Washington Administrative Code

(1) The employer must ensure that the leadworker conducts a job briefing with the employees involved before they start each job.(2) The employer must provide the employee in charge of the job with all available information that relates to the determination of existing characteris…

The provisions of this section apply to the use of lockout/tagout procedures for the control of energy sources in installations for the purpose of electric power generation, including related equipment for communication or metering. Locking and tagging procedures for the deenergi…

(1) The employer must establish a program consisting of energy control procedures, employee training, and periodic inspections to ensure that, before any employee performs any servicing or maintenance on a machine or equipment where the unexpected energizing, start up, or release…

(1) Retraining must be provided for all authorized/designated and affected employees whenever there is a change in their job assignments, a change in machines, equipment, or processes that present a new hazard or whenever there is a change in the energy control procedures.(2) Ret…

(1) Locks, tags, chains, wedges, key blocks, adapter pins, self-locking fasteners, or other hardware must be provided by the employer for isolating, securing, or blocking of machines or equipment from energy sources.(2) Lockout devices and tagout devices must be singularly identi…

Lockout and tagout device application and removal may only be performed by the authorized/designated employees who are performing the servicing or maintenance.[Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.010, 49.17.040, 49.17.050, 49.17.060 and chapter 49.17 RCW. WSR 16-10-082, § 296-45-17520…

Affected employees must be notified by the employer or authorized/designated employee of the application and removal of lockout or tagout devices. Notification will be given before the controls are applied and after they are removed from the machine or equipment.Note:This section…

The established procedures for the application of energy control (the lockout or tagout procedures) must include the following elements and actions, and these procedures must be performed in the following sequence:(1) Before an authorized/designated or affected employee turns off…

Following the application of lockout or tagout devices to energy isolating devices, all potentially hazardous stored or residual energy must be relieved, disconnected, restrained, or otherwise rendered safe.(1) If there is a possibility of reaccumulation of stored energy to a haz…

Before lockout or tagout devices are removed and energy is restored to the machine or equipment, procedures must be followed and actions taken by the authorized/designated employees to ensure the following:(1) The work area must be inspected to ensure that nonessential items have…

If the lockout or tagout devices must be temporarily removed from energy isolating devices and the machine or equipment must be energized to test or position the machine, equipment, or component thereof, the following sequence of actions must be followed:(1) Clear the machine or …

When servicing or maintenance is performed by a crew, craft, department, or other group, they must use a procedure which affords the employees a level of protection equivalent to that provided by the implementation of a personal lockout or tagout device. Group lockout or tagout d…

Procedures must be used during shift or personnel changes to ensure the continuity of lockout or tagout protection, including provision for the orderly transfer of lockout or tagout device protection between off-going and on-coming employees, to minimize their exposure to hazards…

Whenever outside servicing personnel are to be engaged in activities covered by this section, the on-site employer and the outside employer must inform each other of their respective lockout or tagout procedures, and each employer must ensure that their personnel understand and c…

If energy isolating devices are installed in a central location under the exclusive control of a system operator, the following requirements apply:(1) The employer must use a procedure that affords employees a level of protection equivalent to that provided by the implementation …

(1) During excavation or trenching, in order to prevent exposure of employees to the hazards created by damage to dangerous underground facilities, efforts must be made to determine the location of such facilities and work conducted in a manner designed to avoid damage.(2) Trench…

This section covers enclosed spaces that may be entered by employees. It does not apply to vented vaults if the employer makes a determination that the ventilation system is operating to protect employees before they enter the space. This section applies to routine entry into enc…

This section provides additional requirements for work on underground electrical installations.(1) Protective barriers, or approved guards and warning signs must be erected before removing manhole covers or making excavations in places accessible to vehicular or pedestrian traffi…

(1) General.(a) Each employee must be knowledgeable of the equipment provided for their use and must at all times use this equipment only for the purpose intended.(b) U.R.D. cables which are properly insulated for the voltages to which they are energized must be considered as an …

(1) Rubber protective equipment must be in accordance with and tested as follows:ItemStandardRubber Insulating Gloves(ASTM) D 120-2002Rubber Matting for Use(ASTM) D 178-2001 Around Electrical Apparatus Rubber Insulating Blankets(ASTM) D 1048-1999Rubber Insulating Hoods(ASTM) D 10…

(1) General. Personal protective equipment (PPE) must meet the requirements of chapter 296-24 WAC, Part L and the PPE requirements in chapter 296-800 WAC. PPE required by these chapters or a hazard assessment will be provided by the employer at no cost to the employee.(2) All pro…

(1) Personal fall arrest systems must meet the requirements of chapter 296-880 WAC, Unified safety standards for fall protection.(2) Personal fall arrest equipment used by employees who are exposed to hazards from flames or electric arcs, as determined by the employer under WAC 2…

(1) General. Requirements for ladders contained in chapter 296-876 WAC apply, except as specifically noted in subsection (2) of this section.(2) Special ladders and platforms. Portable ladders and platforms used on structures or conductors in conjunction with overhead line work n…

(1) General requirements.(a) The employer must assure that each hand and portable powered tool, including any tool provided by an employee, is maintained in serviceable condition.(b) The employer must assure that each tool, including any tool provided by an employee, is inspected…

(1) Each chain saw placed into initial service after February 9, 1995, must be equipped with a chain brake and must otherwise meet the requirements of the ANSI B175.1-2012 "Safety Requirements for Gasoline-Powered Chain Saws." Each chain saw placed into service before February 9,…

