WAC 296-54-513   Arrangement of work areas and emergency contact.  (1) Employee work areas must be spaced and employee duties organized so the actions of one employee do not create a hazard for any other employee.

     (2) Work areas must be assigned so that:

     (a) Trees cannot fall into an adjacent occupied work area;

     (b) The distance between work areas is at least two tree lengths of the trees being fell;

     (c) The distance between work areas reflects the degree of slope, the density of the growth, the height of the trees, the soil structure and other hazards reasonably anticipated at the worksite; and

     (d) A distance of more than two tree lengths is maintained between work areas on any slope where rolling or sliding of trees or logs is reasonably foreseeable.

     (3) Each employee must be within visual, audible, or radio/telephone contact with another person who can assist in case of emergency.

     (4) In any logging operation where cutting, yarding, or loading are performed, there must be at least two employees working as a team.

     (5) Each employee must have visual or audible signal contact with another employee as often as this schedule requires:

     (a) Cutters - 30 minutes.

     (b) All other employees - 2 hours, which allows for making layouts, notching guyline stumps, etc., during normal work hours.

Exception:

The requirements for a two-person team and check-in schedule do not apply to operators of motor vehicles, mechanized logging machines, watchpersons or certain other jobs which, by their nature, are singular employee assignments. However, a procedure for checking the welfare of these employees during their working hours must be instituted and all employees so advised.

     (6) Mechanics or other employees must not be assigned to work on equipment by themselves when there is a probability of a fall from elevated work locations or equipment. Also, if the work is of such nature that heavy parts require moving, or there is a probability that anything heavy could fall on the person, there must be another person in the immediate area to render assistance.

     (7) The employer must establish a method of checking the employees in from the woods at the end of each shift, including operators of all movable equipment. Each immediate supervisor must account for their crew.

     (8) Each worksite must have at least one serviceable and operable two-way radio, phone, or radio/phone combination available to reach emergency service. Citizen band radios are permitted only as a secondary means of communication.

     (9) Each worksite must have an emergency medical plan to ensure rapid emergency medical care for employees with major illnesses and injuries. The plan must be in writing and include the following:

     (a) Township, range, and section numbers or latitude and longitude or UMS Grid System coordinates;

     (b) Directions by road, or escort provisions to the site;

     (c) Telephone number of emergency medical services; and

     (d) Provisions for emergency vehicle(s) access, when working behind locked gate(s).



[Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.010, [49.17].040 and[49.17].050 . 99-17-117, § 296-54-513, filed 8/18/99, effective 12/1/99. Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.040,[49.17].050 and [49.17].060. 96-22-013, § 296-54-513, filed 10/28/96, effective 1/1/97. Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.040, 49.17.150 and 49.17.240. 79-10-081 (Order 79-14), § 296-54-513, filed 9/21/79.]