Chapter 296-307 Safety standards for agriculture.

(1) The employer must make sure that noise dosimetry equipment meets these specifications:Dosimeters must be equipment class 2AS-90/80-5 of the American National Rule Specification for Personal Noise Dosimeters, ANSI S1.25-1991, such dosimeters are normally marked "Type 2."Note:M…

important:A noise dosimeter is the basis for determining total daily noise exposure for employees. However, where there is constant noise levels, the employer may estimate employee noise exposure using measurements from a sound level meter. Calculation of the employee noise expos…

The employer must compute employee's full-day noise exposure by using the appropriate equations from Table 3 "Noise Dose Computation" when using a sound level meter to estimate noise dose.Table 3Noise Dose ComputationDescriptionEquationCompute the noise dose based on several time…

Employer responsibility:To conduct audiometric testing of employees exposed to noise to make sure that their hearing protection is effective.The employer must meet the requirements…in this section:Provide audiometric testing at no cost to employees.WAC 296-307-63605Establish a ba…

The employer must provide audiograms, including any required travel or necessary additional examinations or testing, at no cost to exposed employees.[Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.010, 49.17.040, 49.17.050, and 49.17.060. WSR 20-21-091, § 296-307-63605, filed 10/20/20, effective…

(1) The employer must conduct a baseline audiogram when an employee is first assigned to work involving noise exposures that equal or exceed 85 dBA TWA8.(a) Make sure this audiogram is completed no more than one hundred eighty days after the employee is first assigned;or(b) Make …

(1) The employer must conduct annual audiograms for employees as long as they continue to be exposed to noise that equals or exceeds 85 dBA TWA8.Note:Annual audiometric testing may be conducted at any time during the work shift. By conducting the annual audiogram during the work …

(1) The employer must make sure the health care professional supervising audiograms has:(a) A copy of this part;(b) The baseline audiogram and most recent audiogram of the employee to be evaluated;(c) Background noise level records for the testing room;(d) Calibration records for…

The employer must keep the baseline audiogram without revision, unless a qualified reviewer determines:(1) The standard threshold shift revealed by the audiogram is persistent;or(2) The hearing threshold shown in the annual audiogram indicates significant improvement over the bas…

The employer must retain a legible copy of all employee audiograms conducted under this part.Make sure the record includes:(1) Name and job classification of the employee;(2) Date of the audiogram;(3) The examiner's name;(4) Date of the last acoustic or exhaustive calibration of …

(1) The employer must use pure tone, air conduction, hearing threshold examinations, with test frequencies including as a minimum 500, 1000, 2000, 3000, 4000, and 6000 Hz.(a) Tests at each frequency must be taken separately for each ear.(b) Supra-aural headphones must be used.(2)…

Employer responsibility:This section provides options to baseline audiometric testing for employees assigned to duties with noise exposures for less than one year. These program options may also be used to provide added assessment of longer-term employees in addition to audiometr…

(1) The employer must conduct audits at least quarterly to provide a representative assessment of the workplace.(a) The assessment is representative if it:(i) Covers all processes and work activities in the employer's business at full production levels;and(ii) Covers all employee…

The employer must make sure staff conducting hearing protection audits:(1) Can demonstrate competence in:(a) Evaluating hearing protection attenuation;(b) Evaluating hearing protector choices;(c) Assessing the correct use of hearing protectors.(2) Are certified by the Council for…

The employer must confirm that:(1) Current site conditions during audits are consistent with conditions existing during noise monitoring;(2) The hearing protection used by the employee is sufficient and appropriate for the conditions;(3) The hearing protection is worn properly;(4…

(1) The employer must keep a record of audit results for each employee assessed for the length of their employment and for the length of time the employer will rely upon the audit results.(2) The employer must include the following information in the record:(a) The make and model…

important:Third-party hearing loss prevention programs are intended:1. For short-term employees hired or assigned to duties having noise exposures for less than one year;and2. For seasonal employees.However, other employees may be included as long as the employer meets all requir…

A-weighted. An adjustment to sound level measurements that reflects the sensitivity of the human ear. Used for evaluating continuous or average noise levels.Audiogram. A chart, graph, or table resulting from an audiometric test showing an individual's hearing threshold levels as …

This part applies to all confined spaces and provides requirements to protect employees from the hazards of entering and working in confined spaces. This part applies in any of the following circumstances:(1) The employer has confined spaces in the workplace.(2) Employees will en…

Identifying and controlling permit-required confined spaces.Employer responsibility:To identify permit-required confined spaces and control employee entry.The employer must meet the requirements…in this section:Identify permit-required confined spaces.WAC 296-307-64402Inform empl…

important:If the employer's workplace contains only nonpermit confined spaces and employees do not enter another employer's confined space, the employer may follow only the requirements in:1. WAC 296-307-644, Identifying and controlling permit-required confined spaces; and2. WAC …

(1) The employer must provide information about confined spaces as follows:(a) Make available to affected employees and their authorized representatives all information and documents required by this part.(b) Inform affected employees about the existence, location, and danger of …

important:The contractor is responsible for following all confined space requirements in this part and in other rules that apply.The employer must do all of the following if the employer arranges to have another employer (contractor) perform work that involves entry into its perm…

Employer responsibility:To develop the employer's permit-required confined space program and practices.important:This section applies if employees will enter a permit-required confined space.The employer must meet the requirements…in this section:Develop a written permit-required…

important:Identify and evaluate the hazards of permit-required confined spaces and the work performed, to assist the employer in developing its entry program.(1) The employer must develop a written program, before employees enter, that describes the means, procedures, and practic…

