AN
ACT Relating to safety devices for flaggers; amending RCW 9.91.020, 46.61.015,
46.61.190, 46.61.340, 46.61.355, and 47.36.220; creating new sections; and
declaring an emergency.
BE IT
ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:
NEW
SECTION. Sec. 1.
EMERGENCY RULES. (1) The director of the department of labor
and industries shall adopt emergency rules that take effect no later than June
1, 2000, revising any safety standards governing flaggers.
(2)
The transportation commission shall adopt emergency rules that take effect no
later than June 1, 2000, revising any safety standards governing flaggers.
(3)
The utilities and transportation commission shall adopt emergency rules that
take effect no later than June 1, 2000, revising any safety standards governing
flaggers.
(4)
Notwithstanding RCW 34.05.350, the emergency rules adopted pursuant to this
section shall remain in effect or be adopted in sequence until March 1, 2001,
or the effective date of the permanent rules adopted pursuant to section 2 of
this act, whichever is earlier.
(5)
The emergency rules adopted pursuant to this section shall be designed to
improve options available to ensure the safety of flaggers, and ensure that
flaggers have adequate visual warning of objects approaching from behind them.
(6)
In developing emergency rules adopted pursuant to this section, state agencies
and commissions shall consult with other persons with an interest in improving
safety standards for flaggers. State agencies and commissions shall report, by
September 15, 2000, to the senate labor and workforce development committee and
the house of representatives commerce and labor committee on the emergency
rules adopted pursuant to this section.
NEW
SECTION. Sec. 2.
PERMANENT RULES. (1) The director of the department of labor and industries
shall adopt permanent rules that take effect no later than March 1, 2001,
revising any safety standards governing flaggers.
(2)
The transportation commission shall adopt permanent rules that take effect no
later than March 1, 2001, revising any safety standards governing flaggers.
(3)
The utilities and transportation commission shall adopt permanent rules that
take effect no later than March 1, 2001, revising any safety standards and
employment qualifications governing flaggers.
(4)
The permanent rules adopted pursuant to this section shall be designed to
improve options available to ensure the safety of flaggers, ensure that
flaggers have adequate visual warning of objects approaching from behind them,
and, with respect to the utilities and transportation commission rules, update
employment qualifications for flaggers.
(5)
In developing permanent rules adopted pursuant to this section, state agencies
and commissions shall consult with other persons with an interest in improving
safety standards and updating employment qualifications for flaggers. State
agencies and commissions shall coordinate and make consistent, to the extent
possible, permanent rules. State agencies and commissions shall report, by
April 22, 2001, to the senate labor and workforce development committee and the
house of representatives commerce and labor committee on the permanent rules
adopted pursuant to this section.
Sec.
3. RCW
9.91.020 and 1915 c 165 s 2 are each amended to read as follows:
Every
person who, being employed upon any railway, as engineer, motorman, gripman,
conductor, switch tender, fireman, bridge tender, ((flagman)) flagger,
or signalman, or having charge of stations, starting, regulating or running
trains upon a railway, or being employed as captain, engineer or other officer
of a vessel propelled by steam, or being the driver of any animal or vehicle
upon any public highway, street, or other public place, ((shall be)) is
intoxicated while engaged in the discharge of any such duties, shall be guilty
of a gross misdemeanor.
Sec.
4. RCW
46.61.015 and 1995 c 50 s 1 are each amended to read as follows:
No
person shall willfully fail or refuse to comply with any lawful order or
direction of any duly authorized ((flagman)) flagger or any
police officer or fire fighter invested by law with authority to direct,
control, or regulate traffic.
A
violation of this section is a misdemeanor.
Sec.
5. RCW
46.61.190 and 1975 c 62 s 27 are each amended to read as follows:
(1)
Preferential right of way may be indicated by stop signs or yield signs as
authorized in RCW 47.36.110.
