296-155-240
Sterilization of protective equipment.
WAC
296-155-200 General requirements for personal protective equipment
(PPE).
(1) Supplying personal protective equipment.
(a) Personal protective equipment (PPE) must be used wherever
physical contact, absorption, or inhalation of a hazard could
cause any injury or impairment to the function of any part of
the body.
These hazards include:
Hazardous processes;
Environmental hazards;
Chemical hazards;
Radiological hazards;
or
Mechanical irritants.
Note: PPE includes:
Protective equipment for eyes, face, head, hearing, and extremities;
Protective clothing;
Respiratory devices;
and
Protective shields and barriers.
(b) PPE must be maintained in a sanitary and reliable condition.
Reference: For requirements on maintaining
specific personal protective equipment (PPE), see the following
rules.
(c) If employees provide their own protective equipment,
then the employer is responsible to make sure the PPE is:
Adequate;
Properly maintained;
and
Sanitary.
(d) All personal protective equipment must be of safe design
and construction for the work to be performed.
(2) Minimum clothing requirements.
(a) Employers must ensure that employees wear at least:
A short-sleeved shirt;
Long pants ;
and
Shoes that meet the requirements of WAC
296-155-212, Foot protection.
Definition:
A short-sleeved shirt covers the top of the
shoulder and has material extending down the arm. If a short-sleeved
shirt has a seam at the end of the shoulder, the material must
extend down the arm from the seam.
Long pants have legs that extend past the knee
when the wearer stands and leaves no exposed skin on the lower
leg.
(b) Where there is danger of contact with moving parts of machinery,
or the work process is such that a hazard exists:
The clothing of employees must fit closely about the body.
Dangling neck wear, bracelets, wristwatches, rings, or similar
articles must not be worn by employees.
Note: For additional requirements see WAC
296-155-205, Head protection.
(3) The employer must require employees to wear appropriate PPE
in all operations where:
There is an exposure to hazardous conditions;
or
WAC 296-155-200,
General requirements for personal protective equipment (PPE),
indicates a need for using such equipment to reduce the hazards
to the employees.
(4) Employees must comply with job safety practices and procedures
and PPE requirements that are relevant to the job site.
(5) High-visibility garments.
(a) During daylight hours, when employees' duties are performed
in close proximity to moving vehicles, employers must make sure
that employees wear a high-visibility safety vest, shirt, or
jacket that is fluorescent yellow-green, fluorescent orange-red,
or fluorescent red in color. This garment must always be worn
as an outer garment.
Definition:
For the purpose of this rule, hours of darkness means
from one-half hour before sunset to one-half hour after sunrise.
(b) During hours of darkness, when employees' duties are performed
in close proximity to moving vehicles, the employer must make
sure that employees wear, at a minimum, a high-visibility safety
vest, shirt, or jacket:
Designed according to ANSI/ISEA 107-1999 Class 2 specifications;
Worn as an outer garment;
and
Worn to provide 360 degrees of visibility around the employee.
Note: A high-visibility garment meets Class
2 specifications if the garment:
Has an ANSI "Class 2" label;
or
Has at least 775 square inches of background material and
201 square inches of retroflective material that encircles the
torso and is placed to provide 360 degrees of visibility around
the employee.
Note:
Fading and soiling may degrade the high-visibility characteristics
of the garments.
ANSI/ISEA 107-1999 is available by:
- Purchasing copies of ANSI/ISEA 107-1999 by writing:
Reading a copy of ANSI/ISEA 107-1999 at any Washington State
library.
(6) Payment for PPE. Except as provided in (a) through (e) of
this subsection, the protective equipment, including PPE, used
to comply with this chapter shall be provided by the employer
at no cost to employees.
(a) The employer is not required to pay for nonspecialty safety-toe
protective footwear (including steel-toe shoes or steel-to boots)
and nonspecialty prescription safety eyewear, provided that
the employer permits such items to be worn off the job site.
(b) When the employer provides metatarsal guards and allows
the employee, at his or her request, to use shoes or boots with
built-in metatarsal protection, the employer is not required
to reimburse the employee for the shoes or boots.
(c) The employer is not required to pay for:
Everyday clothing, such as long-sleeve shirts, long pants,
street shoes, and normal work boots.
Ordinaray clothing, skln creams, or other items used solely
for protection from weather, such as winter coats, jackets,
gloves, parkas, rubber boots, hats, raincoats, ordinary sunglasses,
and sunscreen.
