Title 49 — Title 49 LABOR REGULATIONS

All caissons shall be properly and adequately braced before loading with concrete or other weight.[ 1941 c 194 s 21; Rem. Supp. 1941 s 7666-29.]

In all shafts where men are hoisted or lowered, an iron-bonneted cage shall be used for the conveyance of men, but this provision shall not apply to shafts in the process of sinking or during the dismantling of the shaft after work in the tunnel is substantially completed.Cages s…

In all vertical shafts in which hoisting is done by means of a bucket, suitable guides shall be provided when the depth exceeds ten times the diameter or width of the shaft, but in no case shall the maximum depth without guides exceed one hundred and fifty feet. In connection wit…

Where tunnels are driven from shafts more than two hundred and fifty feet deep, a telephone system shall be established and maintained, communicating with the surface at each such shaft, and with a station or stations readily and quickly accessible to the men at the working level…

(1) While work is in progress, tunnels, stairways, ladderways and all places on the surface where work is being conducted, shall be properly lighted. In shafts more than one hundred feet deep, the shaft below that point shall be lighted.(2) All places where hoisting, pumping or o…

The frames and bed plates of generators, transformers, compensators, rheostats and motors installed underground shall be effectively grounded. All metallic coverings, armoring of cables, other than trailing cables, and the neutral wire of three-wire systems shall also be so groun…

In electrical systems installed, no higher voltage than low voltage shall be used underground, except for transmission or other application to transformers, motors, generators or other apparatus in which the whole of the medium or high voltage apparatus is stationary.[ 1941 c 194…

Lamps or other proper lights shall be kept ready for use in all underground stations where a failure of electric light is likely to cause danger.[ 1941 c 194 s 28; Rem. Supp. 1941 s 7666-36.]

(1) All underground cables and wires, unless provided with grounded metallic covering, shall be supported by efficient insulators. The conductors connecting lamps to the power supply shall in all cases be insulated.(2) Cables and wires unprovided with metallic coverings shall not…

The director of labor and industries shall establish such rules and regulations as he or she deems primarily necessary for the safety of the employees employed in tunnels, quarries, caissons, and subways and shall be guided by the most modern published studies and researches made…

Every person violating any of the provisions of RCW 49.24.080 through 49.24.380 shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.[ 1941 c 194 s 31; Rem. Supp. 1941 s 7666-38.]

Airborne asbestos dust and particles, such as those from sprayed asbestos slurry, asbestos-coated ventilating ducts, and certain other applications of asbestos are known to produce irreversible lung damage and bronchogenic carcinoma. One American of every four dying in urban area…

(1) Except as provided in subsection (2)(a)(ii) of this section, an owner or owner's agent who allows or authorizes any construction, renovation, remodeling, maintenance, repair, or demolition project which has a reasonable possibility, as defined by the department, of disturbing…

(1) Any owner or owner's agent who allows the start of any construction, renovation, remodeling, maintenance, repair, or demolition without first (a) conducting the inspection and preparing and maintaining the report of the inspection, or preparing and maintaining a statement of …

Standards regulating the use of asbestos in construction or manufacturing shall be established by the director of the department of labor and industries, with the advice of the state health officer and the department of ecology. Standards to be adopted shall describe the types of…

Products containing asbestos shall be stored in containers of types approved by the director of the department of labor and industries, with the advice of the state health officer and the department of ecology. Containers of asbestos shall be plainly marked "Asbestos—do not inhal…

The asbestos use standards required under RCW 49.26.020 and the list of approved container types required under RCW 49.26.030 shall be adopted as regulations of the department of labor and industries. The department shall have the power to implement and enforce such regulations.[…

Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, the definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter.(1) "Asbestos abatement project" means an asbestos project involving three square feet or three linear feet, or more, of asbestos-containing material.(2) "Asbestos project…

*** CHANGE IN 2026 *** (SEE 6188.SL) ****** CHANGE IN 2026 *** (SEE 6039-S.SL) ***(1) No employee or other individual is eligible to do work governed by this chapter unless issued a certificate by the department.(2) To qualify for a certificate:(a) Certified asbestos workers must…

Before working on an asbestos abatement project, a contractor shall obtain an asbestos contractor's certificate from the department and shall have in its employ at least one certified asbestos supervisor who is responsible for supervising all asbestos abatement projects undertake…

(1) No person may assign any employee, contract with, or permit any individual or person to remove or encapsulate asbestos in any facility unless performed by a certified asbestos worker and under the direct, on-site supervision of a certified asbestos supervisor. In cases in whi…

Prenotification to the department under RCW 49.26.120 shall not be required for:(1)(a) Any asbestos project involving less than forty-eight square feet of surface area, or less than ten linear feet of pipe unless the surface area of the pipe is greater than forty-eight square fee…

(1) The department shall administer this chapter.(2) The director of the department shall adopt, in accordance with chapters 34.05 and 49.17 RCW, rules necessary to carry out this chapter.(3) The department shall prescribe fees for the issuance and renewal of certificates, includ…

(1) Unless specifically provided otherwise by statute, this chapter shall be implemented and enforced, including penalties, violations, citations, and other administrative procedures, pursuant to the Washington industrial safety and health act, chapter 49.17 RCW.(2) A person or i…

