Subject of Possible Rule Making: Chapter 296-811 WAC, Fire brigades and chapter 296-24 WAC, Safety standards for general safety and health.

     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 fire brigades. The department is repealing rules located in chapter 296-24 WAC and proposing fire brigades as new chapter 296-811 WAC. This rule making is part of our goal to rewrite all of WISHA's general occupational safety and health rules for clarity.

     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 Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), and possibly the State Fire Marshal 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 individual 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 Cindy Ireland, Project Manager, WISHA Services Division, P.O. Box 44620, Olympia, WA 98504-4620, (360) 902-5522, fax (360) 902-5529, e-mail mooc235@lni.wa.gov.

May 31, 2005

Gary Weeks

Director

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