with Table H-34.
(3) Container valves and accessories.
(a) A filling connection on the container shall be fitted with one of the following:
(i) A combination back-pressure check and excess flow valve.
(ii) One double or two single back-pressure valves.
(iii) A positive shutoff valve, in conjunction with either:
(A) An internal back-pressure valve, or
(B) An internal excess flow valve.
In lieu of an excess flow valve, filling connections may be fitted with a quick-closing internal valve, which shall remain closed except during operating periods. The mechanism for such valves may be provided with a secondary control which will cause it to close automatically in case of fire. When a fusible plug is used its melting point shall not exceed 220F.
TABLE H-34
Minimum design pressure of container, lb. per sq. in gage |
||||
Container type |
For gases with vapor press. not to exceed lb. per sq. in. gage at 100F. (37.8C.) |
1949 and earlier editions of ASME Code (Par. U-68, U-69) |
1949 edition of ASME Code (Par. U-200, U-201); 1950, 1952 1956, 1959, 1962, 1965, and 1968 (Division I) editions of ASME Code; All editions of API-ASME Code2 |
|
| 2001 | 215 | 200 | 250 | |
2Construction of containers under the API-ASME Code is not authorized after July 1, 1961.
(b) A filling pipe inlet terminal not on the container shall
be fitted with a positive shutoff valve in conjunction with
either:
(i) A back pressure check valve, or
(ii) An excess flow check valve.
(c) All openings in the container except those listed below shall be equipped with approved excess flow check valves:
(i) Filling connections as provided in (3)(a) of this section.
(ii) Safety relief connections as provided in WAC 296-24-47505 (7)(b).
(iii) Liquid-level gaging devices as provided in WAC 296-24-47505 (7)(d) and (19)(d).
(iv) Pressure gage connections as provided in WAC 296-24-47505 (7)(e).
(d) All container inlets and outlets except those listed below shall be labeled to designate whether they connect with vapor or liquid (labels may be on valves):
(i) Safety relief valves.
(ii) Liquid-level gaging devices.
(iii) Pressure gages.
(e) Each storage container shall be provided with a suitable pressure gage.
(4) Safety-relief valves.
(a) All safety-relief devices shall be installed as follows:
(i) On the container and directly connected with the vapor space.
(ii) Safety-relief valves and discharge piping shall be protected against physical damage. The outlet shall be provided with loose-fitting rain caps. There shall be no return bends or restrictions in the discharge piping.
(iii) The discharge from two or more safety relief valves having the same pressure settings may be run into a common discharge header. The cross-sectional area of such header shall be at least equal to the sum of the individual discharges.
(iv) Discharge from any safety relief device shall not terminate in any building nor beneath any building.
(b) Aboveground containers shall be provided with safety relief valves as follows:
(i) The rate of discharge, which may be provided by one or more valves, shall be not less than that specified in WAC 296-24-47505 (10)(b).
(ii) The discharge from safety relief valves shall be vented to the open air unobstructed and vertically upwards in such a manner as to prevent any impingement of escaping gas upon the container; loose-fitting rain caps shall be used. On a container having a water capacity greater than 2,000 gallons, the discharge from the safety relief valves shall be vented away from the container vertically upwards to a point at least 7 feet above the container. Suitable provisions shall be made so that any liquid or condensate that may accumulate inside of the relief valve or its discharge pipe will not render the valve inoperative. If a drain is used, a means shall be provided to protect the container, adjacent containers, piping, or equipment against impingement of flame resulting from ignition of the product escaping from the drain.
(c) Underground containers shall be provided with safety relief valves as follows:
(i) The discharge from safety-relief valves shall be piped vertically upward to a point at least 10 feet above the ground. The discharge lines or pipes shall be adequately supported and protected against physical damage.
(ii) Where there is a probability of the manhole or housing becoming flooded, the discharge from regulator vent lines should be above the highest probable water level.
(iii) If no liquid is put into a container until after it is buried and covered, the rate of discharge of the relief valves may be reduced to not less than 30 percent of the rate shown in WAC 296-24-47505 (10)(b). If liquid fuel is present during installation of containers, the rate of discharge shall be the same as for aboveground containers. Such containers shall not be uncovered until emptied of liquid fuel.
(5) Capacity of liquid containers. Individual storage containers shall not exceed 30,000 gallons water capacity.
(6) Installation of storage containers.
(a) Each storage container used exclusively in service station operation shall comply with the following table which specifies minimum distances to a building, groups of buildings, and adjoining property lines which may be built upon.
Minimum distances |
|||||
Water capacity per container (gallons) |
Aboveground and underground (feet) |
Between aboveground containers (feet) |
|||
| Up to 2,000 | 25 | 3 | |||
| Over 2,000 | 50 | 5 | |||
| Note: | The above distances may be reduced to not less than 10 feet for service station buildings of other than wood frame construction. |
(ii) The minimum separation between LP-gas containers and flammable liquid tanks shall be 20 feet and the minimum separation between a container and the centerline of the dike shall be 10 feet.
(iii) LP-gas containers located near flammable liquid containers shall be protected against the flow or accumulation of flammable liquids by diking, diversion curbs, or grading.
(iv) LP-gas containers shall not be located within diked areas for flammable liquid containers.
(v) Field welding is permitted only on saddle plates or brackets which were applied by the container manufacturer.
(vi) When permanently installed containers are interconnected, provision shall be made to compensate for expansion, contraction, vibration, and settling of containers and interconnecting piping. Where flexible connections are used, they shall be of an approved type and shall be designed for a bursting pressure of not less than five times the vapor pressure of the product at 100F. The use of nonmetallic hose is prohibited for interconnecting such containers.
(vii) Where high water table or flood conditions may be encountered protection against container flotation shall be provided.
(b) Aboveground containers shall be installed in accordance with this section.
(i) Containers may be installed horizontally or vertically.
(ii) Containers shall be protected by crash rails or guards to prevent physical damage unless they are so protected by virtue of their location. Vehicles shall not be serviced within 10 feet of containers.
(iii) Container foundations shall be of substantial masonry or other noncombustible material. Containers shall be mounted on saddles which shall permit expansion and contraction, and shall provide against the excessive concentration of stresses. Corrosion protection shall be provided for tank-mounting areas. Structural metal container supports shall be protected against fire. This protection is not required on prefabricated storage and pump assemblies, mounted on a common base, with container bottom not more than 24 inches above ground and whose water capacity is 2,000 gallons or less if the piping connected to the storage and pump assembly is sufficiently flexible to minimize the possibility of breakage or leakage in the event of failure of the container supports.
(c) Underground containers shall be installed in accordance with this section.
(i) Containers shall be given a protective coating before being placed under ground. This coating shall be equivalent to hot-dip galvanizing or to two coatings of red lead followed by a heavy coating of coal tar or asphalt. In lowering the container into place, care shall be exercised to minimize abrasion or other damage to the coating. Damage to the coating shall be repaired before back-filling.
(ii) Containers shall be set on a firm foundation (firm earth may be used) and surrounded with earth or sand firmly tamped in place. Backfill should be free of rocks or other abrasive materials.
(iii) A minimum of 2 feet of earth cover shall be provided. Where ground conditions make compliance with this requirement impractical, equivalent protection against physical damage shall be provided. The portion of the container to which manhole and other connections are attached need not be covered. If the location is subjected to vehicular traffic, containers shall be protected by a concrete slab or other cover adequate to prevent the weight of a loaded vehicle imposing concentrated direct loads on the container shell.
(7) Protection of container fittings. Valves, regulators, gages, and other container fittings shall be protected against tampering and physical damage.
(8) Transport truck unloading point.
(a) During unloading, the transport truck shall not be parked on public thoroughfares and shall be at least 5 feet from storage containers and shall be positioned so that shutoff valves are readily accessible.
(b) The filling pipe inlet terminal shall not be located within a building nor within 10 feet of any building or driveway. It shall be protected against physical damage.
(9) Piping, valves, and fittings.
(a) Piping may be underground, above ground, or a combination of both. It shall be well supported and protected against physical damage and corrosion.
(b) Piping laid beneath driveways shall be installed to prevent physical damage by vehicles.
(c) Piping shall be wrought iron or steel (black or galvanized), brass or copper pipe; or seamless copper, brass, or steel tubing and shall be suitable for a minimum pressure of 250 p.s.i.g. Pipe joints may be screwed, flanged, brazed, or welded. The use of aluminum alloy piping or tubing is prohibited.
(d) All shutoff valves (liquid or gas) shall be suitable for liquefied petroleum gas service and designed for not less than the maximum pressure to which they may be subjected. Valves which may be subjected to container pressure shall have a rated working pressure of at least 250 p.s.i.g.
(e) All materials used for valve seats, packing, gaskets, diaphragms, etc., shall be resistant to the action of LP-gas.
(f) Fittings shall be steel, malleable iron, or brass having a minimum working pressure of 250 p.s.i.g. Cast iron pipe fittings, such as ells, tees and unions shall not be used.
(g) All piping shall be tested after assembly and proved free from leaks at not less than normal operating pressures.
(h) Provision shall be made for expansion, contraction, jarring, and vibration, and for settling. This may be accomplished by flexible connections.
(10) Pumps and accessories. All pumps and accessory equipment shall be suitable for LP-gas service, and designed for not less than the maximum pressure to which they may be subjected. Accessories shall have a minimum rated working pressure of 250 p.s.i.g. Positive displacement pumps shall be equipped with suitable pressure actuated bypass valves permitting flow from pump discharge to storage container or pump suction.
(11) Dispensing devices.
(a) Meters, vapor separators, valves, and fittings in the dispenser shall be suitable for LP-gas service and shall be designed for a minimum working pressure of 250 p.s.i.g.
(b) Provisions shall be made for venting LP-gas contained in a dispensing device to a safe location.
(c) Pumps used to transfer LP-gas shall be equipped to allow control of the flow and to prevent leakage or accidental discharge. Means shall be provided outside the dispensing device to readily shut off the power in the event of fire or accident.
(d) A manual shutoff valve and an excess flow check valve shall be installed downstream of the pump and ahead of the dispenser inlet.
(i) Dispensing hose shall be resistant to the action of LP-gas in the liquid phase and designed for a minimum bursting pressure of 1,250 p.s.i.g.
(ii) An excess flow check valve or automatic shutoff valve shall be installed at the terminus of the liquid line at the point of attachment of the dispensing hose.
(e) LP-gas dispensing devices shall be located not less than 10 feet from aboveground storage containers greater than 2,000 gallons water capacity. The dispensing devices shall not be less then 20 feet from any building (not including canopies), basement, cellar, pit, or line of adjoining property which may be built upon and not less than 10 feet from sidewalks, streets, or thoroughfares. No drains or blowoff lines shall be directed into or in proximity to the sewer systems used for other purposes.
(i) LP-gas dispensing devices shall be installed on a concrete foundation or as part of a complete storage and dispensing assembly mounted on a common base, and shall be adequately protected from physical damage.
(ii) LP-gas dispensing devices shall not be installed within a building except that they may be located under a weather shelter or canopy provided this area is not enclosed on more than two sides. If the enclosing sides are adjacent to each other, the area shall be properly ventilated.
(f) The dispensing of LP-gas into the fuel container of a vehicle shall be performed by a competent attendant who shall remain at the LP-gas dispenser during the entire transfer operation.
(12) Additional standards. There shall be no smoking on the driveway of service stations in the dispensing areas or transport truck unloading areas. Conspicuous signs prohibiting smoking shall be posted within sight of the customer being served. Letters on such signs shall be not less than 4 inches high. The motors of all vehicles being fueled shall be shut off during the fueling operations.
(13) Electrical. Electrical equipment and installations shall conform to WAC 296-24-47505 (17) and (18).
(14) Fire protection. Each service station shall be provided with at least one approved portable fire extinguisher having at least an 8-B, C, rating.
| Note: | For additional requirements relating to portable fire extinguishers see WAC 296-800-300. |
[Order 73-5, 296-24-47517, filed 5/9/73 and Order 73-4, 296-24-47517, filed 5/7/73.]
(2) Exit access. Exit access is that portion of a means of egress which leads to an entrance to an exit.
(3) Exit. Exit is that portion of a means of egress which is separated from all other spaces of the building or structure by construction or equipment as required in these standards to provide a protected way of travel to the exit of discharge.
(4) Exit discharge. Exit discharge is that portion of a means of egress between the termination of an exit and a public way.
(5) Low hazard contents. Low hazard contents shall be classified as those of such low combustibility that no self-propagating fire therein can occur and that consequently the only probable danger requiring the use of emergency exits will be from panic, fumes, or smoke, or fire from some external source.
(6) High-hazard contents. High-hazard contents shall be classified as those which are liable to burn with extreme rapidity or from which poisonous fumes or explosions are to be feared in the event of fire.
(7) Ordinary hazard contents. Ordinary hazard contents shall be classified as those which are liable to burn with moderate rapidity and to give off a considerable volume of smoke but from which neither poisonous fumes nor explosions are to be feared in case of fire.
(8))) (1) Approved. For the purposes of chapter 296-24 WAC, Parts G-1, G-2 and G-3, approved shall mean listed or approved equipment by a nationally recognized testing laboratory. Refer to WAC 296-24-58503 (3)(c)(iv)(A) for definition of listed, and federal regulation 29 CFR 1910.7 for nationally recognized testing laboratory.
(((9))) (2) Emergency action plan. A plan for a workplace,
or parts thereof, describing what procedures the employer and
employees must take to ensure employee safety from fire or other
emergencies.
(((10))) (3) Emergency escape route. The route that
employees are directed to follow in the event they are required
to evacuate the workplace or seek a designated refuge area.
[Statutory Authority: Chapter 49.17 RCW. 94-15-096 (Order 94-07), 296-24-55001, filed 7/20/94, effective 9/20/94; 88-23-054 (Order 88-25), 296-24-55001, filed 11/14/88. Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.040 and 49.17.050. 82-02-003 (Order 81-32), 296-24-55001, filed 12/24/81; Order 73-5, 296-24-55001, filed 5/9/73 and Order 73-4, 296-24-55001, filed 5/7/73.]
(2) Procedures.
(a) Cylinders containing compressed gases for use at the site shall not be charged in excess of one-half their maximum permissible content. (Cylinders of nonliquefied gases and acetylene shall be charged to not more than one-half their maximum permissible charged pressure in p.s.i.g. Cylinders of liquefied gases shall be charged to not more than one-half the maximum permissible capacity in pounds.)
(b) Cylinders located at the site shall be connected for use except that enough additional cylinders may be stored at the site to furnish approximately 1 day's consumption of each gas used. Other cylinders shall be stored, in an approved storage area, preferably outdoors, but this storage area shall not be located near a building exit.
(c) Cylinders in excess of 40 pounds total weight being transported to or from the site shall be carried on a hand or motorized truck.
(d) The site shall be constructed, equipped, and operated in such a manner that the demonstration will be carried out so as to minimize the possibility of injury to viewers.
(e) Sites involving the use of compressed gases shall be located so as not to interfere with the egress of people during an emergency.
(f) The fire department shall be notified in advance of such use of the site.
(g) Each site shall be provided with a portable fire extinguisher of appropriate size and type and with a pail of water.
| Note: | For additional requirements relating to portable fire extinguishers see WAC 296-800-300. |
(i) Hoses shall be located and protected so that they will not be physically damaged.
(j) Cylinder valves shall be closed when equipment is unattended.
(k) Where caps are provided for valve protection, such caps shall be in place except when the cylinders are in service or connected ready for service.
(l) Cylinders shall be located or secured so that they cannot be knocked over.
[Order 73-5, 296-24-68215, filed 5/9/73 and Order 73-4, 296-24-68215, filed 5/7/73.]
(2))) (1) Every ladderway floor opening or platform shall be guarded by a standard railing with standard toeboard on all exposed sides (except at entrance to opening), with the passage through the railing either provided with a swinging gate or so offset that a person cannot walk directly into the opening.
(((3))) (2) Every hatchway and chute floor opening shall be
guarded by one of the following:
(a) Hinged floor opening cover of standard strength and construction equipped with standard railings or permanently attached thereto so as to leave only one exposed side. When the opening is not in use, the cover shall be closed or the exposed side shall be guarded at both top and intermediate positions by removable standard railings.
(b) A removable railing with toeboard on not more than two sides of the opening and fixed standard railings with toeboards on all other exposed sides. The removable railings shall be kept in place when the opening is not in use and should preferably be hinged or otherwise mounted so as to be conveniently replaceable.
Where operating conditions necessitate the feeding of material into any hatchway or chute opening, protection shall be provided to prevent a person from falling through the opening.
(c) The area under floor openings shall, where practical, be fenced off. When this is not practical, the areas shall be plainly marked with yellow lines and telltales shall be installed to hang within five and one-half feet of ground or floor level.
(d) Where floor openings are used to drop materials from one level to another, audible warning systems shall be installed and used to indicate to employees on the lower level that material is to be dropped.
(((4))) (3) Every skylight opening and hole shall be guarded
by a standard skylight screen or a fixed standard railing on all
exposed sides.
(((5))) (4) Every pit and trapdoor floor opening,
infrequently used, shall be guarded by a floor opening cover of
standard strength and construction which should be hinged in
place. While the cover is not in place, the pit or trap opening
shall be constantly attended by someone or shall be protected on
all exposed sides by removable standard railings.
(((6))) (5) Every manhole floor opening shall be guarded by
a standard manhole cover which need not be hinged in place. While the cover is not in place, the manhole opening shall be
constantly attended by someone or shall be protected by removable
standard railings.
(((7) Every temporary floor opening shall have standard
railings, or shall be constantly attended by someone.
(8) Every floor hole into which persons can accidentally walk shall be guarded by either:
(a) A standard railing with standard toeboard on all exposed sides, or
(b) A floor hole cover of standard strength and construction that should be hinged in place. While the cover is not in place, the floor hole shall be constantly attended by someone or shall be protected by a removable standard railing.
(9) Every floor hole into which persons cannot accidentally walk (on account of fixed machinery, equipment, or walls) shall be protected by a cover that leaves no openings more than 1 inch wide. The cover shall be securely held in place to prevent tools or materials from falling through.
(10) Where doors or gates open directly on a stairway, a platform shall be provided, and the swing of the door shall not reduce the effective width to less than 20 inches.))
[Order 74-27, 296-24-75003, filed 5/7/74; Order 73-5, 296-24-75003, filed 5/9/73 and Order 73-4, 296-24-75003, filed 5/7/73.]
(a) Person can pass,
(b) There is moving machinery, or
(c) There is equipment with which falling materials could create a hazard.)) (1) Railings must be provided with a toeboard wherever, beneath the open sides:
(a) Person can pass;
(b) There is moving machinery; or
(c) There is equipment with which falling materials could create a hazard.
(2) Every runway shall be guarded by a standard railing (or the equivalent as specified in WAC 296-24-75011(3) on all open sides 4 feet or more above floor or ground level. Wherever tools, machine parts, or materials are likely to be used on the runway, a toeboard shall also be provided on each exposed side.
Runways used exclusively for special purposes (such as oiling, shafting, or filling tank cars) may have the railing on one side omitted where operating conditions necessitate such omission, providing the falling hazard is minimized by using a runway of not less than 18 inches wide. Where persons entering upon runways become thereby exposed to machinery, electrical equipment, or other danger not a falling hazard, additional guarding than is here specified may be essential for protection.
(3) Regardless of height, ((open-sided floors, walkways,
platforms, or)) runways above or adjacent to dangerous equipment,
pickling or galvanizing tanks, degreasing units, and similar
hazards shall be guarded with a standard railing and toeboard.
(((4) Tools and loose materials shall not be left on
overhead platforms and scaffolds.))
[Order 76-6, 296-24-75007, filed 3/1/76; Order 73-5, 296-24-75007, filed 5/9/73 and Order 73-4, 296-24-75007, filed 5/7/73.]
[Order 73-5, 296-24-78003, filed 5/9/73 and Order 73-4, 296-24-78003, filed 5/7/73.]
(a) All wood parts shall be of the species specified in Table D-5, seasoned to a moisture content of not more than 15 percent; smoothly machined and dressed on all sides; free from sharp edges and splinters; sound and free by accepted visual inspection from shake, wane, compression failures, decay, or other irregularities except as hereinafter provided. Low-density wood shall not be used.
(b) Black streaks in western hemlock shall not be considered an irregularity, except that chambers associated with black streaks when present in the part, shall be limited as specified for pitch and bark pockets.
(2) Permissible irregularities in side rails and back rails.
(a) The general slope of grain in side rails of minimum dimension shall not be steeper than 1 in 12, except that for ladders under 10 feet in length and having flat steps for treads, the general slope of grain shall not be steeper than 1 in 10. The slope of grain in areas of local grain deviation shall not be steeper than 1 in 12 or 1 in 10 as specified above when occurring on the edges or in the outer one-fourth of the width of the wide face. Local areas of grain deviation within the center half of the width of the wide face may contain grain slope as steep as 1 in 8. Local deviations of grain associated with otherwise permissible irregularities are permitted.
(b) Knots shall not appear in narrow faces of side rails. Knots, if tight and sound and less than one-half inch in diameter, are permitted on the wide face provided they are at least one-half inch back from either edge and not more frequent than 1 to any 3 feet of ladder length.
(c) Pitch and bark pockets are permitted provided they are not more than one-eighth inch in width, or more than 2 inches in length, or more than one-half inch in depth, and then only if they are not more frequent than 1 to any 3 feet of ladder length.
(d) Checks are permitted on side rails provided they are not more than 6 inches in length or more than one-half inch in depth.
(e) Occurrences of compression wood in relatively small amounts and positively identified by competent and conscientious visual inspection of side rails are permitted provided no single streak shall exceed one-half inch in width nor shall the aggregate of streaks exceed one-fourth of the face of the side rail. Borderline forms of compression wood not positively identified by competent and conscientious visual inspection are permitted. Ladder parts containing bow or crook which would interfere with the operation of the ladder shall not be used.
(3) Permissible irregularities in flat steps, rungs, and cleats.
(a) The general slope of grain in flat steps of minimum dimension shall not be steeper than 1 in 12, except that for ladders under 10 feet in length the slope of grain shall not be steeper than 1 in 10. The slope of grain in areas of local deviation shall not be steeper than 1 in 12 or 1 in 10 as specified above. For all ladders, cross grain not steeper than 1 in 10 are permitted in lieu of 1 in 12, provided the size is increased to afford at least 15 percent greater calculated strength than for ladders built to minimum dimensions. Local deviations of grain associated with otherwise permissible irregularities are permitted.
(b) The general slope of grain and that in areas of local deviations of grain shall not be steeper than 1 in 15 in rungs and cleats. For all ladders cross grain not steeper than 1 in 12 are permitted in lieu of 1 in 15, provided the size is increased to afford at least 15 percent greater calculated strength for ladders built to minimum dimensions. Local deviations of grain associated with otherwise permissible irregularities are permitted.
(c) Knots over one-eighth inch in diameter shall not appear in rungs. Knots shall not appear in the narrow faces of flat steps and cleats. Knots appearing in the wide faces of flat steps and cleats shall not exceed a diameter of one-fourth inch.
(4) Classification of species of wood. Table D-5 gives a list of native woods, divided into four groups on the basis of mechanical properties considered from the standpoint of use for ladder construction.
(a) All minimum dimensions and specifications set forth in (b)(ii) for side rails and flat steps are based on the species of wood listed in Group 3 in Table D-5 except where otherwise provided. The species of all other groups may be substituted for those of Group 3 when used in sizes that provide at least equivalent strength. (See Table D-5 for suggested methods of size adjustment.)
(b) All minimum dimensions and specifications set forth in
the following "factor for increase in" for rungs and cleats are
based on the species of wood listed in Group 1 in Table D-5. The
cross-sectional dimensions specified for Group 1 species are
increased by the factors shown in this subsection (based on the
percentages of Table D-5) for the species group of which the
cleats are to be made.
FACTOR FOR INCREASE IN
| Species group | Each dimension |
Width only (thickness unchanged) |
| 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . | 1.00 | 1.00 |
| 2 . . . . . . . . . . . . | 1.03 | 1.05 |
| 3 . . . . . . . . . . . . | 1.11 | 1.19 |
| 4 . . . . . . . . . . . . | 1.17 | 1.26 |
Table D-5
CLASSIFICATION OF VARIOUS SPECIES OF WOOD ACCEPTABLE FOR USE IN LADDER
The species are listed alphabetically within each group. The position of any species within a group therefore bears no relation to its strength or acceptability.
Where ladders are desired for use under conditions favorable to decay, it is recommended that the heartwood of decay-resistant species be used, or that the wood be given a treatment with a wood preservative. The species having the most durable heartwood are marked with an asterisk (*), and these should be preferred where resistance to decay is required.
The allowable fiber stress in bending for the species listed
herein when used for side rails shall not exceed two thousand one
hundred fifty pounds per square inch. These species may be
substituted for Group 3 woods on the following basis: The
dimensions may be not more than ten percent smaller for each
cross-section dimension, or the thickness may remain unchanged,
in which case the width may not be more than fifteen percent
smaller if used edgewise (as in a rail) or twenty-five percent
smaller if used flatwise (as in a tread).
| White ash | Fraxinus americana, pennsylvanica, quadrangulata |
| Beech | Fagus grandifolia |
| Birch | Betula lenta, alleghaniensis, nigra (2) |
| Rock elm | Ulmus themasii |
| Hickory | Carya ovata, laciniosa, tomentosa, glabra |
| Locust* | Robinia pseudoacacia, Gleditsia triacanthos |
| Hard maple | Acer nigrum, saccharum |
| Red maple | Acer rubrum (3) |
| Red oak | Quercus velutina, marilandica, kelloggii, falcata var. pagodaefolia, laurifolia, ellipsoidalis, rubra, nuttallii, palustris, coccinea, shumardii, falcata, laevis, phellos |
| White oak | Quercus arizonica, douglasii, macrocarpa, lobata, prinus, muehlenbergii, emoryi, gambelii, oblonifolia, virginiana, garryana, lyrata, stellata, michauxii, bicolor, alba |
| Pecan | Carya illinoensis, cordiformis, myristicaeformis (4), aquatica (4) |
| Persimmon | Diospryros virginiana |
| Douglas fir (coast region) | Pseudotsuga menziesii |
| Western larch | Larix occidentalis |
| Southern yellow pine | Pinus taeda, palustris, echinata, elliotii, rigida, virginiana |
| Red alder | Alnus rubra, rhombifolia (2) |
| Oregon ash | Fraxinus latifolia |
| Pumpkin ash | Fraxinus profunda |
| Alaska cedar* | Chamaecyparis nootkatensis |
| Port Orford cedar* | Chamaecyparis lawsoniana |
| Cucumber | Magnolia acuminata |
| Cypress* | Taxodium distichum |
| Soft elm | Ulmus americana, rubra |
| Douglas fir (Rocky Mountain type) | Pseudotsuga menziesii var. glauca |
| Noble fir | Abies procera |
| Gum | Liquidambar styraciflua |
| West coast hemlock | Tsuga heterophylla |
| Magnolia | Magnolia grandiflora |
| Oregon maple | Acer macrophyllum |
| Norway pine | Pinus resinosa |
| Poplar | Liriodendron tulipifera |
| Redwood* | Sequoia sempervirens |
| Eastern spruce | Picea glauca, rubens |
| Sitka spruce | Picea sitchensis |
| Sycamore | Platanus occidentalis |
| Tamarack | Larix laricina |
| Tupelo | Nyssa aquatica, sylvatica |
| Aspen | Populus tremuloides, grandidentata |
| Basswood | Tilia americana, heterophylla (2) |
| Buckeye | Aesculus octandra, glabra (2) |
| Butternut | Juglanscinerea |
| Incense cedar* | Libocedrus decurrens |
| Western red cedar* | Thuja plicata |
| Cottonwood | Populus balsamifera, deltiodes, sargentii, heterophylla |
| White fir | Abies concolor, grandis, amabilis, lasiocarpa, magnifica |
| Hackberry | Celtis occidentalis, laevigata (2) |
| Eastern hemlock | Tsuga canadensis |
| Holly | Ilex opaca |
| Soft maple | Acer saccharinum |
| Lodgepole pine | Pinus contorta |
| Idaho white pine | Pinus monticola |
| Northern white pine | Pinus strobus |
| Ponderosa pine | Pinus ponderosa, pinus jeffreyi (Jeffrey pine) |
| Sugar pine | Pinus lambertiana |
| Engelmann spruce | Picea engelmannii |
| Note 1: | The common and scientific names of species used conform to the American Lumber Standards nomenclature and in most cases to U.S. Department of Agriculture Handbook No. 41, Check List of Native and Naturalized Trees of the United States (including Alaska), by Elbert L. Little. These publications can be obtained from the U.S. Government Printing Office, North Capital and "H" Streets Northwest, Washington D.C. 20401. |
| Note 2: | This species is commonly associated with others of the same genus under American Lumber Standards nomenclature, but no strength tests have been made on it at the forest products laboratory. |
| Note 3: | Included under soft maple in American Lumber Standards nomenclature. |
| Note 4: | This species is not included under this common name in American Lumber Standards nomenclature, but strength data are available and it is accordingly included in this classification. |
[Order 73-5, 296-24-78005, filed 5/9/73 and Order 73-4, 296-24-78005, filed 5/7/73.]
(a) Ladders shall be maintained in good condition at all times, the joint between the steps and side rails shall be tight, all hardware and fittings securely attached, and the moveable parts shall operate freely without binding or undue play.
(b) Metal bearings of locks, wheels, pulleys, etc., shall be frequently lubricated.
(c) Frayed or badly worn rope shall be replaced.
(d) Safety feet and other auxiliary equipment shall be kept in good condition to insure proper performance.
(e) Ladders should be stored in such a manner as to provide ease of access or inspection, and to prevent danger of accident when withdrawing a ladder for use.
(f) Wood ladders, when not in use, should be stored at a location where they will not be exposed to the elements, but where there is good ventilation. They shall not be stored near radiators, stoves, steam pipes, or other places subjected to excessive heat or dampness.
(g) Ladders stored in a horizontal position should be supported at a sufficient number of points to avoid sagging and permanent set.
(h) Ladders carried on vehicles should be adequately supported to avoid sagging and securely fastened in position to minimize chafing and the effects of road shocks.
(i) Ladders should be kept coated with a suitable protective material. The painting of ladders is satisfactory providing the ladders are carefully inspected prior to painting by competent and experienced inspectors acting for, and responsible to, the purchaser, and providing the ladders are not for resale.
(j) Ladders shall be inspected frequently and those which have developed defects shall be withdrawn from service for repair or destruction and tagged or marked as "dangerous, do not use."
(k) Rungs should be kept free of grease and oil.
(2) Use. The following safety precautions shall be observed in connection with the use of ladders:
(a) Portable rung and cleat ladders shall, where possible, be used at such a pitch that the horizontal distance from the top support to the foot of the ladder is one-quarter of the working length of the ladder (the length along the ladder between the foot and the top support). The ladder shall be so placed as to prevent slipping, or it shall be lashed, or held in position. Ladders shall not be used in a horizontal position as platforms, runways, or scaffolds.
