Washington Administrative Code

Important:Third-party hearing loss prevention programs are intended:(1) For short-term employees hired or assigned to duties having noise exposures for less than one year; and(2) For seasonal employees.However, other employees may be included as long as you meet all requirements …

Abrasive. A solid granular substance used in abrasive blasting operations.Abrasive blasting. The forcible application of an abrasive to a surface using either:(a) Pneumatic or hydraulic pressure; or(b) Centrifugal force.Abrasive-blasting respirator. A supplied air or a continuous…

This chapter applies to all abrasive blasting operations where an abrasive is forcibly applied to a surface using any of the following:(1) Pneumatic pressure;(2) Hydraulic pressure;(3) Centrifugal force.References:Depending on your work processes, here are examples of other chapt…

Your responsibility:To protect employees from hazards associated with their work environment.You must meet the requirements…in this section:Dust hazardsWAC 296-818-20005Personal protective equipmentWAC 296-818-20010HousekeepingWAC 296-818-20015[Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.010,…

important:1. Abrasives and the surface coatings on materials blasted are shattered and pulverized during blasting operations. The dust formed will contain particles that could result in the following hazards:a. Respiratory;b. Fire;c. Explosion.2. Wet blasting methods minimize dus…

(1) You must provide, at no cost to the employee, and make sure personal protective equipment is worn.(2) You must follow the requirements in Table-1, Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).Table-1: Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)providewhenAbrasive Blasting RespiratorsOperators…

(1) You must keep aisles and walkways clear of steel shot or similar abrasives that may create a slipping hazard.(2) You must prohibit the accumulation of dust on the floors or ledges outside blasting enclosures.(3) You must clean up dust spills promptly.Note:Removal of accumulat…

Your responsibility:To follow these operational requirements.You must meet the requirements…in this section:Combustible organic abrasivesWAC 296-818-30005Blast cleaning enclosuresWAC 296-818-30010Blast cleaning nozzlesWAC 296-818-30015[Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.010, 49.17.04…

important:This section applies to blasting operations where flammable or explosive dust mixtures may be present. (1) You must prohibit the use of combustible organic abrasives, except in automatic blast cleaning systems.(2) You must bond and ground the blast nozzle to prevent the…

(1) You must install adequate ventilation systems in blast cleaning enclosures that are able to do all of the following:(a) Control concentrations of airborne contaminants below the permissible exposure limits that apply;(b) Provide a continuous inward flow of air at all openings…

You must make sure nozzles are all of the following:(1) Mounted on a support when not in use;(2) Equipped with operating valves that are manually held open.Note:To help prevent the buildup of static charges, pressurized tanks used to supply abrasive should be: 1. Connected to the…

Your responsibility:To make sure exhaust ventilation systems meet these requirements.You must meet the requirements…in this section:ConstructionWAC 296-818-40005Explosion venting and wiringWAC 296-818-40010Inspection and maintenanceWAC 296-818-40015[Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17…

You must make sure exhaust systems are constructed, installed, inspected, and maintained to meet both of the following:(1) The American National Standards Institute (ANSI), Z9.2-2001 for Fundamentals Governing the Design and Operation of Local Exhaust Systems;(2) The National Fir…

You must follow the requirements in Table-3 for flammable or combustible dust mixtures.Table-3: Explosion Venting and WiringIf you haveThenFlammable or explosive dust mixtures that may be presentMake sure the construction of equipment, including the exhaust system and all electri…

(1) You must make sure the exhaust ventilation system is fully operational by checking the static pressure drop at the exhaust ducts leading from the equipment at both of the following times:(a) When installation is completed;(b) Annually after installation.(2) You must repair or…

WAC 296-820-805 through 296-820-860 applies to all workplaces, including those with agricultural activity according to RCW 49.17.020, with the exception of the following:(1) Enclosed buildings or structures in which the employer ensures that windows, doors, bays, and other exteri…

