WAC 296-56-60115   Other protective measures.  (1) Protective clothing.

     (a) Employees performing work that requires special protective clothing shall be directed by the employer to wear the necessary special protective clothing.

     (b) When necessary, protective clothing previously worn shall be cleaned and disinfected before reissuance.

     (2) Personal flotation devices.

     (a) The employer shall provide, and shall direct the wearing of personal flotation devices for those employees, such as line handlers, who are engaged in work in which they may be pulled into the water:

     (i) When such employees are working in isolation: or

     (ii) Where physical limitations of available working space creates a hazard of falling into the water; or

     (iii) Where the work area is obstructed by cargo or other obstacles so as to prevent employees from obtaining safe footing for their work.

     (b) Employees working on, over or along water, where the danger of drowning exists, shall be provided with and shall wear approved personal flotation devices.

     (i) Employees are not considered exposed to the danger of drowning when:

     (A) Working behind standard height and strength guardrails;

     (B) Working inside operating cabs or stations which eliminate the possibility of accidental falling into the water;

     (C) Wearing approved safety belts with lifeline attached so as to preclude the possibility of falling into the water.

     (ii) Prior to and after each use, personal flotation devices shall be inspected for defects which would reduce their designed effectiveness. Defective personal flotation devices shall not be used.

     (iii) To meet the requirement of (b) of this subsection, a personal flotation device shall be approved by the United States Coast Guard as a Type I PFD, Type II PFD, Type III PFD, or Type V PFD, or equivalent, pursuant to 46 CFR 160 (Coast Guard Lifesaving Equipment Specifications) and 33 CFR 175.23 (Coast Guard Table of Devices Equivalent to Personal Flotation Devices).

     (c) Life rings.

     (i) Along docks, walkways or other fixed installations on or adjacent to open water more than five feet deep, approved life rings with line attached shall be provided. The life rings shall be spaced at intervals not to exceed two hundred feet and shall be kept in easily visible and readily accessible locations.

     (ii) When employees are assigned work at other casual locations where exposure to drowning exists, at least one approved life ring with line attached shall be provided in the immediate vicinity of the work.

     (iii) Work assigned over water where the vertical drop from an accidental fall exceeds fifty feet, is subject to specific procedures approved by the department.

     (iv) Lines attached to life rings shall be at least ninety feet (27.43 m) in length, at least one-quarter inch in diameter and have a minimum breaking strength of five hundred pounds.

     (v) Life rings must be United States Coast Guard approved thirty inch size (76.2 cm).

     (vi) Life rings and attached lines must be maintained to retain at least seventy-five percent of their designed buoyancy and strength.

     (3) Emergency facilities. When employees are exposed to hazardous substances which may require emergency bathing, eye washing or other facilities, the employer shall provide such facilities and maintain them in good working order.

     (4) Employers shall instruct employees to report every injury, regardless of severity, to the employer.

     (5) Stretchers.

     (a) There shall be available for each vessel being worked one Stokes basket stretcher, or its equivalent, permanently equipped with bridles for attaching to the hoisting gear.

     (b) Stretchers shall be kept close to vessels and shall be positioned to avoid damage to the stretcher.

     (c) A blanket or other suitable covering shall be available.

     (d) Stretchers shall have at least four sets of effective patient restraints in operable condition.

     (e) Lifting bridles shall be of adequate strength, capable of lifting 1,000 pounds (454 kg) with a safety factor of five, and shall be maintained in operable condition. Lifting bridles shall be provided for making vertical patient lifts at container berths. Stretchers for vertical lifts shall have foot plates.

     (f) Stretchers shall be maintained in operable condition. Struts and braces shall be inspected for damage. Wire mesh shall be secured and have no burrs. Damaged stretchers shall not be used until repaired.

     (g) Stretchers in permanent locations shall be mounted to prevent damage and shall be protected from the elements if located out-of-doors. If concealed from view, closures shall be marked to indicate the location of the life saving equipment.

     (6) Telephone or equivalent means of communication shall be readily available.

     (7) Employees working on any bridge or structure leading to a detached vessel berthing installation shall wear United States Coast Guard approved personal flotation devices except where protected by railings, nets, or safety belts and lifelines.

     (8) Life ladders. On all docks there shall be substantial built-in-place ladders, spaced at intervals not to exceed four hundred feet, to reach the lowest water use. When portable ladders are to be used, ladders may be bolted to the bullrail or dock structure, or ladders can be secured to an embedded eye bolt in a concrete dock surface. The immediate area where such ladders or fastenings are located shall be painted with a bright color or of a color which contrasts with the surrounding area. There shall be a ladder at each end of the dock.



[Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.010, 49.17.040, 49.17.050, 49.17.060. 09-15-144, § 296-56-60115, filed 7/21/09, effective 9/1/09; 04-11-066, § 296-56-60115, filed 5/18/04, effective 7/1/04. Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.010,[49.17].040 , and [49.17].050. 00-21-103, § 296-56-60115, filed 10/18/00, effective 2/1/01. Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.040. 99-02-024, § 296-56-60115, filed 12/30/98, effective 3/30/99. Statutory Authority: Chapter 49.17 RCW and RCW 49.17.040, [49.17].050 and [49.17].060. 92-22-067 (Order 92-06), § 296-56-60115, filed 10/30/92, effective 12/8/92. Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.040 and 49.17.050. 86-03-064 (Order 86-02), § 296-56-60115, filed 1/17/86; 85-10-004 (Order 85-09), § 296-56-60115, filed 4/19/85; 85-01-022 (Order 84-24), § 296-56-60115, filed 12/11/84.]