HOUSE BILL ANALYSIS
HB 1224
Brief Description: Requiring a permanent anchor for worker fall protection.
Sponsors: Hurst and Conway
Hearing: February 3, 1999
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Brief Summary of Bill
$The State Building Code Council will adopt rules requiring installation of permanent roof anchors on new structures or when a roof is replaced on an existing structure.
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BACKGROUND:
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, in 1995 573 workers died nationally due to falls from a height. This accounted for 10 percent of all fatal work injuries that year and nearly one-third of construction fatalities. In Washington, the Department of Labor and Industries (L&I) protects construction workers against this type of accident by requiring the use of fall prevention systems.
Employees working ten feet or more above the ground are required to use fall restraint, fall arrest, or positioning device systems to prevent falls. Each of these three systems may involve rigged restraint or arrest lines to secure workers to an anchorage point. Currently, construction workers secure safety lines to temporary anchors that screw or bolt to the structure they are working on, or to fixtures (e..g a chimney) on the structure. The state building code does not require permanent anchors to be installed on structures.
The State Building Code Council establishes the minimum building code requirements for buildings and structures in the state.
SUMMARY OF BILL:
The State Building Code Council will adopt rules requiring installation of permanent anchors to protect against worker falls. The anchors must be installed on all new commercial and residential construction, and when a roof is replaced on existing residential and commercial structures. The council will use current WISHA rules as guides for establishing anchor design and placement rules.
RULES AUTHORITY: The bill does not contain provisions addressing the rule making powers of an agency.
FISCAL NOTE: Not requested.
EFFECTIVE DATE: Ninety days after adjournment of a session in which bill is passed.