Washington Administrative Code

(1) You 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) You must make sure each entrant uses a …

You 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 consequences…

Important:1. The number of attendants assigned should be tailored to the requirements of the space and the work performed.2. You need to assess if it is appropriate or possible to have multiple permit spaces monitored by a single attendant, or have an attendant stationed at a loc…

You 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 entrant …

You must make sure you terminate the 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, 49.17.060. WSR 15-24-102, § 296-809-50024, filed 12/1/15, effective 1/5/16; WSR…

Your responsibility:To know when you can use alternative methods and documentation.Important:In addition to this section, you also need to meet the requirements in the following sections of this chapter:1. WAC 296-809-200 Identify and control permit-required confined spaces.2. WA…

(1) You may enter permit-required confined spaces without a permit using alternative methods when you have monitoring and inspection data that supports the following:(a) You have eliminated all the hazards1; or(b) You have eliminated all of the physical hazards1,2, and continuous…

(1) You must implement your procedures for hazard elimination and alternative methods from your written program.(2) Before entry, eliminate any unsafe conditions including removing an entrance cover.When entrance covers are removed, promptly guard the opening with a railing, temp…

Buddy-breathing device. An equipment accessory for self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) that permits a second person (a "buddy") to share the air supply used by the SCBA wearer.Extinguisher classification. The letter classification given an extinguisher to designate the clas…

This chapter applies if you choose to establish a fire brigade.Note:Nothing in this chapter requires you to establish an employee fire brigade.[Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.010, 49.17.040, 49.17.050, and 49.17.060. WSR 17-18-075, § 296-811-100, filed 9/5/17, effective 10/6/17; …

Your responsibility:To decide on brigade functions in the workplace and make sure brigade members are capable of doing them.You must meet the requirements…in this section:Organizing statementWAC 296-811-20005Physical capability of brigade membersWAC 296-811-20010[Statutory Author…

You must develop a written fire brigade policy that is available for inspection by employees or their designated representatives, that covers all of the following:(1) The role and responsibilities of the fire brigade in the workplace.(2) The basic organizational structure of the …

You must make sure brigade members who are assigned to fight interior structural fires are physically capable of doing this activity.Do not permit employees with known physical limitations that can be reasonably identified, such as heart disease or seizure disorder, to participat…

Your responsibility:To inform brigade members of special hazards in the workplace and train them for their brigade functions.You must meet the requirements…in this section:Special hazardsWAC 296-811-30005Firefighting trainingWAC 296-811-30010[Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.010, 4…

(1) You must develop, include in training, and make available to brigade members, written procedures that describe the following:(a) The special hazards they may encounter in their workplace.(b) The actions they need to take in situations that involve these hazards.(2) You must i…

(1) You must make sure training that a brigade member receives elsewhere that meets one or more requirements in Table 1, Training for brigade members, has been:(a) Received within the past year;(b) Documented as having been received, such as with a completion certificate.(2) You …

Your responsibility:To provide brigade members with equipment and protective clothing appropriate for their brigade functions.You must meet the requirements…in this section:Firefighting equipmentWAC 296-811-40005Protective clothingWAC 296-811-40010Self-contained breathing apparat…

(1) You must provide appropriate firefighting equipment for the fire brigade.(2) You must inspect and maintain brigade firefighting equipment according to Table 2, Fire Brigade Equipment Inspection and Maintenance.Table 2: Fire Brigade Equipment Inspection and MaintenanceFor this…

You must provide appropriate protective clothing for fire brigade members who do interior structural firefighting. Make sure protective clothing is:(1) Provided at no cost.(2) Meets the requirements for foot, body, hand, eye, face, and head protection found in another chapter, Sa…

(1) Provide SCBAs, other than escape self-contained breathing apparatus' (ESCBAs), and make sure they are used by each fire brigade member who does interior structural firefighting.(2) Make sure SCBAs do the following:(a) Meet the requirements found in chapter 296-842 WAC, Respir…

