WAC 296-54-545   Climbing equipment and passline.  (1) Standard climbing equipment must be furnished by the employer. However, the climber may use personal equipment, if it meets the requirements of this section and is permitted by the employer.

     (a) The climber may fasten climbing rope by passing it through "D" rings fastened to the belt and around his body before tying it to itself.

     (b) An extra set of climbing equipment must be kept at the jobsite and another person with climbing experience must be present.

     (2) The climber must be equipped with a climbing equipment assembly that includes:

     (a) A safety belt with double "D" rings;

     (b) Steel spurs long and sharp enough to hold in any tree in which they are used; and

     (c) A climbing rope made of wire-core hemp, wire or chain construction.

     (3) All climbing equipment must be maintained in good condition.

     (4) Defective climbing equipment must be immediately removed from service.

     (5) Going up a raised portable spar or tower without suitable equipment is prohibited.

     (6) Only an employee directed by the climber may work directly under a tree. The climber must give warning before intentionally dropping any objects or when objects are accidentally dropped.

     (7) Running lines must not be moved while the climber is working in the tree, except such "pulls" as climber directs and are necessary for the work.

     (8) One experienced person must be assigned to transmit the climber's signals to the machine operator.

     (a) This signal person must not otherwise be occupied while the climber is in the tree.

     (b) The machine operator must not be distracted while the climber is using the passline.

     (c) The designated signal person must be positioned clear of hazards from falling, flying, or thrown objects.

     (9) The climber must be an experienced logger with proper knowledge of logging methods and the safety of rigging spar and tail trees.

     (10) Noisy equipment such as power saws, tractors, and shovels must not be operated near where a climber is working when such noise will interfere with the climber's signals.

     (11) Climbing and passline equipment must not be used for other purposes.

     (12) Lineman hooks must not be used as spurs.

     (13) Tools used by the climber, except the chain saw, must be safely secured to climbers belt when not in use.

     (14) Using snaps on a climber's rope is prohibited unless a secondary safety device between the belt and snap is used.

     (15) A climber's rope must encircle the tree before the climber leaves the ground, except when the climber is riding the passline.

     (16) While the climber is working in the tree, persons must keep at sufficient distance from the tree to be clear of falling objects.

     (17) When used, passline blocks must be kept in alignment and free from fouling.

     (18) Loose equipment, rigging, or material must either be removed from the tree or securely fastened.

     (19) Drums used for passlines must have enough flange depth to prevent the passline from running off the drum at any time.

     (20) Passlines must:

     (a) Be at least 5/16-inch and not over 1/2-inch in diameter;

     (b) Not be subjected to sawing on other lines or rigging, and kept clear of all moving lines and rigging;

     (c) Be one continuous length and in good condition with no splices, knots, molles, or eye-to-eye splices between the ends;

     (d) Long enough to provide three wraps on the drum before the climber leaves the ground.

     (21) Passline chains must be:

     (a) At least 5/16-inch alloy or 3/8-inch high test chain and must not contain cold shuts or wire strands;

     (b) Attached to the end of the passline with a screw-pin shackle, a slip-pin shackle with a nut and molle, or a ring large enough to prevent going through the pass block; and

     (c) Fitted with links or rings to prevent workers from being pulled into the passline block.

     (22) Pass blocks must:

     (a) Be inspected before placing in each spar and the necessary replacements or repairs made before they are hung;

     (b) Have the shells bolted under the sheaves;

     (c) Have the bearing pin securely locked and nuts keyed, or the block positively secures the nut and pin;

     (d) Be equipped with sheaves at least six inches in diameter; and

     (e) Comply with WAC 296-54-54750.



[Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.010, [49.17].040 and[49.17].050 . 99-17-117, § 296-54-545, filed 8/18/99, effective 12/1/99. Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.040, 49.17.150 and 49.17.240. 79-10-081 (Order 79-14), § 296-54-545, filed 9/21/79.]