WSR 04-20-080

EXPEDITED RULES

DEPARTMENT OF

LABOR AND INDUSTRIES

[ Filed October 5, 2004, 9:49 a.m. ]

     Title of Rule and Other Identifying Information: Respiratory hazards and respirators, the department recently adopted chapter 296-841 WAC, Respiratory hazards, and chapter 296-842 WAC, Respirators, and need to update the references to these rules throughout the other WISHA rules. References to respirators and respiratory hazards will be changed throughout the WISHA safety and health rules.

     References were updated to chapter 296-841 WAC, Respiratory hazards, or chapter 296-842 WAC, Respirators, for the following sections: WAC 296-24-58513 Protective clothing, 296-24-58515 Respiratory protection devices, 296-24-58517 Appendix A -- Fire brigades, 296-24-67515 Personal protective equipment, 296-24-67517 Air supply and air compressors, 296-24-71515 Beryllium, 296-24-71519 Mercury, 296-54-51150 Respiratory protection, 296-56-60001 Scope and application, 296-56-60005 Definitions, 296-56-60053 Hazardous atmospheres and substances, 296-56-60057 Fumigants, pesticides, insecticides and hazardous preservatives (see also WAC 296-56-60049, 296-56-60051, and 296-56-60053), 296-56-60107 Terminal facilities handling menhaden and similar species of fish, 296-56-60110 Respiratory protection, 296-56-60235 Welding, cutting and heating (hot work) (see also definition of "hazardous cargo, material, substance or atmosphere"), 296-62-07306 Requirements for areas containing carcinogens listed in WAC 296-62-07302, 296-62-07329 Vinyl chloride, 296-62-07336 Acrylonitrile, 296-62-07342 1, 2-Dibromo-3-chloropropane, 296-62-07367 Respiratory protection and personal protective equipment, 296-62-07413 Respirator protection, 296-62-07460 Butadiene, 296-62-07521 Lead, 296-62-07615 Respiratory protection, 296-62-07722 Employee information and training, 296-62-14533 Cotton dust, 296-62-20011 Respiratory protection, 296-62-20019 Employee information and training, 296-62-3060 Engineering controls, work practices, and personal protective equipment for employee protection, 296-62-3195 Appendix E--Training curriculum guidelines, 296-62-40001 Scope and application, 296-62-40007 Employee exposure determination, 296-78-665 Sanding machines, 296-78-71015 Tanks and chemicals, 296-78-71019 Exhaust systems, 296-78-84005 Dry kilns, 296-79-29007 Bleach plant, 296-155-160 Gases, vapors, fumes, dusts, and mists, 296-155-17317 Respiratory protection, 296-155-174 Cadmium, 296-155-17613 Respiratory protection, 296-155-17625 Employee information and training, 296-155-17652 Appendix B to WAC 296-155-176 -- Employee standard summary, 296-155-20301 Definitions, 296-155-220 Respiratory protection, 296-155-367 Masonry saws, 296-155-525 Cranes and derricks, 296-155-655 General protection requirements, 296-155-730 Tunnels and shafts, 296-301-220 Personal protective equipment, 296-304-02003 Precautions and the order of testing before entering confined and enclosed spaces and other dangerous atmospheres, 296-304-03001 Toxic cleaning solvents, 296-304-03005 Mechanical paint removers, 296-304-03007 Painting, 296-304-04001 Ventilation and protection in welding, cutting and heating, 296-304-09007 Respiratory protection, 296-305-02501 Emergency medical protection, 296-305-04001 Respiratory equipment protection, 296-305-05503 Summary of training requirements, 296-800-160 Summary, 286-824-20005 Develop an emergency response plan, 296-824-40005 Provide medical surveillance to employees, 296-824-60005 Personal protective equipment, 296-824-70005 Follow the appropriate post emergency response requirements, 296-824-800 Definitions, 296-835-11045 Protect employees during welding, burning, or other work using open flames, 296-839-30005 Develop or obtain material safety data sheets (MSDSs), and 296-839-500 Definitions.

NOTICE

     THIS RULE IS BEING PROPOSED UNDER AN EXPEDITED RULE-MAKING PROCESS THAT WILL ELIMINATE THE NEED FOR THE AGENCY TO HOLD PUBLIC HEARINGS, PREPARE A SMALL BUSINESS ECONOMIC IMPACT STATEMENT, OR PROVIDE RESPONSES TO THE CRITERIA FOR A SIGNIFICANT LEGISLATIVE RULE. IF YOU OBJECT TO THIS USE OF THE EXPEDITED RULE-MAKING PROCESS, YOU MUST EXPRESS YOUR OBJECTIONS IN WRITING AND THEY MUST BE SENT TO Carmen Moore, Rule Coordinator, Department of Labor and Industries, P.O. Box 44001, Olympia, WA 98504-4001 , AND RECEIVED BY December 6, 2004.