(b) Ladders for which dimensions are specified should not be used by more than one person at a time nor with ladder jacks and scaffold planks where use by more than one person is anticipated. In such cases, specially designed ladders with larger dimensions of the parts should be procured.
(c) Portable ladders shall be so placed that the side rails have a secure footing. The top rest for portable rung and cleat ladders shall be reasonably rigid and shall have ample strength to support the applied load.
(d) Ladders shall not be placed in front of doors opening toward the ladder unless the door is blocked open, locked, or guarded.
(e) Ladders shall not be placed on boxes, barrels, or other unstable bases to obtain additional height.
(f) To support the top of the ladder at a window opening, a board should be attached across the back of the ladder, extending across the window and providing firm support against the building walls or window frames.
(g) When ascending or descending, the user should face the ladder.
(h) Ladders with broken or missing steps, rungs, or cleats, broken side rails, or other faulty equipment shall not be used; improvised repairs shall not be made.
(i) Short ladders shall not be spliced together to provide long sections.
(j) Ladders made by fastening cleats across a single rail shall not be used.
(k) Ladders shall not be used as guys, braces, or skids, or for other than their intended purposes.
(l) Tops of the ordinary types of stepladders shall not be used as steps.
(m) On two-section extension ladders the minimum overlap for the two sections in use shall be as follows:
| Size of ladder (feet): |
Overlap (feet) |
| Up to and including 36 . . . . . . . . . . . . | 3 |
| Over 36 up to and including 48 . . . . . . . . . . . . | 4 |
| Over 48 up to and including 60 . . . . . . . . . . . . | 5 |
(o) No ladder should be used to gain access to a roof unless the top of the ladder shall extend at least three feet above the point of support, at eave, gutter, or roof line.
(p) Adjustment of extension ladders should only be made by the user when standing at the base of the ladder, so that the user may observe when the locks are properly engaged. Adjustment of extension ladders from the top of the ladder (or any level over the locking device) is a dangerous practice and should not be attempted. Adjustment should not be made while the user is standing on the ladder.
(q) Middle and top sections of sectional or window cleaner's ladders should not be used for bottom section unless the user equips them with safety shoes.
(r) Extension ladders should always be erected so that the upper section is resting on the bottom section.
(s) The user should equip all portable rung ladders with nonslip bases when there is a hazard of slipping. Nonslip bases are not intended as a substitute for care in safety placing, lashing, or holding a ladder that is being used upon oily metal, concrete, or slippery surfaces.
(t) The bracing on the back legs of step ladders is designed solely for increasing stability and not for climbing.
(u) When service conditions warrant, hooks may be attached at or near the top of portable ladders to give added security.
(v) Stepladders shall not be used as single ladders.
(w) Separate ladders for ascending and descending shall be provided in building construction of more than two stories in height, or where traffic is heavy.
(x) Where one broad ladder is used, a center rail shall be provided, and each side plainly marked "up" and "down."
(y) Ladder rungs shall not be used to support more than one section of plank, and not more than two persons shall work on such section of planking at one and the same time. When two persons are working on the same section of plank, their work should be so arranged that their weight is equally distributed between two ladders as nearly as possible.
(z) When ladders are used of a length sufficient to possess a tendency to spring when weight is applied, they shall be provided with bracing to overcome same. This applies particularly to extension ladders.
(aa) Before climbing ladders, workers shall see that their shoes are free and clean of greasy or slippery substances.
(bb) When working from a stepladder over five feet high a worker shall not stand on a step higher than the third step from the top of the stepladder.
(cc) Ladders shall not be placed or used in elevator shafts or hoistways except where used by workers engaged in work within such shafts or hoistways, and then they shall be protected from objects falling from operations at higher elevations in or adjoining the shaft.
(dd) Workers shall not ascend or descend ladders while carrying tools or materials which will interfere with the free use of both hands.
(ee))) Ladders shall pass the following test:
When tested as a simple beam with a support under each end and the center rung loaded with a two hundred pound load, the ladder must support this load for ten minutes without permanent set and without showing any sign of failure. The maximum deflection shall not be greater than shown in the enclosed table.
| Lengths of extended ladder in feet |
Distance of supports from ends, in inches |
Total deflection, in inches |
||
12 . . . . . . . . . . . . |
3 |
2 |
3/4 |
|
| 16 . . . . . . . . . . . . | 3 | 6 | 3/4 | |
| 20 . . . . . . . . . . . . | 3 | 11 | 1/2 | |
| 24 . . . . . . . . . . . . | 3 | 16 | 1/2 | |
| 28 . . . . . . . . . . . . | 3 | 21 | 1/2 | |
| 30 . . . . . . . . . . . . | 3 | 23 | 1/2 | |
| 34 . . . . . . . . . . . . | 6 | 26 | ||
| 36 . . . . . . . . . . . . | 6 | 29 | ||
| 40 . . . . . . . . . . . . | 6 | 37 | ||
| 44 . . . . . . . . . . . . | 9 | 41 | ||
(gg) No type of work shall be performed on a ladder over twenty-five feet from the ground or floor that requires the use of both hands to perform the work, unless a safety belt is worn and the safety lanyard is secured to the ladder.
(hh) Work such as sandblasting or spray painting, that
requires wearing eye protection, respirators, and handling of
pressure equipment, shall be limited to not over thirty feet from
the ground or floor while working on a ladder.
TABLE D-5
CLASSIFICATION OF VARIOUS SPECIES OF WOOD
ACCEPTABLE FOR USE IN LADDER
Where ladders are desired for use under conditions favorable to decay, it is recommended that the heartwood of decay-resistant species be used, or that the wood be given a treatment with a wood preservative. The species having the most durable heartwood are marked with an asterisk (*), and these should be preferred where resistance to decay is required.
GROUP 1
The allowable fiber stress in bending for the species listed
herein when used for side rails shall not exceed two thousand one
hundred fifty pounds per square inch. These species may be
substituted for Group 3 woods on the following basis: The
dimensions may be not more than ten percent smaller for each
cross-section dimension, or the thickness may remain unchanged,
in which case the width may not be more than fifteen percent
smaller if used edgewise (as in a rail) or twenty-five percent
smaller if used flatwise (as in a tread).
| Diospryros virginiana)) |
region) . . . . . . . . . . . . |
|
pine . . . . . . . . . . . . |
Pinus taeda, palustris, echinata, elliotii, rigida, virginiana)) |
Mountain type) . . . . . . . . . . . . |
|
| Nyssa aquatica, sylvatica)) |
| Picea engelmannii)) |
[Statutory Authority: Chapter 49.17 RCW. 94-15-096 (Order 94-07), 296-24-78009, filed 7/20/94, effective 9/20/94; 88-11-021 (Order 88-04), 296-24-78009, filed 5/11/88. Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.040, 49.17.150 and 49.17.240. 79-08-115 (Order 79-9), 296-24-78009, filed 7/31/79; Order 76-6, 296-24-78009, filed 3/1/76; Order 73-5, 296-24-78009, filed 5/9/73 and Order 73-4, 296-24-78009, filed 5/7/73.]
The following sections of the Washington Administrative Code are repealed:
| WAC 296-24-59203 | Exemptions. |
| WAC 296-24-631 | Employee alarm systems. |
| WAC 296-24-63101 | Scope and application. |
| WAC 296-24-63103 | General requirements. |
| WAC 296-24-63105 | Installation and restoration. |
| WAC 296-24-63107 | Maintenance and testing. |
| WAC 296-24-63109 | Manual operation. |
| WAC 296-24-63199 | Appendix A -- Employee alarm systems. |
| WAC 296-24-75009 | Stairway railings and guards. |
OTS-4895.1
AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending Rules (Part XVI), filed 12/28/62)
WAC 296-36-190
Fire prevention and fire fighting.
(1)
General. Every building and every flammable structure above
ground and all places underground shall be within easy range of
fire fighting equipment, which shall at all times be maintained
in proper working conditions and ready for use.
(2) Smoking. No person shall smoke or carry lighted smoking materials in compressed air. No matches, mechanical or chemical igniters will be permitted in the working chamber except those necessary for welding or flame cutting operations.
(3) Welding or flame cutting. While welding or flame cutting is being done in compressed air, a watchman with a fire hose or approved extinguisher shall stand by until such operation is completed. Acetylene shall not be used in compressed air at acetylene pressure exceeding 15 pounds per square inch gage, or 30 pounds per square inch absolute.
(4) Fire hose. Fire hose shall be at least 1-1/2 inches in nominal diameter; the water pressure shall at all times be adequate for efficient operation of the type of nozzle used; and the water supply shall be such as to insure an uninterrupted flow. Fire hose when not in use shall be so located or guarded to prevent injury thereto.
Every power house, compressor house and every building housing ventilating equipment shall be provided with at least one hose connection in the water line with the fire hose connected thereto. A fire hose shall be maintained within easy reach of structures of wood over or near shafts.
(5) Shafts and caissons. Every shaft and every caisson containing flammable material of any kind, either above or below ground, shall be provided with a water line and a fire hose connected thereto, so arranged that all points of the shaft or caisson are within easy reach of the hose stream.
(6) Tunnels. Every tunnel shall be provided with a water line extending into the working chamber and to within 100 feet of the working face. Such lines shall have hose outlets with 100 feet of fire hose properly attached and maintained as follows: One at the working face, one immediately inside of the bulkhead of the working chamber, and one immediately outside such bulkhead. In addition, hose outlets shall be provided at 200-foot intervals throughout the length of the tunnel and 100 feet of fire hose shall be attached to the outlet nearest to any location where flammable material is being kept or stored or where any flame is being used.
(7) Fire extinguishers. In addition to required fire hose protection, on every floor of every building used in connection with compressed air work, there shall be provided at least one extinguisher of adequate size approved for the class of hazard involved, except that extinguishers containing carbon tetrachloride or methyl bromide shall not be used. Extinguishers shall be so located as to be readily available and protected from damage.
| Note: | For additional requirements relating to portable fire extinguishers see WAC 296-800-300. |
[Rules (Part XVI), filed 12/28/62; 7, filed 3/23/60.]
OTS-4896.1
AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending Order 89-03, filed 5/15/89,
effective 6/30/89)
WAC 296-45-67545
Refueling operations.
(1) Under no
circumstances shall the refueling of any type helicopter with
either aviation gasoline or Jet B (Turbine) type fuel be
permitted while the engines are running.
(2) Helicopters using Jet A (Turbine-Kerosene) type fuel may be refueled with engines running provided the following criteria is met:
(a) No unauthorized persons shall be allowed within fifty feet of the refueling operation or fueling equipment.
(b) A minimum of one thirty-pound fire extinguisher, or a combination of same, good for class A, B and C fires, shall be provided within one hundred feet on the upwind side of the refueling operation.
| Note: | For additional requirements relating to portable fire extinguishers see WAC 296-800-300. |
(d) There shall be no smoking, open flames, exposed flame heaters, flare pots, or open flame lights within fifty feet of the refueling area or fueling equipment. All entrances to the refueling area shall be posted with "NO SMOKING" signs.
(e) Due to the numerous causes of static electricity, it shall be considered present at all times. Prior to starting refueling operations, the fueling equipment and the helicopter shall be grounded and the fueling nozzle shall be electrically bonded to the helicopter. The use of conductive hose shall not be accepted to accomplish this bonding. All grounding and bonding connections shall be electrically and mechanically firm, to clean unpainted metal parts.
(f) To control spills, fuel shall be pumped either by hand or power. Pouring or gravity flow shall not be permitted. Self-closing nozzles or deadman controls shall be used and shall not be blocked open. Nozzles shall not be dragged along the ground.
(g) In case of a spill, the fueling operation shall be immediately stopped until such time as the person-in-charge determines that it is safe to resume the refueling operation.
(h) When ambient temperatures have been in the one hundred degrees Fahrenheit range for an extended period of time, all refueling of helicopters with the engines running shall be suspended until such time as conditions become suitable to resume refueling with the engines running.
(3) Helicopters with their engines stopped being refueled with aviation gasoline or Jet B (Turbine) type fuel, shall also comply with subsection (2)(a) through (g) of this section.
[Statutory Authority: Chapter 49.17 RCW. 89-11-035 (Order 89-03), 296-45-67545, filed 5/15/89, effective 6/30/89.]
OTS-4897.1
AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 99-17-117, filed 8/18/99,
effective 12/1/99)
WAC 296-54-521
Motor vehicles.
(1) The seats of each
vehicle must be securely fastened.
(2) Each school bus type vehicle that will transport nine or more passengers must have a substantial barricade behind the driver. The barricade must extend from the floor to at least a level even with the top of the driver's head.
(3) Adequate provision must be made for safe entrance and exits. Each vehicle must have mounting steps and handholds wherever it is necessary to prevent an employee injury when entering or leaving the vehicle.
(4) When equipment or tools are carried inside the vehicle, the employer must provide and use racks, boxes, holsters or other means to transport tools so that a hazard is not created for any vehicle operator or passenger.
(5) No one may enter or exit any vehicle until the vehicle is completely stopped.
(6) Employees must keep all parts of the body within the vehicle.
(7) Heat and light must be available in the passenger area of the vehicle. Use of stoves in vehicles is prohibited.
(8) Vehicles designed to transport nine or more passengers must have an emergency exit that:
(a) Is at least six and one-half square feet in area, with the smallest dimension being at least 18 inches;
(b) Is placed at the back of the vehicle or near the back on the side opposite the regular entrance; and
(c) Has an unobstructed route to and from the exit.
(9) When no fuel is transported in the crew vehicle, a minimum rated 5/BC dry chemical fire extinguisher must be kept in the passenger compartment. When fuel is transported on the crew vehicle according to subsection (12) of this section, a minimum rated 10/BC dry chemical fire extinguisher must be kept in the passenger compartment. The extinguishing agent must be nontoxic and preferably noncorrosive.
| Note: | For additional requirements relating to portable fire extinguishers see WAC 296-800-300. |
(11) Operating and maintenance instructions must be available in each vehicle. Each vehicle operator and maintenance employee must comply with the operating and maintenance instructions.
(12) Fuel must be transported or stored only in approved safety containers. Enclosed areas where fuels are carried or stored must be vented so that a hazardous concentration of fumes cannot accumulate. All containers or drums must be properly secured to the vehicle while being transported. Commercially built pick-up or flatbed trucks with a maximum seating capacity of six persons may be used to carry fuel in or on the bed of such vehicles, if the fuel is not carried in the crew compartment. Van-type vehicles may be used to carry fuel only when a vapor-proof bulkhead is installed between the passenger compartment and storage compartment. A maximum of forty-two gallons of gasoline may be carried or stored in the compartment and each container must have a maximum capacity seven gallons.
(13) Motor vehicles used regularly to transport employees must be covered against the weather and equipped and operated according to applicable state of Washington motor vehicle laws.
(14) All operators of crew vehicles must be experienced drivers and have a valid operator's license for the class of vehicle being operated.
(15) Dump trucks must only be used in an emergency to transport workers and have adequate safety chains or locking devices that eliminate the possibility of the body of the truck being raised while employees are riding in the truck. "Emergency" means any unforeseen circumstances that call for immediate action when danger to life or danger from fire exists.
(16) An effective means of signaling must be provided for communication between the driver and the passengers being transported when they are in separate compartments.
(17) The passenger load limit of a crew vehicle must not exceed the seating capacity of the vehicle.
[Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.010, [49.17].040 and [49.17].050. 99-17-117, amended and recodified as 296-54-521, filed 8/18/99, effective 12/1/99. Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.040, [49.17].050 and [49.17].060. 96-22-013, 296-54-531, filed 10/28/96, effective 1/1/97. Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.040, 49.17.050, 49.17.240, chapters 43.22 and 42.30 RCW. 80-11-057 (Order 80-15), 296-54-531, filed 8/20/80. Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.040, 49.17.150 and 49.17.240. 79-10-081 (Order 79-14), 296-54-531, filed 9/21/79.]
(2) The bilge area must be kept clean and oil, grease, fuel, or highly combustible materials must not be allowed to accumulate.
(3) Adequate ventilation equipment must be provided and used for the bilge area to prevent the accumulation of toxic or explosive gases or vapors.
(4) Adequate ventilation equipment must be provided and used for the cabin area on enclosed-cabin boats to prevent an accumulation of harmful gases or vapors.
(5) Deck and cabin lighting must be provided and used where necessary to provide safe levels of illumination aboard boats. Boats operated between sunset to sunrise, or in conditions of restricted visibility, must display navigation lights as required by the United States Coast Guard. Searchlights or floodlights must be provided for safe navigation and to illuminate working or boarding areas adjacent to the craft.
(6) On craft used by employees wearing calked shoes, all areas where employees must stand or walk must be made of or be covered with wood or other suitable matting or nonslip material. The covering must be maintained in good condition.
(7) Each boat must:
(a) Be provided with a fire extinguisher; and
| Note: | For additional requirements relating to portable fire extinguishers see WAC 296-800-300. |
| Note: | On log broncs, boomscooters, or other small boomboats where all occupants are required to wear life saving devices and a life ring would present a tripping hazard, the life ring may be omitted. |
(a) When employees are assigned work at other casual locations where exposure to drowning exists, at least one approved life ring with at least ninety feet of line attached must be provided in the immediate vicinity of the work assigned.
(b) Lines attached to life rings on fixed installations must be at least ninety feet long, at least one-fourth-inch in diameter, and have a minimum breaking strength of five hundred pounds. Similar lines attached to life rings on boats must be at least fifty feet long.
(c) Life rings must be United States Coast Guard approved thirty-inch size.
(d) Life rings and attached lines must be maintained to retain at least seventy-five percent of their designed buoyancy and strength.
(e) Where work is assigned over water where the vertical drop from an accidental fall would exceed fifty feet, special arrangements must be made with and approved by the department of labor and industries prior to such assignment.
(9) Log broncs, boomscooters, and boomboats must not be loaded with employees or equipment in a way that adversely affects stability or seaworthiness.
(10) Boats must not be operated at excessive speed or handled recklessly.
[Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.010, [49.17].040 and [49.17].050. 99-17-117, 296-54-59330, filed 8/18/99, effective 12/1/99.]
OTS-4898.1
AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 00-21-103, filed 10/18/00,
effective 2/1/01)
WAC 296-56-60083
Cranes and derricks.
(1) Scope.
(a) This section through WAC 296-56-60103 applies to every kind of crane and derrick and to any other type of equipment performing the functions of a crane or derrick except as noted in (b) of this subsection.
(b) This section does not apply to small industrial truck-type cranes, container handling toploaders and sideloaders, chain hoists, and mobile straddle-type cranes incapable of straddling two or more intermodal containers (sixteen feet (4.88 m) in width).
(2) Ratings.
(a) Except for bridge cranes covered by subsection (7) of this section, cranes and derricks having ratings that vary with boom length, radius (outreach) or other variables shall have a durable rating chart visible to the operator, covering the complete range of the manufacturer's (or design) capacity ratings. The rating chart shall include all operating radii (outreach) for all permissible boom lengths and jib lengths as applicable, with and without outriggers, and alternate ratings for optional equipment affecting such ratings. Precautions or warnings specified by the owner or manufacturer shall be included.
(b) The manufacturer's (or design) rated loads for the conditions of use shall not be exceeded.
(c) Designated working loads shall not be increased beyond the manufacturer's ratings or original design limitations unless such increase receives the manufacturer's approval. When the manufacturer's services are not available or where the equipment is of foreign manufacture, engineering design analysis shall be performed or approved by a person accredited for certifying the equipment under WAC 296-56-60093. Cranes shall conform with the manufacturer's specifications or any current ANSI standards that apply. Engineering design analysis shall be performed by a registered professional engineer competent in the field of cranes and derricks. Any structural changes necessitated by the change in rating shall be carried out.
(3) Radius indicator. When the rated load varies with the boom radius, the crane or derrick shall be fitted with a boom angle or radius indicator visible to the operator.
(4) Prohibited usage.
(a) Equipment shall not be used in a manner that exerts sideloading stresses upon the crane or derrick boom.
(b) No crane or derrick having a visible or known defect that affects safe operation shall be used.
(5) Protective devices.
(a) When exposed moving parts such as gears, chains and chain sprockets present a hazard to employees during crane and derrick operations, those parts shall be securely guarded.
(b) Crane hooks shall be latched or otherwise secured to prevent accidental load disengagement.
(c) When hoisting personnel in an approved man basket, the hook shall have a positive safety latch to prevent rollouts.
(6) General.
(a) Operating controls.
(i) Crane and derrick operating controls shall be clearly marked, or a chart indicating their function shall be posted at the operator's position.
(ii) All crane controls shall operate in a uniform manner within a given port.
(iii) Overhead bridge and container gantry crane operating control levers shall be self-centering so that they will automatically move to the "off" position when the operator releases the control.
(b) Booms. Cranes with elevatable booms and without operable automatic limiting devices shall be provided with boom stops if boom elevation can exceed maximum design angles from the horizontal.
(c) Foot pedals. Foot pedals shall have a nonskid surface.
(d) Access. Ladders, stairways, stanchions, grab irons, foot steps or equivalent means shall be provided as necessary to ensure safe access to footwalks, cab platforms, the cab and any portion of the superstructure which employees must reach.
(i) Footwalks shall be of rigid construction, and shall be capable of supporting a load of one hundred pounds (4.79 kPa) per square foot.
(ii) If more than twenty feet (6.1 m) in height, vertical ladders shall comply with WAC 296-56-60209 (4), (5)(a), (5)(b)(iii) and (5)(b)(iv).
(iii) Stairways on cranes shall be equipped with rigid handrails meeting the requirements of WAC 296-56-60123 (5)(a).
(iv) If the top of a ladder or stairway or any position thereof is located where a moving part of a crane, such as a revolving house, could strike an employee ascending or descending the ladder or stairway, a prominent warning sign shall be posted at the foot of the ladder or stairway. A system of communication (such as a buzzer or bell) shall be established and maintained between the foot of the ladder or stairway and the operator's cab.
(e) Operator's station. The cab, controls, and mechanism of the equipment shall be so arranged that the operator has a clear view of the load or signal person, when one is used. Cab glass, when used, shall be safety plate glass or equivalent and good visibility shall be maintained through the glass. Clothing, tools and equipment shall be stored so as not to interfere with access, operation, or the operator's view.
(f) A seat (lap) belt, meeting the requirements of 49 CFR 571.208-210 for a Type 1 seat belt assembly, shall be installed on the operator's seat of high speed container gantry cranes where the seat trolleys.
(g) Counterweights or ballast. Cranes shall be operated only with the specified type and amount of ballast or counterweights. Ballast or counterweight shall be located and secured only as provided in the manufacturer's or design specifications, which shall be available.
(h) Outriggers. Outriggers shall be used according to the manufacturer's specifications or design data, which shall be available. Floats, when used, shall be securely attached to the outriggers. Wood blocks or other support shall be of sufficient size to support the outrigger, free of defects that may affect safety and of sufficient width and length to prevent the crane from shifting or toppling under load.
(i) Exhaust gases. Engine exhaust gases shall be discharged away from the normal position of crane operating personnel.
(j) Electrical equipment shall be so located or enclosed that live parts will not be exposed to accidental contact. Designated persons may work on energized equipment only if necessary during inspection, maintenance, or repair.
(k) Fire extinguisher.
(i) At least one portable fire extinguisher of at least 5-BC rating or equivalent shall be accessible in the cab of the crane or derrick.
(ii) No portable fire extinguisher using carbon tetrachloride or chlorobromomethane extinguishing agents shall be used.
| Note: | For additional requirements relating to portable fire extinguishers see WAC 296-800-300. |
(m) Assembly or disassembly of boom sections. Mobile crane booms being assembled or disassembled on the ground with or without the support of the boom harness shall be blocked to prevent dropping of the boom or boom sections.
(n) Brakes.
(i) Each independent hoisting unit of a crane shall be equipped with at least one holding brake, applied directly to the motor shaft or gear train.
(ii) Each independent hoisting unit of a crane, except worm geared hoists, the angle of whose worm is such as to prevent the load from accelerating in the lowering direction, shall, in addition to a holding brake, be equipped with a controlled braking means to control lowering speeds.
(iii) Holding brakes for hoist units shall have not less than the following percentage of the rated load hoisting torque at the point where the brake is applied:
(A) One hundred twenty-five percent when used with a controlled braking means.
(B) One hundred percent when used with a mechanically-controlled braking means.
(C) One hundred percent when two holding brakes are provided.
(iv) All power control braking means shall be capable of maintaining safe lowering speeds of rated loads.
(o) Each crane or derrick shall be equipped with sufficient lights to maintain five foot candles in the working area around the load hook. All crane ladders and machinery houses shall be illuminated at a minimum of two candle power.
(p) Light fixtures connected to the boom, gantry legs, or machinery house shall be provided with safety devices which will prevent the light fixture from falling in case of bracket failure.
(q) Electronic devices may be installed to prevent collision subject to approval of the accredited certification agency.
(r) On all rail gantry cranes, truck guards shall extend on the ends of the trucks, close to the top of the rail to prevent worker's feet from being caught between the rail and wheel. This subsection does not apply if rail sweeps are present.
(s) All hydraulic cylinders used to control crane booms or to provide crane stability (outriggers) shall be equipped with a pilot operated check valve or a device which will prevent the boom or outrigger from retracting in case of failure of a component of the hydraulic system.
(t) Gantry cranes shall be provided with automatic rail clamps or other devices to prevent the crane from moving when not being used or when power is off.
(7) Rail-mounted cranes (excluding locomotive types).
(a) For the purposes of this section, rail-mounted cranes include bridge cranes and portal cranes.
(b) Rated load marking. The rated loads of bridge cranes shall be plainly marked on each side of the crane and in the cab. If there is more than one hoisting unit, each hoist shall have its rated load marked on it or on its load block. Marking shall be legible from the ground level.
(c) Wind-indicating devices.
(i) Each rail-mounted bridge and portal crane located outside of an enclosed structure shall be fitted with an operable wind-indicating device.
(ii) The wind indicating device shall provide a visible or audible warning to alert the operator of high wind conditions. That warning shall be transmitted whenever the following circumstances are present:
(A) When wind velocity reaches the warning speed, not exceeding the crane manufacturer's recommendations; and
(B) When wind velocity reaches the shutdown speed, not exceeding the crane manufacturer's recommendations, at which work is to be stopped and the crane secured.
(iii) Instructions. The employer shall post operating instructions for high wind conditions in the operator's cab of each crane. Operators shall be directed to comply with these instructions. The instructions shall include procedures for responding to high wind alerts and for any coordination necessary with other cranes.
(d) Securing of cranes in high winds.
(i) When the wind reaches the crane's warning speed:
(A) Gantry travel shall be stopped; and
(B) The crane shall be readied for shutdown.
(ii) When the wind reaches the crane's shutdown speed:
(A) Any portion of the crane spanning or partially spanning a vessel shall be moved clear of the vessel if safe to do so; and
(B) The crane shall be secured against travel, using all available means of securing.
(e) The employer shall monitor local weather conditions by subscribing to a weather service or using equally effective means.
(f) Stops and bumpers.
(i) The ends of all tracks shall be equipped with stops or bumpers. If a stop engages the tread of the wheel, it shall be of a height not less than the radius of the wheel.
(ii) When more than one crane operates on the same runway or more than one trolley on the same bridge, each crane or trolley shall be equipped with bumpers or equivalent devices at adjacent ends subject to impact.
(g) Employee exposure to crane movement. When employees may be in the vicinity of the tracks, crane trucks shall be equipped with personnel-deflecting guards.
(h) Pedestrian clearance. If the track area is used for employee passage or for work, a minimum clearance of three feet (0.91 m) shall be provided between trucks or the structures of rail-mounted cranes and any other structure or obstruction. When the required clearance is not available on at least one side of the crane's trucks, the area shall not be used and shall be marked and identified.
(i) Warning devices. Rail-mounted cranes shall be equipped with an effective audible and visible travel warning device which shall be used to warn employees who may be in the path of the moving crane.
(j) Communications.
(i) Means of communication shall be provided between the operator's cab and the base of the gantry of all rail-mounted cranes. This requirement may be met by telephone, radio, sound-signaling system or other effective methods, but not solely by hand-signaling.
(ii) All rail-mounted cranes thirty ton and above capacity shall be equipped with a voice hailing device (PA system) from the operator to the ground, audible within one hundred feet.
(k) Limit switch bypass systems shall be secured during all cargo operations. Such bypass systems shall not be used except in an emergency or during noncargo handling operations such as stowing cranes or derricks or performing repairs. When a situation requiring the use of a bypass system or the readjustment of a limit switch arises, it shall be done only under the direction of a crane mechanic.
(l) Cranes and crane operations -- Scope and application. The sections of this chapter, WAC 296-56-60083 through 296-56-60099, apply to cranes, derricks, and crane operations.
(m) Signal persons. A signal person shall be required when a crane operator's visibility is obstructed. When a signal person is required to transmit hand signals, they shall be in such a position that the operator can plainly see the signals.
(n) Signals. All operators and signal persons shall use standard signals as illustrated for longshore crane operations. (See Appendices C and D, at the end of this chapter.)
(o) Signal person for power units. Where power units, such as cranes and winches are utilized and signaling is required, the operator shall be instructed as to who is authorized to give signals. The operator shall take signals only from such authorized person. In case of emergency, any worker shall be authorized to give a stop signal.
(i) No draft shall be hoisted unless the winch or crane operator can clearly see the draft itself or see the signals of any signal person associated with the operation.
(ii) Loads requiring continuous manual guidance while in motion shall be provided with tag lines.
(p) Landing loads. Persons assisting in landing a load shall face the load and use caution to prevent themselves from getting in a position where they may be caught between the load and a fixed object.
(8) Stabilizing of locomotive cranes. Loads may be hoisted by locomotive cranes only if outriggers are in place, unless means are taken to prevent the load being carried by the truck springs of the crane.
(9) Operations.
(a) Use of cranes together. When two or more cranes hoist a load in unison, a designated person shall direct the operation and instruct personnel in positioning, rigging of the load and movements to be made.
(b) Guarding of swing radius. Accessible areas within the swing radius of the body of a revolving crane shall be physically guarded during operations to prevent an employee from being caught between the body of the crane and any fixed structure or between parts of the crane.
(c) Securing mobile crane components in transit. The crane's superstructure and boom shall be secured against rotation and carried in line with the direction of travel except when negotiating turns with an operator in the cab or when the boom is supported on a dolly. The empty hook or other attachment shall be secured.
(d) Unattended cranes. The following steps shall be taken before leaving a crane unattended between work periods:
(i) Suspended loads, such as those hoisted by lifting magnets or clamshell buckets, shall be landed unless the storage position or maximum hoisting of the suspended device will provide equivalent safety;
(ii) Clutches shall be disengaged;
(iii) The power supply shall be shut off;
(iv) The crane shall be secured against accidental travel; and
(v) The boom shall be lowered or secured against movement.
(e) Operating near electric power lines.
