AN ACT Relating to asbestos projects; amending RCW 49.26.100, 49.26.110, 49.26.120, and 49.26.130; adding new sections to chapter 49.26 RCW; prescribing penalties; and providing an effective date.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

Sec. 1. Section 1, chapter 387, Laws of 1985 and RCW 49.26.100 are each amended to read as follows:

Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, the definitions in this section apply throughout RCW 49.26.100 through 49.26.140.

(1) "Asbestos project" means the construction, demolition, repair, maintenance, or renovation of any public or private building or mechanical piping equipment or systems involving the demolition, removal, encapsulation, salvage, or disposal of material, or outdoor activity, releasing or likely to release asbestos fibers into the air.

(2) "Department" means the department of labor and industries.

(3) "Person" means any partnership, firm, association, corporation, sole proprietorship, or the state of Washington or its political subdivisions.

(4) "Certified asbestos supervisor" means an individual who is certified by the department to supervise an asbestos project.

(5) "((~~Qualified~~)) Certified asbestos worker" means an individual who is certified by the department to ((~~undertake~~)) work on an asbestos project.

((~~(5)~~)) (6) "Licensed asbestos contractor" means any partnership, firm, association, corporation or sole proprietorship licensed under chapter 18.27 RCW that submits a bid or contracts to ((~~perform the removal or encapsulation of~~)) remove or encapsulate asbestos for another and is licensed by the department to remove or encapsulate asbestos.

(7) "Owner" means the owner of any public or private building, structure, facility or mechanical system, or the agent of such owner.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. A new section is added to chapter 49.26 RCW to read as follows:

(1) Any owner or owner's agent who allows or authorizes any construction, renovation, remodeling, maintenance, repair, or demolition project which has a reasonable possibility, as defined by the department, of disturbing or releasing asbestos into the air, shall perform or cause to be performed, using practices approved by the department, a good faith inspection to determine whether the proposed project will disturb or release any material containing asbestos into the air.

An inspection under this section is not required if the owner or owner's agent assumes that asbestos will be disturbed by a project which involves construction, renovation, remodeling, maintenance, repair, or demolition and takes the maximum precautions as required by all applicable federal and state requirements.

(2) Except as provided in section 8 of this act, a written report describing each inspection, or assumption of the presence of asbestos, shall be included as part of the written notice of the asbestos project required in RCW 49.26.120. A copy of the written report shall be given to the collective bargaining representatives or employee representatives, if any, of employees who may be exposed to any asbestos or material containing asbestos. A copy shall be posted as prescribed by the department in a place that is easily accessible to such employees.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3. A new section is added to chapter 49.26 RCW to read as follows:

(1) Any owner or owner's agent who allows the start of any construction, renovation, remodeling, maintenance, repair, or demolition without first making an inspection as required in section 2 of this act or providing the notification required in RCW 49.26.120 shall be subject to a mandatory fine of not less than two hundred fifty dollars for each violation. Each day the violation continues shall be considered a separate violation. In addition, any construction, renovation, remodeling, maintenance, repair, or demolition which was started without the inspection required in section 2 of this act shall be halted immediately and cannot be resumed without the required inspection and notification to the department. Any costs incurred by contractors or other parties affected by the halt of the project shall be paid by the owner or the owner's agent.

(2) It is the responsibility of any contractor licensed under chapter 18.27 RCW to request in writing a copy of the written report of the required inspection from the owner or the owner's agent. No contractor may commence any construction, renovation, remodeling, maintenance, repair or demolition project without receiving the copy of the written report from the owner or the owner's agent. Any contractor who begins any project without the copy of the written report shall be subject to a mandatory fine of not less than two hundred and fifty dollars per day. Each day the violation continues shall be considered a separate violation.

(3) Any partnership, firm, corporation or sole proprietorship that begins any construction, renovation, remodeling, maintenance, repair, or demolition without the inspection required in section 2 of this act or fails to comply with the notification requirement in RCW 49.26.120 shall lose the exemption provided in RCW 49.26.120 for a period of not less than six months.

(4) The license of any asbestos contractor who knowingly violates any provision of this chapter or any rule adopted under this chapter shall be revoked for a period of not less than six months.

