WSR 16-07-121

PREPROPOSAL STATEMENT OF INQUIRY

[Filed March 22, 2016, 10:26 a.m.]

Subject of Possible Rule Making: Chapter 296-155 WAC, Safety standards for construction work, Part C-1, Fall protection requirements for construction and Part O, Concrete, concrete forms, shoring, and masonry construction.

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

Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: In June 2013 and October 2015 the division of occupational safety and health (DOSH) received notification from the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) relating to DOSH's fall protection standards. The latest notification advised the department that DOSH needed to amend our fall protection rules in chapter 296-155 WAC in order for them to be at-least-as-effective-as those administered by OSHA. Consequently, DOSH will be amending our rules to make them at-least-as-effective-as OSHA, as required by the Washington state plan. Other housekeeping amendments may also be proposed in this chapter.

Other Federal and State Agencies that Regulate this Subject and the Process Coordinating the Rule with These Agencies: None.

Process for Developing New Rule: 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 Cynthia Ireland, Administrative Regulations Analyst, Department of Labor and Industries, DOSH, P.O. Box 44620, Olympia, WA 98504-4620, phone (360) 902-5522, fax (360) 902-5619, e-mail cynthia.ireland@lni.wa.gov.

March 22, 2016

Joel Sacks

Director