(d) The employer must pay for replacement PPE, except when
the employee has lost or intentionally damaged the PPE.
(e) Where and employee provides adequate protective equipment
he or she owns to meet the requirements of this chapter, the
employer may allow the employee to use it and is not required
to reimburse the employee for that equipment. The employer shall
not require an employee to provide or pay for his or her own
PPE, unless the PPE is excepted in (a) through (d) of this subsection.
(1) “Catenary life line” means a horizontal
rope between two fixed anchorages, independent of the work surface,
to which the lanyard is attached, either by tying or by means
of a sliding connection. A catenary life line shall be capable
of supporting a minimum dead weight of 5,400 pounds per person,
applied at the midpoint of the line.
(2) “Contaminant” means any material which
by reason of its action upon, within, or to a person or object
is likely to cause physical harm.
(3) “Dropline” means a vertical rope from
a fixed anchorage, independent of the work surface, to which the
lanyard is affixed or tied.
(4) “Fixed anchorage” means a secure point
of attachment, not a part of the work surface, for droplines,
lifelines, catenary life lines, or lanyards. The fixed anchorage
and its appurtenances shall be capable of supporting a minimum
dead weight of 5,400 pounds per worker.
(5) “Lanyard” means a rope, suitable for
supporting one person. One end is fastened to a safety belt or
harness and the other end is secured to a substantial object or
a safety line.
(6) “Lifeline” means a rope, suitable for
supporting one person, to which a lanyard or safety belt (or harness)
is attached.
(7) “O.D.” means optical density and refers
to the light refractive characteristics of a lens.
(8) “Radiant energy” means energy that travels
outward in all directions from its source.
(9) “Safety belt” means a device, usually
worn around the waist which, by reason of its attachment to a
lanyard and lifeline or a structure, will prevent a worker from
falling.
[Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.040
and 49.17.050. 86-03-074 (Order 86-14), § 296-155-201, filed 1/21/86;
Order 76-6, § 296-155-201, filed 3/1/76.]
(1) Is large enough and so configured that an employee can bodily
enter and perform assigned work; and
(2) Has limited or restricted means for entry or exit (for example,
tanks, vessels, silos, storage bins, hoppers, vaults, and pits
are spaces that may have limited means of entry); and
(3) Is not designed for continuous employee occupancy.
“Corrosives” means substances which in contact
with living tissue cause destruction of the tissue by chemical
action.
“Hazardous atmosphere” means an atmosphere
that may expose employees to the risk of death, incapacitation,
impairment of ability to self-rescue (that is, escape unaided
from a permit space), injury, or acute illness from one or more
of the following causes:
(1) Flammable gas, vapor, or mist in excess of ten percent of
its lower flammable limit (LFL);
(2) Airborne combustible dust at a concentration that meets or
exceeds its LFL;
Note: This concentration may be approximated
as a condition in which the dust obscures vision at a distance
of five feet (1.52m) or less.
(4) Atmospheric concentration of any substance for which a dose
or a permissible exposure limit is published in
chapter 296-62 WAC, general occupational health standards,
or chapter
296-841 WAC, Airborne contaminants, and which could result
in employee exposure in excess of its dose or permissible exposure
limit;
Note: An atmospheric concentration of any
substance that is not capable of causing death, incapacitation,
impairment of ability to self-rescue, injury, or acute illness
due to its health effects is not covered by this provision.
(5) Any other atmospheric condition that is immediately dangerous
to life or health.
Note: For air contaminants for which WISHA
has not determined a dose or permissible exposure limit, other
sources of information, such as material safety data sheets that
comply with the chemical hazard communication standard, WAC
296-800-170, published information, and internal documents
can provide guidance in establishing acceptable atmospheric conditions.
“Irritants” means substances which on immediate,
prolonged, or repeated contact with normal living tissue will
induce a local inflammatory reaction.
“Oxygen deficient atmospheres” means atmospheres
at sea level having less than 19.5% oxygen by volume or having
a partial pressure of 148 millimeters of mercury or less. This
may deviate when working at higher altitudes and should be determined
for an individual location. Factors such as acclimatization, physical
condition of persons involved, etc., must be considered for such
circumstances and conditions. (See
chapter 296-62 WAC, Part M, permit-required confined spaces.)
“Toxicants” means substances which have the
inherent capacity to produce personal injury or illness to persons
by absorption through any body surface.
