WAC

296-24-003 Subsections, subdivisions, items, subitems, and segments.

296-24-005 Purpose and scope.

296-24-012 Definitions applicable to all sections of this chapter.

WAC 296-24-003 Subsections, subdivisions, items, subitems, and segments.

(1) That portion of section numeration appearing after the chapter designation appears in either a three digit or a five digit format (e.g. 296-24-330 and 296-24-33002). The final two digits of the section number are implied decimal extensions of the first three digits and represent a further division of the three digit enumeration.

(2) Sections of this chapter may be divided into subsections (1), (2), (3), etc., which may in turn be divided into subdivisions (a), (b), (c), etc., which may be further divided into items (i), (ii), (iii),etc., which may be further divided into subitems (A), (B), (C), etc., which may be further divided into segments (I), (II), (III), etc., all according to the following hierarchy, e.g.

[Statutory Authority: Chapter 49.17 RCW. 88-23-054 (Order 88-25), § 296-24-003, filed 11/14/88; Order 76-6, § 296-24-003, filed 3/1/76; Order 73-5, § 296-24-003, filed 5/9/73 and Order 73-4, § 296-24-003, filed 5/7/73.]

WAC 296-24-005 Purpose and scope. 

The rules in this chapter are designed to protect the safety and health of employees by creating a healthy work environment by establishing requirements to control safety hazards in the workplace. Chapter 296-800 WAC, the safety and health core rules, contain safety and health rules that apply to most workplaces. Other special industry rules complement the rules found in this chapter and in the safety and health core rules.

[Statutory Authority: Statutory Authority: Order 73-5, § 296-24-005, filed 5/9/73 and Order 73-4, § 296-24-005, filed 5/7/73.]

WAC 296-24-012 Definitions applicable to all sections of this chapter.

Note: Meaning of words. Unless the context indicates otherwise, words used in this chapter shall have the meaning given in this section.

(1) “Approved” means approved by the director of the department of labor and industries or his/her authorized representative: Provided, however, That should a provision of this chapter state that approval by an agency or organization other than the department of labor and industries is required, such as Underwriters' Laboratories or the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), the provisions of WAC 296-800-360 shall apply.

(2) “Authorized person” means a person approved or assigned by the employer to perform a specific type of duty or duties or to be at a specific location or locations at the job site.

(3) “Competent person” means one who is capable of identifying existing and predictable hazards in the surroundings or working conditions which are unsanitary, hazardous, or dangerous to employees, and who has authorization to take prompt corrective action to eliminate them.

(4) “Department” means the department of labor and industries.

(5) “Director” means the director of the department of labor and industries, or his/her designated representative.

(6) “Employer” means any person, firm, corporation, partnership, business trust, legal representative, or other business entity which engages in any business, industry, profession, or activity in this state and employs one or more employees or who contracts with one or more persons, the essence of which is the personal labor of such person or persons and includes the state, counties, cities, and all municipal corporations, public corporations, political subdivisions of the state, and charitable organizations: Provided, That any person, partnership, or business entity not having employees, and who is covered by the industrial insurance act shall be considered both an employer and an employee.

(7) “First-aid” means, for purposes of this section, the extent of treatment that could be expected to be given by a person trained in basic first-aid, using supplies from a first-aid kit. Tests, such as x-rays, shall not be confused with treatment.

(8) “Hazard” means that condition, potential or inherent, which can cause injury, death, or occupational disease.

(9) “Hospitalization” means to be sent to; to go to; or be admitted to a hospital or an equivalent medical facility and receive medical treatment beyond that which would be considered as first-aid treatment, regardless of the length of stay in the hospital or medical facility.

(10) “Qualified” means one who, by possession of a recognized degree, certificate, or professional standing, or who by extensive knowledge, training, and experience, has successfully demonstrated the ability to solve or resolve problems relating to the subject matter, the work, or the project.

(11) “Safety factor” means the ratio of the ultimate breaking strength of a member or piece of material or equipment to the actual working stress or safe load when in use.

(12) “Safety and health standard” means a standard which requires the adoption or use of one or more practices, means, methods, operations, or processes reasonably necessary or appropriate to provide safe or healthful employment and places of employment.

