PDFWAC 296-304-05009

Access to and guarding of dry docks and marine railways.

(1) A gangway, ramp or permanent stairway of not less than 20 inches walking surface, of adequate strength, maintained in safe repair and securely fastened, must be provided between a floating dry dock and the pier or bulkhead.
(2) Each side of such gangway, ramp or permanent stairway, including those which are used for access to wing walls from dry dock floors, must have a railing with a midrail. Such railings on gangways or ramps must be approximately 42 inches in height; and railings on permanent stairways must not be less than approximately 30 or more than approximately 34 inches in height. Rails must be of wood, pipe, chain, wire, or rope and must be kept taut at all times.
(3) Railings meeting the requirements of (2) of this section must be provided on the means of access to and from the floors of graving docks.
(4) Railings approximately 42 inches in height, with a midrail, must be provided on the edges of wing walls of floating dry docks and on the edges of graving docks. Sections of the railings may be temporarily removed where necessary to permit line handling while a vessel is entering or leaving the dock.
(5) When employees are working on the floor of a floating dry dock where they are exposed to the hazard of falling into the water, the end of the dry dock must be equipped with portable stanchions and 42 inch railings with a midrail. When such a railing would be impracticable or ineffective, other effective means must be provided to prevent employees from falling into the water.
(6) Access to wingwalls from floors of dry docks must be by ramps, permanent stairways or ladders meeting the applicable requirements of WAC 296-304-05003.
(7) Catwalks on stiles of marine railways must be no less than 20 inches wide and must have on at least one side a guardrail and midrail meeting the requirements of WAC 296-304-05001 (9)(a) and (b).
[Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.010, 49.17.040, 49.17.050, and 49.17.060. WSR 17-18-075, § 296-304-05009, filed 9/5/17, effective 10/6/17; WSR 03-04-099, § 296-304-05009, filed 2/4/03, effective 8/1/03; Order 74-25, § 296-304-05009, filed 5/7/74.]