WSR 12-23-075

PREPROPOSAL STATEMENT OF INQUIRY

DEPARTMENT OF

LABOR AND INDUSTRIES

[ Filed November 20, 2012, 11:30 a.m. ]

     Subject of Possible Rule Making: Chapter 296-96 WAC, Safety regulations and fees for all elevators, dumbwaiters, escalators and other conveyances.

     Statutes Authorizing the Agency to Adopt Rules on this Subject: Chapter 70.87 RCW.

     Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: The elevator program reviews their rules for additions and revisions on a regular basis to ensure the rules are consistent with the national consensus standards and industry practice. The program needs to proceed with rule making to:


Adopt the current national conveyance safety standards for elevators and escalators, platform lifts and chair lifts, belt man lifts, and personnel hoists. It is critical the program adopt the national consensus standards to ensure Washington is consistent with other states and that the same safety standards are met by elevator mechanics, manufacturers, architects, and engineers who work in multiple states.
Amend language for consistency and to clarify statutory requirements.
Adopt proposals requested and supported by stakeholders, such as requiring withdraw notices to be submitted to the department, if a mechanic leaves to work in another state and plans to return to work in the state of Washington.
Amend the rules for clarification and safety.
Amend language for general housekeeping, grammatical and reference corrections to bring the rules up to date.

     Other Federal and State Agencies that Regulate this Subject and the Process Coordinating the Rule with These Agencies: None.

     Process for Developing New Rule: Parties interested in these rules may contact the individual listed below. The public may also participate by commenting after amendments are proposed by providing written comments and/or testimony during the public hearing and comment process. Public hearings will be held after the proposal is filed.

     Interested parties can participate in the decision to adopt the new rule and formulation of the proposed rule before publication by contacting Sally Elliott, Department of Labor and Industries, Specialty Compliance Services Division, P.O. Box 44400, Olympia, WA 98504-4400, phone (360) 902-6411, fax (360) 902-5292, e-mail sally.elliott@lni.wa.gov.

November 20, 2012

Judy Schurke

Director