(1) The employer must obtain any available information about permit-required confined space hazards and entry operations from the host employer.(2) The employer must coordinate entry operations with any other employers whose employees will be working in or near the permit-require…

Employer responsibility:To make sure employees are trained to perform their designated roles safely.The employer must meet the requirements…in this section:Provide employee training.WAC 296-307-64802Certify employee proficiency.WAC 296-307-64804[Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.010…

(1) The employer must provide training to each employee involved in permit-required confined space activities, so they acquire the understanding, knowledge and skills necessary to safely perform assigned duties.(a) Establish employee proficiency in their confined space duties.(b)…

(1) The employer must certify employee proficiency in their assigned duties.(2) The employer must make sure the certification:(a) Contains each employee's name, the trainer's written or electronic signature or initials, and the dates of training.(b) Is available for inspection by…

Employer responsibility:To establish procedures for the safe permit-required entry of confined spaces.The employer must meet the requirements…in this section:Implement procedures for entry permits.WAC 296-307-65002Use an entry permit that contains all required information.WAC 296…

(1) The employer must identify and evaluate, before employees enter, potential hazards from:(a) The permit-required confined space; and(b) The work to be performed.(2) The employer must complete an entry permit before entry is authorized, documenting that the employer has complet…

(1) The employer must make sure its entry permit identifies all of the following that apply to its entry operation:(a) The space to be entered.(b) Purpose of the entry.(c) Date and the authorized duration of the entry permit.(d) Hazards of the space to be entered.(e) Acceptable e…

(1) The employer must keep entry permits for at least one year.(2) The employer must keep entry permits or other atmospheric monitoring records that show the actual atmosphere an employee entered or worked in, as employee exposure records.(3) The employer must review its permit-r…

The employer must implement measures necessary to prevent unauthorized entry into permit-required confined spaces, when conducting authorized entry.Notes:1. When removing entrance covers to open the confined space, protect entrants and those outside the confined space from hazard…

(1) The employer must provide the equipment in Table 2, when needed and at no cost to employees.(2) The employer must make sure that employees use provided equipment properly.(3) The employer must maintain the provided equipment.Table 2Equipment Provided to Employees at No CostTy…

(1) Evaluate and control hazards for safe entry into permit-required confined spaces by doing all the following:(a) Test for atmospheric hazards, in this order:(i) Oxygen.(ii) Combustible gases and vapors.(iii) Toxic gases and vapors.(b) Provide each entrant or their authorized r…

(1) The employer must make sure they have adequate rescue and emergency services available during their permit-required confined space entry operations.(a) Evaluate and select rescue teams or services who can:(i) Respond to a rescue call in a timely manner. Timeliness is based on…

(1) The employer must use nonentry retrieval systems or methods to rescue entrants in a permit-required confined space unless this:(a) Would increase the overall risk of injury to entrants; or(b) Would not contribute to the rescue of the entrant.(2) The employer must make sure ea…

The employer must make sure that an entry supervisor:(1) Authorizes the entry into a permit-required confined space by signing the entry permit.(2) Oversees entry operations.(3) Knows about the hazards that may be faced during entry, including the mode, signs or symptoms, and con…

important:1. The number of attendants assigned should be tailored to the requirements of the space and the work performed.2. The employer needs to assess if it is appropriate or possible to have multiple permit spaces monitored by a single attendant, or have an attendant statione…

The employer must make sure that all entrants:(1) Know the hazards they may face during entry, including the mode, signs or symptoms, and results of exposure to the hazards.(2) Use equipment properly.(3) Communicate with the attendant as necessary so the attendant can:(a) Monitor…

The employer must terminate entry when entry operations are completed, including securing an entrance cover and canceling the permit.[Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.010, 49.17.040, 49.17.050, and 49.17.060. WSR 20-21-091, § 296-307-65024, filed 10/20/20, effective 11/20/20; WSR 0…

Summary:Employer responsibility:To choose alternate entry procedures for spaces where the only hazard is a hazardous atmosphere.The employer must meet the requirements…in this section:Identifying and controlling permit-required confined spaces.WAC 296-307-644Permit-required confi…

(1) The employer must make sure, when using alternate entry procedures, instead of permit entry procedures, that it has monitoring and inspection data that supports the following:(a) That the only hazard of the permit-required confined space is an actual or potentially hazardous …

(1) The employer must use the following alternate entry procedures:Eliminate any unsafe conditions before removing an entrance cover.(a) When entrance covers are removed, promptly guard the opening with a railing, temporary cover, or other temporary barrier to prevent accidental …

Summary:important:A confined space may be classified as a nonpermit confined space for as long as the hazards remain eliminated. Once a hazard is present, the employer must follow all requirements of this part that apply.Employer responsibility:To make sure any space classified a…

(1) The employer must make sure the confined space meets these conditions to be classified as nonpermit confined spaces:(a) The confined space does not containanactual or potential hazardous atmosphere.(b) The confined space does not contain hazards capable of causing death or se…

(1) The employer must reclassify a nonpermit confined space to a permit-required confined space, if necessary, when changes in the use or configuration of the space increase the hazards to entrants.(2) The employer must make sure all employees exit the space if hazards develop. T…

Acceptable entry conditions. The conditions that must exist in a permit-required confined space to allow safe entry and work.Attendant. An individual stationed outside one or more permit-required confined spaces to monitor the entrants.Blanking or blinding. The absolute closure o…

Emergency response to hazardous substance releases.To state the minimum requirements that help the employer protect the safety and health of its employees during a response to hazardous substance releases in the employer's workplace or any other location.Requirements of this rule…