WAC 296-304-03005   Mechanical paint removers.  (1) Power tools.

     (a) The employer must ensure that employees engaged in the removal of paints, preservatives, rusts or other coatings by means of power tools are protected against eye injury by goggles or face shields that meets the requirements of WAC 296-304-09005 (1) and (2).

     (b) All portable rotating tools used for the removal of paints, preservatives, rusts or other coatings shall be adequately guarded to protect both the operator and nearby workers from flying missiles.

     (c) Portable electric tools shall be grounded in accordance with the requirements of WAC 296-304-08003 (1) and (2).

     (d) In a confined space, the employer must provide mechanical exhaust ventilation sufficient to keep the dust concentration to a minimum, or must protect employees by respiratory protective equipment that meets the requirements of chapter 296-842 WAC.

     (2) Flame removal.

     (a) The employer must ensure that when hardened preservative coatings are removed by flame in enclosed spaces, the employees exposed to fumes are protected by air line respirators that meet the requirements of chapter 296-842 WAC. Employees performing this operation in the open air, and those exposed to the resulting fumes, must be protected by a fume filter respirator that meets the requirements of chapter 296-842 WAC.

     (b) Flame or heat shall not be used to remove soft and greasy preservative coatings.

     (3) Abrasive blasting.

     (a) Equipment. Hoses and fittings used for abrasive blasting shall meet the following requirements:

     (i) Hoses. Hose of a type to prevent shocks from static electricity shall be used.

     (ii) Hose couplings. Hose lengths shall be joined by metal couplings secured to the outside of the hose to avoid erosion and weakening of the couplings.

     (iii) Nozzles. Nozzles shall be attached to the hose by fittings that will prevent the nozzle from unintentionally becoming disengaged. Nozzle attachments shall be of metal and shall fit onto the hose externally.

     (iv) Dead man control. A dead man control device shall be provided at the nozzle end of the blasting hose either to provide direct cutoff or to signal the pot tender by means of a visual and audible signal to cut off the flow, in the event the blaster loses control of the hose. The pot tender shall be available at all times to respond immediately to the signal.

     (b) Replacement. Hoses and all fittings used for abrasive blasting shall be inspected frequently to insure timely replacement before an unsafe amount of wear has occurred.

     (c) Personal protective equipment.

     (i) The employer must ensure that abrasive blasters working in enclosed spaces are protected by abrasive blasting respirators that meet the requirements of chapter 296-818 WAC, Abrasive blasting and chapter 296-842 WAC.

     (ii) The employer must ensure that abrasive blasters working in the open are protected as required in subsection (1) of this section.

Exception:

When synthetic abrasives containing less than one percent free silica are used, the employer may substitute particulate or dust filter respirators that are approved by the National Institute of Safety and Health (NIOSH) and used according to chapter 296-842 WAC.

     (iii) The employer must ensure that employees, including machine tenders and abrasive recovery workers, working in areas where unsafe concentrations of abrasive materials and dusts are present are protected by eye and respiratory protective equipment that meets the requirements of WAC 296-304-09005 (1) and (2) and chapter 296-842 WAC.

Exception:

This requirement does not apply to blasters.

     (iv) The employer must ensure that a blaster is protected against injury from exposure to the blast by appropriate protective clothing, including gloves that meet the requirements of WAC 296-304-09015(1).

     (v) A surge from a drop in pressure in the hose line can throw a blaster off the staging. To protect against this hazard, the employer must ensure that a blaster is protected by a personal fall arrest system, that meets the requirements of WAC 296-304-09021. The personal fall arrest system must be tied off to the ship or other structure during blasting from elevations where adequate fall protection cannot be provided by railings.



[Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.010, 49.17.040, 49.17.050, 49.17.060. 06-12-074, § 296-304-03005, filed 6/6/06, effective 9/1/06; 05-03-093, § 296-304-03005, filed 1/18/05, effective 3/1/05. Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.010,[49.17].040 and [49.17].050. 99-10-071, § 296-304-03005, filed 5/4/99, effective 9/1/99. Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.040, [49.17].050 and [49.17].060. 98-02-006, § 296-304-03005, filed 12/26/97, effective 3/1/98. Statutory Authority: Chapter 49.17 RCW. 95-04-006, § 296-304-03005, filed 1/18/95, effective 3/10/95; 93-19-142 (Order 93-04), § 296-304-03005, filed 9/22/93, effective 11/1/93; Order 76-7, § 296-304-03005, filed 3/1/76; Order 74-25, § 296-304-03005, filed 5/7/74.]