Washington Administrative Code

Unless the context indicates otherwise, words used in this chapter will have the meaning given in this section.Accident. An unexpected event that interrupts or interferes with the orderly progress of the fire department operations and may or may not include personal injury or pro…

(1) Conditions may exist in operations that a state standard will not have practical use. The director may issue a variance from the requirements of the standard when another means of providing equal protection is provided.(2) Applications for variances will be reviewed and inves…

(1) Notice of injury or illness.(a) Employees must report work-related injuries or illnesses to their employer before the end of their duty period, but not later than twenty-four hours after the incident.(b) Exception: In the event that symptoms of an occupational injury or illne…

(1) After the emergency actions following accidents that cause serious injuries with immediate symptoms or incidents resulting in exposure to occupational disease-causing chemicals or physical agents, a preliminary investigation of the cause must be conducted. The investigation m…

(1) All fire departments must develop and implement a written safety program.(2) Fire department safety programs must have an assigned health and safety officer.(3) Each employer must develop a formal accident-prevention program, tailored to the needs of the fire department and t…

(1) The duties and responsibilities of the fire department health and safety officer must include, but are not limited to:(a) Plan and coordinate safety activities.(b) Work closely with the safety committee.(c) Ensure accidents are investigated.(d) Devise corrective measures to p…

(1) It must be the responsibility of management to establish, supervise, maintain, and enforce, in a manner which is effective in practice:(a) A safe and healthful working environment, as it applies to both nonemergency and emergency conditions.(b) An accident prevention program …

(1) Firefighters must cooperate with the employer and other employees in efforts to eliminate accidents.(2) Each firefighter or other employee must comply with the provisions of this chapter which are applicable to their own actions and conduct in the course of their employment.(…

(1) The employer must furnish and require the use of appropriate safety devices and safeguards. All work methods, and operations must be so designed as to promote the safety and health of employees. The employer must do everything reasonably necessary to protect the safety and he…

(1) All firefighters except directors of fire departments and the directors' designated personnel, must have as a minimum first-aid training as evidenced by a current, valid first-aid card, EMT or First Responder certification.(2) New firefighters must have such first-aid trainin…

(1) To ensure the emergency medical care of the firefighters there must be present at each emergency incident at least the following items:1 (one) utility scissors, EMT-type1 CPR barrier3 (three) rolls 1 inch adhesive tape6 (six) 4" x 4" sterile, individually wrapped gauze pads4 …

Note:For wildland firefighting personal protective equipment and clothing requirements see WAC 296-305-07012, Personal protective clothing and equipment for wildland firefighting.(1) Employers must provide and maintain at no cost to the employee the appropriate protective ensembl…

(1) All SFF clothing purchased after January 1, 2014, must meet the requirements of the 1991 edition of NFPA 1971, Standard on Protective Clothing for Structural Fire Fighting, or the 1997 edition of NFPA 1971, Standard on Protective Ensemble for Structural Fire Fighting. Firefig…

(1) Face and eye protection.(a) Face and eye protection shall be provided for and used by firefighters engaged in fire suppression and other operations involving hazards to the eye and face at all times when the face isn't protected by the full facepiece of the SCBA. Primary face…

Fire departments that use protective body armor must comply with the following:(1) If the employer's PPE assessment required by WAC 296-800-16005 documents a need for body armor, the employer must provide the necessary equipment and ensure that:(a) The body armor fits properly;(b…

(1) Each firefighter engaged in structural firefighting requiring the use of SCBA must wear and use a PASS device. PASS devices must meet the requirements of the 1993 edition of NFPA 1982, Standard on Personal Alert Safety Systems (PASS) for Firefighters. (See WAC 296-305-07001 t…

(1) All previously purchased life safety ropes, harnesses, and hardware used by fire departments must meet the applicable requirements of the 2001 edition of NFPA 1983, Standard on Life Safety Rope and System Components. Ropes and equipment purchased after the effective date of t…

(1) Firefighters who perform emergency medical care or otherwise may be exposed to blood or other body fluids must be provided with emergency medical face protection devices, and emergency medical garments that meet the applicable requirements of the 1999 edition of NFPA 1999, St…

(1) Fire department personnel involved in hazardous materials incidents must be protected against potential chemical hazards. Chemical protective clothing must be selected according to the technical data package provided by the clothing manufacturer and used to protect the skin, …

(1) Firefighter's self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) must, at a minimum, meet the requirements of the 1997 edition of NFPA 1981, Standard on Open-Circuit Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus for Fire Fighters. Equipment purchased after the effective date of this rule must me…

(1) All new fire apparatus with the exception of specialized equipment, must conform to the following minimum safety standards contained in the 2009 edition of NFPA 1901, Standard for Automotive Fire Apparatus, or the 2006 Edition of NFPA 1906, Standard for Wildland Fire Apparatu…

(1) Vehicles used to transport firefighters and employer representatives must have compartments for carrying sharp tools, saws, chisels, axes, etc., or if carried on the outside of the apparatus, equipment with sharp points and edges must be covered to prevent injury to firefight…

(1) Each employer of staffed fire apparatus must establish a written policy and procedure whereby the apparatus has a scheduled daily operational check. Each employer of unstaffed fire apparatus must establish a schedule appropriate to that department's activities.(2) Any item fo…

(1) If at any time a fire apparatus is found to be in an unsafe condition, it must be reported immediately to the officer on duty.(2) If in the driver or duty officer's determination, the apparatus cannot be used in a safe manner, it must be taken out of service until it has been…

(1) All new aerial devices must be constructed and initially tested in accordance with the 2009 edition of NFPA 1901, Standard for Automotive Apparatus.(2) All aerial devices must be operated in accordance with the manufacturer's recommendations.(3) All aerial devices must be mai…