(1) Air Quality Index (AQI). A unitless index used by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to communicate air quality for several pollutants, including PM2.5. References to the AQI used throughout this chapter means the "NowCast AQI for PM2.5."(2) Current PM2.5. The con…

The employer must determine the current PM2.5 for worksites covered by WAC 296-820-805 through 296-820-860 periodically as needed. The employer may use any of the following methods to determine employee exposures such that they are able to comply with the requirements in WAC 296-…

For any worksite covered by WAC 296-820-805 through 296-820-860, the employer must establish and implement a system for communicating wildfire smoke hazards in a form readily understandable by all affected employees, including provisions designed to encourage employees to inform …

The employer must provide all workers with information and training regarding wildfire smoke before work that exposes the worker to a current PM2.5 concentration of 20.5 µg/m3 (AQI 72) or more. Training must be provided at least annually thereafter.(1) Information and training mu…

(1) Employers must allow employees who display any symptoms that may potentially be related to wildfire smoke exposure to seek medical attention or follow medical advice they have been given, and must not retaliate against affected employees for seeking such medical attention, or…

(1) Where the current PM2.5 is 20.5 µg/m3 (AQI 72) or more, the employer is encouraged to implement exposure controls.(2) Where the current PM2.5 is 35.5 µg/m3 (AQI 101) or more, the employer must implement effective exposure controls whenever feasible.(3) Such controls include, …

(1) Where the current PM2.5 is 20.5 µg/m3 to 35.4 µg/m3 (AQI 72 to 100), the employer is encouraged to provide N95 filtering-facepiece respirators at no cost to employees upon request. Employees may provide and wear their own respiratory protection as long as voluntary use of the…

(1) An employer may use a direct-reading particulate sensor to identify harmful exposures as required by WAC 296-820-815, if the employer can demonstrate that it has complied with this section (WAC 296-820-845) and selected a direct-reading particulate sensor that:(a) Does not un…

(1) The health effects and symptoms of wildfire smoke:(a) Although there are many hazardous chemicals in wildfire smoke, the main harmful pollutant for people who are not very close to the fire is "particulate matter," the tiny particles suspended in the air.Particulate matter is…

The Air Quality Index (AQI) for PM2.5 is calculated as follows: Ip=IHi - ILo(Cp - BPLo) + ILo BPHi - BPLo Where: Ipis the Air Quality Index value for PM2.5Cpis the concentration of PM2.5 in μg/m3 truncated to 1 decimal placeBPHiis the concentration breakpoint that is greater than…

Blood. Human blood, human blood components and products made from human blood. Also included are medications derived from blood, such as immune globulins, albumin, and factors 8 and 9.Bloodborne pathogens. Pathogenic microorganisms that are present in human blood and can cause di…

This chapter provides requirements to protect employees from exposure to blood or other potentially infectious materials (OPIM) that may contain bloodborne pathogens. Examples of bloodborne pathogens are the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and hepatitis B virus (HBV).This chap…

SummaryYour responsibility:To plan ways to protect your employees from the risk of exposure to blood or other potentially infectious materials.You must meet the requirements ...in this section:Determine if you have employees with occupational exposureWAC 296-823-11005Develop and …

(1) You must prepare a written exposure determination if your employees have occupational exposure to blood or other potentially infectious materials (OPIM).This determination must be made without considering the use of personal protective equipment (PPE).(2) You must make sure t…

(1) You must establish a written exposure control plan designed to eliminate or minimize employee exposure in your workplace.Note:The elements of your exposure control plan may be located in other documents such as policies and procedures. Make sure to reference their location in…

SummaryYour responsibility:To train your employees about their risk of exposure to bloodborne pathogens and ways to protect themselves.You must meet the requirements ...in this section:Provide training to your employeesWAC 296-823-12005Provide additional trainingWAC 296-823-12010…

(1) You must make sure all employees with occupational exposure participate in a training program that is:(a) Provided at no cost to them; and(b) Conducted during compensated working hours.(2) You must provide training when any of the following occur:(a) Before assigning tasks wh…

