Chapter 296-24 General safety and health standards.

[Order 73-5, § 296-24-700, filed 5/9/73 and Order 73-4, § 296-24-700, filed 5/7/73.]

(1) Railing. You must protect a welder or helper working on platforms, scaffolds, or runways against falling. This may be accomplished by the use of railings, safety belts, life lines, or some other equally effective safeguards.(2) Welding cable. Welders must place welding cable …

(1) Selection.(a) You must use helmets or hand shields during all arc welding or arc cutting operations, excluding submerged arc welding.Goggles should also be worn during arc welding or cutting operations to provide protection from injurious rays from adjacent work, and from fly…

(1) General requirements. You must protect employees exposed to the hazards created by welding, cutting, or brazing operations by personal protective equipment in accordance with the requirements of chapter 296-24 WAC, Part I, and WAC 296-800-160. Appropriate protective clothing …

(1) General. As used herein confined space is intended to mean a relatively small or restricted space such as a tank, boiler, pressure vessel, or small compartment of a ship.(2) Ventilation. Ventilation is a prerequisite to work in confined spaces. For ventilation requirements se…

[Order 73-5, § 296-24-715, filed 5/9/73 and Order 73-4, § 296-24-715, filed 5/7/73.]

(1) Contamination. The requirements in this section have been established on the basis of the following three factors in arc and gas welding which govern the amount of contamination to which welders may be exposed:(a) Dimensions of space in which welding is to be done (with speci…

(1) General. You must provide mechanical ventilation when welding or cutting is done on metals not covered in WAC 296-24-71509 through 296-24-71523. (For specific material, see the ventilation requirements of WAC 296-24-71509 through 296-24-71523.)(a) In a space of less than 10,0…

Mechanical local exhaust ventilation may be by means of either of the following:(1) Hoods. Freely movable hoods intended to be placed by the welder as near as practicable to the work being welded and provided with a rate of airflow sufficient to maintain a velocity in the directi…

(1) Air replacement. You must adequately ventilate all welding and cutting operations carried on in confined spaces to prevent the accumulation of toxic materials or possible oxygen deficiency. This applies not only to the welder but also to helpers and other personnel in the imm…

General. In confined spaces, you must perform welding or cutting involving fluxes, coverings, or other materials which contain fluorine compounds in accordance with WAC 296-24-71507 (1) through (5). A fluorine compound is one that contains fluorine, as an element in chemical comb…

(1) Confined spaces. In confined spaces you must perform welding or cutting involving zinc-bearing base or filler metals or metals coated with zinc-bearing materials in accordance with WAC 296-24-71507 (1) through (5).(2) Indoors. Indoors, you must perform welding or cutting invo…

(1) Confined spaces. In confined spaces, you must perform welding involving lead-base metals (erroneously called lead-burning) in accordance with WAC 296-24-71507 (1) through (5).(2) Indoors. Indoors, you must perform welding involving lead-base metals in accordance with WAC 296-…

You must ensure that welding or cutting indoors, outdoors, or in confined spaces involving beryllium-containing base or filler metals is done using local exhaust ventilation and airline respirators unless atmospheric tests under the most adverse conditions have established that t…

(1) General. In confined spaces or indoors, you must perform welding or cutting operations involving cadmium-bearing or cadmium-coated base metals using local exhaust ventilation or airline respirators unless atmospheric tests under the most adverse conditions show that employee …

In confined spaces or indoors, you must perform welding or cutting operations involving metals coated with mercury-bearing materials, including paint, using local exhaust ventilation or airline respirators unless atmospheric tests under the most adverse conditions show that emplo…

(1) Manufacturer's instructions. In the use of cleaning materials, because of their possible toxicity of flammability, you must follow appropriate precautions such as manufacturer's instructions.(2) Degreasing. You must locate degreasing or other cleaning operations involving chl…

You must ensure that oxygen cutting, using either a chemical flux or iron powder or gas-shielded arc cutting of stainless steel, is done using mechanical ventilation adequate to remove the fumes generated.[Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.010, 49.17.040, 49.17.050, and 49.17.060. W…

You must ensure that first-aid equipment is available at all times. On every shift of welding operations there should be present employees trained to render first aid. You must report all injuries as soon as possible for medical attention. You must render first aid until medical …

[Order 73-5, § 296-24-720, filed 5/9/73 and Order 73-4, § 296-24-720, filed 5/7/73.]

(1) General. You must observe the requirements of WAC 296-24-68501 through 296-24-68507, 296-24-70001 through 296-24-70007, and 296-24-71501 through 296-24-71525.(2) Field shop operations. Where field shop operations are involved for fabrication of fittings, river crossings, road…

(1) General. You must observe the requirements of WAC 296-24-68001, 296-24-68501 through 296-24-68507, 296-24-69501 through 296-24-69507, 296-24-70001 through 296-24-70007 and 296-24-71501 through 296-24-71525.(2) X-ray inspection. The use of X-rays and radioactive isotopes for t…

(1) You must ensure that before welding, cutting, or heating is commenced on any surface covered by a preservative coating whose flammability is not known, a test is made by a competent person to determine its flammability. You must consider preservative coatings to be highly fla…

[Order 73-5, § 296-24-735, filed 5/9/73 and Order 73-4, § 296-24-735, filed 5/7/73.]