     Purpose of the Proposal and Its Anticipated Effects, Including Any Changes in Existing Rules: The purpose of the proposal is to correct references throughout WISHA rules for chapter 296-841 WAC, Respiratory hazards, and chapter 296-842 WAC, Respirators. There are no anticipated effects.

     Reasons Supporting Proposal: The department recently adopted chapter 296-841 WAC, Respiratory hazards, and chapter 296-842 WAC, Respirators, and need to update the references to these rules throughout the other WISHA rules. References to respirators and respiratory hazards will be changed throughout the WISHA safety and health rules.

     Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 49.17.010, 49.17.040, 49.17.050, 49.17.060.

     Statute Being Implemented: Chapter 49.17 RCW.

     Rule is not necessitated by federal law, federal or state court decision.

     Name of Proponent: Department of Labor and Industries, governmental.

     Name of Agency Personnel Responsible for Drafting: Tracy Spencer, Tumwater, (360) 902-5530; Implementation and Enforcement: Michael Silverstein, Tumwater, (360) 902-5495.

October 5, 2004

Paul Trause

Director

OTS-7243.1


AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 01-11-038, filed 5/9/01, effective 9/1/01)

WAC 296-24-58513   Protective clothing.   The following requirements apply to those employees who perform interior structural fire fighting. The requirements do not apply to employees who use fire extinguishers or standpipe systems to control or extinguish fires only in the incipient stage.

     (1) General.

     (a) The employer shall provide at no cost to the employee and assure the use of protective clothing which complies with the requirements of this section. The employer shall assure that protective clothing ordered or purchased after January 1, 1982, meets the requirements contained in this section. As the new equipment is provided, the employer shall assure that all fire brigade members wear the equipment when performing interior structural fire fighting. After July 1, 1985, the employer shall assure that all fire brigade members wear protective clothing meeting the requirements of this section when performing interior structural fire fighting.

     (b) The employer shall assure that protective clothing protects the head, body, and extremities, and consists of at least the following components: Foot and leg protection; hand protection; body protection; eye, face and head protection.

     (2) Foot and leg protection.

     (a) Foot and leg protection shall meet the requirements of (b) and (c) of this subsection, and may be achieved by either of the following methods:

     (i) Fully extended boots which provide protection for the legs; or

     (ii) Protective shoes or boots worn in combination with protective trousers that meet the requirements of subsection (3) of this section.

     (b) Protective footwear shall meet the requirements of WAC 296-800-160 for Class 75 footwear. In addition, protective footwear shall be water-resistant for at least five inches (12.7 cm) above the bottom of the heel and shall be equipped with slip-resistant outer soles.

     (c) Protective footwear shall be tested in accordance with WAC 296-24-63599(1) Appendix E, and shall provide protection against penetration of the midsole by a size 8D common nail when at least 300 pounds (1330 N) of static force is applied to the nail.

     (3) Body protection.

     (a) Body protection shall be coordinated with foot and leg protection to ensure full body protection for the wearer. This shall be achieved by one of the following methods:

     (i) Wearing of a fire-resistive coat meeting the requirements of (b) of this subsection, in combination with fully extended boots meeting the requirements of subsection (2)(b) and (c) of this section; or

     (ii) Wearing of fire-resistive coat in combination with protective trousers both of which meet the requirements of (b) of this subsection.

     (b) The performance, construction, and testing of fire-resistive coats and protective trousers shall be at least equivalent to the requirements of the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) standard NFPA No. 1971-1975, "Protective Clothing for Structural Fire Fighting," (see WAC 296-24-63499, Appendix D) with the following permissible variations from those requirements:

     (i) Tearing strength of the outer shell shall be a minimum of eight pounds (35.6 N) in any direction when tested in accordance with WAC 296-24-63599(2), Appendix E; and

     (ii) The outer shell may discolor but shall not separate or melt when placed in a forced air laboratory oven at a temperature of 500°F (260°C) for a period of five minutes. After cooling to ambient temperature and using the test method specified in WAC 296-24-63599(3) Appendix E, char length shall not exceed 4.0 inches (10.2 cm) and after-flame shall not exceed 2.0 seconds.

     (4) Hand protection.

