PREPROPOSAL STATEMENT OF INQUIRY
LABOR AND INDUSTRIES
Subject of Possible Rule Making: Chapter 296-24 WAC, Safety standards for general safety and health, Part L - Electrical and chapter 296-155 WAC, Safety standards for construction work, Part I - Electrical.
Statutes Authorizing the Agency to Adopt Rules on this Subject: RCW 49.17.010, [49.17].040, [49.17].050, and chapter 34.05 RCW.
Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: To comply with Executive Order 97-02 rule review requirements, the department will apply clear rule-writing methods to chapter 296-24 WAC, Part L and chapter 296-155 WAC, Part I. The department will also, where appropriate, update both parts to reflect current national consensus codes. As a result of this effort, both parts will be easier to understand and use and will contain current consensus code requirements.
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. However, because of L&I's Specialty Compliance Service Division (SCSD) electrical section expertise on National Electrical Code (NEC) requirements, WISHA will consult with SCSD electrical staff.
Process for Developing New Rule: The OSHA/WISHA state plan agreement requires that the department adopt rules identical to or at-least-as-effective-as OSHA rules. Parties interested in this project may contact Ron Dillon and George King (technical issues) or George Huffman (APA requirements and project timeline) at the telephone or fax numbers listed below. The public may also participate by submitting written comments after amendments are proposed or by 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 Ron Dillon, Safety Specialist, phone (360) 902-5562, fax (360) 902-5438; or George King, Safety Specialist, phone (360) 902-5582, fax (360) 902-5438; or George Huffman, Project Manager, phone (360) 902-5008, fax (360) 902-5529, at the Department of Labor and Industries, WISHA Services Division, P.O. Box 44620, Olympia, WA 98504-4620.
June 7, 2000
Gary Moore
Director