(i) Clearance. Unless electrical distribution and transmission lines are deenergized and visibly grounded at point of work, or unless insulating barriers not a part of or an attachment to the crane have been erected to prevent physical contact with lines, cranes may be operated near power lines only in accordance with following:
(A) For lines rated 50 kV or below, minimum clearance between the lines and any part of the crane or load shall be ten feet (3.05 m);
(B) For lines rated over 50 kV, minimum clearance between the lines and any part of the crane or load shall be either 10 feet (3.05 m) plus 0.4 inch (10.16 mm) for each 1 kV over 50 kV, or twice the length of the line insulator, but never less than ten feet; and
(C) In transit with no load and boom lowered, the clearance shall be a minimum of four feet (1.22 m).
(ii) Boom guards. Cage-type boom guards, insulating links or proximity warning devices may be used on cranes, but they shall not be used in place of the clearances required by subsection (9)(e)(i) of this section.
(iii) Determination of energized lines. Any overhead line shall be presumed to be energized until the owner of the line indicates that it is not energized.
(10) Protection for employees being hoisted.
(a) No employee shall be hoisted by the load hoisting apparatus of a crane or derrick except:
(i) On intermodal container spreaders, equipped in accordance with this subsection; or
(ii) In a boatswain's chair or other device rigged to prevent it from accidental disengagement from the hook or supporting member; or
(iii) On a platform meeting the following requirements:
(A) Enclosed by a railing or other means providing protection equivalent to that described in WAC 296-56-60123(3). If equipped with open railings, the platform shall be fitted with toe boards;
(B) Having a safety factor of four based on ultimate strength;
(C) Bearing a plate or permanent marking indicating maximum load rating, which shall not be exceeded, and the weight of the platform itself;
(D) Equipped with a device to prevent access doors, when used, from opening accidentally;
(E) Equipped with overhead protection for employees on the platform if they are exposed to falling objects or overhead hazards;
(F) Secured to the load line by means other than wedge and socket attachments, unless the free (bitter) end of the line is secured back to itself by a clamp placed as close above the wedge as possible.
(b) Except in an emergency, the hoisting mechanism of all overhead and container gantry cranes used to hoist personnel shall operate in power up and power down, with automatic brake application when not hoisting or lowering.
(c) Variable radius booms of a crane or derrick used to hoist personnel shall be so constructed or secured as to prevent accidental boom movement.
(d) Platforms or devices used to hoist employees shall be inspected for defects before each day's use and shall be removed from service if defective.
(e) Employees being hoisted shall remain in continuous sight of and communication with the operator or signal person.
(f) Operators shall remain at the controls when employees are hoisted.
(g) Cranes shall not travel while employees are hoisted, except in emergency or in normal tier to tier transfer of employees during container operations.
(h) When intermodal container spreaders are used to transfer employees to or from the tops of containers, the spreaders shall be equipped with a personnel platform equipped with fixed railings, provided that the railings have one or more openings for access. The openings shall be fitted with a means of closure, such as chains with hooks. Existing railings shall be at least thirty-six inches (0.91 m) in height. New railings installed after October 3, 1983 shall be forty-two inches (1.07 m), plus or minus three inches (7.62 cm), in height. The provisions of (a)(iii)(C), (D), and (F) of this subsection also apply to personnel platforms when container spreaders are used.
(i) Positive safety latch-type hooks or moused hooks shall be used.
(j) Employees shall not be hoisted on intermodal container spreaders while a load is engaged.
Additional requirements are located in WAC 296-24-23533.
(11) Routine inspection.
(a) Designated persons shall visually inspect each crane and derrick on each day of use for defects in functional operating components and shall report any defect found to the employer. The employer shall inform the operator of the findings.
(b) A designated person shall thoroughly inspect all functional components and accessible structural features of each crane or device at monthly intervals.
(c) Any defects found during such inspections which may create a safety hazard shall be corrected before further use. Repairs shall be performed only by designated persons.
(d) A record of monthly inspections shall be maintained for six months in or on the crane or derrick or at the terminal.
[Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.010, [49.17].040, and [49.17].050. 00-21-103, 296-56-60083, filed 10/18/00, effective 2/1/01. Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.040. 99-02-024, 296-56-60083, filed 12/30/98, effective 3/30/99. Statutory Authority: Chapter 49.17 RCW. 95-04-007, 296-56-60083, filed 1/18/95, effective 3/1/95. Statutory Authority: Chapter 49.17 RCW and RCW 49.17.040, [49.17].050 and [49.17].060. 92-22-067 (Order 92-06), 296-56-60083, filed 10/30/92, effective 12/8/92. Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.040 and 49.17.050. 86-03-064 (Order 86-02), 296-56-60083, filed 1/17/86; 85-10-004 (Order 85-09), 296-56-60083, filed 4/19/85; 85-01-022 (Order 84-24), 296-56-60083, filed 12/11/84.]
(2) A sign bearing the following information shall be conspicuously posted within the car:
(a) Maximum capacity one person;
(b) Total load limit in pounds;
(c) For authorized personnel use only.
(3) A fire extinguisher in proper working condition shall be available in the car.
| Note: | For additional requirements relating to portable fire extinguishers see WAC 296-800-300. |
[Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.040 and 49.17.050. 86-03-064 (Order 86-02), 296-56-60171, filed 1/17/86; 85-01-022 (Order 84-24), 296-56-60171, filed 12/11/84.]
(2) Escape ladders shall be installed extending the full length of the hoistway and shall be located in a position so that, in an emergency, a person can safely transfer from the car platform to the ladder. An "IMPAIRED CLEARANCE" sign shall be posted at the bottom of a ladder when the face of the ladder is less than thirty inches from any structure.
(3) An automatic safety dog or device which will prevent the car from leaving the landing until manually released by the operator shall be installed at the bottom landing.
(4) A fire extinguisher in proper working condition shall be available in the car.
| Note: | For additional requirements relating to portable fire extinguishers see WAC 296-800-300. |
[Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.040 and 49.17.050. 86-03-064 (Order 86-02), 296-56-60207, filed 1/17/86; 85-01-022 (Order 84-24), 296-56-60207, filed 12/11/84.]
OTS-4900.1
AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending Order 89-03, filed 5/15/89,
effective 6/30/89)
WAC 296-62-05209
Access to records.
(1) General.
(a) Whenever an employee or designated representative requests access to a record, the employer shall assure that access is provided in a reasonable time, place, and manner. If the employer cannot reasonably provide access to the record within fifteen working days, the employer shall within fifteen working days apprise the employee or designated representative requesting the record of the reason for the delay and the earliest date when the record can be made available.
(b) The employer may require of the requester only such information as should be readily known to the requester and which may be necessary to locate or identify the records being requested (e.g., dates and locations where the employee worked during the time period in question).
(c) Whenever an employee or designated representative requests a copy of a record, the employer shall assure that either:
(i) A copy of the record is provided without cost to the employee or representative;
(ii) The necessary mechanical copying facilities (e.g., photocopying) are made available without cost to the employee or representative for copying the record;
(iii) The record is loaned to the employee or representative for a reasonable time to enable a copy to be made; or
(iv) In the case of an original x-ray, the employer may restrict access to on-site examination or make other suitable arrangements for the temporary loan of the x-ray.
(d) Whenever a record has been previously provided without cost to an employee or designated representative, the employer may charge reasonable, nondiscriminatory administrative costs (i.e., search and copying expenses but not including overhead expenses) for a request by the employee or designated representative for additional copies of the record, except that:
(i) An employer shall not charge for an initial request for a copy of new information that has been added to a record which was previously provided; and
(ii) An employer shall not charge for an initial request by a recognized or certified collective bargaining agent for a copy of an employee exposure record or an analysis using exposure or medical records.
(e) Nothing in this section is intended to preclude employees and collective bargaining agents from collectively bargaining to obtain access to information in addition to that available under this section.
(2) Employee and designated representative access.
(a) Employee exposure records. Except as limited by WAC
((296-62-05211)) 296-62-053, each employer shall, upon request,
assure the access of each employee and designated representative
to employee exposure records relevant to the employee. For the
purpose of this section, an exposure record relevant to the
employee consists of:
(i) A record which measures or monitors the amount of a toxic substance or harmful physical agent to which the employee is or has been exposed;
(ii) In the absence of such directly relevant records, such records of other employees with past or present job duties or working conditions related to or similar to those of the employee to the extent necessary to reasonably indicate the amount and nature of the toxic substances or harmful physical agents to which the employee is or has been subjected; and
(iii) Exposure records to the extent necessary to reasonably indicate the amount and nature of the toxic substances or harmful physical agents at workplaces or under working conditions to which the employee is being assigned or transferred.
(iv) Requests by designated representatives for unconsented access to employee exposure records shall be in writing and shall specify with reasonable particularity:
(A) The records requested to be disclosed; and
(B) The occupational health need for gaining access to these records.
(b) Employee medical records.
(i) Each employer shall, upon request, assure the access of each employee to employee medical records of which the employee is the subject, except as provided in (b)(iv) of this subsection.
(ii) Each employer shall, upon request, assure the access of each designated representative to the employee medical records of any employee who has given the designated representative specific written consent. Appendix A to this section contains a sample form which may be used to establish specific written consent for access to employee medical records.
(iii) Whenever access to employee medical records is requested, a physician representing the employer may recommend that the employee or designated representative:
(A) Consult with the physician for the purposes of reviewing and discussing the records requested;
(B) Accept a summary of material facts and opinions in lieu of the records requested; or
(C) Accept release of the requested records only to a physician or other designated representative.
(iv) Whenever an employee requests access to his or her employee medical records, and a physician representing the employer believes that direct employee access to information contained in the records regarding a specific diagnosis of a terminal illness or a psychiatric condition could be detrimental to the employee's health, the employer may inform the employee that access will only be provided to a designated representative of the employee having specific written consent, and deny the employee's request for direct access to this information only. Where a designated representative with specific written consent requests access to information so withheld, the employer shall assure the access of the designated representative to this information, even when it is known that the designated representative will give the information to the employee.
(v) A physician, nurse, or other responsible health care personnel maintaining employee medical records may delete from requested medical records the identity of a family member, personal friend, or fellow employee who has provided confidential information concerning an employee's health status.
(c) Analyses using exposure or medical records.
(i) Each employer shall, upon request, assure the access of each employee and designated representative to each analysis using exposure or medical records concerning the employee's working conditions or workplace.
(ii) Whenever access is requested to an analysis which reports the contents of employee medical records by either direct identifier (name, address, social security number, payroll number, etc.) or by information which could reasonably be used under the circumstances indirectly to identify specific employees (exact age, height, weight, race, sex, date of initial employment, job title, etc.) the employer shall assure that personal identifiers are removed before access is provided. If the employer can demonstrate that removal of personal identifiers from an analysis is not feasible, access to the personally identifiable portions of the analysis need not be provided.
(3) Department access.
(a) Each employer shall upon request, and without derogation of any rights under the Constitution or the Washington Industrial Safety and Health Act, that the employer chooses to exercise, assure the prompt access of representatives of the director of the department of labor and industries to employee exposure and medical records and to analyses using exposure or medical records. Rules of agency practice and procedures governing WISHA access to employee medical records are contained in this chapter.
(b) Whenever the department seeks access to personally identifiable employee medical information by presenting to the employer a written access order, the employer shall prominently post a copy of the written access order and its accompanying cover letter for at least fifteen working days.
[Statutory Authority: Chapter 49.17 RCW. 89-11-035 (Order 89-03), 296-62-05209, filed 5/15/89, effective 6/30/89. Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.040 and 49.17.050. 83-24-013 (Order 83-34), 296-62-05209, filed 11/30/83. Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.040, 49.17.050 and 49.17.240. 81-18-029 (Order 81-21), 296-62-05209, filed 8/27/81.]
(a) The employer shall provide clean change rooms for employees, who must wear protective clothing, or who must use protective equipment because of their exposure to MDA.
(b) Change rooms must be equipped with separate storage for protective clothing and equipment and for street clothes which prevents MDA contamination of street clothes.
(2) Showers.
(a) The employer shall ensure that employees, who work in areas where there is the potential for exposure resulting from airborne MDA (e.g., particulates or vapors) above the action level, shower at the end of the work shift.
(i) Shower facilities required by this section shall comply
with WAC ((296-24-12009(3))) 296-24-12010.
(ii) The employer shall ensure that employees who are required to shower pursuant to the provisions contained herein do not leave the workplace wearing any protective clothing or equipment worn during the work shift.
(b) Where dermal exposure to MDA occurs, the employer shall ensure that materials spilled or deposited on the skin are removed as soon as possible by methods which do not facilitate the dermal absorption of MDA.
(3) Lunch facilities.
(a) Availability and construction.
(i) Whenever food or beverages are consumed at the worksite and employees are exposed to MDA at or above the PEL or are subject to dermal exposure to MDA the employer shall provide readily accessible lunch areas.
(ii) Lunch areas located within the workplace and in areas where there is the potential for airborne exposure to MDA at or above the PEL shall have a positive pressure, temperature controlled, filtered air supply.
(iii) Lunch areas may not be located in areas within the workplace where the potential for dermal exposure to MDA exists.
(b) The employer shall ensure that employees who have been subjected to dermal exposure to MDA or who have been exposed to MDA above the PEL wash their hands and faces with soap and water prior to eating, drinking, smoking, or applying cosmetics.
(c) The employer shall ensure that employees exposed to MDA do not enter lunch facilities with MDA-contaminated protective work clothing or equipment.
[Statutory Authority: Chapter 49.17 RCW. 93-04-111 (Order 92-15), 296-62-07619, filed 2/3/93, effective 3/15/93.]
(a) The employer shall provide clean change rooms for employees required to work in regulated areas or required by WAC 296-62-07717(1) to wear protective clothing.
Exception:
In lieu of the change area requirement specified in this subsection, the employer may permit employees in Class III
and Class IV asbestos work, to clean their protective clothing with a portable HEPA-equipped vacuum before such
employees leave the area where maintenance was performed.
(b) The employer shall ensure that change rooms are in
accordance with WAC 296-24-120, and are equipped with two
separate lockers or storage facilities, so separated as to
prevent contamination of the employee's street clothes from
his/her protective work clothing and equipment.
(2) Showers.
(a) The employer shall ensure that employees who work in negative pressure enclosures required by WAC 296-62-07712, or who work in areas where their airborne exposure is above the permissible exposure limits prescribed in WAC 296-62-07705, shower at the end of the work shift.
(b) The employer shall provide shower facilities which
comply with WAC ((296-24-12009(3))) 296-24-12010.
(c) The employer shall ensure that employees who are required to shower pursuant to (a) of this subsection do not leave the workplace wearing any clothing or equipment worn during the work shift.
(3) Special requirements in addition to the other provisions of WAC 296-62-07719 for construction work defined in WAC 296-155-012 and for all shipyard work defined in WAC 296-304-010.
(a) Requirements for employees performing Class I asbestos jobs involving over 25 linear or 10 square feet of TSI or surfacing ACM and PACM.
(i) Decontamination areas: The employer shall establish a decontamination area that is adjacent and connected to the regulated area for the decontamination of such employees. The decontamination area shall consist of an equipment room, shower area, and clean room in series. The employer shall ensure that employees enter and exit the regulated area through the decontamination area.
(A) Equipment room. The equipment room shall be supplied with impermeable, labeled bags and containers for the containment and disposal of contaminated protective equipment.
(B) Shower area. Shower facilities shall be provided which
comply with WAC ((296-24-12009(3))) 296-24-12010, unless the
employer can demonstrate that they are not feasible. The showers
shall be adjacent both to the equipment room and the clean room,
unless the employer can demonstrate that this location is not
feasible. Where the employer can demonstrate that it is not
feasible to locate the shower between the equipment room and the
clean room, or where the work is performed outdoors, the
employers shall ensure that employees:
(I) Remove asbestos contamination from their worksuits in the equipment room using a HEPA vacuum before proceeding to a shower that is not adjacent to the work area; or
(II) Remove their contaminated worksuits in the equipment room, then don clean worksuits, and proceed to a shower that is not adjacent to the work area.
(C) Clean change room. The clean room shall be equipped with a locker or appropriate storage container for each employee's use.
(ii) Decontamination area entry procedures. The employer shall ensure that employees:
(A) Enter the decontamination area through the clean room;
(B) Remove and deposit street clothing within a locker provided for their use; and
(C) Put on protective clothing and respiratory protection before leaving the clean room.
(D) Before entering the regulated area, the employer shall ensure that employees pass through the equipment room.
(iii) Decontamination area exit procedures. The employer shall ensure that:
(A) Before leaving the regulated area, employees shall remove all gross contamination and debris from their protective clothing;
(B) Employees shall remove their protective clothing in the equipment room and deposit the clothing in labeled impermeable bags or containers;
(C) Employees shall not remove their respirators in the equipment room;
(D) Employees shall shower prior to entering the clean room. When taking a shower, employees shall be fully wetted, including the face and hair, prior to removing the respirators;
(E) After showering, employees shall enter the clean room before changing into street clothes.
(b) Requirements for Class I work involving less than 25 linear or 10 square feet of TSI or surfacing ACM and PACM, and for Class II and Class III asbestos work operations where exposures exceed a PEL or where there is no negative exposure assessment produced before the operation.
(i) The employer shall establish an equipment room or area that is adjacent to the regulated area for the decontamination of employees and their equipment which is contaminated with asbestos which shall consist of an area covered by a impermeable drop cloth on the floor or horizontal working surface.
(ii) The area must be of sufficient size as to accommodate cleaning of equipment and removing personal protective equipment without spreading contamination beyond the area (as determined by visible accumulations).
(iii) Work clothing must be cleaned with a HEPA vacuum before it is removed.
(iv) All equipment and surfaces of containers filled with ACM must be cleaned prior to removing them from the equipment room or area.
(v) The employer shall ensure that employees enter and exit the regulated area through the equipment room or area.
(c) Requirements for Class IV work. Employers shall ensure that employees performing Class IV work within a regulated area comply with hygiene practice required of employees performing work which has a higher classification within that regulated area. Otherwise employers of employees cleaning up debris and material which is TSI or surfacing ACM or identified as PACM shall provide decontamination facilities for such employees which are required by WAC 296-62-07719 (3)(b).
(d) Decontamination area for personnel shall not be used for the transportation of asbestos debris.
(e) Waste load-out procedure. The waste load-out area as required by WAC 296-62-07723 shall be used as an area for final preparation and external decontamination of waste containers, as a short term storage area for bagged waste, and as a port for transporting waste. The employer shall ensure waste containers be free of all gross contaminated material before removal from the negative-pressure enclosure. Gross contamination shall be wiped, scraped off, or washed off containers before they are placed into a two chamber air lock which is adjacent to the negative-pressure enclosure. In the first chamber, the exterior of the waste container shall be decontaminated or placed within a second waste container, and then it shall be moved into the second chamber of the air lock for temporary storage or transferred outside of the regulated area. The second waste container shall not be reused unless thoroughly decontaminated.
(4) Lunchrooms.
(a) The employer shall provide lunchroom facilities for employees who work in areas where their airborne exposure is above the time weighted average and/or excursion limit.
(b) The employer shall ensure that lunchroom facilities have a positive pressure, filtered air supply, and are readily accessible to employees.
(c) The employer shall ensure that employees who work in areas where their airborne exposure is above the time weighted average and/or excursion limit, wash their hands and faces prior to eating, drinking, or smoking.
(d) The employer shall ensure that employees do not enter lunchroom facilities with protective work clothing or equipment unless surface asbestos fibers have been removed from the clothing or equipment by vacuuming or other method that removes dust without causing the asbestos to become airborne.
(5) Smoking in work areas. The employer shall ensure that employees do not smoke in work areas where they are occupationally exposed to asbestos because of activities in that work area.
[Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.040, [49.17.]050 and [49.17.]060. 97-01-079, 296-62-07719, filed 12/17/96, effective 3/1/97. Statutory Authority: Chapter 49.17 RCW. 91-03-044 (Order 90-18), 296-62-07719, filed 1/10/91, effective 2/12/91; 89-11-035 (Order 89-03), 296-62-07719, filed 5/15/89, effective 6/30/89; 87-24-051 (Order 87-24), 296-62-07719, filed 11/30/87. Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.050(2) and 49.17.040. 87-10-008 (Order 87-06), 296-62-07719, filed 4/27/87.]
(2) (("Illumination" means radiant energy evaluated
according to its capacity to produce visual sensation.
(3))) "Nonionizing radiation" as related to industrial
sources, means electromagnetic radiation within the spectral
range of approximately 200 nanometers to 3 kilometers including
ultraviolet, visible, infrared and radiofrequency/microwave
radiation. The electromagnetic spectrum is shown graphically in
Figure 1 below.
Figure 1
| Place illustration here. |
(((4))) (3) Pressure is a barometric force. Positive
pressure would be that above 14.7 lbs. per square inch absolute
and negative pressure would be that below 14.7 lbs. per square
inch absolute. 14.7 lbs. per square inch equals 760 mm. mercury.
(((5))) (4) "Vibration" means rapid movement to and fro or
oscillating movement.
(((6))) (5) "Noise" means unwanted sound or loud discordant
or disagreeable sound or sounds.
(((7))) (6) "Temperature" means the degree of hotness or
coldness measured by use of a thermometer.
(((8))) (7) "Radiant heat" means infrared radiation emitted
from hot surfaces.
(((9))) (8) "Relative humidity" means the percent of
moisture in the air compared to the maximum amount of moisture
the air could contain at the same temperature.
[Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.040 and 49.17.050. 85-01-022 (Order 84-24), 296-62-09001, filed 12/11/84; Order 73-3, 296-62-09001, filed 5/7/73.]
(1) Showers must be provided and must meet the requirements
of WAC ((296-24-12009(3))) 296-24-12010.
(2) Change rooms must be provided and must meet the requirements of WAC 296-24-12011. Change rooms must consist of two separate change areas separated by the shower area required in (1) of this subsection. One change area, with an exit leading off the worksite, must provide employees with a clean area where they can remove, store, and put on street clothing. The second area, with an exit to the worksite, must provide employees with an area where they can put on, remove and store work clothing and personal protective equipment.
(3) Showers and change rooms must be located in areas where exposures are below the permissible exposure limits and published exposure levels. If this cannot be accomplished, then a ventilation system must be provided that will supply air that is below the permissible exposure limits and published exposure levels.
(4) Employers must assure that employees shower at the end of their work shift and when leaving the hazardous waste site.
[Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.040. 99-07-097, 296-62-31335, filed 3/23/99, effective 6/23/99.]
(a) General principles.
(i) Minimize all chemical exposures.
(ii) Avoid underestimation of risk.
(iii) Provide adequate ventilation.
(iv) Institute a chemical hygiene program.
(v) Observe the PELs and TLVs.
(b) Responsibilities.
(i) Chief executive officer.
(ii) Supervisor of administrative unit.
(iii) Chemical hygiene officer.
(iv) Laboratory supervisor.
(v) Project director.
(vi) Laboratory worker.
(c) The laboratory facility.
(i) Design.
(ii) Maintenance.
(iii) Usage.
(iv) Ventilation.
(d) Components of the chemical hygiene plan.
(i) Basic rules and procedures.
(ii) Chemical procurement, distribution, and storage.
(iii) Environmental monitoring.
(iv) Housekeeping, maintenance, and inspections.
(v) Medical program.
(vi) Personal protective apparel and equipment.
(vii) Records.
(viii) Signs and labels.
(ix) Spills and accidents.
(x) Training and information.
(xi) Waste disposal.
(e) General procedures for working with chemicals.
(i) General rules for all laboratory work with chemicals.
(ii) Allergens and embryotoxins.
(iii) Chemicals of moderate chronic or high acute toxicity.
(iv) Chemicals of high chronic toxicity.
(v) Animal work with chemicals of high chronic toxicity.
(f) Safety recommendations.
(g) Material safety data sheets.
(2) Foreword.
(a) As guidance for each employer's development of an appropriate laboratory chemical hygiene plan, the following nonmandatory recommendations are provided. They were extracted from "Prudent Practices for Handling Hazardous Chemicals in Laboratories" (referred to below as "Prudent Practices"), which was published in 1981 by the National Research Council and is available from the National Academy Press, 2101 Constitution Ave., N.W., Washington DC 20418.
(b) "Prudent practices" is cited because of its wide distribution and acceptance and because of its preparation by members of the laboratory community through the sponsorship of the National Research Council. However, none of the recommendations given here will modify any requirements of the laboratory standard. This appendix merely presents pertinent recommendations from "prudent practices," organized into a form convenient for quick reference during operation of a laboratory facility and during development and application of a chemical hygiene plan. Users of this appendix should consult "prudent practices" for a more extended presentation and justification for each recommendation.
(c) "Prudent practices" deals with both safety and chemical hazards while the laboratory standard is concerned primarily with chemical hazards. Therefore, only those recommendations directed primarily toward control of toxic exposures are cited in this appendix, with the term "chemical hygiene" being substituted for the word "safety." However, since conditions producing or threatening physical injury often pose toxic risks as well, page references concerning major categories of safety hazards in the laboratory are given in section F.
(d) The recommendations from "prudent practices" have been paraphrased, combined, or otherwise reorganized, and headings have been added. However, their sense has not been changed.
(e) Corresponding sections of the standard and this appendix.
(f) The following table is given for the convenience of those who are developing a chemical hygiene plan which will satisfy the requirements of WAC 296-62-40009. It indicates those sections of this appendix which are most pertinent to each of the sections of WAC 296-62-40009 and related sections.
| Subsection and Topic in Laboratory Standard | Relevant Appendix Section | |
| (3)(a) | Standard operating procedure for handling toxic chemicals. | (c)(d)(e) |
| (3)(b) | Criteria to be used for implementation of measures to reduce exposures. | (d) |
| (3)(c) | Fume hood performance. | (c)(iv)(B) |
| (3)(d) | Employee information and training (including emergency procedures). | (d)(x), (d)(ix) |
| (3)(e) | Requirements for prior approval of laboratory activities. | (e)(ii)((B), (e)(v)(B) |
| (3)(f) | Medical consultation and medical examinations. | (d)(v), (e)(v)(G) |
| (3)(g) | Chemical hygiene responsibilities. | (b) |
| (3)(h) | Special precautions for work with particularly hazardous substances. | (e)(ii)(iii)(v) |
(a) General principles for work with laboratory chemicals in addition to the more detailed recommendations listed below in sections (b) through (e), "prudent practices" expresses certain general principles, including the following:
(i) It is prudent to minimize all chemical exposures. Because few laboratory chemicals are without hazards, general precautions for handling all laboratory chemicals should be adopted, rather than specific guidelines for particular chemicals (2, 10). Skin contact with chemicals should be avoided as a cardinal rule (198).
(ii) Avoid underestimation of risk. Even for substances of no known significant hazard, exposure should be minimized; for work with substances which present special hazards, special precautions should be taken (10, 37, 38). One should assume that any mixture will be more toxic than its most toxic component (30, 103) and that all substances of unknown toxicity are toxic (3, 34).
(iii) Provide adequate ventilation. The best way to prevent exposure to airborne substances is to prevent their escape into the working atmosphere by use of hoods and other ventilation devices (32, 198).
(iv) Institute a chemical hygiene program. A mandatory chemical hygiene program designed to minimize exposures is needed; it should be a regular, continuing effort, not merely a standby or short-term activity (6, 11). Its recommendations should be followed in academic teaching laboratories as well as by full-time laboratory workers (13).
(v) Observe the PELs, TLVs. The permissible exposure limits of WISHA and the threshold limit values of the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists should not be exceeded (13).
(b) Chemical hygiene responsibilities. Responsibility for chemical hygiene rests at all levels (6, 11, 21) including the:
(i) Chief executive officer, who has ultimate responsibility for chemical hygiene within the institution and must, with other administrators, provide continuing support for institutional chemical hygiene (7, 11).
(ii) Supervisor of the department or other administrative unit, who is responsible for chemical hygiene in that unit (7).
(iii) Chemical hygiene officer(s), whose appointment is essential (7) and who must:
(A) Work with administrators and other employees to develop and implement appropriate chemical hygiene policies and practices (7);
(B) Monitor procurement, use, and disposal of chemicals used in the lab (8);
(C) See that appropriate audits are maintained (8);
(D) Help project directors develop precautions and adequate facilities (10);
(E) Know the current legal requirements concerning regulated substances (50); and
(F) Seek ways to improve the chemical hygiene program (8, 11).
(iv) Laboratory supervisor, who has overall responsibility for chemical hygiene in the laboratory (21) including responsibility to:
(A) Ensure that workers know and follow the chemical hygiene rules, that protective equipment is available and in working order, and that appropriate training has been provided (21, 22);
(B) Provide regular, formal chemical hygiene and housekeeping inspections including routine inspections of emergency equipment (21, 171);
(C) Know the current legal requirements concerning regulated substances (50, 231);
(D) Determine the required levels of protective apparel and equipment (156, 160, 162); and
(E) Ensure that facilities and training for use of any material being ordered are adequate (215).
(v) Project director or director of other specific operation, who has primary responsibility for chemical hygiene procedures for that operation (7).
(vi) Laboratory worker, who is responsible for:
(A) Planning and conducting each operation in accordance with the institutional chemical hygiene procedures (7, 21, 22, 230); and
(B) Developing good personal chemical hygiene habits (22).
(c) The laboratory facility:
(i) Design. The laboratory facility should have:
(A) An appropriate general ventilation system (see C4 below) with air intakes and exhausts located so as to avoid intake of contaminated air (194);
(B) Adequate, well-ventilated stockrooms/storerooms (218, 219);
(C) Laboratory hoods and sinks (12, 162);
(D) Other safety equipment including eyewash fountains and drench showers (162, 169); and
(E) Arrangements for waste disposal (12, 240).
(ii) Maintenance. Chemical-hygiene-related equipment (hoods, incinerator, etc.) should undergo continuing appraisal and be modified if inadequate (11, 12).
(iii) Usage. The work conducted (10) and its scale (12) must be appropriate to the physical facilities available and, especially, to the quality of ventilation (13).
(iv) Ventilation.
(A) General laboratory ventilation. This system should: Provide a source of air for breathing and for input to local ventilation devices (199); it should not be relied on for protection from toxic substances released into the laboratory (198); ensure that laboratory air is continually replaced, preventing increase of air concentrations of toxic substances during the working day (194); direct air flow into the laboratory from nonlaboratory areas and out to the exterior of the building (194).
(B) Hoods. A laboratory hood with 2.5 linear feet of hood space per person should be provided for every 2 workers if they spend most of their time working with chemicals (199); each hood should have a continuous monitoring device to allow convenient confirmation of adequate hood performance before use (200, 209). If this is not possible, work with substances of unknown toxicity should be avoided (13) or other types of local ventilation devices should be provided (199). (See pp. 201-206 for a discussion of hood design, construction, and evaluation.)
(C) Other local ventilation devices. Ventilated storage cabinets, canopy hoods, snorkels, etc., should be provided as needed (199). Each canopy hood and snorkel should have a separate exhaust duct (207).
(D) Special ventilation areas. Exhaust air from glove boxes and isolation rooms should be passed through scrubbers or other treatment before release into the regular exhaust system (208). Cold rooms and warm rooms should have provisions for rapid escape and for escape in the event of electrical failure (209).
