PDFWAC 296-45-125

Medical services and first aid.

The employer must provide medical services and first aid as required in WAC 296-800-150. The following requirements also apply:
(1) Cardiopulmonary resuscitation and first-aid training. When employees are performing work on or associated with exposed lines or equipment energized at 50 volts or more, persons trained in first aid including cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) must be available as follows:
(a) For field work involving two or more employees at a work location, at least two trained persons must be available. However, for line-clearance tree trimming operations performed by line-clearance tree trimmers who are not qualified electrical employees, only one trained person need be available if all new employees are trained in first aid, including CPR, within three months of their hiring dates.
(b) For fixed work locations such as generating stations, the number of trained persons available must be sufficient to ensure that each employee exposed to electric shock can be reached within four minutes by a trained person. However, where the existing number of employees is insufficient to meet this requirement (at a remote substation, for example), all employees at the work location will be trained.
(2) First-aid supplies. First-aid supplies required by WAC 296-800-150 must be placed in weatherproof containers if the supplies could be exposed to the weather.
(3) First-aid kits. The employer must maintain each first-aid kit, ensure that it is readily available for use, and must inspect it frequently enough to ensure that expended items are replaced. The employer also must inspect each first-aid kit at least once per year.
(4) Any employer with employees who operate, maintain, or construct high voltage lines and equipment or who conduct line-clearance tree trimming in close proximity to high voltage lines and equipment must:
(a) Make an automated external defibrillator available, similar to first-aid kits under subsection (3) of this section, and accessible to employees when work is being performed on, or in close proximity to, high voltage lines and equipment by two or more employees;
(b) Conduct regular maintenance, in accordance with the manufacturer instructions, and conduct annual inspections of the automated external defibrillator to ensure operability and availability; and
(c) Provide training or facilitate the provision of training to ensure there are at least two employees proficient on the proper and safe use of the automated external defibrillator at any site involving work on, or in close proximity to, high voltage lines and equipment. To be considered proficient, an employee must have completed initial or updated training within the previous two years.
(5) For the purposes of this section:
(a) "Close proximity" refer to WAC 296-45-325.
(b) "High voltage lines and equipment" refers to any energized communication line, electric supply line, or equipment with a voltage of 601 or greater.
[Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.010, 49.17.040, 49.17.050, 49.17.060, and 49.17.510. WSR 24-23-083, s 296-45-125, filed 11/19/24, effective 1/1/25. Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.010, 49.17.040, 49.17.050, 49.17.060 and chapter 49.17 RCW. WSR 19-13-083, § 296-45-125, filed 6/18/19, effective 8/1/19; WSR 16-10-082, § 296-45-125, filed 5/3/16, effective 7/1/16. Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.010, 49.17.040, 49.17.050, and 49.17.060. WSR 04-07-160, § 296-45-125, filed 3/23/04, effective 5/1/04. Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.010, [49.17].040, and [49.17].050. WSR 01-11-038, § 296-45-125, filed 5/9/01, effective 9/1/01. Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.010, [49.17].040, [49.17].050 and [49.17].060. WSR 98-07-009, § 296-45-125, filed 3/6/98, effective 5/6/98.]