Subject of Possible Rule Making: Cranes, chapter 296-24 WAC, General safety and health standard; chapter 296-56 WAC, Safety standards for longshore, stevedore and related waterfront operations; chapter 296-59 WAC, Safety standards for ski area facilities and operations; chapter 296-78 WAC, Safety standards for sawmills and woodworking operations; chapter 296-79 WAC, Safety standards for pulp, paper and paperboard mills and converters; chapter 296-155 WAC, Safety standards for construction work; and chapter 296-831 WAC, Cranes, derricks, and other lifting equipment.

     Statutes Authorizing the Agency to Adopt Rules on this Subject: RCW 49.17.010, 49.17.040, 49.17.050, 49.17.060.

     Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: The department is proposing to rewrite and clarify requirements relating to cranes. This project will address the rules relating to personnel lifting, helicopters, and hoists. This rule making is part of our goal to rewrite for clarity all of our general occupational safety and health rules. The requirements in chapter 296-24 WAC will be rewritten for clarity and ease of use. We will eliminate unnecessary requirements and outdated terminology, while integrating necessary policies and requirements. References will also be updated through other WISHA rules.

     Other Federal and State Agencies that Regulate this Subject and the Process Coordinating the Rule with These Agencies: No other state or federal agencies (other than OSHA) are known that regulate this subject.

     Process for Developing New Rule: The department must adopt rules identical to or at-least-as-effective-as OSHA rules as required by the OSHA/WISHA state plan agreement. Parties interested in the formulation of these rules for proposal may contact the individuals listed below. The public may also participate by commenting after amendments are proposed by providing written comments or giving oral testimony during the public hearing process.

     Interested parties can participate in the decision to adopt the new rule and formulation of the proposed rule before publication by contacting Sally Elliott, Regulations Analysis, Department of Labor and Industries, WISHA Services Division, P.O. Box 44620, Olympia, WA 98504-4620, phone (360) 902-5484, fax (360) 902-5529.

September 30, 2003

Paul Trause

Director

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