Subject of Possible Rule Making: Chapter 296-24 WAC, General safety and health standards and chapter 296-800 WAC, Safety and health core rules.

     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: WISHA is proposing to rewrite and clarify requirements relating to the walking working surfaces standard. This rule making is part of our long-term goal to rewrite our general occupational safety and health rules. We will also update references to these rules throughout the rest of WISHA's standards. This proposal will move all walking working surfaces requirements relating to general industries from chapter 296-24 WAC, General safety and health, and place them in a new chapter. We may be making updates to chapter 296-800 WAC, Safety and health core 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 Beverly Clark, Department of Labor and Industries, WISHA Services Division, P.O. Box 44620, Olympia, WA 98504-4620, phone (360) 902-5516, fax (360) 902-5529.

March 23, 2004

Paul Trause

Director