WAC 468-550-070   Notifying of, investigating, and reporting accidents and unacceptable hazardous conditions.  (1) Each RFGS shall notify the department by telephone, electronic mail or facsimile within two hours of the occurrence of any reportable accident, or within twenty-four hours of the identification or discovery of any unacceptable hazardous condition. The department shall notify each RFGS of the person to notify and the telephone, electronic mail and facsimile numbers for notification. The notification shall include all of the following details:

     (a) Name and title of the person making the notification;

     (b) Time and date the notification is transmitted;

     (c) Synopsis of what happened, such as, but not limited to: Collision with another RFGS revenue vehicle, derailment, collision with a motor vehicle, collision with a pedestrian, collision with a bicyclist, fire, bomb threat, or hostage-taking;

     (d) Specific location of the accident or unacceptable hazardous condition;

     (e) Time of the accident or discovery of the unacceptable hazardous condition;

     (f) Identification of RFGS vehicle(s) and/or facility involved;

     (g) Initial number of fatalities and/or individuals who suffered bodily injury and immediately received medical attention away from the scene of the accident; and

     (h) Description of and preliminary value of property damage.

     (2) The department has authority to perform separate, independent investigations of reportable accidents or unacceptable hazardous conditions at its own discretion.

     (3) Each RFGS shall investigate all reportable accidents and unacceptable hazardous conditions. The RFGS may use its own staff or a contractor to conduct its investigation and shall designate a staff person to be responsible for submitting written investigation reports and findings to the department, on a department form, within forty five calendar days after the reportable accident or unacceptable hazardous condition was discovered. This report shall identify the causal factors contributing to the occurrence and contain a corrective action plan with an implementation schedule to prevent a recurrence of the accident, or to mitigate the unacceptable hazardous condition.

     (4) The department shall review the RFGS investigation report, corrective action plan, and accompanying implementation schedule to ensure that it meets the goal of preventing and mitigating a recurrence of the reportable accident or unacceptable hazardous condition. In the event that the department does not concur with the findings of the RFGS investigation, the department shall confer with the RFGS of its preliminary review findings. The RFGS may amend its report to the department in writing, within ten calendar days after conferring with the department. If, after conferring with the RFGS, the department does not concur with the findings of the RFGS, the department shall notify the RFGS in writing of its review findings. The RFGS shall submit its response to the department's findings within forty-five calendar days of receipt thereof. Should the department and the RFGS disagree, the department will notify the FTA.

     (5) Each RFGS shall submit an annual summary report to the department covering all reportable activities. The RFGS shall ensure delivery of the annual report to the department no later than February 1 after the year being reported.



[Statutory Authority: RCW 81.104.115. 08-15-078, § 468-550-070, filed 7/15/08, effective 8/15/08. Statutory Authority: RCW 81.104.115(5). 02-13-004, § 468-550-070, filed 6/6/02, effective 7/7/02. Statutory Authority: 1999 c 202 § 7. 99-18-059 (Order 193), § 468-550-070, filed 8/30/99, effective 9/30/99. Statutory Authority: RCW 43.06.120. 98-19-052, § 468-550-070, filed 9/15/98, effective 10/16/98.]