WSR 98-13-124
PREPROPOSAL STATEMENT OF INQUIRY
DEPARTMENT OF
LABOR AND INDUSTRIES
[Filed June 17, 1998, 11:47 a.m.]
Subject of Possible Rule Making: The department will propose redrafting the following rules into one chapter governing all elevators, lifts and other such conveyances: Chapter 296-81 WAC, Safety rules governing elevators, dumbwaiters, escalators and other lifting devices--Moving walks; chapter 296-82 WAC, Safety standards for existing belt manlifts; chapter 296-84 WAC, Hand power manlifts; chapter 296-85 WAC, Mechanized parking garage equipment; chapter 296-86A WAC, Regulations and fees for all elevators, dumbwaiters, escalators and other lifting devices; chapter 296-87 WAC, Safety requirements for workmen's construction elevators; chapter 296-89 WAC, Safety requirements for boat launching elevators; chapter 296-91 WAC, Safety regulations for casket lifts in mortuaries; chapter 296-93A WAC, Material lifts; chapter 296-94 WAC, Safety rules governing the construction, operation, maintenance and inspection of inclined passenger lifts for private use; chapter 296-95 WAC, Electric elevators--Direct plunger and roped hydraulic elevators--Escalators used to transport passengers--Electric and hand-powered dumbwaiters and hand-powered elevators; and chapter 296-100 WAC, Safety requirements for material hoists.
The department will also propose rules to implement recent legislation governing conveyances in grain elevators and grain terminals.
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: As a result of its Executive Order 97-02 review, the elevator program has concluded that all existing elevator WAC chapters can be repealed and their updated content be included in a new elevator WAC chapter tentatively entitled, chapter 296-96 WAC, Safety regulations and fees for all elevators, dumbwaiters, escalators and other lifting devices. Also, in response to recent legislation, the department plans to incorporate a clearly written subdivision regulating electric manlifts into chapter 296-96 WAC. Major portions of this new rule will be written in a clear rule style.
Process for Developing New Rule: The proposed amendments will be extensively stakeholdered under the leadership of the chief elevator inspector. The amendments will be developed with the help of an ad hoc committee representing the industry and adopted following the process mandated by the Administrative Procedure Act.
Interested parties can participate in the decision to adopt the new rule and formulation of the proposed rule before publication by contacting Jan Gould, Chief Elevator Inspector, Department of Labor and Industries, Specialty Compliance Services Division, P.O. Box 44480, Olympia, WA 98504-4480, phone (360) 902-6128, FAX (360) 902-6132.
June 15, 1998
Gary Moore
Director