(1) Design of tools. Live-line tool rods, tubes, and poles must be designed and constructed to withstand the following minimum tests:(a) 100,000 volts per foot (3281 volts per centimeter) of length for 5 minutes if the tool is made of fiberglass-reinforced plastic (FRP); or(b) 75…

(1) General. Material handling and storage must conform to the requirements of chapter 296-24 WAC, Part D.(2) Materials storage near energized lines or equipment. In areas not restricted to qualified electrical employees only, materials or equipment cannot be stored closer to ene…

This section applies to work on exposed live parts, or near enough to them, to expose the employee to any hazard they present.(1) General. Only qualified electrical employees may work on or with exposed energized lines or parts of equipment. Only qualified electrical employees ma…

(1) Application. This section applies to the deenergizing of transmission and distribution lines and equipment for the purpose of protecting employees. Control of hazardous energy sources used in the generation of electric energy is covered in WAC 296-45-175. Conductors and parts…

(1) Application. This section applies to the grounding of transmission and distribution lines and equipment for the purpose of protecting employees. Subsection (4) of this section also applies to the protective grounding of other equipment as required elsewhere in this section.(2…

(1) Grounding. A capacitance charge can remain in the high voltage cables after it has been disconnected from the circuit and a static-type arc can occur when grounds are applied to such cables.(2) When work is to be done on cables or equipment of a high-voltage underground syste…

(1) Application. This section provides for safe work practices for high-voltage and high-power testing performed in laboratories, shops, and substations, and in the field and on electric transmission and distribution lines and equipment. It applies only to testing involving inter…

(1) General requirements.(a) Other applicable requirements. Mechanical equipment must be operated in accordance with applicable requirements in other chapters, including chapter 296-155 WAC, Parts L, M, and R, and chapter 296-869 WAC, except that WAC 296-155-605 (1)(h) and 296-15…

This section provides additional requirements for work performed on or near overhead lines and equipment.(1) General.(a) Before elevated structures and adjacent structures, such as poles or towers of the adjacent supporting poles, structures, and conductor supporting hardware, ar…

This section provides additional requirements for line-clearance tree-trimming operations and for equipment used in these operations.This section does not apply to qualified electrical employees.(1) Before an employee climbs, enters, or works around any tree, a determination must…

(1) Brush chippers must be equipped with a locking device in the ignition system.(2) Access panels for maintenance and adjustment of the chipper blades and associated drive train must be in place and secure during operation of the equipment. Servicing and maintenance must be perf…

(1) Walking and working surfaces of sprayers and related equipment must be covered with slip-resistant material. If slipping hazards cannot be eliminated, slip-resistant footwear or handrails and stair rails meeting the requirements of chapter 296-24 WAC, Part J-1, and WAC 296-80…

(1) Stump cutters must be equipped with enclosures or guards to protect employees.(2) Each employee in the immediate area of stump grinding operations (including the stump cutter operator) must wear personal protective equipment as required by WAC 296-45-25505.[Statutory Authorit…

(1) While a backpack power unit is running, no one other than the operator may be within 10 feet (305 cm) of the cutting head of a brush saw.(2) A backpack power unit must be equipped with a quick shutoff switch readily accessible to the operator.(3) Backpack power unit engines m…

(1) Climbing ropes must be used by employees working aloft in trees. These ropes must have a minimum diameter of 0.5 inch (1.2 cm) with a minimum breaking strength of 2300 pounds (10.2 kN). Synthetic rope must have elasticity of not more than 7 percent.(2) Rope must be inspected …

Each employee must be tied in with a climbing rope and safety saddle when the employee is working above the ground in a tree, unless they are ascending into the tree.[Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.010, 49.17.040, 49.17.050, 49.17.060 and chapter 49.17 RCW. WSR 19-13-083, § 296-4…

(1) Microwave transmission. The employer must ensure that no employee looks into an open waveguide or antenna that is connected to an energized microwave source.(2) If the electromagnetic radiation level within an accessible area associated with microwave communications systems e…

This section provides additional requirements for substations and for work performed in them.(1) Access and working space. Sufficient access and working space must be provided and maintained about electric equipment to permit ready and safe operation and maintenance of such equip…

This section provides additional requirements and related work practices for power generating plants.[Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.010, [49.17].040, [49.17].050 and [49.17].060. WSR 98-07-009, § 296-45-485, filed 3/6/98, effective 5/6/98.]

(1) Interlocks and other safety devices must be maintained in a safe, operable condition.(2) No interlock or other safety device may be modified to defeat its function, except for test, repair, or adjustment of the device.[Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.010, 49.17.040, 49.17.050,…

Before exciter or generator brushes are changed while the generator is in service, the exciter or generator field must be checked to determine whether a ground condition exists. The brushes cannot be changed while the generator is energized if a ground condition exists.[Statutory…

Sufficient access and working space must be provided and maintained about electric equipment to permit ready and safe operation and maintenance of such equipment.Note:Guidelines for the dimensions of access and workspace about electric equipment in generating stations are contain…

(1) Rooms and spaces in which electric supply lines or equipment are installed must meet the requirements of this section under the following conditions:(a) If exposed live parts operating at 50 to 150 volts to ground are located within eight feet of the ground or other working s…

(1) Guards must be provided around all live parts operating at more than 150 volts to ground without an insulating covering, unless the location of the live parts gives sufficient horizontal or vertical or a combination of these clearances to minimize the possibility of accidenta…

The following requirements apply to work in water and steam spaces associated with boilers:(1) A designated employee must inspect conditions before work is permitted and after its completion. Eye protection, or full face protection if necessary, must be worn at all times when con…