Washington Administrative Code

The following requirements apply to chemical cleaning of boilers and pressure vessels:(1) Areas where chemical cleaning is in progress must be cordoned off to restrict access during cleaning. If flammable liquids, gases, or vapors or combustible materials will be used or might be…

(1) Chlorine system enclosures must be posted with signs restricting entry and warning of the hazard to health and the hazards of fire and explosion.Note:See chapter 296-62 WAC for requirements necessary to protect the health of employees from the effects of chlorine.(2) Only des…

(1) Before internal furnace or ash hopper repair work is started, overhead areas must be inspected for possible falling objects. If the hazard of falling objects exists, overhead protection such as planking or nets must be provided.(2) When opening an operating boiler door, emplo…

(1) Smoking and other ignition sources are prohibited near hydrogen or hydrogen sealing systems, and signs warning of the danger of explosion and fire must be posted.(2) Excessive hydrogen makeup or abnormal loss of pressure must be considered as an emergency and shall be correct…

(1) Only designated persons may operate railroad equipment.(2) Before a locomotive or locomotive crane is moved, a warning must be given to employees in the area.(3) Employees engaged in switching or dumping cars cannot use their feet to line up drawheads.(4) Drawheads and knuckl…

Employees working on or close to water gates, valves, intakes, forebays, flumes, or other locations where increased or decreased water flow or levels may pose a significant hazard must be warned and must vacate such dangerous areas before water flow changes are made.[Statutory Au…

[Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.010, [49.17].040, [49.17].050 and [49.17].060. WSR 98-07-009, § 296-45-525, filed 3/6/98, effective 5/6/98.]

The following additional requirements apply to work on capacitors and on lines connected to capacitors.Note:See WAC 296-45-335 through 296-45-345 for requirements pertaining to the deenergizing and grounding of capacitor installations.(1) Before employees work on capacitors, the …

The secondary of a current transformer cannot be opened while the transformer is energized. If the primary of the current transformer cannot be deenergized before work is performed on an instrument, a relay, or other section of a current transformer secondary circuit, the circuit…

(1) If the open-circuit voltage exceeds 600 volts, the series streetlighting circuit must be worked in accordance with WAC 296-45-215 or 296-45-385, as appropriate.(2) A series loop may only be opened after the streetlighting transformer has been deenergized and isolated from the…

Sufficient illumination must be provided to enable the employee to perform the work safely.[Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.010, 49.17.040, 49.17.050, 49.17.060 and chapter 49.17 RCW. WSR 19-13-083, § 296-45-52520, filed 6/18/19, effective 8/1/19. Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.01…

(1) Whenever an employee may be pulled or pushed or may fall into water where the danger of drowning exists, the employee will be provided with and must use U.S. Coast Guard approved personal flotation devices.(2) Each personal flotation device must be maintained in safe conditio…

(1)(a) Before work begins in the vicinity of vehicular or pedestrian traffic that may endanger employees, traffic control signs, devices, and barriers must be positioned and used according to the requirements of chapter 296-155 WAC, Part E.(b) When flaggers are used, employers, r…

If there is a possibility of voltage backfeed from sources of cogeneration or from the secondary system (for example, backfeed from more than one energized phase feeding a common load), the requirements of WAC 296-45-325 apply if the lines or equipment are to be worked as energiz…

Laser equipment must be installed, adjusted, and operated in accordance with WAC 296-155-155.Note:Additional information relating to lasers can be found in WAC 296-32-22576.[Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.010, 49.17.040, 49.17.050, 49.17.060 and chapter 49.17 RCW. WSR 19-13-083, …

Hydraulic fluids used for the insulated sections of equipment must provide insulation for the voltage involved.[Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.010, 49.17.040, 49.17.050, 49.17.060 and chapter 49.17 RCW. WSR 19-13-083, § 296-45-52545, filed 6/18/19, effective 8/1/19. Statutory Aut…

