WAC 296-305-01509   Management's responsibility.  (1) It shall be the responsibility of management to establish, supervise, maintain, and enforce, in a manner which is effective in practice:

     (a) A safe and healthful working environment, as it applies to noncombat conditions or to combat conditions at a fire scene after the fire has been extinguished, as determined by the officer in charge.

     (b) An accident prevention program as required by this chapter.

     (c) Programs for training employees in the fundamentals of accident prevention.

     (d) Procedures to be used by the fire department safety officer and incident commander to ensure that emergency medical care is provided for members on duty.

     (e) An accident investigation program as required by this chapter.

     (2) The fire department shall be responsible for providing suitable expertise to comply with all testing requirements in this chapter. Such expertise may be secured from within the fire department, from equipment and apparatus manufacturers, or other suitable sources.

     (3) Members who are under the influence of alcohol or drugs shall not participate in any fire department operations or other functions. This rule does not apply to persons taking prescription drugs as directed by a physician or dentist providing such use does not endanger the worker or others.

     (4) Alcoholic beverages shall not be allowed in station houses, except at those times when station houses are used as community centers, with the approval of management.

     (5) A bulletin board or posting area exclusively for safety and health and large enough to display the required safety and health posters. The WISHA poster (WISHA form F416-081-000) and other safety education material shall be provided. A bulletin board of "white background" and "green trim" is recommended.

     (6) The fire department shall develop and maintain a hazard communication program as required by WAC 296-800-170, which will provide information to all employees relative to hazardous chemicals or substances to which they are exposed, or may routinely be exposed to, in the course of their employment.

     (7) Personnel.

     (a) The employer shall assure that employees who are expected to do interior structural firefighting are physically capable of performing duties that may be assigned to them during emergencies.

     (b) The employer shall not permit employees with known physical limitations reasonably identifiable to the employer, for example, heart disease or seizure disorder, to participate in structural firefighting emergency activities unless the employee has been released by a physician to participate in such activities.



[Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.010, [49.17].040, and[49.17].050 . 01-11-038, § 296-305-01509, filed 5/9/01, effective 9/1/01. Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.040. 99-05-080, § 296-305-01509, filed 2/17/99, effective 6/1/99. Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.010, [49.17].050 and[49.17].060 . 96-11-067, § 296-305-01509, filed 5/10/96, effective 1/1/97.]