(5) The penalties imposed in this section are in addition to any penalties under RCW 49.26.140.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 4. A new section is added to chapter 49.26 RCW to read as follows:

A safety conference shall be held for all asbestos projects before the start of actual work. A weekly safety conference shall suffice for purposes of this section as long as all asbestos projects that will be started that week at the same location are discussed. The conference shall include representatives of the owner or contracting agency, the licensed asbestos contractor, the employer, the employees of the licensed asbestos contractor and the employer, and the employees' representatives and collective bargaining representatives. It shall include a discussion of the employer's and contractor's safety program and such means, methods, devices, processes, practices, conditions, or operations the employer and contractors intend to use in providing a safe work environment.

Minutes shall be kept of each safety meeting and shall include the date of the meeting, the names of the individuals in attendance and the issues discussed. One copy of the meeting minutes shall be kept on file at the company and one copy shall be given to the employees' collective bargaining representative, or employee representative, if any, and shall be posted as prescribed by the department in a place that is easily accessible to employees.

Sec. 5. Section 2, chapter 387, Laws of 1985 and RCW 49.26.110 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) No ((~~contractor,~~)) employee((,)) or other individual is eligible to do work ((~~on an asbestos project~~)) governed by this chapter unless issued a certificate by the department except, in the case of an asbestos project undertaken by any partnership, firm, corporation or sole proprietorship in its own facility and by its own employees under the direct, on-site supervision of a ((~~qualified~~)) certified asbestos ((~~worker~~)) supervisor. In cases excepted under this section, the partnership, firm, corporation or sole proprietorship shall submit a written description to the department of the kinds of asbestos projects expected to be undertaken and the procedures to be used in undertaking asbestos projects, which description shall demonstrate competence in performing the work in compliance with the requirements of this chapter, rules adopted under this chapter, and any other requirements of law for the safe demolition, removal, encapsulation, salvage, and disposal of asbestos. To qualify for a certificate((~~, the contractor, employee, or other individual~~)): (a) Certified asbestos workers and supervisors must have successfully completed a ((~~basic~~)) training course of at least thirty hours, provided or approved by the department, on the health and safety aspects of the removal and encapsulation of asbestos including but not limited to the federal and state standards regarding protective clothing, respirator use, disposal, air monitoring, cleaning, and decontamination, and shall meet such additional qualifications as may be established by the department by rule for the type of certification sought; and (b) all applicants must pass an examination in the type of certification sought which shall be administered by the department. ((~~This training is~~)) These requirements are intended to represent the minimum ((~~training and education~~)) requirements for certification and shall not preclude contractors or employers from providing additional education or training. The department may require the successful completion of annual refresher courses provided or approved by the department for continued certification.

(2) The department may deny, suspend, or revoke a certificate or license, in accordance with chapter 34.04 RCW, for failure of the holder to comply with any requirement of this chapter, or any rule adopted under this chapter, or applicable health and safety standards and regulations. In addition to any penalty imposed under section 3 of this 1988 act, the department may suspend or revoke any certificate or license issued under this chapter for a period of not less than six months upon the following grounds:

(a) The certificate or license was obtained through error or fraud; or

(b) The holder thereof is judged to be incompetent to carry out the work for which the certificate or license was issued.

Before any certificate or license may be suspended or revoked, the holder thereof shall be given written notice of the department's intention to do so, mailed by registered mail, return receipt requested, to the holder's last known address. The notice shall enumerate the allegations against such holder, and shall give him or her the opportunity to request a hearing before the department. At such hearing, the department and the holder shall have opportunity to produce witnesses and give testimony. The hearing shall be conducted in accordance with chapter 34.04 RCW.

(3) Each person certified under this chapter shall display, upon the request of an authorized representative of the department, valid identification issued by the department.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 6. A new section is added to chapter 49.26 RCW to read as follows:

Before working on an asbestos project, a contractor shall obtain an asbestos contractor's license from the department and shall have in its employ at least one certified asbestos supervisor who is responsible for supervising all asbestos projects undertaken by the contractor and for assuring compliance with all state laws and regulations regarding asbestos. The licensee shall apply for license renewal every year. The department, in consultation with the department of licensing, shall ensure that the expiration of the contractor's registration and the expiration of his or her asbestos contractor's license coincide.

