Chapter 296-155 Safety standards for construction work.

This part addresses electrical safety requirements that are necessary for the practical safeguarding of employees involved in construction work and is divided into 4 major divisions and applicable definitions as follows:(1) Introduction and definitions. Definitions applicable to …

(1) Protection of employees.(a) You must not permit an employee to work in such proximity to any part of an electric power circuit that the employee could contact the electric power circuit in the course of work, unless the employee is protected against electric shock by deenergi…

(1) Controls. You must tag and padlock controls that are deactivated during the course of work on energized or deenergized equipment or circuits in the open position.(2) Equipment and circuits. You must render equipment or circuits that are deenergized inoperative and attach tags…

You must ensure that all wiring components and utilization equipment in hazardous locations are maintained in a dust-tight, dust-ignition-proof, or explosion-proof condition, as appropriate. There must be no loose or missing screws, gaskets, threaded connections, seals, or other …

(1) Deteriorating agents.(a) Unless identified for use in the operating environment, you must not locate any conductors or equipment:(i) In damp or wet locations;(ii) Where exposed to gases, fumes, vapors, liquids, or other agents having a deteriorating effect on the conductors o…

(1) General requirements.(a) You must locate batteries of the unsealed type in enclosures with outside vents or in well ventilated rooms and you must arrange them so as to prevent the escape of fumes, gases, or electrolyte spray into other areas.(b) You must provide ventilation t…

(1) Covered. WAC 296-155-441 through 296-155-459 contain installation safety requirements for electrical equipment and installations used to provide electric power and light at the job site. These sections apply to installations, both temporary and permanent, used on the job site…

(1) Approval. All electrical conductors and equipment must be approved.(2) Examination, installation, and use of equipment.(a) Examination. You must ensure that electrical equipment is free from recognized hazards that are likely to cause death or serious physical harm to employe…

(1) Use and identification of grounded and grounding conductors.(a) Identification of conductors. A conductor used as a grounded conductor must be identifiable and distinguishable from all other conductors. A conductor used as an equipment grounding conductor must be identifiable…

(1) Wiring methods. The provisions of this subsection do not apply to conductors which form an integral part of equipment such as motors, controllers, motor control centers and like equipment.(a) General requirements.(i) Electrical continuity of metal raceways and enclosures. Met…

(1) Cranes and hoists. This subsection applies to the installation of electric equipment and wiring used in connection with cranes, monorail hoists, hoists, and all runways.(a) Disconnecting means.(i) Runway conductor disconnecting means. You must provide a readily accessible dis…

(1) Scope. This section sets forth requirements for electric equipment and wiring in locations which are classified depending on the properties of the flammable vapors, liquids or gases, or combustible dusts or fibers which may be present therein and the likelihood that a flammab…

(1) Systems over 600 volts, nominal. (a) through (d) of this subsection contain general requirements for all circuits and equipment operated at over 600 volts.(a) Wiring methods for fixed installations.(i) Above ground. You must install above-ground conductors in rigid metal cond…

The definitions given in this section apply to the terms used in Part I. The definitions given here for "approved" and "qualified person" apply, instead of the definitions given in WAC 296-155-012, to the use of these terms in Part I.Acceptable. An installation or equipment is ac…

This part applies to all stairways used in construction, alteration, repair (including painting and decorating), and demolition workplaces covered under chapter 296-155 WAC, and also sets forth, in specified circumstances, when stairways are required to be provided.Reference:• Re…

Equivalent. Alternative designs, materials, or methods that you can demonstrate will provide an equal or greater degree of safety for employees than the method or item specified in the standard.Failure. Load refusal, breakage, or separation of component parts. Load refusal is the…

(1) You must provide a stairway or ladder at all personnel points of access where there is a break in elevation of 19 inches (48 cm) or more, and no ramp, runway, sloped embankment, or personnel hoist is provided.(a) Employees must not use any spiral stairways that will not be a …

