WAC 296-843-300
Definitions.
Buddy system
A system of organizing employees into work groups so that
each employee is assigned to observe another employee in the
same work group. The purpose of this system is to provide
rapid assistance to employees in the event of an emergency.
Clean-up operation
An operation where hazardous substances are removed,
contained, incinerated, neutralized, stabilized, cleared up,
or in any other manner processed or handled with the goal of
making the site safer for people or the environment.
Contamination reduction zone
The buffer zone between the exclusion and the clean zone.
Decontamination
The removal of hazardous substances from employees and
equipment, to the extent necessary, to avoid foreseeable
adverse health effects.
Emergency response or responding to emergencies
An organized response to an anticipated release of a
hazardous substance that is, or could become, an uncontrolled
release.
Exclusion zone
A controlled area at a site, where contamination occurs,
that is a risk to human health or the environment.
Exposure or exposed
Employee contact with a toxic substance, harmful physical
agent, or oxygen deficient condition. Exposure can occur
through various routes of entry, such as inhalation,
ingestion, skin contact, or skin absorption.
Facility
Any building structure, installation, equipment, pipe, or
pipeline (including any pipe into a sewer or publicly owned
treatment works), well, pit, pond, lagoon, impoundment, ditch,
storage container, motor vehicle, rolling stock, or aircraft;
OR
Any site or area where a hazardous substance has been
deposited, stored, disposed of, placed, or otherwise located
(not including any boat, ship or barge).
Hazardous substance
Any of the following substances that could adversely
affect an exposed employee's health or safety:
• Substances defined under section 101(14) of the
Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and
Liability Act of 1980 (CERCLA) or "Superfund" Act (found at:
http://www.epa.gov).
• Biological or other disease-causing agents released
that could reasonably be expected to cause death, disease,
behavioral abnormalities, cancer, genetic mutation,
physiological malfunctions, including malfunctions in
reproduction, or physical deformations in a person or their
offspring when the person:
– Is directly exposed to the agent in the environment.
– Directly ingests, inhales, or assimilates the agent
from the environment.
– Indirectly ingests the agent through a food chain.
• Substances listed by the United States Department of
Transportation as hazardous materials under Title 49
(Transportation) in the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR),
Part 172, section 101 and appendices (found at:
http://www.nara.gov, search for "List of CFR subjects").
• Hazardous wastes as defined in this chapter.
Hazardous waste
Any substance designated by the department of ecology as
a dangerous or extremely hazardous waste by chapter 173-303
WAC, Dangerous waste regulations.
Hazardous waste site
A hazardous waste site is any facility or location within
the scope of this chapter.
Hazardous materials team (HAZMAT team)
A group of employees who are expected to perform
responses to releases, or possible releases, of hazardous
substances for the purpose of control and stabilization. As a
result of their duties, HAZMAT team members may have close
contact with hazardous substances.
Health hazard
A chemical, mixture, biological agent, or physical agent
that may cause health effects in short- or long-term exposed
employees based on statistically significant evidence from at
least one study conducted using established scientific
principles. Health hazards include:
• Carcinogens.
• Toxic or highly toxic agents.
• Reproductive toxins.
• Irritants.
• Corrosives.
• Sensitizers.
• Hepatotoxins (liver toxins).
• Nephrotoxins (kidney toxins).
• Neurotoxins (nervous system toxins).
• Substances that act on the hematopoietic system (blood
or blood-forming system).
• Substances that can damage the lungs, skin, eyes, or
mucous membranes.
• Hot or cold conditions.
IDLH or immediately dangerous to life or health
Any atmospheric condition that would:
• Cause an immediate threat to life;
OR
• Cause permanent or delayed adverse health effects;
OR
• Interfere with an employee's ability to escape.
Incidental release
A release that can be safely controlled at the time of
the release and does not have the potential to become an
uncontrolled release.
An example of a situation that results in an incidental
release:
A tanker truck is receiving a load of hazardous liquid
when a leak occurs. The driver knows the only hazard from the
liquid is minor skin irritation. The employer has trained the
driver on procedures and provided equipment to use for a
release of this quantity. The driver puts on skin protection
and stops the leak. A spill kit is used to contain, absorb,
and pick up the spilled material for disposal.
Material safety data sheet (MSDS)
Written, printed, or electronic information (on paper,
microfiche, or on-screen) that informs manufacturers,
distributors, employers or employees about a hazardous
chemical, its hazards and protective measures as required by
chapter 296-839 WAC, Content and distribution of material
safety data sheets (MSDSs) and label information.
Oxygen deficiency
An atmosphere where the percentage of oxygen by volume is
less than 19.5%.
Permissible exposure limit (PEL)
Permissible exposure limits (PELs) are employee exposures
to toxic substances or harmful physical agents that must not
be exceeded. PELs are specified in applicable WISHA rules.
Published exposure level
Exposure limits published in "National Institute for
Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Recommendations for
Occupational Safety and Health" (DHHS publication #92-100,
1992).
If an exposure limit is not published by NIOSH, then
"published exposure level" means the exposure limits published
by the American Conference of Governmental Industrial
Hygienists (ACGIH) in "TLVs and BEIs-Threshold Limit Values
for Chemical Substances and Physical Agents" (1999 edition).
Postemergency response
The stage of the emergency response where the immediate
threat from the release has been stabilized or eliminated, and
cleanup of the site has started. For more information, see
the definition for "emergency response."
Site safety and health supervisor (or official)
The individual present at a hazardous waste site who is
responsible to the employer and has the authority and
knowledge necessary to establish the site-specific health and
safety plan and verify compliance with applicable safety and
health requirements.
Site work zones
Zones established at a hazardous waste site before
clean-up work begins to control work on the site and access to
the site. The work zones are: Exclusion zone, contamination
reduction zone, and clean zone.
Uncontrolled hazardous waste site
An area where an accumulation of hazardous substances
creates a threat to the health and safety of individuals or
the environment or both. Examples include: Former municipal,
county, or state landfills, locations where illegal or poorly
managed waste disposal has taken place, or property of
generators or former generators of hazardous substance waste
(surface impoundments, landfills, dumps, and tank or drum
farms).
Uncontrolled release
A release where significant safety and health risks could
be created. Releases of hazardous substances that are either
incidental or couldn't create a safety or health hazard (i.e.,
fire, explosion, or chemical exposure) aren't considered to be
uncontrolled releases.
Examples of conditions that could create a significant
safety and health risk:
• Large-quantity releases.
• Small releases that could be highly toxic.
• Potentially contaminated individuals arriving at
hospitals.
• Airborne exposures that could exceed a WISHA
permissible exposure limit or a published exposure limit and
employees aren't adequately trained or equipped to control the
release.
Example of an uncontrolled release:
A forklift driver knocks over a container of a
solvent-based liquid, releasing the contents onto the
warehouse floor. The driver has been trained to recognize the
vapor is flammable and moderately toxic when inhaled. The
driver hasn't been trained or provided appropriate equipment
to address this type of spill. In this situation, it isn't
safe for the driver to attempt a response. The driver needs
to notify someone of the release so an emergency response can
be initiated.
[Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.010, 49.17.040, 49.17.050,
and 49.17.060. 04-02-053, § 296-843-300, filed 1/5/04,
effective 5/1/04.]