Title 70 — Title 70 PUBLIC HEALTH AND SAFETY

The definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter unless the context clearly requires otherwise.(1) "Advisory committee" means the elevator advisory committee as described in this chapter.(2) "Alteration" means any change to equipment, including its parts, components,…

(1) The purpose of this chapter is to provide for safety of life and limb, to promote safety awareness, and to ensure the safe design, mechanical and electrical operation, and inspection of conveyances, and performance of conveyance work, and all such operation, inspection, and c…

The department shall adopt rules governing the mechanical and electrical operation, acceptance tests, conveyance work, operation, and inspection that are necessary and appropriate and shall also adopt minimum standards governing existing installations. In the execution of this ru…

The department also has the following powers:(1) The department may adopt any rules necessary or helpful for the department to implement and enforce this chapter.(2) The director may issue subpoenas for the production of persons, papers, or information in all proceedings and inve…

On request of the department, the attorney general may:(1) File suit to collect a penalty assessed by the department;(2) Seek a civil injunction, show cause order, or contempt order against the person who repeatedly violates a provision of this chapter;(3) Seek an ex parte inspec…

All privately owned and publicly owned conveyances are subject to the provisions of this chapter except as specifically excluded by this chapter.[ 1983 c 123 s 4; 1963 c 26 s 4.]

The conveyance work on, and the operation and inspection of any conveyance located in, or used in connection with, any building owned by the state, a county, or a political subdivision, other than those located within and owned by a city having an elevator code, shall be under th…

(1) The person, elevator contractor, or public agency performing conveyance work is responsible for operation and maintenance of the conveyance until the department has issued an operating permit for the conveyance, except during the period when a limited operating permit in acco…

All new and existing conveyances shall have a serial number painted on or attached as directed by the department. This serial number shall be assigned by the department and shown on all required permits.[ 1983 c 123 s 7; 1963 c 26 s 7.]

(1) A permit shall be obtained from the department before performing work, other than maintenance, on a conveyance under the jurisdiction of the department.(2) The installer of the conveyance shall submit an application for the permit in duplicate, in a form that the department m…

(1) An operating permit is required for each conveyance operated in the state of Washington except during its erection by the person or firm responsible for its installation. A permit issued by the department shall be kept conspicuously posted near the conveyance.(2) The departme…

(1) All conveyance installations, relocations, or alterations must be performed by an elevator contractor employing an elevator mechanic.(2) The elevator contractor employing an elevator mechanic performing such conveyance work shall notify the department before completion of the…

The requirements of this chapter are intended to apply to all conveyances except as modified or waived by the department. They are intended to be modified or waived whenever any requirements are shown to be impracticable, such as involving expense not justified by the protection …

(1) The department shall appoint and employ inspectors, as may be necessary to carry out the provisions of this chapter, under the provisions of the rules adopted by the Washington personnel resources board in accordance with chapter 41.06 RCW.(2)(a) Except as provided in (b) of …

*** CHANGE IN 2026 *** (SEE 6039-S.SL) ***(1) A license issued under this chapter may be suspended, revoked, or subject to civil penalty by the department upon verification that any one or more of the following reasons exist:(a) Any false statement as to a material matter in the …

Whenever any conveyance is being operated without a permit required by this chapter, the attorney general or the prosecuting attorney of the county may apply to the superior court of the county in which the conveyance is located for a temporary restraining order or a temporary or…

(1) An authorized representative of the department may order the owner or person operating a conveyance to discontinue the operation of a conveyance, and may place a notice that states that the conveyance may not be operated on a conspicuous place in the conveyance, if:(a) The co…

(1) Any person aggrieved by an order or action of the department denying, suspending, revoking, or refusing to renew a permit or license; assessing a penalty for a violation of this chapter; or ordering the operation of a conveyance to be discontinued, may request a hearing withi…

(1) The performance of conveyance work, other than maintenance, or the operation of a conveyance without a permit by any person owning or having the custody, management, or operation thereof, except as provided in RCW 70.87.080 and 70.87.090, is a misdemeanor. Each day of violati…

*** CHANGE IN 2026 *** (SEE 6039-S.SL) ***(1) The department may assess a penalty against a person violating a provision of this chapter. The penalty shall be not more than five hundred dollars. Each day that the violation continues is a separate violation and is subject to a sep…

The owner or the owner's duly authorized agent shall promptly notify the department of each accident to a person requiring the service of a physician or resulting in a disability exceeding one day, and shall afford the department every facility for investigating and inspecting th…

(1) The provisions of this chapter do not apply where:(a) A conveyance is permanently removed from service or made effectively inoperative; (b) Lifts, hoists for persons, or material hoists are erected temporarily for use during construction work only and are of such a design tha…

*** CHANGE IN 2026 *** (SEE 6039-S.SL) ***(1) Disputes arising under RCW 70.87.200(2) shall be resolved by arbitration. The request shall be sent using a method by which the mailing can be tracked or the delivery can be confirmed.(2) The department shall appoint one arbitrator; t…

All moneys, except fines and penalties, received or collected under the terms of this chapter shall be deposited in the construction registration inspection account. All fines and penalties received or collected under the terms of this chapter shall be deposited in the general fu…

(1) The department may adopt the rules necessary to establish and administer the elevator safety advisory committee. The purpose of the advisory committee is to advise the department on the adoption of rules that apply to conveyances; methods of enforcing and administering this c…

(1) Except as provided in RCW 70.87.270, a person may not perform conveyance work within the state unless he or she is an elevator mechanic who is regularly employed by and is working: (a) For an owner exempt from licensing requirements under RCW 70.87.270 and performing maintena…

(1) Any person, firm, public agency, or company wishing to engage in the business of performing conveyance work within the state must apply for an elevator contractor license with the department on a form provided by the department and be a registered general or specialty contrac…

A material lift mechanic license to perform conveyance work on material lifts subject to WAC 296-96-05010 may be granted to any person who possesses the following qualifications:(1) The person: (a) Must be employed by an elevator contractor that complies with subsections (2) and …

(1) Upon approval of an application, the department may issue a license that is biennially renewable. Each license may include a photograph of the licensee. The fee for the license and for any renewal shall be set by the department in rule.(2) The department may issue temporary e…

This chapter cannot be construed to relieve or lessen the responsibility or liability of any person, firm, or corporation owning, operating, controlling, testing, inspecting, or performing conveyance work on any conveyance or other related mechanisms covered by this chapter for d…

(1) The licensing requirements of this chapter do not apply to the maintenance of conveyances specified in (a) of this subsection if a person specified in (b) of this subsection performs the maintenance and the owner complies with the requirements specified in (c) and (d) of this…

In order to effectively administer and implement the elevator mechanic licensing of this chapter, the department may establish elevator mechanic license categories in rule.[ 2003 c 143 s 5.]Notes:Part headings and captions not law—Effective date—2003 c 143: See notes following RC…

The department of labor and industries may not adopt rules to implement chapter 98, Laws of 2002, and to implement chapter 143, Laws of 2003 that take effect before March 1, 2004.[ 2003 c 143 s 6.]Notes:Part headings and captions not law—Effective date—2003 c 143: See notes follo…

(1) The department shall, by rule, establish licensing requirements for conveyance work performed on private residence conveyances. These rules shall include an exemption from licensing for maintenance work on private residence conveyances performed by an owner or at the directio…

(1) An employee who is a whistleblower and who as a result of being a whistleblower has been subjected to workplace reprisal or retaliatory action has the remedies provided under chapter 49.60 RCW.(2) The identity of a whistleblower who reports, in good faith, to the department o…