PREPROPOSAL STATEMENT OF INQUIRY
LABOR AND INDUSTRIES
Subject of Possible Rule Making: Chapter 296-24 WAC, General safety and health standards Part J-1; WAC 296-45-25510(1) Safety standards for electrical workers; chapter 296-155 WAC, Safety standards for construction work; WAC 296-305-05501(4) Safety standards for fire fighters; chapter 296-307 WAC, Safety standards for agriculture; and chapter 296-800 WAC, Safety and health core rules.
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: Fall protection, WISHA is proposing to rewrite and clarify requirements relating to the fall protection standard. This rule making is part of our long-term goal to rewrite our general occupational safety and health rules. This proposal will move all fall protection requirements relating to general industries from both chapter 296-24 WAC, General safety and health and chapter 296-155 WAC, Safety standards for construction work, and place them in a new chapter. WISHA may also make updates to chapter 296-800 WAC, Safety and health core rules.
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.
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 individuals 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 Jamie Scibelli, Department of Labor and Industries, WISHA Services Division, P.O. Box 44620, Olympia, WA 98504-4620, phone (360) 902-4568, fax (360) 902-5619.
April 4, 2006
Gary Weeks
Director