(E) Modifications. Any alteration of the ventilation system should be made only if thorough testing indicates that worker protection from airborne toxic substances will continue to be adequate (12, 193, 204).
(F) Performance. Rate: 4-12 room air changes/hour is normally adequate general ventilation if local exhaust systems such as hoods are used as the primary method of control (194).
(G) Quality. General air flow should not be turbulent and should be relatively uniform throughout the laboratory, with no high velocity or static areas (194, 195); airflow into and within the hood should not be excessively turbulent (200); hood face velocity should be adequate (typically 60-100 lfm) (200, 204).
(H) Evaluation. Quality and quantity of ventilation should be evaluated on installation (202), regularly monitored (at least every 3 months) (6, 12, 14, 195), and reevaluated whenever a change in local ventilation devices is made (12, 195, 207). See pp. 195-198 for methods of evaluation and for calculation of estimated airborne contaminant concentrations.
(d) Components of the chemical hygiene plan:
(i) Basic rules and procedures (recommendations for these are given in section (e), below).
(ii) Chemical procurement, distribution, and storage.
(A) Procurement. Before a substance is received, information on proper handling, storage, and disposal should be known to those who will be involved (215, 216). No container should be accepted without an adequate identifying label (216). Preferably, all substances should be received in a central location (216).
(B) Stockrooms/storerooms. Toxic substances should be segregated in a well-identified area with local exhaust ventilation (221). Chemicals which are highly toxic (227) or other chemicals whose containers have been opened should be in unbreakable secondary containers (219). Stored chemicals should be examined periodically (at least annually) for replacement, deterioration, and container integrity (218-19).
(C) Stockrooms/storerooms should not be used as preparation or repackaging areas, should be open during normal working hours, and should be controlled by one person (219).
(D) Distribution. When chemicals are hand carried, the container should be placed in an outside container or bucket. Freight-only elevators should be used if possible (223).
(E) Laboratory storage. Amounts permitted should be as small as practical. Storage on bench tops and in hoods is inadvisable. Exposure to heat or direct sunlight should be avoided. Periodic inventories should be conducted, with unneeded items being discarded or returned to the storeroom/stockroom (225-6, 229).
(iii) Environmental monitoring. Regular instrumental monitoring of airborne concentrations is not usually justified or practical in laboratories but may be appropriate when testing or redesigning hoods or other ventilation devices (12) or when a highly toxic substance is stored or used regularly (e.g., 3 times/week) (13).
(iv) Housekeeping, maintenance, and inspections.
(A) Cleaning. Floors should be cleaned regularly (24).
(B) Inspections. Formal housekeeping and chemical hygiene inspections should be held at least quarterly (6, 21) for units which have frequent personnel changes and semiannually for others; informal inspections should be continual (21).
(C) Maintenance. Eye wash fountains should be inspected at intervals of not less than 3 months (6). Respirators for routine use should be inspected periodically by the laboratory supervisor (169). Safety showers should be tested routinely (169). Other safety equipment should be inspected regularly. (E.g., every 3-6 months) (6, 24, 171). Procedures to prevent restarting of out-of-service equipment should be established (25).
(D) Passageways. Stairways and hallways should not be used as storage areas (24). Access to exits, emergency equipment, and utility controls should never be blocked (24).
(v) Medical program.
(A) Compliance with regulations. Regular medical surveillance should be established to the extent required by regulations (12).
(B) Routine surveillance. Anyone whose work involves regular and frequent handling of toxicologically significant quantities of a chemical should consult a qualified physician to determine on an individual basis whether a regular schedule of medical surveillance is desirable (11, 50).
(C) First aid. Personnel trained in first aid should be available during working hours and an emergency room with medical personnel should be nearby (173). See pp. 176-178 for description of some emergency first-aid procedures.
(vi) Protective apparel and equipment. These should include for each laboratory:
(A) Protective apparel compatible with the required degree of protection for substances being handled (158-161);
(B) An easily accessible drench-type safety shower (162, 169);
(C) An eyewash fountain (162);
(D) A fire extinguisher (162-164);
| Note: | For additional requirements relating to portable fire extinguishers see WAC 296-800-300. |
(F) Other items designated by the laboratory supervisor (156, 160).
(vii) Records.
(A) Accident records should be written and retained (174).
(B) Chemical hygiene plan records should document that the facilities and precautions were compatible with current knowledge and regulations (7).
(C) Inventory and usage records for high-risk substances should be kept as specified in sections E3e below.
(D) Medical records should be retained by the institution in accordance with the requirements of state and federal regulations (12).
(viii) Signs and labels. Prominent signs and labels of the following types should be posted:
(A) Emergency telephone numbers of emergency personnel/facilities, supervisors, and laboratory workers (28);
(B) Identity labels, showing contents of containers (including waste receptacles) and associated hazards (27, 48);
(C) Location signs for safety showers, eyewash stations, other safety and first aid equipment, exits (27) and areas where food and beverage consumption and storage are permitted (24); and
(D) Warnings at areas or equipment where special or unusual hazards exist (27).
(ix) Spills and accidents.
(A) A written emergency plan should be established and communicated to all personnel; it should include procedures for ventilation failure (200), evacuation, medical care, reporting, and drills (172).
(B) There should be an alarm system to alert people in all parts of the facility including isolation areas such as cold rooms (172).
(C) A spill control policy should be developed and should include consideration of prevention, containment, cleanup, and reporting (175).
(D) All accidents or near accidents should be carefully analyzed with the results distributed to all who might benefit (8, 28).
(x) Information and training program.
(A) Aim: To assure that all individuals at risk are adequately informed about the work in the laboratory, its risks, and what to do if an accident occurs (5, 15).
(B) Emergency and personal protection training: Every laboratory worker should know the location and proper use of available protective apparel and equipment (154, 169).
(C) Some of the full-time personnel of the laboratory should be trained in the proper use of emergency equipment and procedures (6).
(D) Such training as well as first-aid instruction should be available to (154) and encouraged for (176) everyone who might need it.
(E) Receiving and stockroom/storeroom personnel should know about hazards, handling equipment, protective apparel, and relevant regulations (217).
(F) Frequency of training: The training and education program should be a regular, continuing activity -- not simply an annual presentation (15).
(G) Literature/consultation: Literature and consulting advice concerning chemical hygiene should be readily available to laboratory personnel, who should be encouraged to use these information resources (14).
(xi) Waste disposal program.
(A) Aim: To assure that minimal harm to people, other organisms, and the environment will result from the disposal of waste laboratory chemicals (5).
(B) Content (14, 232, 233, 240): The waste disposal program should specify how waste is to be collected, segregated, stored, and transported and include consideration of what materials can be incinerated. Transport from the institution must be in accordance with DOT regulations (244).
(C) Discarding chemical stocks: Unlabeled containers of chemicals and solutions should undergo prompt disposal; if partially used, they should not be opened (24, 27).
(D) Before a worker's employment in the laboratory ends, chemicals for which that person was responsible should be discarded or returned to storage (226).
(E) Frequency of disposal: Waste should be removed from laboratories to a central waste storage area at least once per week and from the central waste storage area at regular intervals (14).
(F) Method of disposal: Incineration in an environmentally acceptable manner is the most practical disposal method for combustible laboratory waste (14, 238, 241).
(G) Indiscriminate disposal by pouring waste chemicals down the drain (14, 231, 242) or adding them to mixed refuse for landfill burial is unacceptable (14).
(H) Hoods should not be used as a means of disposal for volatile chemicals (40, 200).
(I) Disposal by recycling (233, 243) or chemical decontamination (40, 230) should be used when possible.
(e) Basic rules and procedures for working with chemicals. The chemical hygiene plan should require that laboratory workers know and follow its rules and procedures. In addition to the procedures of the subprograms mentioned above, these should include the general rules following:
(i) General rules. The following should be used for essentially all laboratory work with chemicals:
(A) Accidents and spills -- Eye contact: Promptly flush eyes with water for a prolonged period (15 minutes) and seek medical attention (33, 172).
(B) Ingestion: Encourage the victim to drink large amounts of water (178).
(C) Skin contact: Promptly flush the affected area with water (33, 172, 178) and remove any contaminated clothing (172, 178). If symptoms persist after washing, seek medical attention (33).
(D) Clean-up. Promptly clean up spills, using appropriate protective apparel and equipment and proper disposal (24, 33). See pp. 233-237 for specific clean-up recommendations.
(E) Avoidance of "routine" exposure: Develop and encourage safe habits (23); avoid unnecessary exposure to chemicals by any route (23);
(F) Do not smell or taste chemicals (32). Vent apparatus which may discharge toxic chemicals (vacuum pumps, distillation columns, etc.) into local exhaust devices (199).
(G) Inspect gloves (157) and test glove boxes (208) before use.
(H) Do not allow release of toxic substances in cold rooms and warm rooms, since these have contained recirculated atmospheres (209).
(I) Choice of chemicals: Use only those chemicals for which the quality of the available ventilation system is appropriate (13).
(J) Eating, smoking, etc.: Avoid eating, drinking, smoking, gum chewing, or application of cosmetics in areas where laboratory chemicals are present (22, 24, 32, 40); wash hands before conducting these activities (23, 24).
(K) Avoid storage, handling, or consumption of food or beverages in storage areas, refrigerators, glassware, or utensils which are also used for laboratory operations (23, 24, 226).
(L) Equipment and glassware: Handle and store laboratory glassware with care to avoid damage; do not use damaged glassware (25). Use extra care with Dewar flasks and other evacuated glass apparatus; shield or wrap them to contain chemicals and fragments should implosion occur (25). Use equipment only for its designed purpose (23, 26).
(M) Exiting: Wash areas of exposed skin well before leaving the laboratory (23).
(N) Horseplay: Avoid practical jokes or other behavior which might confuse, startle, or distract another worker (23).
(O) Mouth suction: Do not use mouth suction for pipeting or starting a siphon (23, 32).
(P) Personal apparel: Confine long hair and loose clothing (23, 158). Wear shoes at all times in the laboratory but do not wear sandals, perforated shoes, or sneakers (158).
(Q) Personal housekeeping: Keep the work area clean and uncluttered, with chemicals and equipment being properly labeled and stored; clean up the work area on completion of an operation or at the end of each day (24).
(R) Personal protection: Assure that appropriate eye protection (154-156) is worn by all persons, including visitors, where chemicals are stored or handled (22, 23, 33, 154).
(S) Wear appropriate gloves when the potential for contact with toxic materials exists (157); inspect the gloves before each use, wash them before removal, and replace them periodically (157). (A table of resistance to chemicals of common glove materials is given p. 159.)
(T) Use appropriate (164-168) respiratory equipment when air contaminant concentrations are not sufficiently restricted by engineering controls (164-5), inspecting the respirator before use (169).
(U) Use any other protective and emergency apparel and equipment as appropriate (22, 157-162).
(V) Void use of contact lenses in the laboratory unless necessary; if they are used, inform supervisor so special precautions can be taken (155).
(W) Remove laboratory coats immediately on significant contamination (161).
(X) Planning: Seek information and advice about hazards (7), plan appropriate protective procedures, and plan positioning of equipment before beginning any new operation (22, 23).
(Y) Unattended operations: Leave lights on, place an appropriate sign on the door, and provide for containment of toxic substances in the event of failure of a utility service (such as cooling water) to an unattended operation (27, 128).
(Z) Use of hood: Use the hood for operations which might result in release of toxic chemical vapors or dust (198-9).
(AA) As a rule of thumb, use a hood or other local ventilation device when working with any appreciably volatile substance with a TLV of less than 50 ppm (13).
(BB) Confirm adequate hood performance before use; keep hood closed at all times except when adjustments within the hood are being made (200); keep materials stored in hoods to a minimum and do not allow them to block vents or air flow (200).
(CC) Leave the hood "on" when it is not in active use if toxic substances are stored in it or if it is uncertain whether adequate general laboratory ventilation will be maintained when it is "off" (200).
(DD) Vigilance: Be alert to unsafe conditions and see that they are corrected when detected (22).
(EE) Waste disposal: Assure that the plan for each laboratory operation includes plans and training for waste disposal (230).
(FF) Deposit chemical waste in appropriately labeled receptacles and follow all other waste disposal procedures of the chemical hygiene plan (22, 24).
(GG) Do not discharge to the sewer concentrated acids or bases (231); highly toxic, malodorous, or lachrymatory substances (231); or any substances which might interfere with the biological activity of waste water treatment plants, create fire or explosion hazards, cause structural damage, or obstruct flow (242).
(HH) Working alone: Avoid working alone in a building; do not work alone in a laboratory if the procedures being conducted are hazardous (28).
(ii) Working with allergens and embryotoxins.
(A) Allergens (examples: Diazomethane, isocyanates, bichromates): Wear suitable gloves to prevent hand contact with allergens or substances of unknown allergenic activity (35).
(B) Embryotoxins (34-5) (examples: Organomercurials, lead compounds, formamide): Women of childbearing age shall handle these substances only in a hood whose satisfactory performance has been confirmed, using appropriate protective apparel (especially gloves) to prevent skin contact.
(C) Review each use of these materials with the research supervisor and review continuing uses annually or whenever a procedural change is made.
(D) Store these substances, properly labeled, in an adequately ventilated area in an unbreakable secondary container.
(E) Notify supervisors of all incidents of exposure or spills; consult a qualified physician when appropriate.
(iii) Work with chemicals of moderate chronic or high acute toxicity.
Examples: diisopropylflurophosphate (41), hydrofluoric acid (43), hydrogen cyanide (45).
(iv) Supplemental rules to be followed in addition to those mentioned above (Procedure B of "prudent practices," pp. 39-41):
(A) Aim: To minimize exposure to these toxic substances by any route using all reasonable precautions (39).
(B) Applicability: These precautions are appropriate for substances with moderate chronic or high acute toxicity used in significant quantities (39).
(C) Location: Use and store these substances only in areas of restricted access with special warning signs (40, 229).
(D) Always use a hood (previously evaluated to confirm adequate performance with a face velocity of at least 60 linear feet per minute) (40) or other containment device for procedures which may result in the generation of aerosols or vapors containing the substance (39); trap released vapors to prevent their discharge with the hood exhaust (40).
(E) Personal protection: Always avoid skin contact by use of gloves and long sleeves (and other protective apparel as appropriate) (39). Always wash hands and arms immediately after working with these materials (40).
(F) Records: Maintain records of the amounts of these materials on hand, amounts used, and the names of the workers involved (40, 229).
(G) Prevention of spills and accidents: Be prepared for accidents and spills (41).
(H) Assure that at least 2 people are present at all times if a compound in use is highly toxic or of unknown toxicity (39).
(I) Store breakable containers of these substances in chemically resistant trays; also work and mount apparatus above such trays or cover work and storage surfaces with removable, absorbent, plastic backed paper (40).
(J) If a major spill occurs outside the hood, evacuate the area; assure that cleanup personnel wear suitable protective apparel and equipment (41).
(K) Waste: Thoroughly decontaminate or incinerate contaminated clothing or shoes (41). If possible, chemically decontaminate by chemical conversion (40).
(L) Store contaminated waste in closed, suitably labeled, impervious containers (for liquids, in glass or plastic bottles half-filled with vermiculite) (40).
(v) Work with chemicals of high chronic toxicity.
Examples: Dimethylmercury and nickel carbonyl (48), benzo-a-pyrene (51), N-nitrosodiethylamine (54), other human carcinogens or substances with high carcinogenic potency in animals (38).
(vi) Further supplemental rules to be followed, in addition to all these mentioned above, for work with substances of known high chronic toxicity (in quantities above a few milligrams to a few grams, depending on the substance) (47). (Procedure A of "Prudent Practices" pp. 47-50).
(A) Access: Conduct all transfers and work with these substances in a "controlled area": A restricted access hood, glove box, or portion of a lab, designated for use of highly toxic substances, for which all people with access are aware of the substances being used and necessary precautions (48).
(B) Approvals: Prepare a plan for use and disposal of these materials and obtain the approval of the laboratory supervisor (48).
(C) Noncontamination/decontamination: Protect vacuum pumps against contamination by scrubbers or HEPA filters and vent them into the hood (49). Decontaminate vacuum pumps or other contaminated equipment, including glassware, in the hood before removing them from the controlled area (49, 50).
(D) Decontaminate the controlled area before normal work is resumed there (50).
(E) Exiting: On leaving a controlled area, remove any protective apparel (placing it in an appropriate, labeled container) and thoroughly wash hands, forearms, face, and neck (49).
(F) Housekeeping: Use a wet mop or a vacuum cleaner equipped with a HEPA filter instead of dry sweeping if the toxic substance was a dry powder (50).
(G) Medical surveillance: If using toxicologically significant quantities of such a substance on a regular basis (e.g., 3 times per week), consult a qualified physician concerning desirability of regular medical surveillance (50).
(H) Records: Keep accurate records of the amounts of these substances stored (229) and used, the dates of use, and names of users (48).
(I) Signs and labels: Assure that the controlled area is conspicuously marked with warning and restricted access signs (49) and that all containers of these substances are appropriately labeled with identity and warning labels (48).
(J) Spills: Assure that contingency plans, equipment, and materials to minimize exposures of people and property in case of accident are available (233-4).
(K) Storage: Store containers of these chemicals only in a ventilated, limited access (48, 227, 229) area in appropriately labeled, unbreakable, chemically resistant, secondary containers (48, 229).
(L) Glove boxes: For a negative pressure glove box, ventilation rate must be at least 2 volume changes/hour and pressure at least 0.5 inches of water (48). For a positive pressure glove box, thoroughly check for leaks before each use (49). In either case, trap the exit gases or filter them through a HEPA filter and then release them into the hood (49).
(M) Waste: Use chemical decontamination whenever possible; ensure that containers of contaminated waste (including washings from contaminated flasks) are transferred from the controlled area in a secondary container under the supervision of authorized personnel (49, 50, 233).
(vii) Animal work with chemicals of high chronic toxicity.
(A) Access: For large scale studies, special facilities with restricted access are preferable (56).
(B) Administration of the toxic substance: When possible, administer the substance by injection or gavage instead of in the diet. If administration is in the diet, use a caging system under negative pressure or under laminar air flow directed toward HEPA filters (56).
(C) Aerosol suppression: Devise procedures which minimize formation and dispersal of contaminated aerosols, including those from food, urine, and feces (e.g., use HEPA filtered vacuum equipment for cleaning, moisten contaminated bedding before removal from the cage, mix diets in closed containers in a hood) (55, 56).
(D) Personal protection: When working in the animal room, wear plastic or rubber gloves, fully buttoned laboratory coat or jumpsuit and, if needed because of incomplete suppression of aerosols, other apparel and equipment (shoe and head coverings, respirator) (56).
(E) Waste disposal: Dispose of contaminated animal tissues and excreta by incineration if the available incinerator can convert the contaminant to nontoxic products (238); otherwise, package the waste appropriately for burial in an EPA-approved site (239).
(f) Safety recommendations. The above recommendations from "prudent practices" do not include those which are directed primarily toward prevention of physical injury rather than toxic exposure. However, failure of precautions against injury will often have the secondary effect of causing toxic exposures. Therefore, we list below page references for recommendations concerning some of the major categories of safety hazards which also have implications for chemical hygiene:
(i) Corrosive agents: (35-6)
(ii) Electrically powered laboratory apparatus: (179-92)
(iii) Fires, explosions: (26, 57-74, 162-4, 174-5, 219-20, 226-7)
(iv) Low temperature procedures: (26, 88)
(v) Pressurized and vacuum operations (including use of compressed gas cylinders): (27, 75-101)
(g) Material safety data sheets. Material safety data sheets are presented in "prudent practices" for the chemicals listed below. (Asterisks denote that comprehensive material safety data sheets are provided.)
*Acetyl peroxide (105) *Acrolein (106) *Acrylontrile (107) Ammonia (anhydrous) (91) *Aniline (109) *Benzene (110) *Benzo[a]pyrene (112) *Bis(chloromethyl) ether (113) Boron trichloride (91) Boron trifluoride (92) Bromine (114) *Tert-butyl hydroperoxide (148) *Carbon disulfide (116) Carbon monoxide (92) *Carbon tetrachloride (118) *Chlorine (119) Chlorine trifluoride (94) *Chloroform (121) Chloromethane (93) *Diethyl ether (122) Diisopropyl fluorophosphate (41) *Dimethylformamide (123) *Dimethyl sulfate (125) *Dioxane (126) *Ethylene dibromide (128) *fluorine (95) *Formaldehyde (130) *Hydrazine and salts (132) Hydrofluoric acid (43) Hydrogen bromide (98) Hydrogen chloride (98) *Hydrogen cyanide (133) *Hydrogen sulfide (135) Mercury and compounds (52) *Methanol (137) *Morpholine (138) *Nickel carbonyl (99) *Nitrobenzene (139) Nitrogen dioxide (100) N-nitrosodiethylamine (54) *Peracetic acid (141) *Phenol (142) *Phosgene (143) *Pyridine (144) *Sodium azide (145) *Sodium cyanide (147) Sulfur dioxide (101) *Trichloroethylene (149) *Vinyl chloride (150)
[Statutory Authority: Chapter 49.17 RCW. 94-15-096 (Order 94-07), 296-62-40025, filed 7/20/94, effective 9/20/94; 90-17-051 (Order 90-10), 296-62-40025, filed 8/13/90, effective 9/24/90.]
Reviser's note: The typographical error in the above section occurred in the copy filed by the agency and appears in the Register pursuant to the requirements of RCW 34.08.040.
OTS-4901.1
AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 96-17-056, filed 8/20/96,
effective 10/15/96)
WAC 296-78-56505
Boats and mechanical devices on waters.
(1) The applicable provisions of the Standard for Fire Protection
for Motorcraft, NFPA No. 302-1994, shall be complied with. Prior
to starting the boat motor, any spilled fuel shall be removed and
vapors shall be exhausted from any area in which they may
accumulate.
(2) The bilge area shall be kept clean and oil, grease, fuel, or highly combustible materials shall not be allowed to accumulate.
(3) Adequate ventilation equipment shall be provided and used for the bilge area to prevent the accumulation of toxic or explosive gases or vapors.
(4) Adequate ventilation equipment shall be provided and used for the cabin area on enclosed cabin-type boats to prevent an accumulation of harmful gases or vapors.
(5) Deck and cabin lighting shall be provided and used where necessary to provide safe levels of illumination aboard boats. Boats operated during the period from sunset to sunrise, or in conditions of restricted visibility, shall display navigation lights as required by the United States Coast Guard. Searchlights or floodlights shall be provided to facilitate safe navigation and to illuminate working or boarding areas adjacent to the craft.
(6) Decks of pond boats shall be covered with nonslip material. On craft used by workers wearing calked shoes, all areas where the operator or workers must stand or walk shall be made of or be covered with wood or other suitable matting or nonslip material and such covering shall be maintained in good condition.
(7) Each boat shall be provided with a fire extinguisher and life ring with at least fifty feet of one-fourth inch line attached. On log broncs, boom-scooters, or other small boomboats where all occupants are required to wear life saving devices and a life ring would present a tripping hazard, the life ring may be omitted.
| Note: | For additional requirements relating to portable fire extinguishers see WAC 296-800-300. |
(b) When employees are assigned work at other casual locations where exposure to drowning exists, at least one approved life ring with at least ninety feet of line attached, shall be provided in the immediate vicinity of the work assigned.
(c) When work is assigned over water where the vertical drop from the accidental fall would exceed fifty feet, special arrangements shall be made with and approved by the department of labor and industries prior to such assignment.
(d) Lines attached to life rings on fixed locations shall be at least ninety feet in length, at least one-fourth inch in diameter, and have a minimum breaking strength of five hundred pounds. Similar lines attached to life rings on boats shall be at least fifty feet in length.
(e) Life rings must be United States Coast Guard approved thirty-inch size.
(f) Life rings and attached lines shall be maintained to retain at least seventy-five percent of their designed buoyancy and strength.
(g) Log broncs, boomscooters, and boomboats shall not be loaded with personnel or equipment so as to adversely affect their stability or seaworthiness.
(h) Boats shall not be operated at an excessive speed or handled recklessly.
(i) Boat fuel shall be transported and stored in approved containers. Refer to WAC 296-24-58501(19) for definition of approved.
[Statutory Authority: Chapter 49.17 RCW. 96-17-056, 296-78-56505, filed 8/20/96, effective 10/15/96; 88-23-054 (Order 88-25), 296-78-56505, filed 11/14/88. Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.040, 49.17.050 and 49.17.240. 81-18-029 (Order 81-21), 296-78-56505, filed 8/27/81.]
OTS-4899.1
AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending Order 88-11, filed 7/6/88)
WAC 296-59-105
Handcharge makeup methods.
General. The
department shall recognize two permissible methods concerning
handcharges for avalanche control blasting. The descriptions and
requirements for each method are contained in this section. Every ski area operation which conducts avalanche control
blasting should use Method II "Hand charge makeup room." A well
designed and constructed handcharge makeup room can enhance the
correct assembly of components which will maintain the best
possible control over explosives and components, reduce the
probability of an explosives incident, and reduce the incidence
of misfires from incorrect makeup or moisture.
(1) Method I. Makeup at the blast site.
(a) The ignition system shall consist of a nonelectrical blasting cap and highest quality water resistant safety fuse, or detonating cord, assembled as recommended by the manufacturer.
(b) Detonating cord (i.e., primacord) shall be used to connect separated multiple-charge blasts.
(c) No other ignition system shall be permissible on hand-placed or hand-thrown avalanche control charges unless variance is granted by the department.
(d) Caps shall be installed on correct length fuses prior to being transported out onto control routes.
(e) Caps shall only be crimped with a crimper tool approved for that purpose.
(f) Assembling caps and fuses shall be done in a warm, dry, well-lighted environment. The location used for assembly shall not have flammable fuels, flammable gases, or explosives present where accidental detonation of the caps could create a secondary ignition or detonation hazard.
(g) Each cap shall be protected by a styrofoam shield or the equivalent before being placed in an avalanche control pack for transportation.
(h) A fuse igniter shall never be attached to a fuse until the fuse and cap assembly is installed in the handcharge at the blast site and the control crew is fully prepared to ignite the charge.
(i) All class A explosives shall be attended as defined in WAC 296-59-007 at all times when the explosive is out of the class 1 storage magazine.
(j) Disbursement of explosive charges from the class 1 storage magazine into avalanche control packs shall be done outside the storage magazine. Records shall be maintained for all explosives disbursed.
(k) Caps, cap and fuse assemblies, armed handcharges, or fuse igniters shall not be carried into or stored in a class 1 magazine which contains class A explosives.
(2) Method II. Handcharge makeup room. This method is different from method I primarily in that the fuse and cap assembly is installed in the explosive charge while inside a special makeup room. The assembly procedure shall be as follows:
(a) Install caps on correct length fuses with an approved crimper tool before explosives are brought into the makeup room.
(b) The cap and fuse assemblies shall not be combined with explosives to form handcharges until just before the intended time of distribution.
(c) Only nonsparking skewers shall be used to punch holes in an explosives cartridge.
(d) The fuse shall be laced or taped in position after inserting the cap in the charge.
(e) Each handcharge shall be placed in an explosives box or avalanche control pack immediately after assembly is completed.
(f) No spark-producing metal tools shall be used to open explosives containers.
(g) Fuse igniters shall never be attached to a fuse or a handcharge until the handcharge is at the blast site and the control crew is fully prepared to ignite the charge.
(3) Makeup room requirements, procedures.
(a) Construction requirements.
(i) Makeup rooms located in accordance with the American Standard Quantity and Distance Tables for storage shall not require construction of reinforced concrete walls, floors, and doors. All other requirements of this chapter shall be applicable for such facilities.
(ii) Floors and walls. The floor and walls shall be constructed of reinforced concrete not less than eight inches thick. The rebar shall be not less than one-half inch diameter and shall be spaced on twelve-inch vertical and horizontal centers. The rebar shall be bent at a ninety degree angle and extend a minimum of twenty-four inches into the adjoining floor or wall to secure each floor and wall joint.
(iii) Roof. The roof is not limited to specific materials but shall provide both weather protection and standard snow loading protection for the region.
(iv) Access door(s).
(A) If a hinged door mounting is utilized, the hinge shall be mounted on the inside so that the door opens into the makeup room. In the fully closed position, in position to be locked, the door shall be a minimum of two inches larger than the access opening on all sides.
(B) If a flush door mounting is utilized, the door shall be mounted with a two-inch decreasing taper on all sides of both the door and the concrete access opening to form a wedge seal.
(C) If a sliding door mounting is utilized, the mounting apparatus shall be on the inside of the makeup room and the door shall be a minimum of two inches larger than the access opening when the door is fully closed.
(D) Makeup room door may be either:
(I) Constructed to the same structural integrity and mounting requirements of (a)(iii)(A) through (C) of this subsection; or
(II) Constructed of plywood not less than two inches thick and overlaid on the outside with a steel plate not less than one-eighth inch thick.
(III) If a door which complies with (iii)(D)(II) of this subsection is used, a berm or barricade shall be installed within six feet of the door. The berm or barricade shall extend at least as high as the top of the door and shall be a minimum of two feet wider than the door on both sides of the door.
(E) For security purposes, one steel padlock having at least five tumblers and a case hardened shackle of at least three-eighths inch diameter is sufficient for locking purposes. Hinges and hasps shall be attached so that they cannot be removed from the outside when in the closed position and with the lock in place.
(v) Interior finish. The inside of all makeup rooms shall be finished and equipped to the following minimum requirements:
(A) Construction shall be fire resistant and nonsparking up to the top of the walls. Nails or screws shall be countersunk, blind nailed, or covered.
(B) Lighting shall be by N.E.C. explosion-proof rated fixtures and all wiring shall be in sealed conduit.
(C) Control switches shall be outside the makeup room.
(D) No electrical outlet boxes are permissible inside the room.
(b) Restrictions.
(i) Smoking, matches, open flames, or flame or spark-producing devices shall not be permitted inside the makeup room.
(ii) Flammable liquids or flammable compressed gases shall not be stored in the makeup room.
(iii) Signs limiting entry to authorized personnel shall be posted on the door(s).
(iv) A sign stating the occupancy rules shall be posted inside the makeup room where it is clearly legible upon entering the room. The sign shall post the following rules:
(A) Occupancy shall be restricted to specifically authorized personnel;
(B) Smoking, matches, flame or spark-producing devices, tools or equipment shall not be permitted in the room at any time when explosives or explosive components are present; and
(C) Flammable fuels or compressed gases shall not be permitted inside the room nor stored within fifty feet of the room.
(v) Heating units shall be limited to:
(A) Forced air systems with the heating unit located outside the room.
(B) Steam systems of 15 psig or less.
(C) Hot water systems of 130F or less.
(D) The radiant heating coils and piping for steam or hot water systems shall be protected so that explosives cannot come into contact with them.
(E) Heating ducts shall be installed so that the hot air does not discharge directly on explosives.
(F) The heating system used in a makeup room shall have controls which prevent the ambient room temperature from exceeding 130F.
