PREPROPOSAL STATEMENT OF INQUIRY
LABOR AND INDUSTRIES
Subject of Possible Rule Making: Chapter 296-307 WAC, Safety standards for agriculture and chapter 296-62 WAC, General occupational health standards.
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 purpose of this rule making is to incorporate rules from the general occupational health standard, chapter 296-62 WAC, into the safety standards for agriculture, chapter 296-307 WAC. Once these rules are in chapter 296-307 WAC they will be repealed from chapter 296-62 WAC. The rules are written using plain language and there is no increase in requirements. Also, several references will be updated throughout the agriculture standard.
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 the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) are known that regulate this subject. The Washington Industrial Safety and Health Act's (WISHA) rules are required to be at-least-as-effective-as OSHA's rules.
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 Cindy Ireland, Regulations Analyst, Department of Labor and Industries, WISHA Services Division, P.O. Box 44620, Olympia, WA 98504-4620, phone (360) 902-5522, fax (360) 902-5529.
April 20, 2004
Paul Trause
Director