(Effective until October 1, 2020)

PDFWAC 296-24-75005

Protection for wall openings and holes.

(1) You must ensure that every wall opening from which there is a drop of more than 4 feet is guarded by one of the following:
(a) Rail, roller, picket fence, half door, or equivalent barrier.
The guard may be removable but should preferably be hinged or otherwise mounted so as to be conveniently replaceable. Where there is exposure below to falling materials, a removable toeboard or the equivalent must also be provided. When the opening is not in use for handling materials, the guard must be kept in position regardless of a door on the opening. In addition, a grab handle must be provided on each side of the opening with its center approximately 4 feet above floor level and of standard strength and mounting.
(b) Extension platform onto which materials can be hoisted for handling, and which must have side rails or equivalent guards of standard specifications.
(2) You must ensure that every chute wall opening from which there is a drop of more than 4 feet is guarded by one or more of the barriers specified in WAC 296-24-75005 (1)(a) and (b), or as required by the conditions.
(3) You must ensure that every window wall opening at a stairway landing, floor, platform, or balcony, from which there is a drop of more than 4 feet, and where the bottom of the opening is less than 3 feet above the platform or landing, is guarded by standard slats, standard grill work (as specified in WAC 296-24-75011(11)), or standard railing.
(4) You must ensure that where the window opening is below the landing, or platform, a standard toeboard is provided.
(5) You must ensure that every temporary wall opening has adequate guards but these need not be of standard construction.
(6) You must ensure that where there is a hazard of materials falling through a wall hole, and the lower edge of the near side of the hole is less than 4 inches above the floor, and the far side of the hole more than 5 feet above the next lower level, the hole is protected by a standard toeboard, or an enclosing screen either of sold construction, or as specified in WAC 296-24-75011(11).
[Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.010, 49.17.040, 49.17.050, and 49.17.060. WSR 15-24-100, § 296-24-75005, filed 12/1/15, effective 1/5/16; Order 73-5, § 296-24-75005, filed 5/9/73 and Order 73-4, § 296-24-75005, filed 5/7/73.]