(1) General. The following requirements apply to all stairways as indicated:(a) Stairways that will not be a permanent part of the structure on which construction work is being performed must have landings of not less than 30 inches (76 cm) in the direction of travel and extend a…

[Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.010, 49.17.040, 49.17.050, 49.17.060 and chapter 49.17 RCW, and 29 C.F.R. 1926, Subpart CC. WSR 13-02-068, § 296-155-529, filed 12/31/12, effective 2/1/13. Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.010, 49.17.040, 49.17.050, 49.17.060, 49.17.400, 49.17.410, 4…

(1) Except as provided in subsection (3) of this section, this part applies to the following:(a) Power-operated cranes/equipment used for construction work that can hold, lift, lower, and horizontally move a suspended load (with or without attachments). Such equipment includes, b…

Effective January 1, 2010, all cranes and equipment covered in WAC 296-155-52900 and not exempt in subsection (3) of that section, must be certified and proof load tested annually by an accredited crane certifier recognized by the department. The crane/equipment owner shall ensur…

(1) Accredited crane/equipment certifier. A crane/equipment inspector who meets the requirements set by the department under WAC 296-155-53100.(2) A/D director (assembly/disassembly director). An individual who meets the requirements in this part for an A/D director, irrespective…

[Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.010, 49.17.040, 49.17.050, 49.17.060, 49.17.400, 49.17.410, 49.17.420, 49.17.430, and 49.17.440. WSR 08-22-080, § 296-155-531, filed 11/4/08, effective 1/1/09.]

(1) Prior to any person engaging in the testing, examination, or inspection for the certification of a crane used in lifting at a job site in Washington state, they must be recognized by the department as an accredited crane/equipment certifier.(2) To qualify for an accredited cr…

The department may suspend or revoke a certificate/accreditation issued by the department.[Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.010, 49.17.040, 49.17.050, 49.17.060, and chapter 49.17 RCW. WSR 25-16-089, s 296-155-53110, filed 8/5/25, effective 9/5/25. Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.01…

The division of occupational safety and health must monitor accredited crane certifiers to ensure that these certifiers certify cranes in accordance with all applicable Washington state laws and regulations. Monitoring activities will include, but not be limited to, audits of cra…

(1) Accredited crane certifiers will issue a worksheet/annual certificate of operation if upon inspection and proof load testing no deficiencies were found that would affect the safe operation of the crane. The certifier shall issue the worksheet/annual certificate of operation u…

[Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.010, 49.17.040, 49.17.050, 49.17.060, 49.17.400, 49.17.410, 49.17.420, 49.17.430, and 49.17.440. WSR 08-22-080, § 296-155-532, filed 11/4/08, effective 1/1/10.]

(1) The accredited crane certifier must review the following documents as part of the crane certification process:(a) Crane maintenance records of critical components to ensure maintenance of these components has been performed in accordance with the manufacturer's recommendation…

(1) After it is determined that the crane configurations meet the criteria in WAC 296-155-53200, the accredited crane certifier must conduct a visual inspection of the following components, if applicable, which can be visually inspected without disassembly (not including removal …

(1) After it is determined that the crane configurations meet the criteria in WAC 296-155-53200, the accredited crane certifier must visually inspect the following items, if applicable, on cranes for sound physical condition and that they are functional within the manufacturer's …

(1) Tower cranes and tower crane assembly parts must be inspected by a certified crane/equipment inspector prior to and following every assembly, disassembly, or reconfiguration of a tower crane. For the purposes of this subsection, and following disassembly only, an individual q…

(1) After it is determined that the crane configurations meet the criteria in WAC 296-155-53200, the accredited crane certifier must visually inspect the following items, if applicable, on cranes for sound physical condition and that they are functional within the manufacturer's …