(vi) The makeup room shall be equipped with a portable fire extinguisher of at least 2A-20BC rating.
| Note: | For additional requirements relating to portable fire extinguishers see WAC 296-800-300. |
(A) The makeup room shall be equipped with a ventilation system capable of maintaining a minimum rate of three air exchanges per hour during all times when explosives are present in the room.
(B) Fans and controls shall be located outside the makeup room and shall be of a type approved for this service.
(C) The lighting circuit control shall also activate the ventilation fan and the ventilation fan shall be operated whenever personnel are in the room.
(D) Exhaust ventilation shall be arranged to discharge into outside air, not into an enclosed structure.
(viii) The floor or exterior walls may be constructed with duct openings for heating and ventilation purposes provided that:
(A) Each duct opening is not greater in volume than seventy-two square inches;
(B) The combined number of duct openings shall not exceed three;
(C) Duct openings shall be located within twelve inches of the floor or ceiling;
(D) The exhaust duct opening shall not be located on the wall above the makeup workbench.
(c) Practices and procedures.
(i) When explosives are present in the makeup room, entry into the makeup room shall be restricted to trained and authorized personnel.
(ii) The access door(s) to the makeup room shall be kept locked or bolted from the inside while employees are assembling explosives.
(iii) The entire makeup room shall be kept clean, orderly, and free of burnable rubbish.
(iv) Brooms and other cleaning utensils shall not have any spark-producing metal parts if used when explosives are present.
(v) Sweepings and empty explosives containers shall be disposed of as recommended by the explosives supplier.
(vi) Repair activities which utilize spark-producing tools shall not be conducted on any part of the makeup room while explosives are present.
(d) Storage of explosives.
(i) A makeup room shall not be used for the unattended storage of class A explosives.
(ii) A makeup room which meets all requirements of this chapter may contain a class 3 storage facility, for one thousand or less blasting caps.
(iii) A class 3 storage facility shall be constructed to meet the following minimum requirements:
(A) A class 3 storage facility shall be fire resistant and theft resistant. It does not need to be bullet resistant and weather resistant if the locked makeup room provides protection from weather and bullet penetration.
(B) Sides, bottoms, and covers shall be constructed of not less than number twelve gauge metal and lined with a nonsparking material.
(C) Hinges and hasps shall be attached so that they cannot be removed from the outside.
(D) One steel padlock having at least five tumblers and a case-hardened shackle of at least three-eighths inch diameter is sufficient for locking purposes. The lock and hasp is not required to be equipped with a steel hood.
(e) Location.
(i) The makeup room shall be located in accordance with the American Quantity and Distance Separation Tables as adopted in chapter 70.74 RCW "Washington State Explosives Act" and chapter 296-52 WAC "Safety standards for the possession and handling of explosives," except under conditions as indicated in this section.
(ii) Where locating the makeup room in accordance with the quantity and distance separation table is impractical because of bad weather accessibility, rough terrain, or space availability:
(A) Upon application the department will issue a variance enabling location of the makeup room, by mutual agreement, at the safest possible location within the limitation of the individual base area.
(B) The safest possible location will be the location most isolated from assembly areas and buildings that are inhabited with application of additional protection measures such as:
(I) Berming.
(II) Locating natural obstructions or buildings that are not inhabited between the makeup room and assembly areas and buildings that are inhabited.
(III) Limitations on the total quantity of explosives in the makeup room at any one time.
(iii) Makeup rooms designed to hold the boxes of explosives awaiting makeup and the madeup explosives in avalanche control packs awaiting distribution may be located using the total quantity of explosives allowed at the makeup table at any one time as the referenced quantity of explosives provided.
(A) The makeup room is located in accordance with the American Quantity and Distance Separation Tables as adopted in chapter 70.74 RCW "Washington State Explosives Act" and chapter 296-52 WAC "Safety standards for the possession and handling of explosives" for the referenced quantity of explosives at the makeup table.
(I) This separation shall apply only to human proximity to the makeup room and only at such time as there are explosives in the makeup room.
(II) When the makeup room does not contain explosives the separation tables shall not apply.
(B) The concrete walls of the room are designed to withstand the explosion of the total amount of the referenced explosives.
(I) The concrete walls must be constructed in accordance with specifications designed and certified by a licensed engineer; or
(II) The concrete walls must be constructed to the specifications of Department of the Army TM5-1300 "Structures to Resist the Effects of Accidental Explosions" designed to produce walls which will withstand explosion of the referenced quantity explosives.
(C) The boxes of explosives awaiting makeup and the madeup explosives in avalanche control packs awaiting distribution are located behind separate concrete debris barrier walls which will ensure that detonation of these explosives will not occur if the explosives at the makeup table detonate.
(I) The concrete debris barrier wall must be constructed in accordance with specifications designed and certified by a licensed engineer; or
(II) The concrete debris barrier wall must be constructed to the specifications of Department of the Army TM5-1300 "Structures to Resist the Effects of Accidental Explosions" to produce a barrier which will not allow detonation of the explosives awaiting makeup and distribution should the referenced quantity of explosives detonate.
(III) Access from the makeup table to the area behind the concrete debris barrier walls shall not be doored. The concrete debris barrier walls will be designed so that the access way from the makeup table to the area behind the concrete debris barrier wall will deflect debris from an explosive blast by inherent design.
(D) The roof shall be designed so that the resistance to an interior explosive blast will be negligible.
(iv) A full containment makeup room may be located anywhere and must meet the following requirements:
(A) The makeup room must be constructed in accordance with a licensed explosive engineer's approved design.
(B) The total amount of explosives in the room at any time must not exceed the design limit of the room.
(C) The makeup room cannot be used for storage.
(v) This section shall become effective December 1, 1989.
| Note: | Explosives shall be stored in licensed magazines only. All magazines must be located in compliance with the American Quantity and Distance Separation Tables until the United States Treasury Department Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms approves full containment class 1 magazines for storage at distances less than those specified in the American Standard Quantity and Distance Separation Tables and the Washington state department of labor and industries adopts corresponding amendments. |
[Statutory Authority: Chapter 49.17 RCW. 88-14-108 (Order 88-11), 296-59-105, filed 7/6/88.]
OTS-4902.1
AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 99-17-094, filed 8/17/99,
effective 12/1/99)
WAC 296-155-270
Flammable and combustible liquids.
(1)
General requirements.
(a) Only approved containers and portable tanks shall be used for storage and handling of flammable and combustible liquids. Approved metal safety cans, or department of transportation approved containers shall be used for the handling and use of flammable liquids in quantities five gallons or less, except that this shall not apply to those flammable liquid materials which are highly viscid (extremely hard to pour), which may be used and handled in original shipping containers. For quantities of one gallon or less, only the original container may be used for storage, use, and handling of flammable liquids.
(b) Flammable or combustible liquids shall not be stored in areas used for exits, stairways, or normally used for the safe passage of people.
(c) Flammable and combustible liquid containers shall be legibly marked to indicate their contents. Each storage container for flammable or combustible liquids, with a capacity of 50 gallons or more, shall have the contents of the container identified by a sign of clearly visible contrasting colors with letters at least 3 inches high, painted on the container at the discharge valve and at the fill point.
(d) Gasoline shall not be used as a solvent or a cleaning agent.
(2) Indoor storage of flammable and combustible liquids.
(a) No more than 25 gallons of flammable or combustible liquids shall be stored in a room outside of an approved storage cabinet. For storage of liquid petroleum gas, see WAC 296-155-275.
(b) Quantities of flammable and combustible liquid in excess of 25 gallons shall be stored in an acceptable or approved cabinet meeting the following requirements:
(i) Acceptable wooden storage cabinets shall be constructed in the following manner, or equivalent: The bottom, sides, and top shall be constructed of an exterior grade of plywood at least 1 inch in thickness, which shall not break down or delaminate under standard fire test conditions. All joints shall be rabbeted and shall be fastened in two directions with flathead wood screws, when more than one door is used, there shall be a rabbeted overlap of not less than 1 inch. Steel hinges shall be mounted in such a manner as to not lose their holding capacity due to loosening or burning out of the screws when subjected to fire. Such cabinets shall be painted inside and out with fire retardant paint.
(ii) Approved metal storage cabinets will be acceptable.
(iii) Cabinets shall be labeled in conspicuous lettering, "Flammable -- Keep fire away."
(c) Not more than 60 gallons of flammable or 120 gallons of combustible liquids shall be stored in any one storage cabinet. Not more than three such cabinets may be located in a single storage area. Quantities in excess of this shall be stored in an inside storage room.
(d)(i) Inside storage room shall be constructed to meet the required fire-resistive rating for their use. Such construction shall comply with the test specifications set forth in Standard Methods of Fire Test of Building Construction and Material, NFPA 251-1972.
(ii) Where an automatic extinguishing system is provided, the system shall be designed and installed in an approved manner. Openings to other rooms or buildings shall be provided with noncombustible liquid-tight raised sills or ramps at least 4 inches in height, or the floor in the storage area shall be at least 4 inches below the surrounding floor. Openings shall be provided with approved self-closing fire doors. The room shall be liquid-tight where the walls join the floor. A permissible alternate to the sill or ramp is an open-grated trench, inside of the room, which drains to a safe location. Where other portions of the building or other buildings are exposed, windows shall be protected as set forth in the Standard for Fire Doors and Windows, NFPA No. 80-1983, for Class E or F openings. Wood of at least 1-inch nominal thickness may be used for shelving, racks, dunnage, scuffboards, floor overlay and similar installations.
(iii) Materials which will react with water and create a fire hazard shall not be stored in the same room with flammable or combustible liquids.
(iv) Storage in inside storage rooms shall comply with Table
D-2 following:
| Fire protection provided |
Fire resistance | Maximum size | Total allowable quantities gals./sq. ft./floor area | ||
| Yes | 2 hrs. | 500 sq. ft. | 10 | ||
| No | 2 hrs. | 500 sq. ft. | 4 | ||
| Yes | 1 hr. | 150 sq. ft. | 5 | ||
| No | 1 hr. | 150 sq. ft. | 2 |
||
| Note: | Fire protection system shall be sprinkler, water spray, carbon dioxide or other system approved by a nationally recognized testing laboratory for this purpose. |
(vi) Every inside storage room shall be provided with either a gravity or a mechanical exhausting system. Such system shall commence not more than 12 inches above the floor and be designed to provide for a complete change of air within the room at least 6 times per hour. If a mechanical exhausting system is used, it shall be controlled by a switch located outside of the door. The ventilating equipment and any lighting fixtures shall be operated by the same switch. An electric pilot light shall be installed adjacent to the switch if flammable liquids are dispensed within the room. Where gravity ventilation is provided, the fresh air intake, as well as the exhausting outlet from the room, shall be on the exterior of the building in which the room is located.
(vii) In every inside storage room there shall be maintained one clear aisle at least 3 feet wide. Containers over 30 gallons capacity shall not be stacked one upon the other.
(viii) Flammable and combustible liquids in excess of that permitted in inside storage rooms shall be stored outside of buildings in accordance with subsection (3) of this section.
(3) Storage outside buildings.
(a) Storage of containers (not more than 60 gallons each) shall not exceed 1,100 gallons in any one pile or area. Piles or groups of containers shall be separated by a 5-foot clearance. Piles or groups of containers shall not be nearer than 20 feet to a building.
(b) Within 200 feet of each pile of containers, there shall be a 12-foot-wide access way to permit approach of fire control apparatus.
(c) The storage area shall be graded in a manner to divert possible spills away from buildings or other exposures, or shall be surrounded by a curb or earth dike at least 12 inches high. When curbs or dikes are used, provisions shall be made for draining off accumulations of ground or rain water, or spills of flammable or combustible liquids. Drains shall terminate at a safe location and shall be accessible to operation under fire conditions.
(d) Outdoor portable tank storage.
(i) Portable tanks shall not be nearer than 20 feet from any building. Two or more portable tanks, grouped together, having a combined capacity in excess of 2,200 gallons, shall be separated by a 5-foot-clear area. Individual portable tanks exceeding 1,100 gallons shall be separated by a 5-foot-clear area.
(ii) Within 200 feet of each portable tank, there shall be a 12-foot-wide access way to permit approach of fire control apparatus.
(e) Storage areas shall be kept free of weeds, debris, and other combustible material not necessary to the storage.
(f) Portable tanks, not exceeding 660 gallons, shall be provided with emergency venting and other devices, as required by chapters III and IV of NFPA 30-1972, The Flammable and Combustible Liquids Code.
(g) Portable tanks, in excess of 660 gallons, shall have emergency venting and other devices, as required by chapters II and III of the Flammable and Combustible Liquids Code, NFPA 30-1972.
(4) Fire control for flammable or combustible liquid storage.
(a) At least one portable fire extinguisher, having a rating of not less than 20-B units, shall be located outside of, but not more than 10 feet from, the door opening into any room used for storage of more than 60 gallons of flammable or combustible liquids.
(b) At least one portable fire extinguisher having a rating of not less than 20-B units shall be located not less than 25 feet, nor more than 75 feet, from any flammable liquid storage area located outside.
(c) When sprinklers are provided, they shall be installed in accordance with the Standard for the Installation of Sprinkler Systems, NFPA 13-1972.
(d) At least one portable fire extinguisher having a rating of not less than 20-B:C units shall be provided on all tank trucks or other vehicles used for transporting and/or dispensing flammable or combustible liquids.
| Note: | For additional requirements relating to portable fire extinguishers see WAC 296-800-300. |
(a) Areas in which flammable or combustible liquids are transferred at the same time, in quantities greater than 5 gallons from one tank or container to another tank or container, shall be separated from other operations by 25-feet distance or by construction having a fire-resistance of at least 1 hour. Drainage or other means shall be provided to control spills. Adequate natural or mechanical ventilation shall be provided to maintain the concentration of flammable vapor at or below 10 percent of the lower flammable limit.
(b) Transfer flammable liquids from one container to another shall be done only when containers are electrically interconnected (bonded).
(c) Flammable or combustible liquids shall be drawn from or transferred into vessels, containers, or tanks within a building or outside only through a closed piping system, from safety cans, by means of a device drawing through the top, or from a container, or portable tanks, by gravity or pump, through an approved self-closing valve. Transferring by means of air pressure on the container or portable tank is prohibited.
(d) The dispensing units shall be protected against collision damage.
(e) Dispensing devices and nozzles for flammable liquids shall be of an approved type, as required by WAC 296-24-33015.
(6) Handling liquids at point of final use.
(a) Flammable liquids shall be kept in closed containers when not actually in use.
(b) Leakage or spillage of flammable or combustible liquids shall be disposed of promptly and safely.
(c) Flammable liquids shall be used only where there are no open flames or other sources of ignition within 50 feet of the operation, unless conditions warrant greater clearance.
(7) Service and refueling areas.
(a) Flammable or combustible liquids shall be stored in approved closed containers, in tanks located underground, or in aboveground portable tanks.
(b) The tank trucks shall comply with the requirements covered in the Standard for Tank Vehicles for Flammable and Combustible Liquids, NFPA No. 385-1977.
(c) The dispensing hose shall be an approved type.
(d) The dispensing nozzle shall be an approved automatic-closing type.
(e) Underground tanks shall not be abandoned.
(f) Clearly identified and easily accessible switch(es) shall be provided at a location remote from dispensing devices to shut off the power to all dispensing devices in the event of an emergency.
(g)(i) Heating equipment of an approved type may be installed in the lubrication or service area where there is no dispensing or transferring of flammable liquids, provided the bottom of the heating unit is at least 18 inches above the floor and is protected from physical damage.
(ii) Heating equipment installed in lubrication or service areas, where flammable liquids are dispensed, shall be of an approved type for garages, and shall be installed at least 8 feet above the floor.
(h) There shall be no smoking or open flames in the areas used for fueling, servicing fuel systems for internal combustion engines, receiving or dispensing of flammable or combustible liquids.
(i) Conspicuous and legible signs prohibiting smoking shall be posted.
(j) The motor of any equipment being fueled shall be shut off during the fueling operation.
(k) Each service or fueling area shall be provided with at least one fire extinguisher having a rating of not less than 20BC located so that an extinguisher will be within 75 feet of each pump, dispenser, underground fill pipe opening, and lubrication or service area.
| Note: | For additional requirements relating to portable fire extinguishers see WAC 296-800-300. |
[Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.010, [49.17].040 and [49.17].050. 99-17-094, 296-155-270, filed 8/17/99, effective 12/1/99. Statutory Authority: Chapter 49.17 RCW. 88-23-054 (Order 88-25), 296-155-270, filed 11/14/88. Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.040 and 49.17.050. 86-03-074 (Order 86-14), 296-155-270, filed 1/21/86; Order 74-26, 296-155-270, filed 5/7/74, effective 6/6/74.]
(a) Each system shall have containers, valves, connectors, manifold valve assemblies, and regulators of an approved type.
(b) All cylinders shall meet the department of transportation specification identification requirements published in 49 CFR Part 178, Shipping Container Specifications.
(2) Welding on LP-gas containers. Welding is prohibited on containers.
(3) Container valves and container accessories.
(a) Valves, fittings, and accessories connected directly to the container, including primary shut off valves, shall have a rated working pressure of at least 250 p.s.i.g. and shall be of material and design suitable for LP-gas service.
(b) Connections to containers, except safety relief connections, liquid level gauging devices, and plugged openings, shall have shutoff valves located as close to the container as practicable.
(4) Safety devices.
(a) Every container and every vaporizer shall be provided with one or more approved safety relief valves or devices. These valves shall be arranged to afford free vent to the outer air with discharge not less than 5 feet horizontally away from any opening into a building which is below such discharge.
(b) Shutoff valves shall not be installed between the safety relief device and the container, or the equipment or piping to which the safety relief device is connected, except that a shutoff valve may be used where the arrangement of this valve is such that full required capacity flow through the safety relief device is always afforded.
(c) Container safety relief devices and regulator relief vents shall be located not less than 5 feet in any direction from air openings into sealed combustion system appliances or mechanical ventilation air intakes.
(5) Dispensing.
(a) Filling of fuel containers for trucks or motor vehicles from bulk storage containers shall be performed not less than 10 feet from the nearest masonry-walled building, or not less than 25 feet from the nearest building or other construction and, in any event, not less than 25 feet from any building opening.
(b) Filling of portable containers or containers mounted on skids from storage containers shall be performed not less than 50 feet from the nearest building.
(6) Requirements for appliances.
(a) LP-gas consuming appliances shall be approved types.
(b) Any appliance that was originally manufactured for operation with a gaseous fuel other than LP-gas, and is in good condition, may be used with LP-gas only after it is properly converted, adapted, and tested for performance with LP-gas before the appliance is placed in use.
(7) Containers and regulating equipment installed outside of buildings or structures. Containers shall be upright upon firm foundations or otherwise firmly secured. The possible effect on the outlet piping of settling shall be guarded against by a flexible connection or special fitting.
(8) Containers and equipment used inside of buildings or structures.
(a) When operational requirements make portable use of containers necessary, and their location outside of buildings or structures is impractical, containers and equipment are permitted to be used inside of buildings or structures in accordance with (b) through (k) of this subsection. In addition, there may be provisions of this section that are applicable to the particular use or occupancy.
(b) "Containers in use" means connected for use.
(c) Systems utilizing containers having a water capacity greater than 2 1/2-pounds (nominal 1 pound LP-gas capacity) shall be equipped with excess flow valves. Such excess flow valves shall be either integral with the container valves or in the connections to the container valve outlets.
(d) Regulators, when required, shall be either directly connected to the container valves or to manifolds connected to the container valves. The regulator shall be suitable for use with LP-gas. Manifolds and fittings connecting containers to pressure regulator inlets shall be designed for at least 250 p.s.i.g. service pressure.
(e) Valves on containers having water capacity greater than 50 pounds (nominal 20 pounds LP-gas capacity) shall be protected from damage while in use or storage.
(f) Aluminum piping or tubing shall not be used.
(g) Hose shall be designed for a working pressure of at least 250 p.s.i.g. Design, construction, and performance of hose, and hose connections shall have their suitability determined by listing by a nationally recognized testing agency. The hose length shall be as short as practical. Hoses shall be long enough to permit compliance with spacing provisions of (a) through (m) of this subsection, without kinking or straining, or causing hose to be so close to a burner as to be damaged by heat.
(h) Portable heaters, including salamanders, shall be equipped with an approved automatic device to shut off the flow of gas to the mainburner, and pilot if used, in the event of flame failure. Such heaters, having inputs above 50,000 BTU per hour, shall be equipped with either a pilot, which must be lighted and proved before the main burner can be turned on, or an electrical ignition system.
| Note: | The provisions of this subdivision do not apply to portable heaters under 7,500 BTU per hour input when used with containers having a maximum water capacity of 2 1/2 pounds. |
(j) Containers, regulating equipment, manifolds, pipe, tubing, and hose shall be located to minimize exposure to high temperatures or physical damage.
(k) Containers having a water capacity greater than 2 1/2 pounds (nominal 1 pound LP-gas capacity) connected for use shall stand on a firm and substantially level surface and, when necessary, shall be secured in an upright position.
(l) The maximum water capacity of individual containers shall be 245 pounds (nominal 100 pounds LP-gas capacity).
(m) For temporary heating, heaters (other than integral heater-container units) shall be located at least 6 feet from any LP-gas container. This shall not prohibit the use of heaters specifically designed for attachment to the container or to a supporting standard, provided they are designed and installed so as to prevent direct or radiant heat application from the heater onto the containers. Blower and radiant type heaters shall not be directed toward any LP-gas container within 20 feet.
(n) If two or more heater-container units, of either the integral or nonintegral type, are located in an unpartitioned area on the same floor, the container or containers of each unit shall be separated from the container or containers of any other unit by at least 20 feet.
(o) When heaters are connected to containers for use in an unpartitioned area on the same floor, the total water capacity of containers, manifolded together for connection to a heater or heaters, shall not be greater than 735 pounds (nominal 300 pounds LP-gas capacity). Such manifolds shall be separated by at least 20 feet.
(p) Storage of containers awaiting use shall be in accordance with subsections (10) and (11) of this section.
(9) Multiple container systems.
(a) Valves in the assembly of multiple container systems shall be arranged so that replacement of containers can be made without shutting off the flow of gas in the system. This provision is not to be construed as requiring an automatic changeover device.
(b) Heaters shall be equipped with an approved regulator in the supply line between the fuel cylinder and the heater unit. Cylinder connectors shall be provided with an excess flow valve to minimize the flow of gas in the event the fuel line becomes ruptured.
(c) Regulators and low-pressure relief devices shall be rigidly attached to the cylinder valves, cylinders, supporting standards, the building walls, or otherwise rigidly secured, and shall be so installed or protected from the elements.
(10) Storage of LPG containers. Storage of LPG within building is prohibited.
(11) Storage outside of buildings.
(a) Storage outside of buildings, for containers awaiting use, shall be located from the nearest building or group of buildings, in accordance with Table D-3:
| TABLE D-3 | ||
Quantity of LP-gas stored: |
Distance (feet) |
|
| 500 lbs. or less | 0 | |
| 501 to 6,000 lbs. | 10 | |
| 6,001 to 10,000 lbs. | 20 | |
| Over 10,000 lbs. | 25 | |
(12) Fire protection. Storage locations shall be provided with at least one approved portable fire extinguisher having a rating of not less than 20-B:C.
| Note: | For additional requirements relating to portable fire extinguishers see WAC 296-800-300. |
[Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.040 and 49.17.050. 86-03-074 (Order 86-14), 296-155-275, filed 1/21/86; Order 76-29, 296-155-275, filed 9/30/76; Order 74-26, 296-155-275, filed 5/7/74, effective 6/6/74.]
Accessory - a secondary part or assembly of parts which contributes to the overall function and usefulness of a machine.
Administrative or regulatory authority - a governmental agency, or the employer in the absence of governmental jurisdiction.
Angle indicator (boom) - an accessory which measures the angle of the boom to the horizontal.
Appointed - assigned specific responsibilities by the employer or the employer's representative.
Authorized person - means a person approved or assigned by the employer to perform a specific type of duty or duties or be at a specific location or locations at the workplace.
Auxiliary hoist - a secondary hoist rope system used either in conjunction with, or independently of, the main hoist system.
Axis of rotation - the vertical axis around which the crane superstructure rotates.
Axle - the shaft or spindle with which or about which a wheel rotates. On wheel-mounted cranes it refers to a type of axle assembly including housings, gearing, differential, bearings, and mounting appurtenances.
Axle (bogie) - two or more axles mounted in tandem in a frame so as to divide the load between the axles and permit vertical oscillation of the wheels.
Ballast - weight used to supplement the weight of the machine in providing stability for lifting working loads (the term ballast is normally associated with locomotive cranes).
Base, anchor bolt - a crane base that is bolted to a footing.
Base, expendable - for static-mounting cranes, a style of bottom mast section or member that is cast into a concrete footing block; all or part of this component is lost to future installations.
Base, fixed - a crane base that does not travel. It may be expendable, knee braced, or anchor bolted.
Base (mounting) - the traveling base on which the rotating superstructure of a locomotive or crawler crane is mounted.
Base, tower crane - the lowermost supporting component of the crane.
Base, travel - a crane base that is a ballasted platform mounted on trucks that ride along rails.
Boom (crane) - a member hinged at the rotating superstructure and used for supporting the existing tackle.
Boom angle - the angle above or below horizontal of the longitudinal axis of the base boom section.
Boom hoist mechanism - means for supporting the boom and controlling the boom angle.
Boom point - the outer extremity of the crane boom, containing the hoist sheave assembly.
Boom point sheave assembly - an assembly of sheaves and pin built as an integral part of the boom point.
Boom stop - a device used to limit the angle of the boom at the highest recommended position.
Brake - a device used for retarding or stopping motion.
Brace, tower - a structural attachment placed between a crane tower and an adjacent structure to pass loads to the adjacent structure and permit the crane to be erected to greater than free standing height.
Buffer - an energy absorbing device for reducing impact when a moving crane or trolley reaches the end of its permitted travel.
Cab - a housing which covers the rotating superstructure machinery, or the operator's or driver's station.
Climbing frame - a frame used with climbing cranes to transmit operational and climbing reactions to the host building frame.
Climbing ladder - a steel member with crossbars (used in parts) suspended from a climbing frame and used as jacking support points when some cranes climb.
Clutch - a means for engagement or disengagement of power.
Commercial truck vehicle - a commercial motor vehicle designed primarily for the transportation of property in connection with business and industry.
Counterweight - weight used to supplement the weight of the machine in providing stability for lifting working loads.
Counterweight jib - a horizontal member of a crane on which the counterweights and usually the hoisting machinery are mounted.
Crane carrier - the undercarriage of a wheel-mounted crane specifically designed for transporting the rotating crane superstructure. It may or may not provide its own travel mechanism. It is distinguished from a commercial truck vehicle in that it is not designed to transport personnel, materials, or equipment other than the crane-rotating superstructure.
Cross-over points - in multiple layer spooling of rope on a drum, those points of rope contact where the rope crosses the preceding rope layer.
Designated - selected or assigned by the employer or the employer's representative as being competent to perform specific duties.
Drum - the cylindrical member around which a rope is wound for lifting and lowering the load or boom.
Dynamic (loading) - loads introduced into the machine or its components due to accelerating or decelerating forces.
Flange point - a point of contact between rope and drum flange where the rope changes layers.
Free standing height - that height of a crane which is supported by the tower (mast) alone without assistance from braces, guys, or other means.
Gage, track - the horizontal distance between two rails measured perpendicular to the direction of travel.
Gantry (A-frame) - a structural frame, extending above the superstructure, to which the boom support ropes are reeved.
High strength (traction) bolts - high strength tensile bolts used in the assembly of crane sections. The bolts are installed in tension by torquing or other means at a level greater than that produced by in- or out-of-service loads for the purpose of reducing the likelihood of bolt fatigue failure.
Hoist mechanism - a hoist drum and rope reeving system used for lifting and lowering loads.
Jib - an extension attached to the boom point to provide added boom length for lifting specified loads. The jib may be in line with the boom or offset to various angles in the vertical plane of the boom.
Jib backstop - a device which will restrain the jib from turning over backward.
Job site - work area defined by the construction contract.
Limiting device - a mechanical device which is operated by some part of a power driven machine or equipment to control loads or motions of the machine or equipment.
Load (working) - the external load in pounds (kilograms) applied to the crane, including the weight of load-attaching equipment such as lower load block, shackles, and slings.
Load block, lower - the assembly of hook or shackle, swivel, sheaves, pins, and frame suspended by the hoisting ropes.
Load block, upper - the assembly of shackle, swivel, sheaves, pins, and frame suspended from the boom point.
Load ratings - crane ratings in pounds (kilograms) established by the manufacturer.
Mast (boom) - a frame hinged at or near the boom hinge for use in connection with supporting a boom. The head of the mast is usually supported and raised or lowered by the boom hoist ropes.
Mast (jib) - a frame hinged at or near the boom point for use in connection with supporting a jib.
Normal operating conditions.
Cab- or station-operated cranes - conditions during which a crane is performing functions within the manufacturer's operating recommendations. Under these conditions, the operator is at the operating control devices on the crane, and no other persons except those appointed are to be on the crane.
Ground- or floor-operated cranes - conditions during which a crane is performing functions within the manufacturer's operating recommendations. Under these conditions, the operator is at the operating control devices that are mounted to the crane but operated with the operator off the crane, and no other persons except those appointed are to be on the crane.
Remote-operated cranes - conditions during which a crane is performing functions within the manufacturer's operating recommendations. Under these conditions, the operator is at the operating control devices that are mounted to any part of the crane, and no other persons except those appointed are to be on the crane.
Out-of-service - the condition of a crane when unloaded, without power and with the controls unattended and prepared to endure winds above the in-service level.
Outriggers - extendable or fixed members attached to the mounting base, which rest on supports at the outer ends used to support the crane.
Pawl (dog) - a device for positively holding a member against motion in one or more directions.
Payload - that load or loads being transported by the commercial truck chassis from place to place.
Pendant - a rope or strand of specified length with fixed end connections.
Pitch diameter - the diameter of a sheave or rope drum measured at the center line of the rope.
Power-controlled lowering - a system or device in the power train, other than the load hoist brake, which can control the lowering rate of speed of the load hoist mechanism.
Qualified person - a person who, by possession of a recognized degree or certificate of professional standing, or who, by extensive knowledge, training, and experience, has successfully demonstrated the ability to solve or resolve problems relating to the subject matter and work.
Radius (load) - the horizontal distance from a projection of the axis of rotation to the base of the crane, before loading, to the center of the vertical hoist line or tackle with load applied.
Rail clamp - a tong-like metal device mounted on a locomotive crane car, which can be connected to the track.
Reeving - a rope system in which the rope travels around drums and sheaves.
Remote control station - a location, not on the crane, from which the operator can control all the crane movements.
Repetitive pickup point - when operating on a short cycle operation, the rope being used on a single layer and being spooled repetitively over a short portion of the drum.
Rope - refers to wire rope unless otherwise specified.
