Washington Administrative Code

WAC SectionsFIELD OPERATIONS AND GENERAL REQUIREMENTSPart AGeneral and Educational RequirementsHTMLPDF296-307-003Navigating this chapter.HTMLPDF296-307-006Scope.HTMLPDF296-307-009Definitions that apply to this chapter.HTMLPDF296-307-012Equipment approved by a nonstate organizatio…

WAC SectionsFIELD OPERATIONS AND GENERAL REQUIREMENTSPart AGeneral and Educational RequirementsHTMLPDF296-307-003Navigating this chapter.HTMLPDF296-307-006Scope.HTMLPDF296-307-009Definitions that apply to this chapter.HTMLPDF296-307-012Equipment approved by a nonstate organizatio…

WAC SectionsFIELD OPERATIONS AND GENERAL REQUIREMENTSPart AGeneral and Educational RequirementsHTMLPDF296-307-003Navigating this chapter.HTMLPDF296-307-006Scope.HTMLPDF296-307-009Definitions that apply to this chapter.HTMLPDF296-307-012Equipment approved by a nonstate organizatio…

WAC SectionsFIELD OPERATIONS AND GENERAL REQUIREMENTSPart AGeneral and Educational RequirementsHTMLPDF296-307-003Navigating this chapter.HTMLPDF296-307-006Scope.HTMLPDF296-307-009Definitions that apply to this chapter.HTMLPDF296-307-012Equipment approved by a nonstate organizatio…

Employer responsibility: To provide and maintain adequate lighting in the workplace.[Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.010, 49.17.040, 49.17.050, and 49.17.060. WSR 20-21-091, § 296-307-570, filed 10/20/20, effective 11/20/20. Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.010, [49.17].040, and [49…

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.(1) The employer must provide and maintain adequate lighting…

Employer responsibility:To eliminate exposure to environmental tobacco smoke in the office work environment.The employer must prohibit tobacco smoke in the office work environment.WAC 296-307-59005Note:This rule does not preempt any federal, state, municipal, or other local autho…

Exemption:The minimum criteria specified in this rule do not apply to outdoor structures provided for smokers such as gazebos or lean-tos that maintain the twenty-five-feet distance from entrances, exits, windows that open, and ventilation intakes that serve an enclosed area wher…

This part applies to all use of respirators at work.IMPORTANT:Before the employer decides to use respirators, the employer is required to evaluate respiratory hazards and implement control methods as outlined in WAC 296-307-624 through 296-307-628, Respiratory hazards.The term "r…

Employer responsibility:To make sure a capable individual is in charge of respirator program development and management.[Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.010, 49.17.040, 49.17.050, and 49.17.060. WSR 20-21-091, § 296-307-596, filed 10/20/20, effective 11/20/20; WSR 05-01-166, § 296…

Exemption:The employer does not need to designate a program administrator if employees use only filtering-facepiece respirators and do so only as voluntary use.Definition:Voluntary use. Respirator use that is requested by the employee AND permitted by the employer when NO respira…

Employer responsibility:To make sure voluntary use of respirators by employees does not create job safety or health hazards.The employer must meet the requirements…in this section:Make sure voluntary use of respirators is safe.WAC 296-307-59805Keep voluntary use respirator progra…

Definition:Voluntary use. Respirator use that is requested by the employee AND permitted by the employer when NO respiratory hazard exists.IMPORTANT:If the employer chooses to require respirator use, use is NOT voluntary and the required use sections of this part apply.(1) The em…

Exemption:If employees use only filtering-facepiece respirators voluntarily, the employer does not need to follow these recordkeeping requirements.(1) The employer must keep copies of:(a) The current written respirator program;(b) Written recommendations from the LHCP;(2) The emp…

Employer responsibility:To develop, implement, and maintain a written program that provides clear instruction for safe and reliable respirator use.The employer must meet the requirements…in this section:Develop and maintain a written program.WAC 296-307-60005Keep respirator progr…

Exemption:This section does NOT apply to respirator use that is voluntary. See WAC 296-307-59805 for voluntary use program requirements.(1) The employer must develop a complete worksite-specific written respiratory protection program that includes the applicable elements listed i…