(13) “Shall” means mandatory.

(14) “Should” means recommended.

(15) “Standard safeguard” means a device designed and constructed with the object of removing the hazard of accident incidental to the machine, appliance, tool, building, or equipment to which it is attached.

Standard safeguards shall be constructed of either metal or wood or other suitable material or a combination of these. The final determination of the sufficiency of any safeguard rests with the director of the department of labor and industries.

(16) “Suitable” means that which fits, or has the qualities or qualifications to meet a given purpose, occasion, condition, function, or circumstance.

(17) “Working day” means a calendar day, except Saturdays, Sundays, and legal holidays as set forth in RCW 1.16.050, as now or hereafter amended, and for the purposes of the computation of time within which an act is to be done under the provisions of this chapter, shall be computed by excluding the first working day and including the last working day.

(18) “Worker,” “personnel,” “person,” “employee,” and other terms of like meaning, unless the context of the provision containing such term indicates otherwise, mean an employee of an employer who is employed in the business of his/her employer whether by way of manual labor or otherwise and every person in this state who is engaged in the employment of or who is working under an independent contract the essence of which is his/her personal labor for an employer whether by manual labor or otherwise.

(19) “Work place” means any plant, yard, premises, room, or other place where an employee or employees are employed for the performance of labor or service over which the employer has the right of access or control, and includes, but is not limited to, all work places covered by industrial insurance under Title 51 RCW, as now or hereafter amended.

(20) Abbreviations used in this chapter:

(a) “ANSI” means American National Standards Institute.

(b) “API” means American Petroleum Institute.

(c) “ASA” means American Standards Association.

(d) “ASAE” means American Society of Agricultural Engineers.

(e) “ASHRE” means American Society of Heating and Refrigeration Engineers.

(f) “ASME” means American Society for Mechanical Engineers.

(g) “ASTM” means American Society for Testing and Materials.

(h) “AWS” means American Welding Society.

(i) “BTU” means British thermal unit.

(j) “BTUH” means British thermal unit per hour.

(k) “CFM” means cubic feet per minute.

(l) “CFR” means Code of Federal Regulations.

(m) “CGA” means Compressed Gas Association.

(n) “CIE” means Commission Internationale de l' Eclairage.

(o) “DOT” means department of transportation.

(p) “FRP” means fiberglass reinforced plastic.

(q) “GPM” means gallons per minute.

(r) “ICC” means Interstate Commerce Commission.

(s) “ID” means inside diameter.

(t) “LPG” means liquefied petroleum gas.

(u) “MCA” means Manufacturing Chemist Association. (New name: Chemical Manufacturers Association.)

(v) “NBFU” means National Board of Fire Underwriters.

(w) “NEMA” means National Electrical Manufacturing Association.

(x) “NFPA” means National Fire Protection Association.

(y) “NTP” means normal temperature and pressure.

(z) “OD” means outside diameter.

(aa) “PSI” means pounds per square inch.

(bb) “PSIA” means pounds per square inch atmospheric.

(cc) “PSIG” means pounds per square inch gauge.

(dd) “RMA” means Rubber Manufacturers Association.

(ee) “SAE” means Society of Automotive Engineers.

(ff) “TFI” means The Fertilizer Institute.

(gg) “TSC” means Trailer Standard Code.

(hh) “UL” means Underwriters' Laboratories, Inc.

(ii) “USASI” means United States of America Standards Institute.

(jj) “USC” means United States Code.

(kk) “USCG” means United States Coast Guard.

(ll) “WAC” means Washington Administrative Code.

(mm) “WISHA” means Washington Industrial Safety and Health Act of 1973.

[Statutory Authority:  RCW 49.17.010, .040, .050.  02-12-098 (Order 00-20), § 296-24-012, filed 06/05/02, effective 08/01/02.  Statutory Authority: Chapter 49.17 RCW. 94-15-096 (Order 94-07), § 296-24-012, filed 7/20/94, effective 9/20/94; 89-11-035 (Order 89-03), § 296-24-012, filed 5/15/89, effective 6/30/89; Order 73-5, § 296-24-012, filed 5/9/73 and Order 73-4, § 296-24-012, filed 5/7/73.]