WSR 06-13-081

PREPROPOSAL STATEMENT OF INQUIRY

DEPARTMENT OF

LABOR AND INDUSTRIES

[ Filed June 20, 2006, 9:22 a.m. ]

     Subject of Possible Rule Making: Chapter 296-62 WAC, General occupational health standards and chapter 296-859 WAC, Methylene chloride.

     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: Labor and industries (L&I) is proposing to rewrite and clarify requirements relating to the methylene chloride rules. This rule making is part of our long-term goal to rewrite our general occupational safety and health rules. The department may eliminate unnecessary requirements and outdated terminology. Also, L&I will update references to these rules throughout the rest of the department of occupational safety and health's standards. The proposal will move all methylene chloride requirements from chapter 296-62 WAC, General occupational health standards, and place them in new chapter 296-859 WAC, Methylene chloride.

     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 Occupational Safety and Health Administration) are known to regulate worker safety and health for this subject.

     Process for Developing New Rule: The department must adopt rules identical to or at-least-as-effective-as Occupational Safety and Health Administration rules as required by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration/Department of Safety and Health state plan agreement. 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 Beverly Clark, Administrative Regulations Analyst, Department of Labor and Industries, DOSH Services Division, P.O. Box 44620, Olympia, WA 98504-4620, phone (360) 902-5516, fax (360) 902-5619, e-mail clah235@lni.wa.gov.

June 20, 2006

Gary Weeks

Director

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