(2)
Except when directed to proceed by a duly authorized ((flagman)) flagger,
or a police officer, or a fire fighter vested by law with authority to direct,
control, or regulate traffic, every driver of a vehicle approaching a stop sign
shall stop at a clearly marked stop line, but if none, before entering a marked
crosswalk on the near side of the intersection or, if none, then at the point
nearest the intersecting roadway where the driver has a view of approaching
traffic on the intersecting roadway before entering the roadway, and after
having stopped shall yield the right of way to any vehicle in the intersection
or approaching on another roadway so closely as to constitute an immediate
hazard during the time when such driver is moving across or within the
intersection or junction of roadways.
(3)
The driver of a vehicle approaching a yield sign shall in obedience to such
sign slow down to a speed reasonable for the existing conditions and if
required for safety to stop, shall stop at a clearly marked stop line, but if
none, before entering a marked crosswalk on the near side of the intersection
or if none, then at the point nearest the intersecting roadway where the driver
has a view of approaching traffic on the intersecting roadway before entering
the roadway, and then after slowing or stopping, the driver shall yield the
right of way to any vehicle in the intersection or approaching on another
roadway so closely as to constitute an immediate hazard during the time such
driver is moving across or within the intersection or junction of roadways:
PROVIDED, That if such a driver is involved in a collision with a vehicle in
the intersection or junction of roadways, after driving past a yield sign
without stopping, such collision shall be deemed prima facie evidence of ((his))
the driver's failure to yield right of way.
Sec.
6. RCW
46.61.340 and 1965 ex.s. c 155 s 46 are each amended to read as follows:
(1)
Whenever any person driving a vehicle approaches a railroad grade crossing
under any of the circumstances stated in this section, the driver of such
vehicle shall stop within fifty feet but not less than fifteen feet from the
nearest rail of such railroad, and shall not proceed until ((he can do so))
the crossing can be made safely. The foregoing requirements shall apply
when:
(a)
A clearly visible electric or mechanical signal device gives warning of the
immediate approach of a railroad train;
(b)
A crossing gate is lowered or when a human ((flagman)) flagger
gives or continues to give a signal of the approach or passage of a railroad
train;
(c)
An approaching railroad train is plainly visible and is in hazardous proximity
to such crossing.
(2)
No person shall drive any vehicle through, around or under any crossing gate or
barrier at a railroad crossing while such gate or barrier is closed or is being
opened or closed.
Sec.
7. RCW
46.61.355 and 1975 c 62 s 32 are each amended to read as follows:
(1)
No person shall operate or move any crawler-type tractor, steam shovel,
derrick, roller, or any equipment or structure having a normal operating speed
of ten or less miles per hour or a vertical body or load clearance of less than
one-half inch per foot of the distance between any two adjacent axles or in any
event of less than nine inches, measured above the level surface of a roadway,
upon or across any tracks at a railroad grade crossing without first complying
with this section.
(2)
Notice of any such intended crossing shall be given to the station agent of
such railroad located nearest the intended crossing sufficiently in advance to
allow such railroad a reasonable time to prescribe proper protection for such
crossing.
(3)
Before making any such crossing the person operating or moving any such vehicle
or equipment shall first stop the same not less than fifteen feet nor more than
fifty feet from the nearest rail of such railroad and while so stopped shall
listen and look in both directions along such track for any approaching train
and for signals indicating the approach of a train, and shall not proceed until
the crossing can be made safely.
(4) No such crossing shall be made when warning is given by
automatic signal or crossing gates or a ((flagman)) flagger or
otherwise of the immediate approach of a railroad train or car. If a ((flagman))
flagger is provided by the railroad, movement over the crossing shall be
under ((his)) the flagger's direction.
Sec.
8. RCW
47.36.220 and 1961 c 13 s 47.36.220 are each amended to read as follows:
Each
driver of a motor vehicle used in connection with such construction, repair, or
maintenance work shall obey traffic signs posted for, and ((flagman)) flaggers
stationed at such location in the same manner and under the same restrictions
as is required for the driver of any other vehicle.
NEW
SECTION. Sec. 9.
Sections 1 and 2 of this act are necessary for the immediate preservation of
the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its
existing public institutions, and take effect immediately.
NEW
SECTION. Sec. 10.
Sections 1 and 2 of this act may be known and cited as the "Kim Vendl Worker
Safety Act."
NEW
SECTION. Sec. 11.
Captions used in this act are not any part of the law.
