WAC 296-32-220   General.  (1) Buildings containing telecommunications centers.

     (a) Illumination. Lighting in telecommunication centers shall be provided in an amount such that continuing work operations, routine observations, and the passage of employees can be carried out in a safe and healthful manner.

     (b) Specific tasks in centers, such as splicing cable and the maintenance and repair of equipment frame lineups, the employer shall install permanent lighting or portable supplemental lighting to attain a higher level of illumination.

     (c) Refer to WAC 296-800-210 which shall apply as minimum standards of illumination for industrial interiors.

     (d) Illumination of field work. Whenever natural light is insufficient to illuminate the worksite, artificial illumination shall be provided to enable the employee to perform the work safely.

     (2) Working surfaces.

     (a) Working surfaces shall be in conformance with the latest edition of the general safety and health standard WAC 296-24-735 through 296-24-76523, and chapter 296-800 WAC, the safety and health core rule book.

     (b) Guard rails and toe boards may be omitted on distribution frame mezzanine platforms to permit access to equipment. This exemption applies only on the side or sides of the platform facing the frames and only on those portions of the platform adjacent to equipped frames.

     (3) Working spaces.

     (a) Space shall be provided for access to all medium high and high voltage equipment.

     (b) Every structure, new or old, designed for human occupancy shall be provided with exits to permit the prompt escape of occupants in case of fire or other emergency. The means of egress shall be a continuous and unobstructed way of exit travel from any point in a building or structure to a public way and consist of three separate and distinct parts; the way of exit access, the exit and the way of exit discharge. A means of egress comprises the vertical and horizontal ways of travel and shall include intervening room spaces, doorways, hallways, corridors, passageways, balconies, ramps, stairs, enclosures, lobbies, escalators, horizontal exits, courts and yards.

     (c) "Maintenance aisles," or "wiring aisles," between equipment frame lineups are working spaces and are not a means of egress for purposes of WAC 296-800-310.

     (4) Special doors.

     (a) When blastproof or power actuated doors are installed in specially designed hardsite security buildings and spaces, they shall be designed and installed so that they can be used as a means of egress in emergencies.

     (b) When high voltage apparatus is isolated in a supplementary enclosure, interlocks shall be provided on all access doors. Warning signs shall be provided, which are visible both when the guard or cover is in place or removed.

     (5) Equipment, machinery and machine guarding.

     (a) When power plant machinery in telecommunications centers is operated with commutators and couplings uncovered, the adjacent housing shall be clearly marked to alert personnel to the rotating machinery.

     (b) All power switches on power panels shall be in an open position when they are not controlling an operating circuit. Before opening any power circuit, the load shall be reduced. "Men working" signs, or similar wording shall be placed on switches associated with motors or generators under repair.

     (c) When working on the brushes of a machine in operation, employees shall use care not to break a circuit. When it is necessary to remove a brush from the holder, the machine shall be shut down.

     (d) Only fuse pullers specifically designed for that purpose shall be used when replacing cartridge type fuses.

     (6) Battery handling.

     (a) Eye protection devices which provide side as well as frontal eye protection for employees shall be provided when measuring storage battery specific gravity or handling electrolyte, and the employer shall ensure that such devices are used by the employees.

     (b) The employer shall also ensure that acid resistant gloves and aprons shall be worn for protection against spattering.

     (c) Facilities for quick drenching or flushing of the eyes and body shall be provided unless the storage batteries are of the enclosed type and equipped with explosion proof vents, in which case sealed water rinse or neutralizing packs may be substituted for the quick drenching or flushing facilities.

     (d) Employees assigned to work with storage batteries shall be instructed in emergency procedures such as dealing with accidental acid spills.

     (e) Electrolyte (acid or base, and distilled water) for battery cells shall be mixed in a well ventilated room. Acid or base shall be poured gradually, while stirring, into the water. Water shall never be poured into concentrated (greater than 75 percent) acid solutions. Electrolyte shall never be placed in metal containers nor stirred with metal objects.

     (f) When taking specific gravity readings, the open end of the hydrometer shall be covered with an acid resistant material while moving it from cell to cell to avoid splashing or throwing the electrolyte.

     (g) Ventilation, shall be provided to ensure diffusion of the gasses from the battery to prevent the accumulation of an explosive type mixture.

     (h) Racks and trays shall be substantial and treated to be resistant to the electrolyte.

     (i) Floors shall be of acid resistant construction or be protected from acid accumulation.

     (7) Hazardous materials.

     (a) Highway mobile vehicles and trailers stored in garages in accordance with WAC 296-24-47513 (4)(b) may be equipped to carry more than one LP-gas container, but the total capacity of LP-gas containers per work vehicle stored in garages shall not exceed 100 pounds of LP-gas.

     (b) All container valves shall be closed when not in use.

     (8) Compressed gas.

     (a) When using or transporting nitrogen cylinders, special compartments, racks, or blocking shall be provided to prevent cylinder movement.

     (b) Regulators shall be removed or guarded before a cylinder is transported.

     (9) Support structures.

     (a) No employee, or any material or equipment, shall be supported or permitted to be supported on any portion of a pole structure, platform, ladder, walkway or other elevated structure or aerial device unless the employer ensures that the support structure is first inspected by a competent person and it is determined to be strong, in good working condition and properly secured in place.

     (b) Workers shall not throw anything from pole to ground, from pole to pole or from ground to pole.

     (10) Power exposures.

     (a) The employer shall ensure that no employee approaches or takes any conductive object closer to any electrically energized overhead power lines and parts than prescribed in Table 1 unless:

     (i) The employee is insulated or guarded from the energized parts (insulating gloves rated for the voltage involved shall be considered adequate insulation), or

     (ii) The energized parts are insulated or guarded from the employee and any other conductive object at a different potential, or

     (iii) The power conductors and equipment are deenergized and grounded.

     (b) While handling communication wires, metal sheaths, or communication equipment, contact shall be avoided with street lamp brackets, trolley span wires, power guys, transformer cases and any other power equipment that may be energized. The safest possible working position shall be assumed before starting work.

     (c) Communication employees shall never work in the pole space on jointly used poles between normal primary and secondary attachments.

     (d) Where a hazard of a power contact exists, due to use of long handled tools, proper rubber equipment shall be used.

TABLE 1

APPROACH DISTANCES TO EXPOSED ENERGIZED OVERHEAD POWER LINES AND PARTS
Voltage Range (phase to phase, RMS)	Approach Distance (inches)
300 V and less ——————————————————			(1)
Over 300 V, not over 750 V ——————————————			12
Over 750 V not over 2 kV ——————————————–			18
Over 2 kV, not over 15 kV —–—————————————			24
Over 15 kV, not over 37 kV ——————————————			36
Over 37 kV, not over 87.5 kV —————————————			42
Over 87.5 kV, not over 121 kV ————————————–			48
Over 121 kV, not over 140 kV —————————————			54
(1)Avoid contact.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.010, 49.17.040, 49.17.050, 49.17.060. 07-03-163, § 296-32-220, filed 1/24/07, effective 4/1/07. Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.010, [49.17].040, and[49.17].050 . 01-11-038, § 296-32-220, filed 5/9/01, effective 9/1/01. Statutory Authority: Chapter 49.17 RCW. 94-15-096 (Order 94-07), § 296-32-220, filed 7/20/94, effective 9/20/94; Order 76-38, § 296-32-220, filed 12/30/76; Order 75-41, § 296-32-220, filed 12/19/75.]