WAC 296-79-29029   Broke hole.  (1) An alarm bell or flashing light must be actuated or other suitable warning must be given before dropping material through a broke hole when persons working below may be endangered.

     (2) Broke holes must be guarded to the fullest extent possible consistent with operational necessities. The degree of guarding provided by standard height and strength guardrails will be considered as a minimum acceptable level of protection.

     (3) When repulping devices or feed conveyor systems for repulping devices are located beneath broke holes, special precautions must be used.

     • The broke hole opening must be reduced to the smallest practical dimension.

     • If the broke hole opening is large enough to permit a worker to fall through and is not guarded at least to the equivalent degree of protection provided by standard guardrails, any employee pushing broke down the broke hole must wear a safety belt or harness attached to a lanyard, and

     • The lanyard must be fastened in such a manner that it is impossible for the person to fall into the repulping device.

     (4) Guarding to the equivalent degree of protection provided by standard guardrails and meeting the requirements of subsections (2) and (3), may be achieved by the use of guard bars separated no more than 15-1/2 inches in a vertical plane and 12 inches in a horizontal plane, or any other location within that segment.



[Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.010, [49.17].040 and[49.17].050 . 99-16-083, § 296-79-29029, filed 8/3/99, effective 11/3/99. Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.040, 49.17.240, and chapters 43.22 and 42.30 RCW. 81-03-007 (Order 80-31), § 296-79-29029, filed 1/8/81; Order 74-24, § 296-79-29029, filed 5/6/74.]