WAC 296-56-60053   Hazardous atmospheres and substances.  (1) Purpose and scope. This section covers areas where a hazardous atmosphere or substance may exist, except where one or more of the following sections apply: WAC 296-56-60049 Hazardous cargo; WAC 296-56-60051 Handling explosives or hazardous materials; WAC 296-56-60055 Carbon monoxide; WAC 296-56-60057 Fumigants, pesticides, insecticides and hazardous preservatives; WAC 296-56-60107 Terminal facilities handling menhaden and similar species of fish; WAC 296-56-60235 Welding, cutting and heating (hot work); and WAC 296-56-60237 Spray painting.

     (2) Determination of hazard.

     (a) Whenever a room, building, vehicle, railcar or other space contains or has contained a hazardous atmosphere, a designated and appropriately equipped person shall test the atmosphere before entry to determine whether a hazardous atmosphere exists.

     (b) Records of results of any tests required by this section shall be maintained for at least thirty days.

     (3) Testing during ventilation. When mechanical ventilation is used to maintain a safe atmosphere, tests shall be made by a designated person to ensure that the atmosphere is not hazardous.

     (4) Entry into hazardous atmospheres. Only designated persons shall enter hazardous atmospheres. The following provisions shall apply:

     (a) Persons entering a space containing a hazardous atmosphere shall be protected by respiratory and emergency protective equipment meeting the requirements of chapter 296-842 WAC;

     (b) Persons entering a space containing a hazardous atmosphere shall be instructed in the nature of the hazard, precautions to be taken, and the use of protective and emergency equipment. Standby observers, similarly equipped and instructed, shall continuously monitor the activity of employees within such space; and

     (c) Except for emergency or rescue operations, employees shall not enter into any atmosphere which has been identified as flammable or oxygen deficient (less than nineteen and one-half percent oxygen). Persons who may be required to enter flammable or oxygen deficient atmospheres in emergency operations shall be instructed in the dangers attendant to those atmospheres and instructed in the use of self-contained breathing apparatus, which shall be utilized.

     (d) To prevent inadvertent employee entry into spaces that have been identified as having hazardous, flammable or oxygen deficient atmospheres, appropriate warning signs or equivalent means shall be posted at all means of access to those spaces.

     (5) When the packaging of asbestos cargo leaks, spillage shall be cleaned up by designated employees protected from the harmful effects of asbestos as required by WAC 296-62-07517 and chapter 296-65 WAC.



[Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.010, 49.17.040, 49.17.050, 49.17.060. 05-03-093, § 296-56-60053, filed 1/18/05, effective 3/1/05. Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.010,[49.17].040 and [49.17].050. 99-10-071, § 296-56-60053, filed 5/4/99, effective 9/1/99. Statutory Authority: Chapter 49.17 RCW and RCW 49.17.040, [49.17].050 and [49.17].060. 92-22-067 (Order 92-06), § 296-56-60053, filed 10/30/92, effective 12/8/92. Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.040 and 49.17.050. 86-03-064 (Order 86-02), § 296-56-60053, filed 1/17/86; 85-01-022 (Order 84-24), § 296-56-60053, filed 12/11/84.]