(1) The employer must keep the following records:(a) Current respirator program;(b) Each employee's current fit test record, if fit testing is conducted. Fit test records must include:(i) Employee name;(ii) Test date;(iii) Type of fit-test performed;(iv) Description (type, manufa…

Employer responsibility:To select and provide respirators that are appropriate for the hazard, user, and worksite conditions.Exemption:This section does NOT apply to voluntary respirator use. See WAC 296-307-598 of this part for voluntary use program requirements.[Statutory Autho…

IMPORTANT:See WAC 296-307-624 Scope, for:1. Hazard evaluation requirements. Evaluation results are necessary for respirator selection.2. A list of substance-specific rules that may also apply. Those listed rules have additional respirator selection requirements.The employer must …

Employer responsibility:To make sure a respirator used under the employer's specific worksite conditions is not a health risk to employees.Exemption:This section does NOT apply to employees who only use: 1. Filtering-facepiece respirators voluntarily. See WAC 296-307-598 of this …

IMPORTANT:If the employer has provided an employee with a medical evaluation addressing respirator use, as required by another chapter, that evaluation will meet the requirements of this section.The employer must follow the medical evaluation process, Steps 1 through 7 in this se…

Employer responsibility:To make sure negative and positive-pressure tight-fitting respirators can provide an adequate fit and acceptable level of comfort to employees.Exemption:This section does NOT apply to any respirators that are: 1. Voluntarily used. See WAC 296-307-598 for v…

(1) The employer must provide, at no cost to the employee, fit tests for all tight fitting respirators on the following schedule:(a) Before employees are assigned duties that may require the use of respirators;(b) At least every twelve months after initial testing;(c) Whenever an…

Employer responsibility:To make sure employees who are required to use respirators understand and can demonstrate proper respirator use and maintenance.important:This section applies to employees who voluntarily use respirators only when training is necessary to prevent the respi…

(1) The employer must train employees, based on their duties, if they do any of the following:(a) Use respirators;(b) Supervise respirator users;(c) Issue, repair, or adjust respirators.(2) The employer must present effective training in a way that employees understand.Notes:1. T…

Employer responsibility:To make sure respirators are maintained so they will function properly and not create health hazards such as skin irritation.The employer must meet the requirements…in this section:Maintain respirators in a clean and reliable condition.WAC 296-307-61005Sto…

(1) The employer must make sure respirators are kept, at no cost to the employee, clean, sanitary and in good working order. Do at least the following:Clean and disinfect respirators as often as specified in Table 8 of this section.Notes:1. Use required cleaning and disinfecting …

(1) The employer must store respirators to protect them from all of the following:(a) Deformation of the facepiece or exhalation valve;(b) Sunlight or extreme temperatures or other conditions;(c) Contamination such as dust or damaging chemicals;(d) Excessive moisture.Note:Use cof…

(1) The employer must conduct respirator inspections as often as specified in Table 9.(2) The employer must make sure respirator inspections cover all of the following:(a) Respirator function;(b) Tightness of connections;(c) The condition of the facepiece, head straps, valves, co…

Employer responsibility:To make sure respirator use and removal is safe.Exemption:These sections do not apply to employees who voluntarily use any type of respirator. See WAC 296-307-598 for voluntary use requirements.The employer must meet the requirements…in this section:Preven…

(1) The employer must make sure employees use the procedure in WAC 296-307-62020 to perform a user seal check each time they put on their tight-fitting respirator.(2) The employer must make sure employees do NOT use a respirator if employees have a characteristic that interferes …

The employer must make sure employees leave the use area for any of these reasons:(1) To replace air-purifying filters, cartridges, or canisters;(2) When they smell or taste (detect) vapor or gas leakage from, for example, cartridges, canister, or the facepiece seal;(3) When they…