Nails and unauthorized attachments should be removed before climbing above such attachments. When through bolts present a hazard to climbing, they must be trimmed to a safe length.[Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.010, 49.17.040, 49.17.050, 49.17.060 and chapter 49.17 RCW. WSR 19-1…

(1) Energized trolley wire must be jumpered when it is to be opened or cut.(2) Reaching over trolley wire(s) or system(s). Qualified electrical employees must not reach over trolley wire(s) unless properly protected by line hose or rubber blanket.(3) Reaching across sectional ins…

(1) These standards which include WAC 296-45-675 apply to work being done on or near any rotorcraft, helicopter crane, or similar device when such device is for power distribution and transmission line construction, alteration, repair or similar work. These standards include work…

Approved rubber gloves. Rubber insulating gloves used for protection of electrical workers from electric shock while working on energized conductors and equipment.Cargo hooks. The cargo hook is the FAA approved primary attachment means to the aircraft. A device attached or suspen…

The helicopter service provider must hold appropriate certification and have a current "FAA Operating Certificate" for the category of operation being performed. (Reference 14 C.F.R. Parts 133, 135, and 137 – Contact the local Flight Standards District Office (FSDO) for assistanc…

(1) All personnel must be physically and mentally able and qualified to perform the work to which they are assigned, including being knowledgeable in these rules.(2) There must be a sufficient number of qualified ground personnel to safely guide, secure, hook and unhook the load.…

(1) Before the commencement of any construction, maintenance, or lifting activity using a helicopter, a job hazard analysis (JHA) must be conducted, which, at a minimum, must:(a) Define the core tasks;(b) Identify specific hazards;(c) Identify mission specific tasks;(d) Describe …

Personal protective equipment when working on, under or in the near vicinity of helicopters:(1) All employees must wear eye protection of such design as to prevent the likelihood of dust or other substances from contacting the eye(s) of employees.(2) All employees must wear ANSI-…

No employee will wear clothing or apparel which is either designed to or in fact can reasonably be expected to flap or otherwise react in a similar fashion in the downwash or air disturbance of a helicopter(s). No employee must work on, under or in the near vicinity of a helicopt…

All loose gear, including lunch boxes, rope, cardboard, wire covers and similar items must be removed or secured or otherwise made fast before the helicopter is started or allowed to approach such area. In the event the gear is not secured or fastened, it must be removed and loca…

(1) When establishing the landing zone, the following items must be considered:• Size and type of helicopter;• Suitability of the planned activity;• Physical barriers or obstructions;• Helicopter touchdown area and congestion in the area.(2) All helicopter landing, loading and un…

(1) The pilot and employer must ensure the pilot is properly rested and fit for duty.(2) The helicopter pilot must be responsible for the size, weight and manner in which loads are connected to the helicopter.(3) No load will be made if the helicopter pilot believes the lift cann…

(1) All cargo hooks must have a primary and secondary release mechanism designed and installed as to prevent inadvertent operation. The hooks primary and secondary release must be tested prior to each day's operation to determine that the release functions properly.(2) No employe…

(1) Work performed at an elevated position and directly under hovering helicopters must be performed only by qualified and capable employees.(a) Work must be limited to the minimum time necessary to guide, secure, hook or unhook the loads, provided that only a single point of att…

All loads must be grounded or bonded with a device capable of discharging either the actual or potential static charge before ground personnel either touch or come close enough to touch the suspended load.[Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.010, 49.17.040, 49.17.050, 49.17.060 and ch…

(1) Weight of the external load must not exceed the manufacturer's load limit.(2) Each helicopter operator utilized in line stringing must be authorized by the Federal Aviation Administration, Part 133, Class C Operations.(3) All line stringing operations must be conducted in acc…

Employees must keep clear of and outside the downwash of the helicopters except as necessary to perform a permitted activity. Where reasonably practical, reduced vision of the operator and ground crew must be eliminated.[Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.010, 49.17.040, 49.17.050, 4…