(1) The fire department must establish an incident management system (IMS) consistent with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security National Incident Management System (NIMS) with written guidelines applying to all members involved in emergency operations.(a) All members involved…

(1) Before beginning interior structural firefighting operations, the incident commander must evaluate the situation and risks to operating teams.(2) The "initial stages" of an incident must encompass the tasks undertaken by the first arriving company with only one crew assigned …

(1) Fire departments must develop written guidelines that outline a systematic approach for the rehabilitation of members operating at incidents and training exercises. The following components must be included in this guideline:(a) Supervisor's role in identifying climate condit…

(1) Fire departments that expect to respond to aircraft fires must meet the applicable portions of the 2008 edition of NFPA 402, Guide for Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting Operations.(2) Airport based fire departments must meet the applicable portions of the 2008 edition of the N…

(1) The following sections apply to fire departments that choose to operate for any type of technical rescue operations addressed in WAC 296-305-05113 at the following levels:•Operations level. This level represents the capability of organizations to respond to technical rescue i…

(1) Training must be provided to correspond to the operational level of the fire department. All fire departments which will be expected to perform at the operations level or higher operational level must be trained to that level.Note:The 2008 edition of NFPA 1006, Standard for T…

Fire departments that choose to operate above the awareness level for technical rescue incidents must establish written procedures outlining the operational level of their department that are specific to their chosen level of response and the type of technical rescue operations t…

(1) Fire departments or a consortium of departments that choose to operate at the operations level or above must create a written special operations incident response plan for the specific type(s) of technical rescue at which they plan to operate at or above the operations level.…

(1) Equipment.(a) Equipment necessary for operations at technical rescue incidents, along with training exercises, must be provided by the fire department.(b) Training must be provided to ensure that all equipment is used and maintained according to the manufacturer's instruction…

(1) General.(a) All employees must be trained on:(i) The hazards and risks associated with department's chosen level of technical rescue operations.(ii) How to conduct technical rescue operations at the department's chosen level while minimizing threats to rescuers.(iii) How to u…

Note:When chapters of NFPA 1670, Standard on Operations and Training for Technical Rescue Incidents, are required by the following sections, internal references requiring compliance with further NFPAs or additional resources are not included in these requirements.(1) Structural c…

(1) The employer must provide training, education and ongoing development for all members commensurate with those duties and functions that members are expected to perform.(a) Training and education must be provided to members before they perform emergency activities.(b) Fire ser…

(1) All portable equipment must be inspected routinely to ensure that it is ready for use.(2) Any defective equipment must be removed from service.(3) Nylon utility straps or straps of equivalent strength should be used instead of hose belts. The utility strap must be of one-inch…

(1) All fire suppression and supply hose must be tested annually as well as when there is reason to believe the hose has been damaged. Testing must be in accordance with the 2003 edition of NFPA 1962, Standard for the Inspection, Care, and Use of Fire Hose, Couplings, and Nozzles…

This section establishes the minimum requirements for the construction, care and use of fire department ground ladders.(1) New ground ladders purchased after the effective date of this chapter must be constructed and certified in accordance with the 2004 edition of NFPA 1931, Sta…

(1) Temporary power and lighting with the use of 110 - 120 VAC and 220 - 240 VAC equipment.(a) All lighting equipment must be provided with heavy duty flexible cords with SO or SJ jackets or equivalent. All lighting equipment must be used with heavy duty flexible extension cords …

WAC 296-305-06501 through 296-305-06519 pertain to all fire department facilities as defined in WAC 296-305-01005.[Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.010, 49.17.040, 49.17.050, 49.17.060 and 29 C.F.R. 1910.156, Fire brigades. WSR 13-05-070, § 296-305-06501, filed 2/19/13, effective 1…

(1) Stations and administrative offices must comply with the requirements of the general occupational health standards, WAC 296-800-210, Lighting in the workplace.(2) Every new fire station, whether manned or unmanned, must be equipped with an approved emergency lighting system t…

(1) Fire departments must provide facilities for disinfecting, cleaning, and storage.(2) A designated cleaning area must be provided for under the fire department's exposure control plan for the cleaning and disinfecting of protective equipment, portable equipment, and other clot…

(1) All sleeping areas in fire stations must be separated from vehicle storage areas by at least one-hour fire resistive assemblies.(2) Sleeping areas must be protected by smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.[Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.010, 49.17.040, 49.17.050, and 49.17.060…

(1) Three feet of clearance must be maintained around apparatus parked within the station where the station's width permits.(2) All fire stations built after December 17, 1977, must have a minimum of three feet of clearance around the apparatus, which must be maintained free of a…

Air quality must be consistent with chapter 296-841 WAC, Airborne contaminants, and WAC 296-800-240, Environmental tobacco smoke.(1) If indoor air monitoring indicates over-exposure to contaminant PELs, engineering controls must be utilized to reduce firefighter exposure to the l…

(1) Refueling pumps, if installed, must be in accordance with the provisions of the International Fire Code and WAC 296-24-33015.(2) Dispensing of Class 1 liquids must be as required in the International Fire Code.(3) Spillage of oil or fuel must be properly disposed of or comple…

(1) The floor openings on hose tower platforms must be equipped with a forty-two inch guardrail with midrail and must be capable of withstanding a force of 250 pounds applied in any direction at any point on the top rail. The work platform must be equipped with toeboards.(2) The …

(1) Permanent fixed ladders on the outside of drill towers and drill buildings are exempt from the requirements of offset platform landings and ladder cage guards.(2) Drill tower construction and operations must comply with the following:(a) Burn buildings used for live fire trai…