WAC
296-155-20307 Confined space work on sewer systems under construction.
New systems under construction or new installations which have
not yet been connected to a used system, may substitute forced
ventilation for the testing requirements of chapter
296-809 WAC, Confined spaces, provided:
(1) Ventilation is effectively provided at least five minutes
prior to entry into the confined space;
(2) Ventilation is provided, as required by WAC
296-62-110, et seq., which supplies a continuous flow of air;
(3) Ventilation exhaust is discharged so as to present no hazard
to other employees;
(4) An attendant is provided at the surface when there are employees
in the manhole or pipe. The attendant shall not leave the manhole
unattended until such time as all employees are out and the cover
has been replaced; and
(1) All employees on any construction site shall be provided
an individual hard hat which meets all requirements of (a) and
(b) of this subsection.
(a) Hard hats for the protection of employees against impact
and/or penetration of falling and flying objects shall meet
the specifications contained in American National Standards
Institute, Z89.1-1969, Safety Requirements for Industrial Head
Protection.
(b) Hard hats for the head protection of employees exposed
to high voltage electrical shock and burns shall meet the specifications
contained in American National Standards Institute, Z89.2-1971.
(2) All employees must have their individual hard hats on site
and readily available at all times.
(3) All employees shall wear a hard hat on any construction site
whenever there is a potential exposure to danger of flying or
falling objects to persons working or occupying the area.
Note: The hard hat may be removed whenever
there is no potential exposure to a hazard.
(4) (a) Employees working on asphalt paving crews exposed to
extreme temperatures from hot mix and not exposed to falling objects
do not have to wear protective hard hats.
(b) Flaggers working with asphalt paving operations must comply
with the requirements of WAC
296-155-305.
(5) Caps with metal buttons or metal visors shall not be worn
around electrical hazards.
(6) Employees working near moving machinery or in locations which
present a hair-catching or fire hazard shall wear caps, nets or
other head and face protection that will completely contain the
hair.
Employees whose duties require them to operate a power chain
saw shall wear flexible ballistic nylon pads, sewn or otherwise
fastened into the trousers, or other equivalent protection that
will protect the vulnerable areas of the legs.
(1) Substantial footwear, made of leather or other equally firm
material, shall be worn by employees in any occupation in which
there is a danger of injury to the feet through falling or moving
objects, or from burning, scalding, cutting, penetration, or like
hazard.
(a) The soles and heels of such footwear shall be of a material
that will not create a slipping hazard.
(b) Shoes made of leather or other firm materials that have
soft athletic-type soles which would protect employees from
foot injuries and at the same time, provide soft and firm footing
while working under specialty requirements or with specialty
materials are acceptable if meeting safety shoe requirements
established by OSHA or ANSI.
(c) Footwear that has deteriorated to a point where it does
not provide the required protection shall not be used.
(2) Calks or other suitable footwear, which will afford reasonable
protection from slipping, shall be worn while working on logs,
poles, pilings, or similar forest products.
(3) Traditional tennis shoes, shoes with canvas tops, or thin
or soft soled athletic shoes, open toed sandals, slippers, dress
shoes or other similar type shoes shall not be worn. Soft or athletic-type
soles with uppers of leather or other substantial material may
be used where firm footing is desired and where minimal danger
of injury to feet from falling or moving objects.
(4) Safety-toe footwear for employees shall meet the requirements
and specifications in American National Standard for Men's Safety-Toe
Footwear, Z41.1-1967.
(a) Employees shall use eye and face protection equipment when
machines or operations present potential eye or face injury
from physical, chemical, or radiation agents.
(b) Eye and face protection equipment required by this part
shall meet the requirements specified in American National Standards
Institute, Z87.1-1968, Practice for Occupational and Educational
Eye and Face Protection.
(c) Employees whose vision requires the use of corrective lenses
in spectacles, when required by this regulation to wear eye
protection, shall be protected by goggles or spectacles of one
of the following types:
(i) Spectacles whose protective lenses provide optical correction;
(ii) Goggles that can be worn over corrective spectacles
without disturbing the adjustment of the spectacles.
(iii) Goggles that incorporate corrective lenses mounted
behind the protective lenses.
(d) Face and eye protection equipment shall be kept clean and
in good repair. The use of this type equipment with structural
or optical defects shall be prohibited.
(e) Table C-1 shall be used as a guide in the selection of
face and eye protection for the hazards and operations noted.