Employer responsibility:To provide adequate assistance to employees using respirators in conditions immediately dangerous to life or health (IDLH).[Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.010, 49.17.040, 49.17.050, and 49.17.060. WSR 20-21-091, § 296-307-614, filed 10/20/20, effective 11/…

important:WISHA currently uses the IDLH values in the 1990 NIOSH Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards to determine the existence of IDLH conditions. The employer may use more recent editions of this guide. Visit https://www.cdc.gov/niosh for more information.(1) The employer must pro…

Employer responsibility:To provide employees who use SCBAs or air-line respirators with an acceptable air supply.The employer must meet the requirements…in this section:Make sure breathing air and oxygen meet established specifications.WAC 296-307-61605Prevent conditions that cou…

(1) The employer must make sure that all SCBAs and air-line respirators are provided with safe breathing air and oxygen according to the following:Compressed breathing air must meet the following specifications for Grade D air:(a) Oxygen (volume/volume) within 19.5-23.5%;(b) Hydr…

(1) The employer must use SCBA and air-line respirators safely:Do NOT supply compressed oxygen to SCBAs or air-line respirators that previously used compressed air.Note:Compressed air leaves residues containing hydrocarbons such as oil or grease. Fire or explosion can occur if co…

important:1. Ambient-air movers (or pumps) used to supply air to respirators must be used according to the manufacturer's instructions.2. Respirators used with ambient-air movers must be approved by NIOSH to operate within the pressure ranges of the air mover.(1) The employer mus…

Employer responsibility:To make sure employees, their supervisors, and program administrators can easily check for the correct air-purifying filters, cartridges, and canisters on respirators.Exemption:This section does NOT apply to filtering-facepiece respirators when used volunt…

The employer must make sure the NIOSH certification labeling and color-coding on air-purifying respirator filters, cartridges, and canisters remains readable and intact during use.[Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.010, 49.17.040, 49.17.050, and 49.17.060. WSR 20-21-091, § 296-307-6…

Employer responsibility:To use the procedures and questionnaire provided in this section when implementing a respiratory protection program.The employer must meet the requirements…in this section:Use this medical questionnaire for medical evaluations.WAC 296-307-62005Follow these…

The employer must use the medical questionnaire in Table 10 when conducting medical evaluations.Note:1. The employer may use a physical exam instead of this questionnaire if the exam covers the same information as the questionnaire. 2. The employer may use online questionnaires i…

important:1. This section contains procedural requirements that apply during actual fit testing.2. See WAC 296-307-606 of this part for fit-testing requirements that apply to the employer's overall program.Exemption:This section does NOT apply to employees who: 1. Voluntarily use…

The employer must follow the procedure in Table 20 for cleaning and disinfecting respirators.Table 20Respirator Cleaning ProcedureStepTask1.Remove filters, cartridges, canisters, speaking diaphragms, demand and pressure valve assemblies, hoses, or any components recommended by th…

important:1. User seal checks are not a substitute for fit tests. See WAC 296-307-62010 for fit test procedures.2. The employer may use a seal check procedure recommended by the respirator manufacturer instead of the procedure outlined in Table 21 if the employer can demonstrate …

Air-purifying respirator (APR). A respirator equipped with an air-purifying element such as a filter, cartridge, or canister, or having a filtering facepiece, for example, a dust mask.The element or filtering facepiece is designed to remove specific contaminants, such as particle…

(1) This part applies only if employees:(a) Are exposed to a respiratory hazard;or(b) Could be exposed to one of the specific hazards listed below.(2) This part applies to any workplace with potential or actual employee exposure to respiratory hazards. It requires the employer to…

Employer responsibility:To protect employees from exposure to respiratory hazards in the workplace by identifying and controlling the hazards.The employer must meet the requirements…in this section:Identify and evaluate employee exposures.WAC 296-307-62605Control employee exposur…

(1) The employer must make sure employees are protected from potentially hazardous exposure while the employer performs an evaluation.(2) The employer must perform the evaluation without considering the protection provided to employees by a respirator.(3) The employer must determ…

The employer must use feasible controls to protect employees from exposure to respiratory hazards by: (1) Reducing employee exposure to a level that removes the respiratory hazard, such as to a level below the permissible exposure limit (PEL) in Table 3;or(2) Reducing the exposur…