Statutes Authorizing the Agency to Adopt Rules on this Subject: RCW 49.17.010, [49.17].040, [49.17].050.

Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) letter dated December 9, 1997, notified the department that Washington's safety rules for fire fighters were "not-at-least-as-effective-as" OSHA safety rules. Because the department is required to maintain rules that are at-least-as-effective-as those enforced by OSHA, amendments will be proposed to make the state standards at-least-as-effective-as OSHA standards.

Other Federal and State Agencies that Regulate this Subject and the Process Coordinating the Rule with These Agencies: Federal OSHA also regulates this subject.

Process for Developing New Rule: The department must adopt rules identical to or at-least-as-effective-as OSHA rules as required by the OSHA/WISHA state plan agreement.

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

May 19, 1998

Gary Moore

Director