(1) Communication must be maintained between the air crew and ground personnel at all times by a designated and qualified signalperson. There must be a constant, open line of communication using radios or head and hand signals.(2) Signal systems must be understood by the air crew…

(1) Whenever approaching or leaving a helicopter with blades rotating, all employees must remain in full view of the pilot and remain in a crouched position while within 50 feet of the helicopter. No employee can approach the rear of the helicopter unless directly authorized and …

(1) Aerial hover transfer.(a) Full body harnesses, lanyards, hardware, and attachment points must meet the requirements in ANSI Z359.1-2007.(b) Any employees transferring from a helicopter to a structure/conductor must wear a full body harness and lanyard fixed to an approved att…

(1) The pilot is responsible for the integrity of the rigging for any external load and must ensure safe delivery of the cargo by inspecting and monitoring the security of the rigging throughout the operation. Prior to operations, the pilot must check the condition and applicatio…

Open fires must not be permitted in any area in which said fires will be affected by the downwash of the rotors, nor must any employee smoke in an area subject to the downdraft of the rotor.[Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.010, 49.17.040, 49.17.050, 49.17.060 and chapter 49.17 RCW…

(1) Refueling of any helicopter with either aviation gasoline or Jet B (Turbine) type fuel must be prohibited while the engines are running.(2) Fueling of helicopters using Jet A (Turbine-Kerosene) type fuel is allowed with engines running.(3) All helicopter fueling must comply w…

Nonmandatory.[Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.010, [49.17].040, [49.17].050 and [49.17].060. WSR 98-07-009, § 296-45-900, filed 3/6/98, effective 5/6/98.]

Note:This appendix is identical to 29 C.F.R. 1910.269 Appendix B, Working on Exposed Energized Parts. However, all references to live-line barehand work have been deleted since it is prohibited in Washington state.I. IntroductionElectric utilities design electric power generation…

Protection from Hazardous Differences in Electric PotentialI. IntroductionCurrent passing through an impedance impresses voltage across that impedance. Even conductors have some, albeit low, value of impedance. Therefore, if a "grounded"1 object, such as a crane or deenergized an…

I. IntroductionWhen employees are to perform work on a wood pole, it is important to determine the condition of the pole before employees climb it. The weight of the employee, the weight of equipment to be installed, and other working stresses (such as the removal or retensioning…

I. IntroductionWAC 296-45-325(13) addresses protecting employees from flames and electric arcs. This section requires employers to: (1) Assess the workplace for flame and electric-arc hazards (WAC 296-45-325 (13)(a)); (2) estimate the available heat energy from electric arcs to w…

I. Body BeltsInspect body belts to ensure that:A. The hardware has no cracks, nicks, distortion, or corrosion;B. No loose or worn rivets are present;C. The waist strap has no loose grommets;D. The fastening straps are not 100-percent leather; andE. No worn materials that could af…

Chapter 296-24 WAC, General safety and health standards;Chapter 296-27 WAC, Recordkeeping and reporting;Chapter 296-32 WAC, Safety standards for telecommunications;Chapter 296-36 WAC, Safety standards—Compressed air work;Chapter 296-37 WAC, Standards for commercial diving operati…

[Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.010, 49.17.040, 49.17.050, 49.17.060 and chapter 49.17 RCW. WSR 16-10-082, § 296-45-909, filed 5/3/16, effective 7/1/16.]

The references contained below provide information that can be helpful in understanding and complying with the requirements contained in this chapter. The national consensus standards referenced below contain detailed specifications that employers may follow in complying with the…

Adopted standards.(1) The 2023 edition of the National Electrical Code (NFPA 70 - 2023) including Annex A, B, C, and subsequent Errata and Tentative Interim Amendments issued by the National Fire Protection Association; the latest published versions of Commercial Building Telecom…

All definitions listed in the National Electrical Code and chapter 19.28 RCW are recognized in this chapter unless other specific definitions are given in this chapter and chapter 19.28 RCW. The definitions in this section apply to all parts of this chapter. Some sections may hav…