(f) Protectors shall meet the following minimum requirements:
(i) They shall provide adequate protection against the particular
hazards for which they are designed.
(ii) They shall be reasonably comfortable when worn under
the designated conditions.
(iii) They shall fit snugly and shall not unduly interfere
with the movements of the wearer.
(iv) They shall be durable.
(v) They shall be capable of being disinfected.
(vi) They shall be easily cleanable.
(g) Every protector shall be distinctly marked to facilitate
identification only of the manufacturer.
(h) When limitations or precautions are indicated by the manufacturer,
they shall be transmitted to the user and care taken to see
that such limitations and precautions are strictly observed.
FLYING
PARTICLES SPARKS, INTENSE RAYS, MOULTEN METAL
1,3,4,5,6,7A,
8A 9,11 (11 in combination with
4,5,6 in tinted lenses, advisable)
FURNACE
OPERATIONS
GLARE,
HEAT MOLTEN METAL
7,8,9
(for severe exposure add 10)
GRINDING
LIGHT
FLYING
PARTICLES
1,3,4,5,6,10
GRINDING
HEAVE
FLYING
PARTICLES
1,3,7A,
8A (for severe exposure add 10)
LABORATORY
CHEMICAL
SPLASH GLASS BREAKAGE
2
(10 when in combination with 4,5,6)
MACHINING
FLYING
PARTICLES
1,3,4,5,6,10
MOLTEN
METALS
HEAT,
GLARE SPARKS, SPLASH
7,8
(10 in combination with 4,5,6,
in tinted lenses)
SPOT WELDING
FLYING
PARTICLES SPARKS
1,3,4,5,6,10
(2) Protection against radiant energy.
(a) Selection of shade numbers for welding filter. Table C-2
shall be used as a guide for the selection of the proper shade
numbers of filter lenses or plates used in welding. Shades more
dense than those listed may be used to suit the individual's
needs.
TABLE
C-2
FILTER
LENS SHADE NUMBERS FOR PROTECTION AGAINST RADIANT ENERGY
(i) Employees whose occupation or assignment requires potentially
hazardous exposure (see WAC
296-62-09005(4)) to laser radiation shall wear suitable
laser safety goggles which will protect for the specific wavelength
of the laser and be of optical density (O.D.) adequate for
the energy involved. Table C-3 lists the maximum power or
energy density for which adequate protection is afforded by
glasses of optical densities from 5 through 8.
TABLE
C-3
SELECTING
LASER SAFETY GLASS
INTENSITY
ATTENUATION
CW
maximum power density (watts/cm2)
Optical
Density (O.D.)
Attenuation
factor
10.2
5
105
10.1
6
106
1.0
7
107
10.0
8
108
Output levels falling between lines in this table shall require
the higher optical density.
(ii) All protective goggles shall bear a label identifying
the following data:
(a) The laser wavelengths for which use is intended;
(1) When an employee is employed under conditions which expose
them to a risk of drowning, they shall wear a U.S. Coast Guard
approved life saving device, unless it can be shown that conditions,
such as shallow water, are such that flotation would not be achieved.
(2) Prior to and after each use, the buoyant life saving device
shall be inspected for defects which would alter their strength
or buoyancy. Defective units shall not be used.
(3) Ring buoys with at least 90 feet of line shall be provided
and readily available for emergency rescue operations. Distance
between ring buoys shall not exceed 200 feet.
(4) At least one lifesaving skiff shall be immediately available
at locations where employees are working over or adjacent to water.
Each skiff, or skiffs, shall:
(a) Be suitable for conditions where used.
(b) Be equipped with oar locks securely attached to gunwales,
oars, one boat hook, and one cork ring buoy with fifty feet
of suitable line attached.
(5) Whenever boats or skiffs cannot be used, due to swift currents,
life lines close to the water surface shall be provided and, wherever
practicable, a line shall be stretched across the stream with
tag lines.
(6) Where workers are transported by boat or barge, only such
number of persons shall be carried that can be safely accommodated
on fixed seats. Capacity showing number of persons shall be plainly
marked on vessel.
(7) All workers shall be provided with a U.S. Coast Guard approved
buoyant life saving device while transported in open boats and/or
barges, and where deemed necessary by the department, workers
shall wear same while in transport.
Goggles, gloves, respirators and other protectors shall not
be interchanged among employees for use unless they have been
thoroughly cleaned since last use.
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