Rotation resistant rope - a wire rope consisting of an inner layer of strand laid in one direction covered by a layer of strand laid in the opposite direction. This has the effect of counteracting torque by reducing the tendency of the finished rope to rotate.
Running rope - a rope which travels around sheaves or drums.
Shall - this word indicates that the rule is mandatory and must be followed.
Service, light - service that involves irregular operation with loads generally about one-half or less of the rated load; a service crane at a storage yard or building site would be an example.
Service, normal - service that involves operating occasionally at rated load but normally at less than eighty-five percent of the rated load and not more than ten lift cycles per hour except for isolated instances; a crane used for concrete placement at a building site would be an example.
Service, heavy - service that involves operating at eighty-five percent to one hundred percent of the rated load or in excess of ten lift cycles per hour as a regular specified procedure; some cranes operating at material yards or in industrial applications may fall into this category.
Sheave - a grooved wheel or pulley used with a rope to change the direction and point of application of a pulling force.
Should - this word indicates that the rule is a recommendation, the advisability of which depends on the facts in each situation.
Side loading - a load applied to an angle to the vertical plane of the boom.
Stabilizer - stabilizers are extendable or fixed members attached to the mounting base to increase the stability of the crane, but which may not have the capability of relieving all of the weight from wheels or tracks.
Standby crane - a crane which is not in regular service but which is used occasionally or intermittently as required.
Standing (guy) rope - a supporting rope which maintains a constant distance between the points of attachment to the two components connected by the rope.
Structural competence - the ability of the machine and its components to withstand the stresses imposed by applied loads.
Superstructure - the rotating upper frame structure of the machine and the operating machinery mounted thereon.
Swing - rotation of the superstructure for movement of loads in a horizontal direction about the axis of rotation.
Swing mechanism - the machinery involved in providing rotation of the superstructure.
Swivel - a load carrying member with thrust bearings to permit rotation under load in a plane perpendicular to the direction of the load.
Swiveling - the rotation of the load attachment portion (hook or shackle) of a load block (lower) or hook assembly about its axis of suspension in relation to the load line(s).
Tackle - an assembly of ropes and sheaves arranged for lifting, lowering, or pulling.
Telescoping boom - consists of a base boom from which one or more boom sections are telescoped for additional length.
Telescoping (tower crane) - a process whereby the height of a traveling or fixed base crane is increased typically by raising the inner tower and then adding sections at the top of the outer tower; there are also cranes that are telescoped by adding to the inner tower from below.
Tower (mast) - a vertical structural frame consisting of columns and bracing capable of supporting an upperstructure with its working and dynamic loads and transmitting them to the supporting surface or structure.
Traction (high strength) bolts - see high strength bolts.
Transit - the moving or transporting of a crane from one job site to another.
Travel - the function of the machine moving under its own power from one location to another on a job site.
Trolley - the device that travels along the load jib and contains the upper load block.
Two-blocking - the condition in which the lower load block or hook assembly comes in contact with the upper load block or boom point sheave assembly.
Weathervaning - wind induced rotation of a crane upperstructure, when out-of-service, to expose minimal surface area to the wind.
Wedge - a tapered wood or steel device used to provide stability to cranes during use as a climber. When the wedges are tightened against the four main legs of the tower, they convert overturning moments into horizontal forces to be resisted by the floor framing or slab.
Wheel base - the distance between centers of front and rear axles. For a multiple axle assembly the axle center for wheel base measurement is taken as the midpoint of the assembly.
Whipline (runner or auxiliary) - a secondary rope system usually of lighter load capacity than that provided by the main rope system.
Winch head - a power driven spool for handling of loads by means of friction between fiber or wire rope and the spool.
(2) General requirements.
(a) The employer shall comply with the manufacturer's specifications and limitations applicable to the operation of any and all cranes and derricks. Where manufacturer's specifications are not available the limitations assigned to the equipment shall be based on the determinations of a qualified engineer, competent in this field and such determinations will be appropriately documented and recorded. Attachments used with cranes shall not exceed the capacity, rating, or scope recommended by the manufacturer.
(b) Rated load capacities, and recommended operating speeds, and special hazard warnings, or instruction, shall be conspicuously posted on all equipment. Instructions or warnings shall be visible to the operator while at the control station.
(c) Hand signals to crane and derrick operators shall be those prescribed by the applicable ANSI standard for the type of crane in use. An illustration of the signals shall be posted at the job site.
(d) The employer shall designate a competent person who shall inspect all machinery and equipment prior to each use, and periodically during use to make sure it is in safe operating condition. Any deficiencies shall be repaired, or defective parts replaced, before continued use.
(e) A thorough, annual inspection of the hoisting machinery shall be made by a competent person, or by a government or private agency recognized by the department. The employer shall maintain a permanent record of the dates and results of all inspections for each hoisting machine and piece of equipment.
(f) A tag line or guide rope shall be used on all loads that swing freely. Guide ropes or tag lines shall be held by experienced persons.
(g) Care shall be taken to guard against injury to workers, or damage to scaffolds or buildings, from swinging loads.
(h) The operator shall avoid carrying loads over people.
(i) When work is stopped or when the derrick is not in operation, the boom shall be lowered to a horizontal position or tied in place to prevent it whipping with the wind or other external force.
(j) Only authorized personnel shall make sling hitches on loads.
(k) Workers shall not be allowed to ride on loads handled by derricks.
(l) Operators shall observe signals only from duly authorized persons. Under no circumstances shall a load be moved until the signal is received from authorized personnel.
(m) Belts, gears, shafts, pulleys, sprockets, spindles, drums, fly wheels, chains, or other reciprocating, rotating, or other moving parts or equipment shall be guarded if such parts are exposed to contact by employees, or otherwise create a hazard. Guarding shall meet the requirements of chapter 296-24 WAC.
(n) A minimum distance of thirty inches clearance shall be maintained between the swing radius of the greatest extension of the crane superstructure or counterweights and a stationary object, including the crane itself, while the crane is in operation. When this clearance cannot be maintained, suitable barricades or safeguards shall be used to isolate the pinch point hazard area.
(o) All exhaust pipes shall be guarded or insulated where contact by employees, in the performance of normal duties, is possible.
(3) Additional requirements.
(a) Whenever internal combustion engine powered equipment exhausts in enclosed spaces, tests shall be made and recorded to see that employees are not exposed to unsafe concentrations of toxic gases or oxygen deficient atmospheres. (See chapter 296-62 WAC, the general occupational health standards and other applicable standards.)
(b) All cab glazing shall be safety glazing material. Windows shall be provided in the front and on both sides of the cab or operator's compartment with visibility forward and to either side. Visibility forward shall include a vertical range adequate to cover the boom point at all times. The front window may have a section which can be readily removed or held open, if desired. If the section is of the type held in the open position, it shall be secured to prevent inadvertent closure. A windshield wiper should be provided on the front window.
(c)(i) Where necessary for rigging or service requirements, a ladder or steps shall be provided to give access to a cab roof.
(ii) On cranes, guardrails, handholds and steps shall be provided for easy access to the car and cab in accordance with chapter 296-155 WAC, Part C-1 and Part J.
(iii) Platforms and walkways shall have anti-skid surfaces.
(d) Fuel tank filler pipe shall be located in such a position, or protected in such manner, as to not allow spill or overflow to run onto the engine, exhaust, or electrical equipment of any machine being fueled.
(i) An accessible fire extinguisher of 5BC rating, or higher, shall be available at all operator stations or cabs of equipment.
| Note: | For additional requirements relating to portable fire extinguishers see WAC 296-800-300. |
(e) Except where electrical distribution and transmission lines have been deenergized and visibly grounded at point of work or where insulating barriers, not a part of or an attachment to the equipment or machinery, have been erected to prevent physical contact with the lines, equipment or machines shall be operated proximate to power lines only in accordance with the following:
(i) For lines rated 50 kV. or below, minimum clearance between the lines and any part of the crane or load shall be 10 feet;
(ii) For lines rated over 50 kV., minimum clearance between the lines and any part of the crane or load shall be 10 feet plus 0.4 inch for each 1 kV. over 50 kV., or twice the length of the line insulator, but never less than 10 feet;
(iii) In transit with no load and boom lowered, the equipment clearance shall be a minimum of 4 feet for voltages less than 50 kV., and 10 feet for voltages over 50 kV. up to and including 345 kV., and 16 feet for voltages up to and including 750 kV;
(iv) A person shall be designated to observe clearance of the equipment and give timely warning to insure that the required separation is maintained for all operations where it is difficult for the operator to maintain the desired clearance by visual means;
(v) Cage-type boom guards, insulating links, or proximity warning devices may be used on cranes, but the use of such devices shall not alter the requirements of any other regulation of this part even if such device is required by law or regulation;
(vi) Any overhead wire shall be considered to be an energized line unless and until the person owning such line or the electrical utility authorities indicate that it is not an energized line and it has been visibly grounded;
(vii) Prior to work near transmitter tower where an electrical charge can be induced in the equipment or materials being handled, the transmitter shall be deenergized or tests shall be made to determine if electrical charge is induced on the crane.
(f) The following precautions shall be taken when necessary to dissipate induced voltage:
(i) The equipment shall be provided with an electrical ground directly to the upper rotating structure supporting the boom; and
(ii) Ground jumper cables shall be attached to materials being handled by boom equipment when electrical charge is induced while working near energized transmitters. Crews shall be provided with nonconductive poles having large alligator clips or other similar protection to attach the ground cable to the load.
(iii) Combustible and flammable materials shall be removed from the immediate area prior to operations.
(g) No modifications or additions which affect the capacity or safe operation of the equipment shall be made by the employer without the manufacturer's or a qualified engineer's written approval. If such modifications or changes are made, the capacity, operation, and maintenance instruction plates, tags, or decals, shall be changed accordingly. In no case shall the original safety factor of the equipment be reduced.
(h) The employer shall comply with Power Crane and Shovel Association, Mobile Hydraulic Crane Standard No. 2.
(i) Sideboom cranes mounted on wheel or crawler tractors shall meet the requirements of SAE J743a-1964.
(4) Crawler, locomotive, and truck cranes.
(a) All jibs shall have positive stops to prevent their movement of more than 5 above the straight line of the jib and boom on conventional type crane booms. The use of cable type belly slings does not constitute compliance with this standard.
(b) All crawler, truck or locomotive cranes in use shall meet the applicable requirements for design, inspection, construction, testing, maintenance and operation as prescribed in the ANSI B30.5-1989, Safety Code for Crawler, Locomotive and Truck Cranes.
(5) Tower cranes.
(a) Tower cranes shall be erected, jumped and dismantled under the immediate supervision of a competent person, designated by the employer.
(b) Tower cranes shall be erected, maintained and used in accordance with the manufacturer's specifications, recommendations and procedures. All modifications shall be approved by the manufacturer and engineered by a professional engineer. The safety factors shall not be reduced by any modifications. The crane plates and charts shall be changed to reflect any modifications made.
(c) A professional engineer shall certify that the crane foundations and underlying soil are adequate support for the tower crane with its maximum overturning movement.
(d) Tower cranes shall be positioned whereby they can swing 360 without either the counterweight or jib striking any building, structure or other object, except:
(i) If the crane can strike an object or another crane, suitable limit switches shall be installed which will prohibit contact with such objects, or;
(ii) Direct voice communications shall be established between any operator of the tower crane(s) involved and a signalperson so stationed where the boom and/or counterweight movement, and the object with which it may contact can be observed so that the operator(s) can be warned of imminent danger.
(iii) A secondary means of positive communications shall be established as a back-up for possible direct voice communication failure.
(iv) Radio communication systems without tone coded squelch are prohibited. Citizens band radios shall not be used as a means of communications for tower cranes.
(e) Prior to installing a climbing tower crane within an existing building or new construction, a structural engineer shall certify that the building is designed to withstand the torque and floor loading created by the crane to be installed.
(f) Tower cranes erected on a new foundation shall be tested in accordance with ANSI B30.3-1990 Chapter 3-1.
(i) The test shall consist of suspending a load of not less than 110% of the rated capacity for 15 minutes. The load shall be suspended from the furthest point of the length of boom (jib) to be used. The results of this test shall be within the manufacturer's recommendations and/or specifications.
(ii) A record of each test shall be made and signed by the person responsible for conducting the test. Such records shall be maintained on the construction site for the duration of the construction work for which it was erected and subsequently made a part of the firm's permanent equipment records. Records shall be made available to authorized representatives of the department, upon request.
(g) A capacity chart shall be furnished by each crane manufacturer which shall include a full and complete range of crane load ratings at all stated operating radii for each allowable speed and each recommended counterweight load.
(i) Such chart shall be posted in the operator's cab or at the remote control stand in use. In lieu of the chart at the remote control stand, a minimum of two weight capacity signs shall be affixed to the jib or boom.
(ii) The chart shall be visible and readable to the operator while at the normal operating position.
(h) Operating controls shall be properly marked to indicate the function of the controls in each position.
(i) An operating and maintenance manual written in the English language shall be provided with each tower crane.
(j) Limit switches shall be installed and shall be kept properly adjusted. They shall be protected or isolated in a manner which will prevent unauthorized tampering. Limit switches shall provide the following functions:
(i) Safely limit the travel of the trolley to prevent it from hitting the outer end of the jib.
(ii) Limit the upward travel of the load block to prevent two-blocking.
(iii) Lower over travel limiting devices shall be provided for all load hoists where the hook area is not visible to the operator.
(iv) Limit the load being lifted in a manner whereby no more than 110% of the maximum rated load can be lifted or moved.
(k) The crane shall not be used to pull vehicles of any type, remove piling, loosen form work, pull away loads which are attached to the ground or walls, or for any operation other than the proper handling of freely suspended loads.
(l) When the operator may be exposed to the hazard of falling objects, the tower crane cab and/or remote control station shall have adequate overhead protection.
(m) The operator shall be protected from the weather. If enclosed cabs are provided they shall provide clear visibility in all directions and glass shall be approved safety glass or the equivalent.
(n) An approved and safe means shall be provided for access to operator's cab and machinery platform.
(o) When necessary for inspection or maintenance purposes, ladders, walkways with railing or other devices shall be provided.
(p) Each tower crane shall be provided with a slewing brake capable of preventing the jib or boom from rotating in either direction and stopping the rotation of the jib or boom while loaded, when desired. Such brake shall have a holding device which, when set, will hold the jib or boom in a fixed location without additional attention of the operator. When the crane is out of operation, the jib or boom shall be pointed downwind and the slewing brake shall be released so as to permit the jib or boom to weathervane, providing the jib or boom has a clear 360 degree rotation. Where a 360 degree rotation is not provided, the jib or boom shall be pointed downwind from the prevailing wind and the slewing brake set.
(q) Each tower crane shall be provided with a braking system on the trolley capable of stopping and holding the trolley in any desired position while carrying a maximum load. This brake shall be capable of being locked in a fixed location without additional attention of the operator. An automatic brake or device shall be installed which will immediately stop and lock the trolley in position in the event of a breakage of the trolley rope.
(r) All electrical equipment shall be properly grounded and protection shall be provided against lightning.
(s) When the operator is actually operating the crane, the operator shall remain in a stationary position.
(t) All crane brakes shall automatically set in event of power failure. Swing brakes shall also function in this manner or be capable of being set manually.
(u) Climbing jack systems used for raising a tower crane shall be equipped with over-pressure relief valves, direct-reading pressure gauges, and pilot-operated hydraulic check valves installed in a manner which will prevent jack from retracting should a hydraulic line or fitting rupture or fail.
(v) During periods of high winds or weather affecting visibility, i.e., fog, etc., only loads shall be handled that are consistent with good safety practices. Good safety practices shall be mutually agreed upon by the operator and the person in charge of the construction job, with due consideration given to manufacturer's specifications and recommendations.
(w) Counterweights shall be securely fastened in place and shall not exceed the weight as recommended by the manufacturer for the length of jib being used. However, an amount of counterweight as recommended by the manufacturer shall be used.
(x) Tower cranes shall be inspected and maintained in accordance with the manufacturer's recommendations or more frequently if there is reason to suspect a possible defect or weakening of any portion of the structure or equipment.
(y) Guy wires, wedges, braces or other supports shall be inspected at the beginning and at midpoint of each working shift to ascertain that they are functioning as intended.
(6) Additional tower crane requirements.
(a) An approved method shall be instituted for transmitting signals to the operator. Standard hand signals for crane operations shall be used, whenever possible; however, if conditions are such that hand signals are ineffective, radio-controlled or electric-whistle signal or two-way voice communication shall be used. (See WAC 296-155-525 (4)(d).)
(b) Tower cranes shall not be erected or raised when the wind velocity at the worksite exceeds 20 m.p.h. or that specified by the manufacturer.
(c) Tower crane operators shall be trained and experienced in tower crane operations; however, for gaining experience, persons may operate the tower crane if under the immediate supervision of an experienced operator.
(d) Adequate clearance shall be maintained between moving and rotating structures of the crane and fixed objects to allow the passage of employees without harm.
(e) Employees required to perform duties on the horizontal boom of hammerhead tower cranes shall be protected against falling by guardrails or by a full body harness and lanyards attached to crane or to lifelines in conformance with Part C-1 of this chapter.
(f) Buffers shall be provided at both ends of travel of the trolley.
(g) Cranes mounted on rail tracks shall be equipped with limit switches limiting the travel of the crane on the track and stops or buffers at each end of the tracks.
(h) All hammerhead tower cranes in use shall meet the applicable requirements for design, construction, installation, testing, maintenance, inspection, and operation as prescribed by the manufacturer.
(i) Access ladders inside the telescoping sections of tower cranes are exempt from those sections of the safety standards pertaining to cleat length and cleat spacing, but shall conform to manufacturer's recommendations and specifications.
(7) Overhead and gantry cranes.
(a) The rated load of the crane shall be plainly marked on each side of the crane, and if the crane has more than one hoisting unit, each hoist shall have its rated load marked on it or its load block, and this marking shall be clearly legible from the ground or floor.
(b) Bridge trucks shall be equipped with sweeps which extend below the top of the rail and project in front of the truck wheels.
(c) Except for floor-operated cranes, a gong or other effective audible warning signal shall be provided for each crane equipped with a power traveling mechanism.
(d) All overhead and gantry cranes in use shall meet the applicable requirements for design, construction, installation, testing, maintenance, inspection, and operation as prescribed in ANSI B30.2.0-1990, Safety Code for Overhead and Gantry Cranes.
(8) Derricks. All derricks in use shall meet the applicable requirements for design, construction, installation, inspection, testing, maintenance, and operation as prescribed in American National Standard Institute B30.6-1990, Safety Code for Derricks.
(9) Floating cranes and derricks.
(a) Mobile cranes mounted on barges.
(i) When a mobile crane is mounted on a barge, the rated load of the crane shall not exceed the original capacity specified by the manufacturer.
(ii) A load rating chart, with clearly legible letters and figures, shall be provided with each crane, and securely fixed at a location easily visible to the operator.
(iii) When load ratings are reduced to stay within the limits for list of the barge with a crane mounted on it, a new load rating chart shall be provided.
(iv) Mobile cranes on barges shall be positively secured.
(b) Permanently mounted floating cranes and derricks.
(i) When cranes and derricks are permanently installed on a barge, the capacity and limitations of use shall be based on competent design criteria.
(ii) A load rating chart with clearly legible letters and figures shall be provided and securely fixed at a location easily visible to the operator.
(iii) Floating cranes and floating derricks in use shall meet the applicable requirements for design, construction, installation, testing, maintenance, and operation as prescribed by the manufacturer.
(c) Protection of employees working on barges. The employer shall comply with the applicable requirements for protection of employees as specified in WAC 296-155-630.
(10) Mobile cranes and excavation machines.
(a) In all power driven shovel operations the person in charge shall issue instructions necessary to prevent accidents, to detect and correct unsafe acts and dangerous conditions, and to enforce all safety rules and regulations.
The person in charge shall also issue instructions on the proper method of using tools and handling material.
(b) Where the ground is soft or uneven, timbering and planking shall be used to provide firm foundation and distribute the load.
(c) In case of a breakdown, the shovel shall be moved away from the foot of the slope before repairs are made.
(d) All persons shall keep away from the range of the shovel's swing and shall not be permitted to stand back of the shovel or in line with the swing of the dipper during operation or moving of shovel.
(e) Unauthorized persons shall not be allowed on the shovel during operations, and the operator shall not converse with other persons while operating machine.
(f) The shovel dipper shall rest on the ground or on blocking during shut down periods.
(g) Shovels shall be inspected daily and all defects promptly repaired.
(h) All rubber tired mobile cranes shall be equipped with outriggers and sufficient blocking to properly stabilize crane while operating.
(i) Rubber tired mobile cranes shall be equipped with rear view mirrors.
(j) Positive boom stops shall be provided on all mobile cranes of the wheel and crawler type.
(k) Length of a crane boom and amount of counterweight shall not exceed manufacturer's rated capacity for equipment involved; except on isolated cases where permission is granted by the department.
(l) On all cranes where wedge beckets are used as terminal connections, the proper size wedge shall be used.
(m) On all mobile cranes, the hoist and boom drums shall be provided with a positive operated pawl or dog which shall be used in addition to the brake to hold the load and boom when they are suspended. Counterweight operated dogs are prohibited.
(n) Oiling and greasing shall be done under safe conditions with machine at rest, except when motion of machine is necessary.
(o) All steps, running boards, and boom ladder shall be of substantial construction and in good repair at all times.
(p) Operators shall not leave the cab while master clutch is engaged.
(q) Fire extinguishers shall be readily accessible and within reach of operator at all times.
(r) All shovel and crane cabs shall be kept clean and free of excess oil and grease on floor and machinery. Oily and greasy rags shall be disposed of immediately after use and not allowed to accumulate.
(s) Tools shall not be left on the cab floor. Spare cans of oil or fuel, and spare parts, shall not be stored in cabs, except in approved racks provided for that purpose.
(t) Mats or planking shall be used in moving shovels or cranes over soft or uneven ground.
(u) Cranes or shovels setting on steep grades shall be securely blocked or secured with a tail hold.
(v) Smoking shall be prohibited while fueling or oiling machines.
(w) Gasoline powered motors shall be stopped during refueling.
(x) Handling of movable feed line (bologna) shall be accomplished with insulated hooks and lineman's rubber gloves.
(y) Where cables cross roads they shall be elevated or placed in a trench.
(z) On all power shovels, including back-hoe types, of one-half cubic yard capacity or over, and on all dragline cranes or all-purpose cranes of the crawler or wheel type, two persons shall constitute the minimum working crew. It is mandatory that one be a qualified operator of the equipment in use. The job title of the other crew member may be oiler, rigger, signal person, or a laborer. The primary purpose of the second crew member is to signal the operator when the operator's vision is impaired or obscured and to be on-hand in case of emergency.
(i) Second-crew persons shall be properly trained in their second-person required skills.
(ii) The second crew member shall be close enough to the machine in operation to be aware of any emergency, if one arises, and to assure the machine is operated with necessary and appropriate signals to the operator.
[Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.040, [49.17].050 and [49.17].060. 95-17-036, 296-155-525, filed 8/9/95, effective 9/25/95. Statutory Authority: Chapter 49.17 RCW. 91-03-044 (Order 90-18), 296-155-525, filed 1/10/91, effective 2/12/91; Order 76-29, 296-155-525, filed 9/30/76; Order 74-26, 296-155-525, filed 5/7/74, effective 6/6/74.]
(2) Briefing. Prior to each day's operation a briefing shall be conducted. This briefing shall set forth the plan of operation for the pilot and ground personnel.
(3) Slings and tag lines. Load shall be properly slung. Tag lines shall be of a length that will not permit their being drawn up into rotors. Pressed sleeve, swedged eyes, or equivalent means shall be used for all freely suspended loads to prevent hand splices from spinning open or cable clamps from loosening.
(4) Cargo hooks. All electrically operated cargo hooks shall have the electrical activating device so designed and installed as to prevent inadvertent operation. In addition, these cargo hooks shall be equipped with an emergency mechanical control for releasing the load. The hooks shall be tested prior to each day's operation to determine that the release functions properly, both electrically and mechanically.
(5) Personal protective equipment.
(a) Personal protective equipment for employees receiving the load shall consist of complete eye protection and hard hats secured by chinstraps.
(b) Loose-fitting clothing likely to flap in the downwash, and thus be snagged on hoist line, shall not be worn.
(6) Loose gear and objects. Every practical precaution shall be taken to provide for the protection of the employees from flying objects in the rotor downwash. All loose gear within 100 feet of the place of lifting the load, depositing the load, and all other areas susceptible to rotor downwash shall be secured or removed.
(7) Housekeeping. Good housekeeping shall be maintained in all helicopter loading and unloading areas.
(8) Operator responsibility. The helicopter operator shall be responsible for size, weight, and manner in which loads are connected to the helicopter. If, for any reason, the helicopter operator believes the lift cannot be made safely, the lift shall not be made.
(9) Hooking and unhooking loads. Employees shall not perform work under hovering craft except for that limited period of time necessary to guide, secure and unhook loads, or to hook loads. Regardless of whether the hooking or unhooking of a load takes place on the ground or a flat roof, or other location in an elevated work position in structural members, a safe means of access and egress, to include an unprogramed emergency escape route or routes, shall be provided for the employees who are hooking or unhooking loads.
(10) Static charge. Static charge on the suspended load shall be dissipated with a grounding device before ground personnel touch the suspended load, or protective rubber gloves shall be worn by all ground personnel touching the suspended load.
(11) Weight limitation. The weight of an external load shall not exceed the manufacturer's rating.
(12) Ground lines. Hoist wires or other gear, except for pulling lines or conductors that are allowed to "pay out" from a container or roll off a reel, shall not be attached to any fixed ground structure, or allowed to foul on any fixed structure.
(13) Visibility. When visibility is reduced by dust or other conditions, ground personnel shall exercise special caution to keep clear of main and stabilizing rotors. Precautions shall also be taken by the employer to eliminate as far as practical reduced visibility.
(14) Signal systems. Signal systems between aircrew and ground personnel shall be understood and checked in advance of hoisting the load. This applies to either radio or hand signal systems. Hand signals shall be as shown in Figure L-1.
(15) Approach distance. No unauthorized person shall be allowed to approach within 50 feet of the helicopter when the rotor blades are turning.
(16) Approaching helicopter. Whenever approaching or leaving a helicopter with blades rotating, all employees shall remain in full view of the pilot and keep in a crouched position. Employees shall avoid the area from the cockpit or cabin rearward unless authorized by the helicopter operator to work there.
(17) Personnel. Sufficient ground personnel shall be provided when required for safe helicopter loading and unloading operations.
(18) Communications. There shall be constant reliable communication between the pilot, and a designated employee of the ground crew who acts as a signalperson during the period of loading and unloading. This signalperson shall be distinctly recognizable from other ground personnel.
(19) Fires. Open fires shall not be permitted in an area that could result in such fires being spread by the rotor downwash.
(20) Refueling operations.
(a) Under no circumstances shall the refueling of any type helicopter with either aviation gasoline or Jet B (turbine-kerosene) type fuel be permitted while the engines are running.
(b) No unauthorized persons shall be allowed within fifty feet of the refueling operation or fueling equipment.
(c) A minimum of one thirty-pound fire extinguisher, or a combination of same, good for Class A, B and C fires, shall be provided within one hundred feet on the upwind side of the refueling operation.
| Note: | For additional requirements relating to portable fire extinguishers see WAC 296-800-300. |
(e) There shall be no smoking, open flames, exposed flame heaters, flare pots or open flame lights for spark producing agents within fifty feet of the refueling area or fueling equipment. All entrances to the refueling area shall be posted with "NO SMOKING" signs.
(f) Due to the numerous causes of static electricity, it should be considered present at all times. Prior to starting refueling operations, the fueling equipment and the helicopter shall be grounded and the fueling nozzle shall be electrically bonded to the helicopter.
(i) Conductive hose shall not be used to accomplish the bonding.
(ii) All grounding and bonding connections shall be electrically and mechanically firm, to clean unpainted metal parts.
(g) To control spills:
(i) Fuel shall be pumped either by hand or power.
(ii) Pouring or gravity flow shall not be permitted.
(iii) Selfclosing nozzles shall not be dragged on the ground.
(h) In case of a spill, the fueling operation shall be immediately stopped until such time as the person in charge determines that it is safe to resume the refueling operation.
(i) When ambient temperatures have been in the one hundred degree F range for an extended period of time, all refueling of helicopters with the engines running shall be suspended until such time as conditions become suitable to resume refueling with the engines running.
(21) Hook on persons shall wear contrasting colored hard hats, with chinstraps, and high visibility vests or outer garments to enable the helicopter operator to readily identify their locations.
(22) Riding the load or hook of a helicopter is prohibited except in the case of emergency and then only with the proper safety gear.
[Statutory Authority: Chapter 49.17 RCW. 94-15-096 (Order 94-07), 296-155-575, filed 7/20/94, effective 9/20/94. Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.040 and 49.17.050. 86-03-074 (Order 86-14), 296-155-575, filed 1/21/86; Order 76-28, 296-155-575, filed 9/28/76; Order 74-26, 296-155-575, filed 5/7/74, effective 6/6/74.]
(a) This section applies to the construction of underground tunnels, shafts, chambers, and passageways. This section also applies to cut-and-cover excavations which are both physically connected to ongoing underground construction operations within the scope of this section, and covered in such a manner as to create conditions characteristic of underground construction.
(b) This section does not apply to excavation and trenching operations covered by Part N of this chapter, such as foundation operations for above-ground structures that are not physically connected to underground construction operations, and surface excavation.
(c) The employer shall comply with the requirements of this part and chapter in addition to applicable requirements of chapter 296-36 WAC, Safety standards -- Compressed air work.
(2) Access and egress.
(a) Each operation shall have a check-in/check-out system that will provide positive identification of every employee underground. An accurate record of identification and location of the employees shall be kept on the surface. This procedure is not required when the construction of underground facilities designed for human occupancy has been sufficiently completed so that the permanent environmental controls are effective, and when the remaining construction activity will not cause any environmental hazard, or structural failure within the facilities.
(b) The employer shall provide and maintain safe means of access and egress to all work stations.
(c) The employer shall provide access and egress in such a manner that employees are protected from being struck by excavators, haulage machines, trains, and other mobile equipment.
(d) The employer shall control access to all openings to prevent unauthorized entry underground. Unused chutes, manways, or other openings shall be tightly covered, bulkheaded, or fenced off, and shall be posted with warning signs indicating "keep out" or similar language. Completed or unused sections of the underground facility shall be barricaded.
(3) Safety instruction. All employees shall be instructed in the recognition and avoidance of hazards associated with underground construction activities including, where appropriate, the following subjects:
(a) Air monitoring;
(b) Ventilation;
(c) Confined space entry procedures;
(d) Permit-required confined space entry procedures;
(e) Illumination;
(f) Communications;
(g) Flood control;
(h) Mechanical equipment;
(i) Personal protective equipment;
(j) Explosives;
(k) Fire prevention and protection; and
(l) Emergency procedures, including evacuation plans and check-in/check-out systems.
(4) Notification.
