HOUSE BILL ANALYSIS

                     HB 2647

Brief Description:  Requiring safety devices for flaggers.

Sponsors:  Representatives Reardon and Scott

Hearing:  January 26, 2000

                 Brief Summary of Bill

$Requiring flaggers working on road construction to use paddles equipped with mirrors.

BACKGROUND:

In October 1999, a traffic flagger was killed in Mill Creek when a dump truck hit her while it was backing up.  The flagger was directing traffic and had her back to the backing dump truck.  According to State Patrol officers investigating the accident, the dump truck's alarm was difficult to hear due to heavy winds.  The officers found that the alarm was operating normally, but sometimes its sound was faint.

Flaggers are required to be on the construction site during, repair, or maintenance work conducted on, or adjacent to, highways, roads, streets, bridges or other thoroughfares when that work interferes with traffic.  The regulations set the size of flaggers= paddles, the color and size of the letters used on the signs, and the type of reflective material used.  Flaggers must wear orange warning clothing, a yellow helmet, and reflective material.  They must be trained every three years. 

WISHA standards also require that vehicles used in construction (other than passenger vehicles) have a reverse signal alarm or have a signaler assigned to the truck.  If an alarm is used, it must be audible above the surrounding noise level no less than 15 feet from the rear of the vehicle.

SUMMARY OF BILL:

Flaggers used in state highway,  road, street or bridge construction must use signs that have mirrors attached to them.  The Department of Labor and Industries is instructed to adopt rules regarding the size and position of the mirrors.

RULES AUTHORITY:  The bill does contain provisions addressing the rule making powers of an agency.

FISCAL NOTE:  Not requested.

EFFECTIVE DATE:  Ninety days after adjournment of a session in which bill is passed.