This section applies to all permanent places of employment, except where domestic, mining, or agricultural work only is performed. Construction work is not to be deemed as a permanent place of employment. This section covers all walking-working surfaces unless specifically exclud…

As used in Part J of this chapter, the following definitions apply:Alternating tread-type stair. A type of stairway consisting of a series of treads that are usually attached to a center support in an alternating manner such that an employee typically does not have both feet on t…

(1) Surface conditions. You must ensure:(a) All places of employment, passageways, storerooms, service rooms, and walking-working surfaces are kept in a clean, orderly, and sanitary condition.Note:Sanitary condition covers hazard exposures other than slips, trips, and falls. Exam…

This section contains specifications for the safe design and construction of fixed general industrial stairs. This classification includes interior and exterior stairs around machinery, tanks, and other equipment, and stairs leading to or from floors, platforms, or pits. This sec…

In addition to the requirements in WAC 296-24-735, you must ensure:(1) Handrails, stair rail systems, and guardrail systems are provided in accordance with WAC 296-24-74015.Note:For guardrail system requirements, see the unified fall protection rule (chapter 296-880 WAC).(2) Vert…

In addition to WAC 296-24-74005, you must also ensure standard stairs:(1) Are installed at angles between 30 to 50 degrees from the horizontal.(2) Have a maximum riser height of 9.5 inches (24 cm).(3) Have a minimum tread depth of 9.5 inches (24 cm).(4) Have a minimum width of 22…

Handrail and stair rail systems must meet the following criteria:Note:For guardrail system requirements, see the unified fall protection rule (chapter 296-880 WAC).(1) Handrails are not less than 30 inches (76 cm) and not more than 38 inches (97 cm), as measured from the leading …

In addition to WAC- 296-24-74005, you must also ensure spiral stairs:(1) Have a minimum clear width of 26 inches (66 cm);(2) Have a maximum riser height of 9.5 inches (24 cm);(3) Have a minimum headroom above spiral stair treads of at least 6 feet 6 inches (2 m), measured from th…

In addition to WAC 296-24-74005, you must also ensure ship stairs (see Figure D-9 of this section):(1) Are installed at a slope of 50 to 70 degrees from the horizontal;(2) Have open risers with a vertical rise between tread surfaces of 6.5 to 12 inches (17 to 30 cm);(3) Have mini…

Alternating tread-type stairs have a series of steps between 50 and 70 degrees from horizontal, attached to a center support rail in an alternating manner so that a user of the stairs never has both feet at the same level at the same time. (See Figure D-11 of this section.)(1) Yo…

[Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.010, 49.17.040, 49.17.050, 49.17.060 and chapter 49.17 RCW. WSR 20-09-146, recodified as § 296-24-7500, filed 4/21/20, effective 10/1/20; Order 73-5, § 296-24-855, filed 5/9/73 and Order 73-4, § 296-24-855, filed 5/7/73.]

You must ensure:(1) Portable and powered dockboards are strong enough to carry the load imposed on them.(2) Dockboards put into initial service on or after October 1, 2020, are designed, constructed, and maintained to prevent employees from running off the dockboard edge.EXCEPTIO…

Nonmandatory Appendix A to Part J-2, Scaffold Specifications.This Appendix provides nonmandatory guidelines to assist employers in complying with the requirements of Part J-2 of this chapter. An employer may use these guidelines and tables as a starting point for designing scaffo…

[Order 73-5, § 296-24-920, filed 5/9/73 and Order 73-4, § 296-24-920, filed 5/7/73.]

Corrosion or pitting. Corrosion or pitting in cylinders involving the loss of wall thickness by corrosive media.Note:There are several kinds of pitting or corrosion to be considered.Cuts, gouges, or digs (in cylinders). Deformations caused by contact with a sharp object in such a…

(1) Application.(a) You must determine that compressed gas cylinders under the employers control are in a safe condition to the extent that this can be determined by visual, and other inspection required by WAC 296-24-920 through 296-24-92011.(b) The requirements contained in the…

(1) Application. This section covers cylinders of the type that are exempt from the hydrostatic retest requirements of the DOT by virtue of their exclusive use in certain noncorrosive gas service. They are not subject to internal corrosion and do not require internal shell inspec…

(1) Application. Cylinders covered in this section are low-pressure cylinders other than those covered in WAC 296-24-92005 through 296-24-92005 (3)(o)(ii). They differ essentially from such cylinders in that they require a periodic hydrostatic retest which includes an internal an…

(1) Application. High-pressure cylinders are those with a marked service pressure of 900 p.s.i. or higher. They are seamless; no welding is permitted. The great bulk of such cylinders are of the 3A or 3AA types under DOT specifications (49 C.F.R. Ch. 1).(2) Preparation for inspec…

(1) You must ensure that cylinders are inspected internally at least every time the cylinder is periodically retested. This examination must be made with a light of sufficient intensity to clearly illuminate the interior walls.(2) A hammer test consists of tapping a cylinder a li…

[Order 73-5, § 296-24-930, filed 5/9/73 and Order 73-4, § 296-24-930, filed 5/7/73.]

Approach channel. The passage or passages through which gas must pass from the cylinder to reach the operating parts of the safety relief device.Combination frangible disc-fusible plug. A frangible disc in combination with a low melting point fusible metal, intended to prevent it…

(1) Application. You must ensure that compressed gas cylinder, portable tanks, and cargo tanks shall have pressure relief devices installed and maintained in accordance with Compressed Gas Association Pamphlets S-1.1-1963 and 1965 addenda and S-1.2-1963.(2) Types of safety relief…

[Order 73-5, § 296-24-935, filed 5/9/73 and Order 73-4, § 296-24-935, filed 5/7/73.]

Cargo tank. Any container designed to be permanently attached to any motor vehicle or other highway vehicle and in which is to be transported any compressed gas. The term "cargo tank" shall not be construed to include any tank used solely for the purpose of supplying fuel for the…

(1) Application. See WAC 296-24-93003(1).(2) Specifications and tests. All safety relief devices covered by these standards must meet the design, construction, marking, and test specifications of the "Compressed Gas Association Safety Relief Device Standards Part 2-Cargo and Port…