Sec. 7. Section 4, chapter 387, Laws of 1985 and RCW 49.26.120 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) No person may assign any employee, contract with, or permit any individual or person to remove or encapsulate asbestos in any facility unless performed by a ((~~qualified~~)) certified asbestos worker and under the direct, on-site supervision of a certified asbestos supervisor except, in the case of an asbestos project undertaken by any partnership, firm, corporation or sole proprietorship which has not lost this exemption under section 3(3) of this 1988 act, and conducted in its own facility and by its own employees under the direct, on-site supervision of a ((~~qualified~~)) certified asbestos ((~~worker~~)) supervisor. In cases excepted under this section, the partnership, firm, corporation or sole proprietorship shall submit a written description to the department of the kinds of asbestos projects expected to be undertaken and the procedures to be used in undertaking asbestos projects, which description shall demonstrate competence in performing the work in compliance with the requirements of this chapter, rules adopted under this chapter, and any other requirements of law for the safe demolition, removal, encapsulation, salvage, and disposal of asbestos. The department ((~~may~~)) shall require persons undertaking asbestos projects to provide written notice to the department before the commencement of the project except as provided in sections 5 and 8 of this 1988 act. The notice shall include a written description containing such information as the department requires by rule, including the written report required under section 2 of this 1988 act. The department may by rule allow a person to report multiple projects at one site in one report. The department shall by rule clarify the procedure and criteria by which a person will be considered to have attempted to meet the prenotification requirement.

(2) The department shall by rule, after consultation with the state fire protection policy board, establish policies and procedures for municipal fire departments and fire districts which require their personnel to clean up sites after fires which have damaged the structural integrity of a building, rendering it likely that asbestos has been or will be disturbed or released into the air.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 8. A new section is added to chapter 49.26 RCW to read as follows:

Prenotification to the department under RCW 49.26.120, including submission of the report in section 2 of this act, shall not be required for:

(1) Any asbestos project involving less than eleven square feet of surface area, or less than ten linear feet of pipe unless the surface area of the pipe is greater than eleven square feet. The person undertaking such a project shall keep the reports for three years and written description required in sections 2 and 7 of this act which shall be available upon request by the department. Employees and employee representatives shall be notified as required under section 2(2) of this act.

(2) Projects which are defined as emergencies by the rules of the department. Emergency projects which disturb or release any material containing asbestos into the air shall be reported to the department within three working days after the commencement of the project. The person's employees and the employees' collective bargaining representatives, or employee representatives, if any, shall be notified of the emergency as soon as possible by the person undertaking the emergency project.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 9. A new section is added to chapter 49.26 RCW to read as follows:

All owners shall make a good faith effort, using practices approved by the department, to identify all materials which contain asbestos in their facilities and maintain records which catalog the location of the identified asbestos-laden materials. Copies of these records shall be made available on request to the department, the employees' collective bargaining representative, or employee representative, the employees, and any contractor preparing bids for work to be performed on the owner's facilities.

Sec. 10. Section 3, chapter 387, Laws of 1985 as amended by section 1, chapter 219, Laws of 1987 and RCW 49.26.130 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) The department shall administer ((~~RCW 49.26.110 through 49.26.140~~)) this chapter.

(2) The director of the department shall adopt, in accordance with chapters 34.04 and 49.17 RCW, rules necessary to carry out ((~~RCW 49.26.110 through 49.26.140~~)) this chapter.

(3) The department ((~~may~~)) shall prescribe fees for the issuance and renewal of certificates and licenses, including recertification, and the administration of examinations.

(4) The asbestos account is hereby established in the state treasury. All fees collected under this chapter shall be deposited in the account. Moneys in the account shall be spent only for costs incurred by the department in the administration and enforcement of this chapter. Disbursements from the account shall be on authorization of the director or the director's designee.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 11. A new section is added to chapter 49.26 RCW to read as follows:

Any employee who notifies the department of any activity the employee reasonably believes to be a violation of this chapter or any rule adopted under this chapter or who participates in any proceeding related thereto shall have the same rights and protections against discharge or discrimination as employees are afforded under chapter 49.17 RCW.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 12. A new section is added to chapter 49.26 RCW to read as follows:

Workers previously certified by the department to work on asbestos projects whose certification is valid on the effective date of this act shall be required to attend annual refresher courses to be recertified under this chapter. The department may require all persons who apply for recertification as required under this chapter to successfully complete educational requirements as required by the department by rule and to pass an examination.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 13. This act shall take effect January 1, 1989. The department of labor and industries may immediately take such steps as are necessary to ensure this act is implemented on that date.