(1) After it is determined that the crane configurations meet the criteria in WAC 296-155-53200, the accredited crane certifier must visually inspect, without disassembly, and if applicable, the following items on overhead and bridge cranes for sound physical condition and that t…

(1) After it is determined that the derrick configurations meet the criteria in WAC 296-155-53200, the accredited derrick certifier must visually inspect the following items, if applicable, on derricks for sound physical condition, ensuring that they are functional within the man…

(1) Regardless of activity, governmental jurisdiction, or industry scope, if any of the following occurs, crane/equipment work covered by the scope of chapter 296-155 WAC, Part L, shall immediately cease, the certification becomes suspended and the crane/equipment must be inspect…

[Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.010, 49.17.040, 49.17.050, 49.17.060, and chapter 49.17 RCW. WSR 10-14-100, § 296-155-533, filed 7/6/10, effective 9/1/10. Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.010, 49.17.040, 49.17.050, 49.17.060, 49.17.400, 49.17.410, 49.17.420, 49.17.430, and 49.17.44…

(1) Prior to operating any crane/equipment covered under chapter 296-155 WAC, Part L, with the exception of the operator-in-training requirements outlined in subsection (2) of this section and those cranes/equipment exempt in WAC 296-155-52900(3), the employer must ensure that th…

(1) The lift director must meet the qualification requirements prior to using a crane/equipment to perform hoisting activities. A lift director is required to be present and directly oversees all work that is being performed by a crane and the associated rigging crew. This requir…

(1) The signal person must meet the qualification requirements (subsection (3) of this section) prior to giving any signals to a crane/equipment operator. This requirement must be met by using either Option (1) or Option (2).(a) Option (1) - Third-party qualified evaluator. The s…

(1) The assembly, disassembly, or reconfiguration of a crane/equipment must be directed by an A/D director who has the authority to, and must take prompt corrective measures to, eliminate hazards, along with meeting the qualification requirements (subsection (3) of this section).…

(1) Repair, inspection, and maintenance personnel are permitted to operate the crane/equipment only where all of the following requirements are met:(a) The operation is limited to those functions necessary to perform maintenance, inspect, or verify the performance of the crane/eq…

(1) The rigger must meet the qualification requirements (subsection (3) of this section) prior to performing hoisting activities. A qualified rigger is required whenever employees are engaged in hooking, unhooking, guiding the load, or the connection of a load to a component or s…

[Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.010, 49.17.040, 49.17.050, 49.17.440, 49.17.060, and 29 C.F.R. 1926, Subpart CC. WSR 12-01-086, § 296-155-534, filed 12/20/11, effective 2/1/12.]

(1) All cranes/equipment covered under this part, except for those exempted in WAC 296-155-52900(3), must be certified annually by an accredited certifier recognized by the department. For detailed information about the certification requirement, see WAC 296-155-532.(a) The crane…

(1) While the organizational structure of various construction activities may differ, the duties described in this section are for purposes of assignment. All assignments outlined in this section must be assigned in the job site organization. (A single individual may perform one …

(1) When assembling, disassembling, or reconfiguring a crane/equipment (or attachments), all applicable manufacturer prohibitions must be followed and complied with. The procedures used shall be in written or digital format, remain on-site for the entire duration that the crane i…

Note:Complete requirements for fall protection are contained in chapter 296-880 WAC, Unified safety standards for fall protection.(1) Application.(a) Subsections (2), (3)(b), (5), and (6) of this section apply to all cranes/equipment covered by this part, except tower cranes.(b) …

(1) Selection and installation criteria.(a) Original crane/equipment rope and replacement rope must be selected and installed in accordance with the requirements of this section. Selection of replacement rope must be in accordance with the recommendations of the rope manufacturer…

(1) Cranes that have had modifications or additions as defined in WAC 296-155-53214 must be inspected by an accredited crane certifier after such modifications/additions have been completed, prior to initial use.(2) Repaired/adjusted equipment.(a) Cranes that have had repairs as …