Your responsibility:To make sure brigade members use safe practices during interior structural firefighting.You must meet the requirements…in this section:Brigade members in interior structural firesWAC 296-811-50005[Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.010, 49.17.040, 49.17.050, and 4…

important:Nothing in this section is meant to prevent fire brigade members assigned to respond to fires from rescue activities in an immediately dangerous to life and health (IDLH) atmosphere before the whole team assigned to respond to fires has arrived.(1) You must make sure at…

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 …

The purpose of this chapter is to:(1) Prevent employee hearing loss by minimizing employee noise exposures; and(2) Make sure employees exposed to noise are protected.These goals are accomplished by: (1) Measuring and computing the employee noise exposure from all equipment and ma…

SummaryYour responsibility:To prevent employee hearing loss by minimizing, and providing protection from, noise exposures.You must meet the requirements …in this section:Conduct employee noise exposure monitoringWAC 296-817-20005Control employee noise exposures that equal or exce…

(1) You must conduct employee noise exposure monitoring to determine the employee's actual exposure when reasonable information indicates that any employee's exposure may equal or exceed 85 dBA TWA8.Note:Representative monitoring may be used where several employees perform the sa…

Important:Hearing protection provides a barrier to noise and protects employees but is not considered a control of the noise hazard. Separate requirements apply to hearing protection and are found in WAC 296-817-20015.You must reduce employee noise exposure, using feasible contro…

(1) You must make sure employees wear hearing protectors that will provide sufficient protection when exposure equals or exceeds:(a) 85 dBA TWA8 (noise dosimetry, providing an average exposure over an eight-hour time period);(b) 115 dBA (slow response sound level meter, identifyi…

(1) You must train each employee whose noise exposure equals or exceeds 85 dBA TWA8.(2) You must provide training when an employee is first assigned to a position involving noise exposure that equals or exceeds 85 dBA TWA8and at least annually after that.(3) You must update infor…

(1) You must make sure warning signs are posted at the entrances or boundaries of all well-defined work areas where employees may be exposed to noise that equals or exceeds 115 dBA (measured using a sound level meter with slow response).(2) Warning signs must clearly indicate tha…

(1) You must make sure audiometric testing as described by WAC 296-817-400 is supervised and reviewed by one of the following licensed or certified individuals:(a) An audiologist;(b) An otolaryngologist;(c) Another qualified physician.(2) You must make sure audiograms are conduct…

(1) You must use audiometric testing to identify hearing loss, which may indicate program deficiencies.(2) You must take appropriate actions when deficiencies are found with your program.A deficiency may be indicated when:(a) Any employee experiences measurable hearing loss indic…

You must create and retain records documenting noise exposures. Include, at a minimum:(1) Exposure measurements required by this chapter for at least two years and for as long as you rely upon them to determine employee exposure;(2) Audiometric test records for the duration of em…

SummaryYour responsibility:Conduct noise monitoring or measurement to evaluate employee exposures in your workplace.You must meet the requirements …in this section:Make sure that noise-measuring equipment meets recognized standardsWAC 296-817-30005Measure employee noise exposureW…

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

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

You must compute employee's full-day noise exposure by using the appropriate equations from Table 2 "Noise Dose Computation" when using a sound level meter to estimate noise dose.Table 2Noise Dose ComputationDescriptionEquationCompute the noise dose based on several time periods …

SummaryYour responsibility:To conduct audiometric testing of employees exposed to noise to make sure that their hearing protection is effective.You must meet the requirements …in this section:Provide audiometric testing at no cost to employeesWAC 296-817-40005Establish a baseline…

You 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. WSR 15-23-086, § 296-817-40005, filed 11/17/15, effective 12/18/15. Statutory Aut…

(1) You 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 sure emp…

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

(1) You must make sure the health care professional supervising audiograms has:(a) A copy of this chapter;(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 a…

You 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 baseline au…

You must retain a legible copy of all employee audiograms conducted under this chapter.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 the au…

(1) You 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) You must…

SummaryYour 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 audiom…

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

You 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 Accredit…

You 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) The emp…

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