WSR 98-02-080

PREPROPOSAL STATEMENT OF INQUIRY

DEPARTMENT OF

LABOR AND INDUSTRIES

[Filed January 7, 1998, 11:41 a.m.]

Subject of Possible Rule Making: Chapter 296-81 WAC, Safety rules governing elevators, dumbwaiters, escalators, and lifting devices--Moving walks.

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: Chapter 70.87 RCW mandates that the department adopt rules necessary to implement and enforce the chapter. Executive Order 97-02 orders the department to review its rules and make any necessary amendments needed to update them and improve their clarity. The department's regulatory improvement priority states that the department will develop and enforce rules that are necessary, fair, understandable and consistent. Consequently, the elevator program will clear rule write chapter 296-81 WAC, update its code references where appropriate and make any other necessary substantive changes after consulting with the Elevator Advisory Board and industry representatives.

Other Federal and State Agencies that Regulate this Subject and the Process Coordinating the Rule with These Agencies: The department is the only agency that regulates the subject of elevator safety rules.

Process for Developing New Rule: The chief elevator inspector with major input from the Elevator Advisory Board and the industry will develop rule language. The rule will be promulgated according the Administrative Procedure Act process.

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.

January 6, 1998

Gary Moore