Subject of Possible Rule Making: Chapter 296-45 WAC, Safety standards for electrical workers.

     Statutes Authorizing the Agency to Adopt Rules on this Subject: RCW 49.17.010, 49.17.040, 49.17.050, 49.17.060.

     Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) found our rules relating to electrical workers to be less effective than the federal standard. The proposed changes will make our rule at-least-as-effective-as the federal equivalent. Additional housekeeping changes may be made.

     Other Federal and State Agencies that Regulate this Subject and the Process Coordinating the Rule with These Agencies: No other state or federal agencies, other than OSHA are known that regulate this subject. The Washington Industrial Safety and Health Act's (WISHA) rules are required to be at-least-as-effective-as OSHA's rules.

     Process for Developing New Rule: Parties interested in the formulation of these rules for proposal may contact the individual listed below. The public may also participate by commenting after amendments are proposed by providing written comments or giving oral testimony during the public hearing process.

     Interested parties can participate in the decision to adopt the new rule and formulation of the proposed rule before publication by contacting Cindy Ireland, Regulations Analyst, Department of Labor and Industries, WISHA Services Division, P.O. Box 44620, Olympia, WA 98504-4620, phone (360) 902-5522, fax (360) 902-5529.

January 18, 2005

Paul Trause

Director

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