WISHA Regional Directive 1.00

Date Issued: August 24, 1999

I. Background

Since December of 1996, WISHA policy and procedures have been found in three distinct sources: WISHA Operations Manuals (such as the WISHA Compliance and WISHA Consultation Manuals), WISHA Regional Directives (which may address either interpretive or operations issues), and WISHA Interim Operations and Interpretive Memoranda.

Questions have periodically been raised about the relationship between WISHA Regional Directives and interim memos. Because both represent WISHA policy, and both can provide authoritative guidance regarding either interpretive or operational issues, the distinction between the two has become largely internal and otherwise artificial. For that reason, this change has been developed to further simplify the WISHA policy processes.

II. Scope and Application

This WISHA Regional Directive (WRD) will remain in effect indefinitely, and it applies to all formal policy guidance provided to all WISHA staff, including staff working for WISHA Services and WISHA consultation, WISHA enforcement and risk management staff located in the regions.

This WRD replaces and rescinds WISHA Interim Operations Memorandum #96-2-A.

III. Operations Protocols

A. Where can I find formal WISHA policy guidance?

WISHA policy issued after the date of this memo will be found either in one of the WISHA Operations Manuals or a WISHA Regional Directives (WRD).

WISHA Interim Memoranda published prior to the date of this document will remain in effect until repealed.

WRDs published prior to 1996 were canceled in December of 1996 and are no longer in effect unless specifically referenced in a subsequent policy document.

B. How are changes to the Operations Manuals developed?

Before changes to WISHA Operations Manuals are made, Central Office will receive and consider input from regional staff and managers as appropriate depending upon the nature and scope of the change being considered.

Changes will be published by Federal-State Operations as updates to the particular manual or manuals.

 C. How are WISHA Regional Directives developed?

New or revised WRDs will ordinarily be circulated in draft form for regional comments for at least 30 days before being issued by the Assistant Director for WISHA Services or the Senior Program Manager for WISHA Policy & Technical Services; all affected supervisors will also normally have the opportunity to discuss such documents with central office staff before they are finalized. In the event that circumstances do not allow for such comments and review before the WRD is issued, regional comments will still be considered and a revised WRD will be issued if necessary.

D. What is the role of the WISHA Directives Team?

The WISHA Directives Team consists of representatives of WISHA P&TS, WISHA Federal-State Operations, WISHA Standards, regional insurance/consultation managers, and regional compliance managers. It meets as needed to address any concerns raised with members of the team about WISHA policies that have been prepared in draft form or that have been issued.

Any member of the WISHA Directives Team can initiate a meeting by contacting the Senior Program Manager for WISHA P&TS. Other WISHA staff can provide input to all or part of the WISHA Directives Team by contacting the Senior Program Manager for WISHA P&TS for a current list of team members.

Approved:
Michael A. Silverstein, Assistant Director
WISHA Services Division
Department of Labor and Industries

For further information about this or other WISHA Regional Directives, you may contact WISHA Policy & Technical Services at P.O. Box 44648, Olympia, WA 98504-4648 -- or by telephone at (360) 902-5503. You also may review policy information on the WISHA Website (/wisha).