WAC 296-305-01003
Scope and application. (1) The rules
of this chapter shall apply with respect to any and all
activities, operations and equipment of employers and
employees involved in providing fire protection services which
are subject to the provisions of the Washington Industrial
Safety and Health Act of 1973 (chapter 49.17 RCW).
(2) The provisions of this chapter apply to all fire
fighters and their work places, including the fire combat
scene. Although enforcement of applicable standards will
result from provable violations of these standards at the fire
combat scene, agents of the department will not act in any
manner that will reduce or interfere with the effectiveness of
the emergency response of a fire fighting unit. Activities
directly related to the combating of a fire will not be
subjected to the immediate restraint provisions of RCW 49.17.130.
(3) In the development of this document many consensus
standards of the industry were considered and evaluated as to
adaptability to the Washington state fire service industry. Where adaptable and meaningful, the fire fighter safety
elements of these standards were incorporated into this WAC. Chapter 296-305 WAC, shall be considered as the fire fighter
safety standards for the state of Washington.
(4) The provisions of this chapter cover existing
requirements that apply to all fire departments. All fire
departments shall have in place their own policy statement and
operating instructions that meet or exceed these requirements.
This chapter contains state and/or federal performance
criteria that fire departments shall meet.
(5) Unless specifically stated otherwise by rule, if a
duplication of regulations, or a conflict exists between the
rules regulating wildland fire fighting and other rules in the
chapter, only the rules regulating wildland fire fighting
shall apply to wildland fire fighting activities and
equipment.
(6) The provisions of this chapter shall be supplemented
by the provisions of the general safety and health standards
of the department of labor and industries, chapters296-24, 296-62, 296-800, and 296-811 WAC. In the event of conflict
between any provision(s) of this chapter and any provision(s)
of the general safety and health standards, the provision(s)
of this chapter shall apply.
(7) The provisions of this standard do not apply to
industrial fire brigades, as defined in this chapter. Industrial fire brigades are covered under the provisions of
chapter 296-811 WAC, Fire brigades.
[Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.010, 49.17.040, 49.17.050,
49.17.060. 06-01-073, § 296-305-01003, filed 12/20/05,
effective 3/1/06. Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.010,[49.17].040
, and [49.17].050. 01-11-038, § 296-305-01003,
filed 5/9/01, effective 9/1/01. Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.040. 99-05-080, § 296-305-01003, filed 2/17/99,
effective 6/1/99. Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.010,[49.17].050
and [49.17].060. 96-11-067, § 296-305-01003,
filed 5/10/96, effective 1/1/97.]