(a) Oncoming shifts shall be informed of any hazardous occurrences or conditions that have affected, or might affect employee safety, including liberation of gas, equipment failures, earth or rock slides, cave-ins, floodings, fire(s), or explosions.
(b) Information specified in (a) of this subsection shall be recorded in a shift journal which shall be current prior to the end of each shift, and shall be located aboveground.
(c) Oncoming supervisory personnel shall read the notification prior to going underground, and shall signify their understanding of the contents by affixing their respective initials to the log.
(d) The hazard notification log shall be retained on the site until the completion of the project.
(e) The employer shall establish and maintain direct communications for coordination of activities with other employers whose operations at the jobsite affect or may affect the safety of employees underground.
(5) Communications.
(a) When natural unassisted voice communication is ineffective, a power-assisted means of voice communication shall be used to provide communication between the work face, the bottom of the shaft, and the surface.
(b) Two effective means of communication, at least one of which shall be voice communication, shall be provided in all shafts which are being developed or used either for personnel access or for hoisting. Additional requirements for hoist operator communication are contained in subsection (22)(c)(xv) of this section.
(c) Powered communication systems shall operate on an independent power supply, and shall be installed so that the use of or disruption of any one phone or signal location will not disrupt the operation of the system from any other location.
(d) Communication systems shall be tested upon initial entry of each shift to the underground, and as often as necessary at later times, to ensure that they are in working order.
(e) Any employee working alone underground in a hazardous location, who is both out of the range of natural unassisted voice communication and not under observation by other persons, shall be provided with an effective means of obtaining assistance in an emergency.
(6) Emergency provisions. Hoisting capability. When a shaft is used as a means of egress, the employer shall make advance arrangements for power-assisted hoisting capability to be readily available in an emergency, unless the regular hoisting means can continue to function in the event of an electrical power failure at the jobsite. Such hoisting means shall be designed so that the load hoist drum is powered in both directions of rotation and so that the brake is automatically applied upon power release or failure.
(7) Self-rescuers. The employer must provide self-rescuers certified by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health under 42 CFR part 84. The respirators must be immediately available to all employees at work stations in underground areas where employees might be trapped by smoke or gas. The selection, issuance, use, and care of respirators must be in accordance with the requirements of chapter 296-62 WAC, Part E.
(8) Designated person. At least one designated person shall be on duty aboveground whenever any employee is working underground. This designated person shall be responsible for securing immediate aid and keeping an accurate record of the number, identification, and location of employees who are underground in case of emergency. The designated person must not be so busy with other responsibilities that the personnel counting and identification function is encumbered.
(9) Emergency lighting. Each employee underground shall have an acceptable portable hand lamp or cap lamp in his or her work area for emergency use, unless natural light or an emergency lighting system provides adequate illumination for escape.
(10) Rescue teams.
(a) On jobsites where 25 or more employees work underground at one time, the employer shall provide (or make arrangements in advance with locally available rescue services to provide) at least two 5-person rescue teams, one on the jobsite or within one-half hour travel time from the entry point, and the other within 2 hours travel time.
(b) On jobsites where less than 25 employees work underground at one time, the employer shall provide (or make arrangements in advance with locally available rescue services to provide) at least one 5-person rescue team to be either on the jobsite or within one-half hour travel time from the entry point.
(c) Rescue team members shall be qualified in rescue procedures, the use and limitations of breathing apparatus, and the use of fire fighting equipment. Qualifications shall be reviewed not less than annually.
(d) On jobsites where flammable or noxious gases are encountered or anticipated in hazardous quantities, rescue team members shall practice donning and using pressure demand mode, self-contained breathing apparatuses monthly.
(e) The employer shall ensure that rescue teams are familiar with conditions at the jobsite.
(11) Hazardous classifications.
(a) Potentially gassy operations. Underground construction operations shall be classified as potentially gassy if either:
(i) Air monitoring discloses 10 percent or more of the lower explosive limit for methane or other flammable gases measured at 12 inches (304.8 mm)+/-0.25 inch (6.35 mm) from the roof, face, floor, or walls in any underground work area for more than a 24-hour period; or
(ii) The history of the geographical area or geological formation indicates that 10 percent or more of the lower explosive limit for methane or other flammable gases is likely to be encountered in such underground operations.
(b) Gassy operations. Underground construction operations shall be classified as gassy if:
(i) Air monitoring discloses 10 percent or more of the lower explosive limit for methane or other flammable gases measured at 12 inches (304.8 mm)+/-0.25 inch (6.35 mm) from the roof, face, floor, or walls in any underground work area for three consecutive days; or
(ii) There has been an ignition of methane or of other flammable gases emanating from the strata that indicates the presence of such gases; or
(iii) The underground construction operation is both connected to an underground work area which is currently classified as gassy and is also subject to a continuous course of air containing the flammable gas concentration.
(c) Declassification to potentially gassy operations. Underground construction gassy operations may be declassified to potentially gassy when air monitoring results remain under 10 percent of the lower explosive limit for methane or other flammable gases for three consecutive days.
(12) Gassy operations -- Additional requirements. Only acceptable equipment, maintained in suitable condition, shall be used in gassy operations.
(a) Mobile diesel-powered equipment used in gassy operations shall be either approved in accordance with the requirements of 30 CFR Part 36 (formerly Schedule 31) by MSHA, or shall be demonstrated by the employer to be fully equivalent to such MSHA-approved equipment, and shall be operated in accordance with that part.
(b) Each entrance to a gassy operation shall be prominently posted with signs notifying all entrants of the gassy classification.
(c) Smoking shall be prohibited in all gassy operations and the employer shall be responsible for collecting all personal sources of ignition, such as matches and lighters, from all persons entering a gassy operation.
(d) A fire watch as described in chapter 296-155 WAC, Part H, shall be maintained when hot work is performed.
(e) Once an operation has met the criteria in subsection (11)(a)(i) of this section, warranting classification as gassy, all operations in the affected area, except the following, shall be discontinued until the operation either is in compliance with all of the gassy operation requirements or has been declassified in accordance with (c) of this subsection:
(i) Operations related to the control of the gas concentration;
(ii) Installation of new equipment, or conversion of existing equipment, to comply with this subsection; and
(iii) Installation of above-ground controls for reversing the air flow.
(13) Air quality and monitoring.
(a) General. Air quality limits and control requirements specified in chapter 296-62 WAC, Part H, shall apply except as modified by this subsection.
(b) The employer shall assign a competent person who shall perform all air monitoring required by this section.
(c) Where this section requires monitoring of airborne contaminants "as often as necessary," the competent person shall make a reasonable determination as to which substances to monitor and how frequently to monitor, considering at least the following factors:
(i) Location of jobsite: Proximity to fuel tanks, sewers, gas lines, old landfills, coal deposits, and swamps;
(ii) Geology: Geological studies of the jobsite, particularly involving the soil type and its permeability;
(iii) History: Presence of air contaminants in nearby jobsites, changes in levels of substances monitored on the prior shift; and
(iv) Work practices and jobsite conditions: The use of diesel engines, use of explosives, use of fuel gas, volume and flow of ventilation, visible atmospheric conditions, decompression of the atmosphere, welding, cutting and hot work, and employees' physical reactions to working underground.
(d) The employer shall provide testing and monitoring instruments which are capable of achieving compliance with the provisions of this subsection, and:
(i) Shall maintain the testing and monitoring instruments in good condition;
(ii) Shall calibrate the instruments on a frequency not to exceed 6 months.
(e) Exposure to airborne contaminants shall not exceed the levels established by chapter 296-62 WAC, Part H.
(f) Respirators shall not be substituted for environmental control measures. However, where environmental controls have not yet been developed, or when necessary by the nature of the work involved (for example, welding, sand blasting, lead burning), an employee may work for short periods of time in concentrations of airborne contaminants which exceed the limit of permissible exposure referred to in (d) of this subsection, if the employee wears a respiratory protective device certified by MSHA-NIOSH for protection against the particular hazards involved, and the selection and use of respirators complies with the provisions of chapter 296-62 WAC, Part E.
(g) Employees shall be withdrawn from areas in which there is a concentration of an airborne contaminant which exceeds the permissible exposure limit listed for that contaminant, except as modified in (t)(i) and (ii) of this subsection.
(h) The atmosphere in all underground work areas shall be tested as often as necessary to assure that the atmosphere at normal atmospheric pressure contains at least 19.5 percent oxygen and no more than 22 percent oxygen.
(i) Tests for oxygen content shall be made before tests for air contaminants.
(j) Field-type oxygen analyzers, or other suitable devices, shall be used to test for oxygen deficiency.
(k) The atmosphere in all underground work areas shall be tested quantitatively for carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, hydrogen sulfide, and other toxic gases, dust, vapors, mists, and fumes as often as necessary to ensure that the permissible exposure limits prescribed in chapter 296-62 WAC, Part H, are not exceeded.
(l) The atmosphere in all underground work areas shall be tested quantitatively for methane and other flammable gases as often as necessary to determine:
(i) Whether action is to be taken under (q), (r), and (s) of this subsection; and
(ii) Whether an operation is to be classified potentially gassy or gassy under subsection (11) of this section.
(m) If diesel-engine or gasoline-engine driven ventilating fans or compressors are used, an initial test shall be made of the inlet air of the fan or compressor, with the engines operating, to ensure that the air supply is not contaminated by engine exhaust.
(n) Testing shall be performed as often as necessary to ensure that the ventilation requirements of subsection (15) of this section are met.
(o) When rapid excavation machines are used, a continuous flammable gas monitor shall be operated at the face with the sensor(s) placed as high and close to the front of the machine's cutter head as practicable.
(p) Whenever air monitoring indicates the presence of 5 ppm or more of hydrogen sulfide, a test shall be conducted in the affected underground work area(s), at least at the beginning and midpoint of each shift, until the concentration of hydrogen sulfide has been less than 5 ppm for 3 consecutive days.
(i) Whenever hydrogen sulfide is detected in an amount exceeding 10 ppm, a continuous sampling and indicating hydrogen sulfide monitor shall be used to monitor the affected work area.
(ii) Employees shall be informed when a concentration of 10 ppm hydrogen sulfide is exceeded.
(iii) The continuous sampling and indicating hydrogen sulfide monitor shall be designed, installed, and maintained to provide a visual and aural alarm when the hydrogen sulfide concentration reaches 15 ppm to signal that additional measures, such as respirator use, increased ventilation, or evacuation, might be necessary to maintain hydrogen sulfide exposure below the permissible exposure limit.
(q) When the competent person determines, on the basis of air monitoring results or other information, that air contaminants may be present in sufficient quantity to be dangerous to life, the employer shall:
(i) Prominently post a notice at all entrances to the underground jobsite to inform all entrants of the hazardous condition; and
(ii) Immediately increase sampling frequency levels to insure workers are not exposed to identified contaminants in excess of the permissible exposure limit(s); and
(iii) Ensure that all necessary precautions are taken to comply with pertinent requirements of this section, and chapter 296-62 WAC.
(r) Whenever five percent or more of the lower explosive limit for methane or other flammable gases is detected in any underground work area(s) or in the air return, steps shall be taken to increase ventilation air volume or otherwise control the gas concentration, unless the employer is operating in accordance with the potentially gassy or gassy operation requirements. Such additional ventilation controls may be discontinued when gas concentrations are reduced below five percent of the lower explosive limit, but shall be reinstituted whenever the five percent level is exceeded.
(s) Whenever 10 percent or more of the lower explosive limit for methane or other flammable gases is detected in the vicinity of welding, cutting, or other hot work, such work shall be suspended until the concentration of such flammable gas is reduced to less than 10 percent of the lower explosive limit.
(t) Whenever 20 percent or more of the lower explosive limit for methane or other flammable gases is detected in any underground work area(s) or in the air return:
(i) All employees, except those necessary to eliminate the hazard, shall be immediately withdrawn to a safe location above ground; and
(ii) Employees who remain underground to correct or eliminate the hazard described in (t) above shall be equipped with approved, pressure demand mode, self-contained breathing apparatus, and shall have received adequate training in the proper use of that equipment.
(iii) Electrical power, except for acceptable pumping and ventilation equipment, shall be cut off to the area endangered by the flammable gas until the concentration of such gas is reduced to less than 20 percent of the lower explosive limit.
(14) Additional monitoring for potentially gassy and gassy operations. Operations which meet the criteria for potentially gassy and gassy operations set forth in subsection (13) of this section shall be subject to the additional monitoring requirements of this subsection.
(a) A test for oxygen content shall be conducted in the affected underground work areas and work areas immediately adjacent to such areas at least at the beginning and midpoint of each shift.
(b) When using rapid excavation machines, continuous automatic flammable gas monitoring equipment shall be used to monitor the air at the heading, on the rib, and in the return air duct. The continuous monitor shall signal the heading, and shut down electric power in the affected underground work area, except for acceptable pumping and ventilation equipment, when 20 percent or more of the lower explosive limit for methane or other flammable gases is encountered.
(i) A manual flammable gas monitor shall be used as needed, but at least at the beginning and midpoint of each shift, to ensure that the limits prescribed in subsections (11) and (13) of this section are not exceeded. In addition, a manual electrical shut down control shall be provided near the heading.
(ii) Local gas tests shall be made prior to and continuously during any welding, cutting, or other hot work.
(iii) In underground operations driven by drill-and-blast methods, the air in the affected area shall be tested for flammable gas prior to re-entry after blasting, and continuously when employees are working underground.
(c) Recordkeeping. A record of all air quality tests shall be maintained above ground at the worksite and be made available to the director or his/her representatives upon request. The record shall include the location, date, time, substance and amount monitored. Records of exposures to toxic substances shall be retained in accordance with Part B, chapter 296-62 WAC. All other air quality test records shall be retained until completion of the project.
(15) Ventilation.
(a)(i) Fresh air shall be supplied to all underground work areas in sufficient quantities to prevent dangerous or harmful accumulation of dust, fumes, mists, vapors, or gases.
(ii) Mechanical ventilation shall be provided in all underground work areas except when the employer can demonstrate that natural ventilation provides the necessary air quality through sufficient air volume and air flow.
(b) A minimum of 200 cubic feet (5.7 m3) of fresh air per minute shall be supplied for each employee underground.
(c) The linear velocity of air flow in the tunnel bore, in shafts, and in all other underground work areas shall be at least 30 feet (9.15 m) per minute where blasting or rock drilling is conducted, or where other conditions likely to produce dust, fumes, mists, vapors, or gases in harmful or explosive quantities are present.
(d) The direction of mechanical air flow shall be reversible.
(e) Air that has passed through underground oil or fuel-storage areas shall not be used to ventilate working areas.
(f) Following blasting, ventilation systems shall exhaust smoke and fumes to the outside atmosphere before work is resumed in affected areas.
(g) Ventilation doors shall be designed and installed so that they remain closed when in use, regardless of the direction of the air flow.
(h) When ventilation has been reduced to the extent that hazardous levels of methane or flammable gas may have accumulated, a competent person shall test all affected areas after ventilation has been restored and shall determine whether the atmosphere is within flammable limits before any power, other than for acceptable equipment, is restored or work is resumed.
(i) Whenever the ventilation system has been shut down with all employees out of the underground area, only competent persons authorized to test for air contaminants shall be allowed underground until the ventilation has been restored and all affected areas have been tested for air contaminants and declared safe.
(j) When drilling rock or concrete, appropriate dust control measures shall be taken to maintain dust levels within limits set in chapter 296-155 WAC, Part B-1. Such measures may include, but are not limited to, wet drilling, the use of vacuum collectors, and water mix spray systems.
(k)(i) Internal combustion engines, except diesel-powered engines on mobile equipment, are prohibited underground.
(ii) Mobile diesel-powered equipment used underground in atmospheres other than gassy operations shall be either approved by MSHA in accordance with the provisions of 30 CFR Part 32 (formerly Schedule 24), or shall be demonstrated by the employer to be fully equivalent to such MSHA-approved equipment, and shall be operated in accordance with that Part. (Each brake horsepower of a diesel engine requires at least 100 cubic feet (28.32 m3) of air per minute for suitable operation in addition to the air requirements for personnel. Some engines may require a greater amount of air to ensure that the allowable levels of carbon monoxide, nitric oxide, and nitrogen dioxide are not exceeded.)
(iii) Application shall be made to the mining/explosives section, department of labor and industries, for permission to use specified diesel equipment in a specified underground area and shall include the following:
(A) The type of construction and complete identification data and specifications including analysis of the undiluted exhaust gases of the diesel equipment.
(B) The location where the diesel equipment is to be used.
(C) Before the diesel equipment is taken underground, written permission shall be obtained from the department of labor and industries or its duly authorized representative. A satisfactory test on surface, to show that the exhaust gases do not exceed the maximum percentage of carbon monoxide permitted, shall be required.
(D) Diesel equipment shall only be used underground where the ventilation is controlled by mechanical means and shall not be operated if the ventilating current is less than 100 CFM per horsepower based on the maximum brake horsepower of the engines.
(E) Air measurements shall be made at least once daily in the diesel engine working area and the measurements entered in the Underground Diesel Engine Record Book. Permissible maximum amounts of noxious gases are as follows:
| At engine exhaust ports | Carbon Monoxide | .10% | 1,000 ppm3 |
| Next to equipment | Carbon Monoxide | .0035% | 35 ppm |
| General atmosphere | Carbon Monoxide | .0035% | 35 ppm |
| General atmosphere | Nitrogen Dioxide | .0001% | 1 ppm |
| General atmosphere | Aldehydes | .0002% | 2 ppm |
| 3 | Parts of vapor or gas per million parts of contaminated air by volume at 25C and 760 mm Hg. pressure. |
(i) Be constructed of fire-resistant materials; and
(ii) Have acceptable electrical systems, including fan motors.
(m) Gassy operations shall be provided with controls located aboveground for reversing the air flow of ventilation systems.
(n) In potentially gassy or gassy operations, wherever mine-type ventilation systems using an offset main fan installed on the surface are used, they shall be equipped with explosion-doors or a weak-wall having an area at least equivalent to the cross-sectional area of the airway.
(16) Illumination.
(a) Sufficient lighting shall be provided, in accordance with the requirements of chapter 296-155 WAC, Part B-1, to permit safe operations at the face as well as in the general tunnel or shaft area and at the employees' workplace.
(b) Only acceptable portable lighting shall be used within 50 feet (15.24 m) of any underground heading during explosive handling.
(17) Fire prevention and control. Fire prevention and protection requirements applicable to underground construction operations are found in Part D of this chapter except as modified by the following additional standards.
(a) Open flames and fires are prohibited in all underground construction operations except as permitted for welding, cutting, and other hot work operations.
(i) Smoking may be allowed only in areas free of fire and explosion hazards.
(ii) Readily visible signs prohibiting smoking and open flames shall be posted in areas having fire or explosion hazards.
(iii) The carrying of matches, lighters, or other flame-producing smoking materials shall be prohibited in all underground operations where fire or explosion hazards exist.
(b) The employer may store underground no more than a 24-hour supply of diesel fuel for the underground equipment used at the worksite.
(c) The piping of diesel fuel from the surface to an underground location is permitted only if:
(i) Diesel fuel is contained at the surface in a tank whose maximum capacity is no more than the amount of fuel required to supply for a 24-hour period the equipment serviced by the underground fueling station; and
(ii) The surface tank is connected to the underground fueling station by an acceptable pipe or hose system that is controlled at the surface by a valve, and at the shaft bottom by a hose nozzle; and
(iii) The pipe is empty at all times except when transferring diesel fuel from the surface tank to a piece of equipment in use underground; and
(iv) Hoisting operations in the shaft are suspended during refueling operations if the supply piping in the shaft is not protected from damage.
(d)(i) Gasoline shall not be carried, stored, or used underground.
(ii) Acetylene, liquefied petroleum gas, and methylacetylene propadiene stabilized gas may be used underground only for welding, cutting and other hot work, and only in accordance with Part H of this chapter and subsections (13), (15), (17), and (18) of this section.
(e) Oil, grease, and diesel fuel stored underground shall be kept in tightly sealed containers in fire-resistant areas at least 300 feet (91.44 m) from underground explosive magazines, and at least 100 feet (30.48 m) from shaft stations and steeply inclined passageways. Storage areas shall be positioned or diked so that the contents of ruptured or overturned containers will not flow from the storage area.
(f) Flammable or combustible materials shall not be stored above ground within 100 feet (30.48 m) of any access opening to any underground operation. Where this is not feasible because of space limitations at the jobsite, such materials may be located within the 100-foot limit, provided that:
(i) They are located as far as practicable from the opening; and
(ii) Either a fire-resistant barrier of not less than one-hour rating is placed between the stored material and the opening, or additional precautions are taken which will protect the materials from ignition sources.
(g) Fire-resistant hydraulic fluids shall be used in hydraulically-actuated underground machinery and equipment unless such equipment is protected by a fire suppression system or by multipurpose fire extinguisher(s) rated at a sufficient capacity for the type and size of hydraulic equipment involved, but rated at least 4A:4OB:C.
(h)(i) Electrical installations in underground areas where oil, grease, or diesel fuel are stored shall be used only for lighting fixtures.
(ii) Lighting fixtures in storage areas, or within 25 feet (7.62 m) of underground areas where oil, grease, or diesel fuel are stored, shall be approved for Class I, Division 2 locations, in accordance with Part I of this chapter.
(i) Leaks and spills of flammable or combustible fluids shall be cleaned up immediately.
(j) A fire extinguisher of at least 4A:4OB:C rating or other equivalent extinguishing means shall be provided at the head pulley and at the tail pulley of underground belt conveyors, and at 300-foot intervals along the belt.
(k) Any structure located underground or within 100 feet (30.48 m) of an opening to the underground shall be constructed of material having a fire-resistance rating of at least one hour.
(18) Welding, cutting, and other hot work. In addition to the requirements of Part H of this chapter, the following requirements shall apply to underground welding, cutting, and other hot work.
(a) No more than the amount of fuel gas and oxygen cylinders necessary to perform welding, cutting, or other hot work during the next 24-hour period shall be permitted underground.
(b) Noncombustible barriers shall be installed below welding, cutting, or other hot work being done in or over a shaft or raise.
(19) Ground support.
(a) In tunnels (other than hard rock) timber sets, steel rings, steel frames, concrete liners, or other engineered tunnel support systems shall be used. Every tunnel support system shall be designed by a licensed professional engineer. Design specifications shall be available at the worksite.
(b) Portal areas. Portal openings and access areas shall be guarded by shoring, fencing, head walls, shotcreting, or other equivalent protection to ensure safe access of employees and equipment. Adjacent areas shall be scaled or otherwise secured to prevent loose soil, rock, or fractured materials from endangering the portal and access area.
(c) Subsidence areas. The employer shall ensure ground stability in hazardous subsidence areas by shoring, by filling in, or by erecting barricades and posting warning signs to prevent entry.
(d) Underground areas.
(i)(A) A competent person shall inspect the roof, face, and walls of the work area at the start of each shift and as often as necessary to determine ground stability.
(B) Competent persons conducting such inspections shall be protected from loose ground by location, ground support, or equivalent means.
(ii) Ground conditions along haulageways and travelways shall be inspected as frequently as necessary to ensure safe passage.
(iii) Loose ground that might be hazardous to employees shall be taken down, scaled, or supported.
(iv) Torque wrenches shall be used wherever bolts that depend on torsionally applied force are used for ground support.
(v) A competent person shall determine whether rock bolts meet the necessary torque, and shall determine the testing frequency in light of the bolt system, ground conditions, and the distance from vibration sources.
(vi) Suitable protection shall be provided for employees exposed to the hazard of loose ground while installing ground support systems.
(vii) Support sets shall be installed so that the bottoms have sufficient anchorage to prevent ground pressures from dislodging the support base of the sets. Lateral bracing (collar bracing, tie rods, or spreaders) shall be provided between immediately adjacent sets to ensure added stability.
(viii) Damaged or dislodged ground supports that create a hazardous condition shall be promptly repaired or replaced. When replacing supports, the new supports shall be installed before the damaged supports are removed.
(ix) A shield or other type of support shall be used to maintain a safe travelway for employees working in dead-end areas ahead of any support replacement operation.
(e) Shafts.
(i) Shafts and wells over 4 feet (1.219 m) in depth that employees must enter shall be supported by a steel casing, concrete pipe, timber, solid rock, or other suitable material.
(ii)(A) The full depth of the shaft shall be supported by casing or bracing except where the shaft penetrates into solid rock having characteristics that will not change as a result of exposure. Where the shaft passes through earth into solid rock, or through solid rock into earth, and where there is potential for shear, the casing or bracing shall extend at least 5 feet (1.53 m) into the solid rock. When the shaft terminates in solid rock, the casing or bracing shall extend to the end of the shaft or 5 feet (1.53 m) into the solid rock, whichever is less.
(B) The casing or bracing shall extend 42 inches (1.07 m) plus or minus 3 inches (8 cm) above ground level, except that the minimum casing height may be reduced to 12 inches (0.3 m), provided that a standard railing is installed; that the ground adjacent to the top of the shaft is sloped away from the shaft collar to prevent entry of liquids; and that effective barriers are used to prevent mobile equipment operating near the shaft from jumping over the 12-inch (0.3 m) barrier.
(iii) After blasting operations in shafts, a competent person shall determine if the walls, ladders, timbers, blocking, or wedges have loosened. If so, necessary repairs shall be made before employees other than those assigned to make the repairs are allowed in or below the affected areas.
(f) Blasting. This subsection applies in addition to the requirements for blasting and explosives operations, including handling of misfires, which are found in chapter 296-52 WAC.
(i) Blasting wires shall be kept clear of electrical lines, pipes, rails, and other conductive material, excluding earth, to prevent explosives initiation or employee exposure to electric current.
(ii) Following blasting, an employee shall not enter a work area until the air quality meets the requirements of subsection (13) of this section.
(g) Drilling.
(i) A competent person shall inspect all drilling and associated equipment prior to each use. Equipment defects affecting safety shall be corrected before the equipment is used.
(ii) The drilling area shall be inspected for hazards before the drilling operation is started.
(iii) Employees shall not be allowed on a drill mast while the drill bit is in operation or the drill machine is being moved.
(iv) When a drill machine is being moved from one drilling area to another, drill steel, tools, and other equipment shall be secured and the mast shall be placed in a safe position.
(v) Receptacles or racks shall be provided for storing drill steel located on jumbos.
(vi) Employees working below jumbo decks shall be warned whenever drilling is about to begin.
(vii) Drills on columns shall be anchored firmly before starting drilling, and shall be retightened as necessary thereafter.
(viii) The employer shall provide mechanical means on the top deck of a jumbo for lifting unwieldy or heavy material.
(ix) When jumbo decks are over 10 feet (3.05 m) in height, the employer shall install stairs wide enough for two persons.
(x) Jumbo decks more than 10 feet (3.05 m) in height shall be equipped with guardrails on all open sides, excluding access openings of platforms, unless an adjacent surface provides equivalent fall protection.
(xi) Only employees assisting the operator shall be allowed to ride on jumbos, unless the jumbo meets the requirements of subsection (20)(e) of this section.
| Note: | For additional requirements relating to portable fire extinguishers see WAC 296-800-300. |
(xiii) Walking and working surfaces of jumbos shall be maintained to prevent the hazards of slipping, tripping, and falling.
(xiv) Jumbo decks and stair treads shall be designed to be slip-resistant and secured to prevent accidental displacement.
(xv) Scaling bars shall be available at scaling operations and shall be maintained in good condition at all times. Blunted or severely worn bars shall not be used.
(xvi) Before commencing the drill cycle, the face and lifters shall be examined for misfires (residual explosives) and, if found, they shall be removed before drilling commences at the face. Blasting holes shall not be drilled through blasted rock (muck) or water.
(xvii) Employees in a shaft shall be protected either by location or by suitable barrier(s) if powered mechanical loading equipment is used to remove muck containing unfired explosives.
(xviii) A caution sign reading "buried line," or similar wording shall be posted where air lines are buried or otherwise hidden by water or debris.
(20) Haulage.
(a) A competent person shall inspect haulage equipment before each shift.
(i) Equipment defects affecting safety and health shall be corrected before the equipment is used.
(ii) Powered mobile haulage equipment shall be provided with adequate brakes.
(iii) Power mobile haulage equipment, including trains, shall have audible warning devices to warn employees to stay clear. The operator shall sound the warning device before moving the equipment and whenever necessary during travel.
(iv) The operator shall assure that lights which are visible to employees at both ends of any mobile equipment, including a train, are turned on whenever the equipment is operating.
(v) In those cabs where glazing is used, the glass shall be safety glass, or its equivalent, and shall be maintained and cleaned so that vision is not obstructed.
(b) Antirollback devices or brakes shall be installed on inclined conveyor drive units to prevent conveyors from inadvertently running in reverse. Employees shall not be permitted to ride a power-driven chain, belt, or bucket conveyor unless the conveyor is specifically designed for the transportation of persons.
(c) Endless belt-type manlifts are prohibited in underground construction.
(d) General requirements also applicable to underground construction for use of conveyors in construction are found in chapter 296-155 WAC, Part L.
(e) No employee shall ride haulage equipment unless it is equipped with seating for each passenger and protects passengers from being struck, crushed, or caught between other equipment or surfaces. Members of train crews may ride on a locomotive if it is equipped with handholds and nonslip steps or footboards. Requirements applicable to underground construction for motor vehicle transportation of employees are found in chapter 296-155 WAC, Part M.
(f) Conveyor lockout.
(i) Conveyors shall be de-energized and locked out with a padlock, and tagged out with a "Do Not Operate" tag at any time repair, maintenance, or clean-up work is being performed on the conveyor.
(ii) Tags or push button stops are not acceptable.
(iii) Persons shall not be allowed to walk on conveyors except for emergency purposes and then only after the conveyor has been deenergized and locked out in accordance with (f) above, and persons can do so safely.
(g) Powered mobile haulage equipment, including trains, shall not be left unattended unless the master switch or motor is turned off; operating controls are in neutral or park position; and the brakes are set, or equivalent precautions are taken to prevent rolling.
(h) Whenever rails serve as a return for a trolley circuit, both rails shall be bonded at every joint and crossbonded every 200 feet (60.96 m).
(i) When dumping cars by hand, the car dumps shall have tiedown chains, bumper blocks, or other locking or holding devices to prevent the cars from overturning.
(j) Rocker-bottom or bottom-dump cars shall be equipped with positive locking devices to prevent unintended dumping.
(k) Equipment to be hauled shall be loaded and secured to prevent sliding or dislodgement.
(l)(i) Mobile equipment, including rail-mounted equipment, shall be stopped for manual connecting or service work, and;
(ii) Employees shall not reach between moving cars during coupling operations.
(iii) Couplings shall not be aligned, shifted, or cleaned on moving cars or locomotives.
(iv) Safety chains or other connections shall be used in addition to couplers to connect person cars or powder cars whenever the locomotive is uphill of the cars.
(v) When the grade exceeds one percent and there is a potential for runaway cars, safety chains or other connections shall be used in addition to couplers to connect haulage cars or, as an alternative, the locomotive must be downhill of the train.