Any employee who notifies the department of any activity the employee reasonably believes to be a violation of this chapter or any rule adopted under this chapter or who participates in any proceeding related thereto shall have the same rights and protections against discharge or…

Sections 15, as reenacted and amended in 1989, and 18, chapter 271, Laws of 1988, are necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, and safety, the support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and shall take effect as of March 24, …

(1) Hereafter eight hours in any calendar day shall constitute a day's work on any work done for the state or any county or municipality within the state, subject to conditions hereinafter provided.(2) All work done by contract or subcontract on any building or improvements or wo…

That it is a part of the public policy of the state of Washington that all work "by contract or day labor done" for it, or any political subdivision created by its laws, shall be performed in workdays of not more than eight hours each, except in cases of extraordinary emergency. …

All contracts for work for the state of Washington, or any political subdivision created by its laws, shall provide that they may be canceled by the officers or agents authorized to contract for or supervise the execution of such work, in case such work is not performed in accord…

It is made the duty of all officers or agents authorized to contract for work to be done in behalf of the state of Washington, or any political subdivision created under its laws, to stipulate in all contracts as provided for in RCW 49.28.040 through 49.28.060, and all such offic…

Notwithstanding the provisions of RCW 49.28.010 through 49.28.060, a contractor or subcontractor in any public works contract subject to those provisions may enter into an agreement with his or her employees in which the employees work up to ten hours in a calendar day. No such a…

(1) No male or female household or domestic employee shall be employed by any person for a longer period than sixty hours in any one week. Employed time shall include minutes or hours when the employee has to remain subject to the call of the employer and when the employee is not…

(1) It shall be unlawful for any employer to permit any of his or her employees to operate on docks, in warehouses and/or in or on other waterfront properties any power driven mechanical equipment for the purpose of loading cargo on, or unloading cargo from, ships, barges, or oth…

The definitions in this section apply throughout this section and RCW 49.28.140 and 49.28.150 unless the context clearly requires otherwise.(1)(a) "Employee" means a person who:(i) Is employed by a health care facility;(ii) Is involved in direct patient care activities or clinica…

(1) No employee of a health care facility may be required to work overtime. Attempts to compel or force employees to work overtime are contrary to public policy, and any such requirement contained in a contract, agreement, or understanding is void.(2) The acceptance by any employ…

The department of labor and industries shall investigate complaints of violations of RCW 49.28.140 as provided under RCW 49.12.145 through 49.12.149.[ 2023 c 114 s 11; 2002 c 112 s 4.]Notes:Effective date—2023 c 114: See note following RCW 70.41.410.Finding—2002 c 112: See note f…

(1) Every general authority and limited authority Washington law enforcement agency may adopt a flexible work policy. The policy may allow for general authority and limited authority Washington peace officers to work at less than full time when feasible, such as supplementing wor…

It is the intent of the legislature that the department assist agricultural employers in mitigating the costs of the state's unemployment insurance program. The department shall work with members of the agricultural community to: Improve understanding of the program's operation; …

Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, the definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter.(1) "Agricultural employment" or "employment" means employment in agricultural labor as defined in RCW 50.04.150.(2) "Department" means the department of labor and industr…

(1) Each employer required to keep employment records under RCW 49.46.070, shall retain such records for three years.(2) Each employer shall furnish to each employee at the time the employee's wages are paid an itemized statement showing the pay basis in hours or days worked, the…

Any violation of the provisions of this chapter or rules adopted hereunder shall be a class 1 civil infraction. The director shall have the authority to issue and enforce civil infractions according to chapter 7.80 RCW.[ 1989 c 380 s 86.] Except as provided in RCW 49.30.060, any …

Before granting a variance from this chapter or an applicable rule in order to allow a minor participating in a bona fide cooperative vocational education program, diversified career experience program, work experience program certified and monitored by the office of the superint…

(1) In accordance with the rule-making authority granted to the department under this chapter to protect employees in agriculture, the department's rules must provide for the protection of the safety, health, and welfare of minor employees, provided that such rules grant appropri…

See note following RCW 50.04.150.

No court of the state of Washington or any judge or judges thereof shall have jurisdiction to issue any restraining order or temporary or permanent injunction in a case involving or growing out of a labor dispute, except in a strict conformity with the provisions of this chapter;…

*** CHANGE IN 2026 *** (SEE 2471-S.SL) ***In the interpretation of this chapter and in determining the jurisdiction and authority of the courts of the state of Washington, as such jurisdiction and authority are herein defined and limited, the public policy of the state of Washing…

Any undertaking or promise, such as is described in this section, or any other undertaking or promise in conflict with the public policy declared in RCW 49.32.020, is hereby declared to be contrary to the public policy of the state of Washington, shall not be enforceable in any c…

No court of the state of Washington shall have jurisdiction to issue any restraining order or temporary or permanent injunction in any case involving or growing out of any labor dispute or prohibit any person or persons participating or interested in such dispute (as these terms …

No court of the state of Washington or any judge or judges thereof shall have jurisdiction to issue a restraining order or temporary or permanent injunction upon the ground that any of the persons participating or interested in a labor dispute constitute or are engaged in an unla…

No officer or member of any association or organization, and no association or organization participating or interested in a labor dispute, shall be held responsible or liable in any court of the state of Washington for the unlawful acts of individual officers, members, or agents…