The following definitions apply to this chapter:

Car width. Twice the distance from the centerline of a railroad car to its extreme outside part.

Common carrier. All railroads, railroad companies, street railroads, street railroad companies, corporations, partnerships, persons, cities or towns that own, operate, manage, or control any public use enterprise within Washington state that transports people or property for hire.

Department. The Washington state department of labor and industries.

Emergency. Any unforeseen occurrence that endangers life, limb, or property.

Icing platforms. Structures used to ice, precool, heat, ventilate or service private railroad cars that handle commodities requiring these services.

Over-crossing. Any point or place where a highway, road, or ramp carrying vehicular traffic crosses a private rail yard or track by passing above it.

Overhead clearance. The perpendicular distance between the top of the highest rail and the lowest point of an overhead structure or obstruction.

Private rail operation. A nonrailroad company operating railroad facilities, structures, tracks and equipment in the company's yard or plant. Chapter 296-860 WAC applies to:

(a) Any equipment, facility or structure owned or operated by the company; and

(b) The construction and reconstruction of tracks or structures adjacent to any facility or structure owned or operated by the company.

Railroad. Every public use railroad, other than street railroads, operated to transport people or property for hire. This definition also includes all bridges, ferries, tunnels, equipment, switches, spurs, tracks, stations, and terminal facilities of every kind that are used, operated, controlled, or owned by or in connection with any such public use railroad.

Side clearance. The shortest distance between the centerline of a track and a structure or other track side obstructions such as downspouts, ladders, equipment, piles of material or inventory, etc.

Track clearance. The shortest distance between the centerlines of adjacent railroad tracks.

Walkways. Pathways located alongside or in the vicinity of a railroad track, or on a trestle or bridge, providing space so a private railroad employee can perform duties associated with the track, trestle, or bridge.