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: Federal OSHA issued amendments to their CFR 1910, 1917 and 1918 standards relating to longshoring and marine terminals, in Federal Register Volume 62, Number 143, published on July 25, 1997. Amendments will be proposed to maintain rules that are at least as effective as those enforced by federal OSHA.

Other Federal and State Agencies that Regulate this Subject and the Process Coordinating the Rule with These Agencies: Federal OSHA also regulates this subject. We must maintain rules that are at least as effective as those enforced by federal OSHA. No other state or federal agencies are known that regulate 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.

June 2, 1998

Gary Moore

Director