(vi) Such safety chains or other connections shall be capable of maintaining connection between cars in the event of either coupler disconnect, failure or breakage.
(m) Parked rail equipment shall be chocked, blocked, or have brakes set to prevent inadvertent movement.
(n) Berms, bumper blocks, safety hooks, or equivalent means shall be provided to prevent overtravel and overturning of haulage equipment at dumping locations.
(o) Bumper blocks or equivalent stopping devices shall be provided at all track dead ends.
(p)(i) Only small handtools, lunch pails, or similar small items may be transported with employees in person cars, or on top of a locomotive.
(ii) When small hand tools or other small items are carried on top of a locomotive, the top shall be designed or modified to retain them while traveling.
(q)(i) Where switching facilities are available, occupied personnel cars shall be pulled, not pushed. If personnel cars must be pushed and visibility of the track ahead is hampered, then a qualified person shall be stationed in the lead car to give signals to the locomotive operator.
(ii) Crew trips shall consist of personnel loads only.
(21) Electrical safety. This subsection applies in addition to the general requirements for electrical safety which are found in Part I of this chapter.
(a) Electric power lines shall be insulated or located away from water lines, telephone lines, air lines, or other conductive materials so that a damaged circuit will not energize the other systems.
(b) Lighting circuits shall be located so that movement of personnel or equipment will not damage the circuits or disrupt service.
(c) Oil-filled transformers shall not be used underground unless they are located in a fire-resistant enclosure suitably vented to the outside and surrounded by a dike to retain the contents of the transformers in the event of rupture.
(22) Hoisting unique to underground construction except as modified by this section, the following provisions of chapter 296-155 WAC, Part L apply: Requirements for cranes are found in WAC 296-155-525. WAC 296-155-528 contains rules applicable to crane hoisting of personnel, except, that the limitations imposed by WAC 296-155-528(2) do not apply to the routine access of employees to the underground via a shaft. Requirements for personnel hoists, material hoists, and elevators are found in WAC 296-155-530 and in this subsection.
(a) General requirements for cranes and hoists.
(i) Materials, tools, and supplies being raised or lowered, whether within a cage or otherwise, shall be secured or stacked in a manner to prevent the load from shifting, snagging, or falling into the shaft.
(ii) A warning light suitably located to warn employees at the shaft bottom and subsurface shaft entrances shall flash whenever a load is above the shaft bottom or subsurface entrances, or the load is being moved in the shaft. This subsection does not apply to fully enclosed hoistways.
(iii) Whenever a hoistway is not fully enclosed and employees are at the shaft bottom, conveyances or equipment shall be stopped at least 15 feet (4.57 m) above the bottom of the shaft and held there until the signalperson at the bottom of the shaft directs the operator to continue lowering the load, except that the load may be lowered without stopping if the load or conveyance is within full view of a bottom signalperson who is in constant voice communication with the operator.
(iv)(A) Before maintenance, repairs, or other work is commenced in the shaft served by a cage, skip, or bucket, the operator and other employees in the area shall be informed and given suitable instructions.
(B) A sign warning that work is being done in the shaft shall be installed at the shaft collar, at the operator's station, and at each underground landing.
(v) Any connection between the hoisting rope and the cage or skip shall be compatible with the type of wire rope used for hoisting.
(vi) Spin-type connections, where used, shall be maintained in a clean condition and protected from foreign matter that could affect their operation.
(vii) Cage, skip, and load connections to the hoist rope shall be made so that the force of the hoist pull, vibration, misalignment, release of lift force, or impact will not disengage the connection. Only closed shackles shall be used for cage and skip rigging.
(viii) When using wire rope wedge sockets, means shall be provided to prevent wedge escapement and to ensure that the wedge is properly seated.
(b) Additional requirements for cranes. Cranes shall be equipped with a limit switch to prevent overtravel at the boom tip. Limit switches are to be used only to limit travel of loads when operational controls malfunction and shall not be used as a substitute for other operational controls.
(c) Additional requirements for hoists.
(i) Hoists shall be designed so that the load hoist drum is powered in both directions of rotation, and so that brakes are automatically applied upon power release or failure.
(ii) Control levers shall be of the "deadman type" which return automatically to their center (neutral) position upon release.
(iii) When a hoist is used for both personnel hoisting and material hoisting, load and speed ratings for personnel and for materials shall be assigned to the equipment.
(iv) Hoist machines with cast metal parts shall not be used.
(v) Material hoisting may be performed at speeds higher than the rated speed for personnel hoisting if the hoist and components have been designed for such higher speeds and if shaft conditions permit.
(vi) Employees shall not ride on top of any cage, skip, or bucket except when necessary to perform inspection or maintenance of the hoisting system, in which case they shall be protected by a body belt/harness system to prevent falling.
(vii) Personnel and materials (other than small tools and supplies secured in a manner that will not create a hazard to employees) shall not be hoisted together in the same conveyance. However, if the operator is protected from the shifting of materials, then the operator may ride with materials in cages or skips which are designed to be controlled by an operator within the cage or skip.
(viii) Line speed shall not exceed the design limitations of the systems.
(ix) Hoists shall be equipped with landing level indicators at the operator's station. Marking of the hoist rope does not satisfy this requirement.
(x) Whenever glazing is used in the hoist house, it shall be safety glass, or its equivalent, and be free of distortions and obstructions.
(xi) A fire extinguisher that is rated at least 2A:10B:C (multipurpose, dry chemical) shall be mounted in each hoist house.
(xii) Hoist controls shall be arranged so that the operator can perform all operating cycle functions and reach the emergency power cutoff without having to reach beyond the operator's normal operating position.
(xiii) Hoists shall be equipped with limit switches to prevent overtravel at the top and bottom of the hoistway.
(xiv) Limit switches are to be used only to limit travel of loads when operational controls malfunction and shall not be used as a substitute for other operational controls.
(xv) Hoist operators shall be provided with a closed-circuit voice communication system to each landing station, with speaker-microphones so located that the operator can communicate with individual landing stations during hoist use.
(xvi) When sinking shafts 75 feet (22.86 m) or less in depth, cages, skips, and buckets that may swing, bump, or snag against shaft sides or other structural protrusions shall be guided by fenders, rails, ropes, or a combination of those means.
(xvii) When sinking shafts more than 75 feet (22.86 m) in depth, all cages, skips, and buckets shall be rope or rail-guided to within a rail length from the sinking operation.
(xviii) Cages, skips, and buckets in all completed shafts, or in all shafts being used as completed shafts, shall be rope or rail-guided for the full length of their travel.
(xix) Wire rope used in load lines of material hoists shall be capable of supporting, without failure, at least five times the maximum intended load or the factor recommended by the rope manufacturer, whichever is greater. Refer to chapter 296-155 WAC, Part L, for design factors for wire rope used in personnel hoists. The design factors shall be calculated by dividing the breaking strength of wire rope, as reported in the manufacturer's rating tables, by the total static load, including the weight of the wire rope in the shaft when fully extended.
(xx) A competent person shall visually check all hoisting machinery, equipment, anchorages, and hoisting rope at the beginning of each shift and during hoist use, as necessary.
(xxi) Each safety device shall be checked by a competent person at least weekly during hoist use to ensure suitable operation and safe condition.
(xxii) In order to ensure suitable operation and safe condition of all functions and safety devices, each hoist assembly shall be inspected and load-tested to 100 percent of its rated capacity: At the time of installation; after any repairs or alterations affecting its structural integrity; after the operation of any safety device; and annually when in use. The employer shall prepare a certification record which includes the date each inspection and load-test was performed; the signature of the person who performed the inspection and test; and a serial number or other identifier for the hoist that was inspected and tested. The most recent certification record shall be maintained on file until completion of the project.
(xxiii) Before hoisting personnel or material, the operator shall perform a test run of any cage or skip whenever it has been out of service for one complete shift, and whenever the assembly or components have been repaired or adjusted.
(xiv) Unsafe conditions shall be corrected before using the equipment.
(d) Additional requirements for personnel hoists.
(i) Hoist drum systems shall be equipped with at least two means of stopping the load, each of which shall be capable of stopping and holding 150 percent of the hoist's rated line pull. A broken-rope safety, safety catch, or arrestment device is not a permissible means of stopping under this subsection.
(ii) The operator shall remain within sight and sound of the signals at the operator's station.
(iii) All sides of personnel cages shall be enclosed by one-half inch (12.70 mm) wire mesh (not less than No. 14 gauge or equivalent) to a height of not less than 6 feet (1.83 m). However, when the cage or skip is being used as a work platform, its sides may be reduced in height to 42 inches (1.07 m) when the conveyance is not in motion.
(iv) All personnel cages shall be provided with a positive locking door that does not open outward.
(v) All personnel cages shall be provided with a protective canopy. The canopy shall be made of steel plate, at least 3/16 -inch (4.763 mm) in thickness, or material of equivalent strength and impact resistance. The canopy shall be sloped to the outside, and so designed that a section may be readily pushed upward to afford emergency egress. The canopy shall cover the top in such a manner as to protect those inside from objects falling in the shaft.
(vi) Personnel platforms operating on guide rails or guide ropes shall be equipped with broken-rope safety devices, safety catches, or arrestment devices that will stop and hold 150 percent of the weight of the personnel platform and its maximum rated load.
(vii) During sinking operations in shafts where guides and safeties are not yet used, the travel speed of the personnel platform shall not exceed 200 feet (60.96 m) per minute. Governor controls set for 200 feet (60.96 m) per minute shall be installed in the control system and shall be used during personnel hoisting.
(viii) The personnel platform may travel over the controlled length of the hoistway at rated speeds up to 600 feet (182.88 m) per minute during sinking operations in shafts where guides and safeties are used.
(ix) The personnel platform may travel at rated speeds greater than 600 feet (182.88 m) per minute in complete shafts.
[Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.010, [49.17].040 and [49.17].050. 99-10-071, 296-155-730, filed 5/4/99, effective 9/1/99. Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.010, [49.17].040, [49.17].050 and [49.17].060. 98-05-046, 296-155-730, filed 2/13/98, effective 4/15/98. Statutory Authority: Chapter 49.17 RCW. 95-04-007, 296-155-730, filed 1/18/95, effective 3/1/95; 94-15-096 (Order 94-07), 296-155-730, filed 7/20/94, effective 9/20/94; 91-11-070 (Order 91-01), 296-155-730, filed 5/20/91, effective 6/20/91; 90-03-029 (Order 89-20), 296-155-730, filed 1/11/90, effective 2/26/90. Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.040 and 49.17.050. 86-03-074 (Order 86-14), 296-155-730, filed 1/21/86; Order 76-29, 296-155-730, filed 9/30/76; Order 74-26, 296-155-730, filed 5/7/74, effective 6/6/74.]
(a) There shall be present, at all times, at least one competent person designated by and representing the employer, who shall be familiar with this part in all respects and responsible for full compliance with these and other applicable parts.
(b) Every employee shall be instructed in the rules and regulations which concern their safety or the safety of others.
(2) Medical attendance, examination, and regulations.
(a) There shall be retained one or more licensed physicians familiar with and experienced in the physical requirements and the medical aspects of compressed air work and the treatment of decompression illness. They shall be available at all times while work is in progress in order to provide medical supervision of employees employed in compressed air work. They shall be physically qualified and be willing to enter a pressurized environment.
(b) No employee shall be permitted to enter a compressed air environment until they have been examined by the physician and reported to be physically qualified to engage in such work.
(c) In the event an employee is absent from work for 10 days, or is absent due to sickness or injury, they shall not resume work until they are reexamined by the physician, and their physical condition reported, as provided in this subsection, to be such as to permit them to work in compressed air.
(d) After an employee has been employed continuously in compressed air for a period designated by the physician, but not to exceed 1 year, the employee shall be reexamined by the physician to determine if they are still physically qualified to engage in compressed air work.
(e) Such physician shall at all times keep a complete and full record of examinations made by themselves. The physician shall also keep an accurate record of any decompression illness or other illness or injury incapacitating any employee for work, and of all loss of life that occurs in the operation of a tunnel, caisson, or other compartment in which compressed air is used.
(f) Records shall be available for the inspection by the director or his/her representatives, and a copy thereof shall be forwarded to the department within 48 hours following the occurrence of the accident, death, injury, or decompression illness. It shall state as fully as possible the cause of said death or decompression illness, and the place where the injured or sick employee was taken, and such other relative information as may be required by the director.
(g) A fully equipped first-aid station shall be provided at each tunnel project regardless of the number of persons employed. An ambulance or transportation suitable for a litter case shall be at each project.
(h) Where tunnels are being excavated from portals more than 5 road miles apart, a first-aid station and transportation facilities shall be provided at each portal.
(i) A medical lock shall be established and maintained in immediate working order whenever air pressure in the working chamber is increased above the normal atmosphere.
(j) The medical lock shall:
(i) Have at least 6 feet of clear headroom at the center, and be subdivided into not less than two compartments;
(ii) Be readily accessible to employees working under compressed air;
(iii) Be kept ready for immediate use for at least 5 hours subsequent to the emergence of any employee from the working chamber;
(iv) Be properly heated, lighted and ventilated;
(v) Be maintained in a sanitary condition;
(vi) Have a nonshatterable port through which the occupant(s) may be kept under constant observation;
(vii) Be designed for a working pressure of 75 p.s.i.g.;
(viii) Be equipped with internal controls which may be overridden by external controls;
(ix) Be provided with air pressure gauges to show the air pressure within each compartment to observers inside and outside the medical lock;
(x) Be equipped with a manual type sprinkler system that can be activated inside the lock or by the outside lock tender;
(xi) Be provided with oxygen lines and fittings leading into external tanks. The lines shall be fitted with check valves to prevent reverse flow. The oxygen system inside the chamber shall be of a closed circuit design and be so designed as to automatically shut off the oxygen supply whenever the fire system is activated.
(xii) Be in constant charge of an attendant under the direct control of the retained physician. The attendant shall be trained in the use of the lock and suitably instructed regarding steps to be taken in the treatment of employee exhibiting symptoms compatible with a diagnosis of decompression illness;
(xiii) Be adjacent to an adequate emergency medical facility;
(xiv) The medical facility shall be equipped with demand-type oxygen inhalation equipment approved by the U.S. Bureau of Mines or Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH);
(xv) Be capable of being maintained at a temperature, in use, not to exceed 90F. nor be less than 70F.; and
(xvi) Be provided with sources of air, free of oil and carbon monoxide, for normal and emergency use, which are capable of raising the air pressure in the lock from 0 to 75 p.s.i.g. in 5 minutes.
(k) Identification badges shall be furnished to all employees, indicating that the wearer is a compressed air worker. A permanent record shall be kept of all identification badges issued. The badge shall give the employee's name, address of the medical lock, the telephone number of the licensed physician for the compressed air project, and contain instructions that in case of emergency of unknown or doubtful cause or illness, the wearer shall be rushed to the medical lock. The badge shall be worn at all times -- off the job, as well as on the job.
(3) Telephone and signal communication. Effective and reliable means of communication, such as bells, whistles, or telephones, shall be maintained at all times between all the following locations;
(a) The working chamber face;
(b) The working chamber side of the man lock near the door;
(c) The interior of the man lock;
(d) Lock attendant's station;
(e) The compressor plant;
(f) The first-aid station;
(g) The emergency lock (if one is required); and
(h) The special decompression chamber (if one is required).
(4) Signs and records.
(a) The time of decompression shall be posted in each man lock as follows:
(c) For each 8-hour shift, a record of employees employed under air pressure shall be kept by an employee who shall remain outside the lock near the entrance. This record shall show the period each employee spends in the air chamber and the time taken from decompression. A copy shall be submitted to the appointed physician after each shift.
(5) Compression.
(a) Every employee going under air pressure for the first time shall be instructed on how to avoid excessive discomfort.
(b) During the compression of employees, the pressure shall not be increased to more than 3 p.s.i.g. within the first minute. The pressure shall be held at 3 p.s.i.g. and again at 7 p.s.i.g. sufficiently long to determine if any employees are experiencing discomfort.
(c) After the first minute the pressure shall be raised uniformly and at a rate not to exceed 10 p.s.i. per minute.
(d) If any employee complains of discomfort, the pressure shall be held to determine if the symptoms are relieved. If, after 5 minutes the discomfort does not disappear, the lock attendant shall gradually reduce the pressure until the employee signals that the discomfort has ceased. If the employee does not indicate that the discomfort has disappeared, the lock attendant shall reduce the pressure to atmospheric and the employee shall be released from the lock.
(e) No employee shall be subjected to pressure exceeding 50 pounds per square inch except in an emergency.
(6) Decompression.
(a) Decompression to normal condition shall be in accordance with the decompression tables in Appendix A of this part.
(b) In the event it is necessary for an employee to be in compressed air more than once in a 24-hour period, the appointed physician shall be responsible for the establishment of methods and procedures of decompression applicable to repetitive exposures.
(c) If decanting is necessary, the appointed physician shall establish procedures before any employee is permitted to be decompressed by decanting methods. The period of time that the employees spend at atmospheric pressure between the decompression following the shift and recompression shall not exceed 5 minutes.
(7) Man locks and special decompression chambers.
(a) Man locks.
(i) Except in emergency, no employees employed in compressed air shall be permitted to pass from the working chamber to atmospheric pressure until after decompression, in accordance with the procedures in this part.
(ii) The lock attendant in charge of a man lock shall be under the direct supervision of the appointed physician. The lock attendant shall be stationed at the lock controls on the free air side during the period of compression and decompression and shall remain at the lock control station whenever there are persons in the working chamber or in the man lock.
(iii) Except where air pressure in the working chamber is below 12 p.s.i.g., each man lock shall be equipped with automatic controls which, through taped programs, cams, or similar apparatus, shall automatically regulate decompressions. It shall also be equipped with manual controls to permit the lock attendant to override the automatic mechanism in the event of an emergency, as provided in item (viii) of this subdivision.
(iv) A manual control, which can be used in the event of an emergency, shall be placed inside the man lock.
(v) A clock, thermometer, and continuous recording pressure gauge with a 4-hour graph shall be installed outside of each man lock and shall be changed prior to each shift's decompression. The chart shall be of sufficient size to register a legible record of variations in pressure within the man lock and shall be visible to the lock attendant. A copy of each graph shall be submitted to the appointed physician after each shift. In addition, a pressure gauge, clock, and thermometer shall also be installed in each man lock. Additional fittings shall be provided so that the test gauges may be attached whenever necessary
(vi) Except where air pressure is below 12 p.s.i.g. and there is no danger of rapid flooding, all caissons having a working area greater than 150 square feet, and each bulkhead in tunnels of 14 feet or more in diameter, or equivalent area, shall have at least two locks in perfect working condition, one of which shall be used exclusively as a man lock, the other, as a materials lock.
(vii) Where only a combination man-and-materials lock is required, this single lock shall be of sufficient capacity to hold the employees constituting two successive shifts.
(viii) Emergency locks shall be large enough to hold an entire heading shift and a limit maintained of 12 p.s.i.g. There shall be a chamber available for oxygen decompression therapy to 28 p.s.i.g.
(ix) The man lock shall be large enough so that those using it are not compelled to be in a cramped position and shall not have less than 5 feet clear head room at the center and a minimum of 30 cubic feet of air space per occupant.
(x) Locks on caissons shall be so located that the bottom door shall be not less than 3 feet above the water level surrounding the caisson on the outside. (The water level, where it is affected by tides, is construed to mean high tide.)
(xi) In addition to the pressure gauge in the locks, an accurate pressure gauge shall be maintained on the outer and inner side of each bulkhead. These gauges shall be accessible at all times and shall be kept in accurate working order.
(xii) Man locks shall have an observation port at least 4 inches in diameter located in such a position that all occupants of the man lock may be observed from the working chamber and from the free air side of the lock.
(xiii) Adequate ventilation in the lock shall be provided.
(xiv) Man locks shall be maintained at a minimum temperature of 70F.
(xv) When locks are not in use and employees are in the working chamber, lock doors shall be kept open to the working chamber, where practicable.
(xvi) Provision shall be made to allow for rescue parties to enter the tunnel if the working force is disabled.
(xvii) A special decompression chamber of sufficient size to accommodate the entire force of employees being decompressed at the end of a shift shall be provided whenever the regularly established working period requires total time of decompression exceeding 75 minutes.
(b) Special decompression chamber.
(i) The headroom in the special decompression chamber shall be not less than a minimum 7 feet and the cubical content shall provide at least 50 cubic feet of airspace for each employee. For each occupant, there shall be provided 4 square feet of free walking area and 3 square feet of seating space, exclusive of area required for lavatory and toilet facilities. The rated capacity shall be based on the stated minimum space per employee and shall be posted at the chamber entrance. The posted capacity shall not be exceeded, except in case of emergency.
(ii) Each special decompression chamber shall be equipped with the following:
(A) A clock or clocks suitably placed so that the attendant and the chamber occupants can readily ascertain the time;
(B) Pressure gauges which will indicate to the attendants and to the chamber occupants the pressure in the chamber;
(C) Valves to enable the attendant to control the supply and discharge of compressed air into and from the chamber.
(D) Valves and pipes, in connection with the air supply and exhaust, arranged so that the chamber pressure can be controlled from within and without;
(E) Effective means of oral intercommunication between the attendant, occupants of the chamber, and the air compressor plant; and
(F) An observation port at the entrance to permit observation of the chamber occupants.
(iii) Seating facilities in special decompression chambers shall be so arranged as to permit a normal sitting posture without cramping. Seating space, not less than 18 inches by 24 inches wide, shall be provided per occupant.
(iv) Adequate toilet and washing facilities, in a screened or enclosed recess, shall be provided. Toilet bowls shall have a built-in protector on the rim so that an air space is created when the seat lid is closed.
(v) Fresh and pure drinking water shall be available. This may be accomplished by either piping water into the special decompression chamber and providing drinking fountains, or by providing individual canteens, or by some other sanitary means. Community drinking vessels are prohibited.
(vi) No refuse or discarded material of any kind shall be permitted to accumulate, and the chamber shall be kept clean.
(vii) Unless the special decompression chamber is serving as the man lock to atmospheric pressure, the special decompression chamber shall be situated, where practicable, adjacent to the man lock on the atmospheric pressure side of the bulkhead. A passageway shall be provided, connecting the special chamber with the man lock, to permit employees in the process of decompression to move from the man lock to the special chamber without a reduction in the ambient pressure from that designated for the next stage of decompression. The passageway shall be so arranged as to not interfere with the normal operation of the man lock, nor with the release of the occupants of the special chamber to atmospheric pressure upon the completion of the decompression procedure.
(8) Compressor plant and air supply.
(a) At all times there shall be a thoroughly experienced, competent, and reliable person on duty at the air control valves as a gauge tender who shall regulate the pressure in the working areas. During tunneling operations, one gauge tender may regulate the pressure in not more than two headings: Provided; That the gauges and controls are all in one location. In caisson work, there shall be a gauge tender for each caisson.
(b) The low air compressor plant shall be of sufficient capacity to not only permit the work to be done safely, but shall also provide a margin to meet emergencies and repairs.
(c) Low air compressor units shall have at least two independent and separate sources of power supply and each shall be capable of operating the entire low air plant and its accessory systems.
(d) The capacity, arrangement, and number of compressors shall be sufficient to maintain the necessary pressure without overloading the equipment and to assure maintenance of such pressure in the working chamber during periods of breakdown, repair, or emergency.
(e) Switching from one independent source of power supply to the other shall be done periodically to ensure that workability of the apparatus in an emergency.
(f) Duplicate low-pressure air feedlines and regulating valves shall be provided between the source of air supply and a point beyond the locks with one of the lines extending to within 100 feet of the working face.
(g) All high-pressure and low-pressure air supply lines shall be equipped with check valves.
(h) Low-pressure air shall be regulated automatically. In addition, manually operated valves shall be provided for emergency conditions.
(i) The air intakes for all air compressors shall be located at a place where fumes, exhaust gases, and other air contaminants will be at a minimum.
(j) Gauges indicating the pressure in the working chamber shall be installed in the compressor building, the lock attendant's station, and at the employer's field office.
(9) Ventilation and air quality.
(a) Exhaust valves and exhaust pipes shall be provided and operated so that the working chamber shall be well ventilated, and there shall be no pockets of dead air. Outlets may be required at intermediate points along the main low-pressure air supply line to the heading to eliminate such pockets of dead air. The quantity of ventilation air shall be not less than 30 cubic feet per minute.
(b) The air in the workplace shall be analyzed by the employer not less than once each shift, and records of such tests shall be kept on file at the place where the work is in progress. The test results shall be within the threshold limit values specified in part B of this chapter, for hazardous gases, and within 10 percent of the lower explosive limit of flammable gases. If these limits are not met, immediate action to correct the situation shall be taken by the employer.
(c) The temperature of all working chambers which are subjected to air pressure shall, by means of after-coolers or other suitable devices, be maintained at a temperature not to exceed 85F.
(d) Forced ventilation shall be provided during decompression. During the entire decompression period, forced ventilation through chemical or mechanical air purifying devices that will ensure a source of fresh air shall be provided.
(e) Whenever heat-producing machines (moles, shields) are used in compressed air tunnel operations, a positive means of removing the heat build-up at the heading shall be provided.
(10) Electricity.
(a) All lighting in compressed-air chambers shall be by electricity exclusively, and two independent electric-lighting systems with independent sources of supply shall be used. The emergency source shall be arranged to become automatically operative in the event of failure of the regularly used source.
(b) The minimum intensity of light on any walkway, ladder, stairway, or working level shall be not less than 10 foot-candles, and in all workplaces the lighting shall at all times be such as to enable employees to see clearly.
(c) All electrical equipment, and wiring for light and power circuits, shall comply with requirements of Part I, of this standard, for use in damp, hazardous, high temperature, and compressed air environments.
(d) External parts of lighting fixtures and all other electrical equipment, when within 8 feet of the floor, shall be constructed of noncombustible, nonabsorptive, insulating materials, except that metal may be used if it is effectively grounded.
(e) Portable lamps shall be equipped with noncombustible, nonabsorptive, insulating sockets, approved handles, basket guards, and approved cords.
(f) The use of worn or defective portable and pendant conductors is prohibited.
(11) Sanitation.
(a) Sanitary, heated, lighted, and ventilated dressing rooms and drying rooms shall be provided for all employees engaged in compressed air work. Such rooms shall contain suitable benches and lockers. Bathing accommodations (showers at the ratio of one to 10 employees per shift), equipped with running hot and cold water, and suitable and adequate toilet accommodations, shall be provided. One toilet for each 15 employees, or fractional part thereof, shall be provided.
(b) When the toilet bowl is shut by a cover, there should be an air space so that the bowl or bucket does not implode when pressure is increased.
(c) All parts of caissons and other working compartments shall be kept in a sanitary condition.
(12) Fire prevention and protection.
(a) Fire fighting equipment shall be available at all times and shall be maintained in working condition.
(b) While welding or flame-cutting is being done in compressed air, a firewatch with a fire hose or approved extinguisher shall stand by until such operation is completed.
(c) Shafts and caissons containing flammable material of any kind, either above or below ground, shall be provided with a waterline and a fire hose connected thereto, so arranged that all points of the shaft or caisson are within reach of the hose stream.
(d) Fire hose shall be at least 1 1/2 inches in nominal diameter; the water pressure shall at all times be adequate for efficient operation of the type of nozzle used; and the water supply shall be such as to ensure an uninterrupted flow. Fire hose, when not in use, shall be located or guarded to prevent injury thereto.
(e) The power house, compressor house, and all buildings housing ventilating equipment, shall be provided with at least one hose connection in the waterline, with a fire hose connected thereto. A fire hose shall be maintained within reach of structures of wood over or near shafts.
(f) Tunnels shall be provided with a 2-inch minimum diameter waterline extending into the working chamber and to within 100 feet of the working face. Such line shall have hose outlets with 100 feet of fire hose attached and maintained as follows: One at the working face; one immediately inside of the bulkhead of the working chamber; and one immediately outside such bulkhead. In addition, hose outlets shall be provided at 200-foot intervals throughout the length of the tunnel, and 100 feet of fire hose shall be attached to the outlet nearest to any location where flammable material is being kept or stored or where any flame is being used.
(g) In addition to fire hose protection required by this part, on every floor of every building not under compressed air, but used in connection with the compressed air work, there shall be provided at least one approved fire extinguisher of the proper type for the hazards involved. At least two approved fire extinguishers shall be provided in the working chamber as follows: One at the working face and one immediately inside the bulkhead (pressure side). Extinguishers in the working chamber shall use water as the primary extinguishing agent and shall not use any extinguishing agent which could be harmful to the employees in the working chamber. The fire extinguisher shall be protected from damage.
(h) Highly combustible materials shall not be used or stored in the working chamber. Wood, paper, and similar combustible material shall not be used in the working chamber in quantities which could cause a fire hazard. The compressor building shall be constructed of noncombustible material.
(i) Man locks shall be equipped with a manual type fire extinguisher system that can be activated inside the man lock and also by the outside lock attendant. In addition, a fire hose and portable fire extinguisher shall be provided inside and outside the man lock. The portable fire extinguisher shall be the dry chemical type.
| Note: | For additional requirements relating to portable fire extinguishers see WAC 296-800-300. |
(k) Head frames shall be constructed of structural steel or open frame-work fireproofed timber. Head houses and other temporary surface buildings or structures within 100 feet of the shaft, caisson, or tunnel opening shall be built of fire-resistant materials.
(l) No oil, gasoline, or other combustible materials shall be stored within 100 feet of any shaft, caisson, or tunnel opening, except that oils may be stored in suitable tanks in isolated fireproof buildings, provided such buildings are not less than 50 feet from any shaft, caisson, or tunnel opening, or any building directly connected thereto.
(m) Positive means shall be taken to prevent leaking flammable liquids from flowing into the areas specifically mentioned in the preceding subdivision.
(n) All explosives used in connection with compressed air work shall be selected, stored, transported, and used as specified in part T of this chapter.
(13) Bulkheads and safety screens.
(a) Intermediate bulkheads with locks, or intermediate safety screens or both, are required where there is danger of rapid flooding.
(b) In tunnels 16 feet or more in diameter, hanging walkways shall be provided from the face to the man lock as high in the tunnel as practicable, with at least 6 feet of head room. Walkways shall be constructed of noncombustible material. Standard railings shall be securely installed throughout the length of all walkways on open sides in accordance with Part K of this chapter. Where walkways are ramped under safety screens, the walkway surface shall be skidproofed by cleats or by equivalent means.
(c) Bulkheads used to contain compressed air shall be tested, where practicable, to prove their ability to resist the highest air pressure which may be expected to be used.
[Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.040, [49.17.]050 and [49.17.]060. 96-24-051, 296-155-745, filed 11/27/96, effective 2/1/97. Statutory Authority: Chapter 49.17 RCW. 95-10-016, 296-155-745, filed 4/25/95, effective 10/1/95; 94-15-096 (Order 94-07), 296-155-745, filed 7/20/94, effective 9/20/94; 88-23-054 (Order 88-25), 296-155-745, filed 11/14/88; Order 74-26, 296-155-745, filed 5/7/74, effective 6/6/74.]