You must provide additional training when you add or change tasks or procedures that affect the employee's occupational exposure.Note:This training may be limited to the changes in tasks and procedures.[Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.010, 49.17.040, 49.17.050. WSR 15-23-086, § 29…

(1) You must maintain training records for three years from the date of the training.(2) You must include the following information in your training records:(a) Dates of the training sessions;(b) Contents or a summary of the training sessions;(c) Names and qualifications of perso…

SummaryYour responsibility:To make the vaccination available to your employees so they are protected from the hepatitis B virus (HBV).You must meet the requirements ...in this section:Make hepatitis B vaccination available to employeesWAC 296-823-13005Obtain a copy of the health …

(1) Employers must make sure that the hepatitis B vaccination series is available to all employees who have occupational exposure and that it is:(a) Available at no cost to the employee;(b) Available to the employee at a reasonable time and location;(c) Administered by or under t…

(1) You must obtain and provide the employee a copy of the evaluating health care professional's written opinion for hepatitis B vaccination within fifteen days of the employee's evaluation.Note:1. If the health care professional provides the written opinion directly to the emplo…

SummaryYour responsibility:To use feasible controls to eliminate or minimize occupational exposure to blood or other potentially infectious materials (OPIM).Important:If occupational exposure remains after implementing these controls, personal protective equipment must be used. S…

(1) You must use appropriate equipment and safer medical devices to eliminate or minimize employee exposure.(2) You must use work practices designed to eliminate or minimize employee exposure.(3) You must examine and maintain or replace equipment and safer medical devices on a re…

(1) You must make sure that you don't bend, recap, or remove contaminated needles or other contaminated sharps unless you can demonstrate that there is no feasible alternative or that it's required by a specific medical or dental procedure. Bending, recapping or needle removal mu…

(1) You must place contaminated reusable sharps immediately, or as soon as possible after use, in appropriate containers until properly decontaminated. Containers must be all of the following:(a) Puncture resistant;(b) Labeled or color-coded as described in this chapter;(c) Leakp…

You must make sure all procedures involving blood or OPIM are performed so splashing, spraying, spattering, and generation of droplets are minimized.Examples include:(1) Appropriate operation and use of recommended controls for surgical power tools, lasers and electrocautery devi…

EXEMPTIONS:The following are exempt from the labeling requirements of this chapter: 1. Individual containers placed in an appropriately labeled secondary container. 2. Regulated waste that has been decontaminated. 3. Containers of blood, blood components, or blood products that a…

(1) You must provide handwashing facilities that are readily accessible to employees, wherever feasible. If handwashing facilities are not feasible, provide either one of the following:(a) Antiseptic towelettes;(b) Antiseptic hand rub product along with clean cloth/paper towels.(…

(1) You must make sure eating, drinking, smoking, applying cosmetics or lip balm, and handling contact lenses are prohibited in work areas where there is occupational exposure.(2) You must make sure food and drink are not kept in refrigerators, freezers, shelves, cabinets, or on …

You must prohibit mouth pipetting or suctioning of blood or other potentially infectious materials (OPIM).[Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.010, 49.17.040, 49.17.050. WSR 15-23-086, § 296-823-14040, filed 11/17/15, effective 12/18/15. Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.010, 49.17.040, …

(1) You must place specimens of blood or other potentially infectious materials (OPIM) in an appropriate container that prevents leakage during collection, handling, processing, storage, transport, or shipping.(2) You must make sure the container is properly labeled or color-code…

(1) You must examine equipment which could become contaminated with blood or other potentially infectious materials (OPIM) before servicing or shipping.(a) Decontaminate this equipment and its parts as necessary unless you can demonstrate that decontamination isn't feasible.(b) A…

(1) You must develop an appropriate written schedule for cleaning and decontamination based upon the following:(a) The location within the facility;(b) Type of surface to be cleaned;(c) Type of contamination present;(d) Tasks or procedures being performed in the area.(2) You must…