     (a) Hand protection shall consist of protective gloves or glove system which will provide protection against cut, puncture, and heat penetration. Gloves or glove system shall be tested in accordance with the test methods contained in the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) 1976 publication, "The Development of Criteria for Fire Fighter's Gloves; Vol. II, Part II: Test Methods," (see WAC 296-24-63499, Appendix D -- Availability of publications incorporated by references in WAC 296-24-58505 -- Fire brigades) and shall meet the following criteria for cut, puncture, and heat penetration:

     (i) Materials used for gloves shall resist surface cut by a blade with an edge having a 60 degree included angle and a.001 inch (.0025 cm.) radius, under an applied force of 16 lbf (72N) and at a slicing velocity of greater or equal to 60 in/min. (2.5 cm/sec);

     (ii) Materials used for the palm and palm side of the fingers shall resist puncture by a penetrometer (simulating a 4d lath nail), under an applied force of 13.2 lbf (60N) and at a velocity greater or equal to 20 in/min. (.85 cm/sec); and

     (iii) The temperature inside the palm and gripping surface of the fingers of gloves shall not exceed 135°F (57°C) when gloves or glove system are exposed to 932°F (500°C) for five seconds at 4 psi (28 kPa) pressure.

     (b) Exterior materials of gloves shall be flame resistant and shall be tested in accordance with WAC 296-24-63599(3) Appendix E. Maximum allowable after-flame shall be 2.0 seconds, and the maximum char length shall be 4.0 inches (10.2 cm).

     (c) When design of the fire-resistive coat does not otherwise provide protection for the wrists, protective gloves shall have wristlets of at least 4.0 inches (10.2 cm) in length to protect the wrist area when the arms are extended upward and outward from the body.

     (5) Head, eye and face protection.

     (a) Head protection shall consist of a protective head device with ear flaps and chin strap which meet the performance, construction, and testing requirements of the National Fire Safety and Research Office of the National Fire Prevention and Control Administration, United States Department of Commerce (now known as the United States Fire Administration), which are contained in, "Model Performance Criteria for Structural Fire Fighters' Helmets," (August 1977) (see WAC 296-24-63499, Appendix D).

     (b) Protective eye and face devices which comply with WAC 296-800-160 shall be used by fire brigade members when performing operations where the hazards of flying or falling materials which may cause eye and face injuries are present. Protective eye and face devices provided as accessories to protective head devices (face shields) are permitted when such devices meet the requirements of WAC 296-800-160.

     (c) Full facepieces, helmets, or hoods of breathing apparatus which meet the requirements of chapter ((296-62 WAC, Part E)) 296-842 WAC and WAC 296-24-58515, shall be acceptable as meeting the eye and face protection requirements of (b) of this subsection.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.010, [49.17].040, and [49.17].050. 01-11-038, § 296-24-58513, filed 5/9/01, effective 9/1/01; 99-10-071, § 296-24-58513, filed 5/4/99, effective 9/1/99. Statutory Authority: Chapter 49.17 RCW. 94-15-096 (Order 94-07), § 296-24-58513, filed 7/20/94, effective 9/20/94; 92-23-017 (Order 92-13), § 296-24-58513, filed 11/10/92, effective 12/18/92; 90-03-029 (Order 89-20), § 296-24-58513, filed 1/11/90, effective 2/26/90; 88-14-108 (Order 88-11), § 296-24-58513, filed 7/6/88; 87-24-051 (Order 87-24), § 296-24-58513, filed 11/30/87. Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.040 and 49.17.050. 82-02-003 (Order 81-32), § 296-24-58513, filed 12/24/81.]


AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 99-10-071, filed 5/4/99, effective 9/1/99)

WAC 296-24-58515   Respiratory protection devices.   (1) General requirements.

     (a) The employer shall ensure that respirators are provided to, and used by, fire brigade members, and that the respirators meet the requirements of chapter ((296-62 WAC, Part E)) 296-842 WAC and this section.

     (b) The employer must ensure that all employees engaged in interior structural fire fighting use self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBAs).

     (c) Approved self-contained breathing apparatus may be equipped with either a "buddy-breathing" device or a quick disconnect valve, even if these devices are not certified by NIOSH. If these accessories are used, they shall not cause damage to the apparatus, or restrict the air flow of the apparatus, or obstruct the normal operation of the apparatus.

     (d) Approved self-contained compressed air breathing apparatus may be used with approved cylinders from other approved self-contained compressed air breathing apparatus provided that such cylinders are of the same capacity and pressure rating. All compressed air cylinders used with self-contained breathing apparatus shall meet DOT and NIOSH criteria.

     (e) Self-contained breathing apparatus shall have a minimum service life rating of 30 minutes in accordance with the methods and requirements specified by NIOSH under 42 CFR part 84, except for escape self-contained breathing apparatus (ESCBA) used only for emergency escape purposes.

     (f) Self-contained breathing apparatus shall be provided with an indicator which automatically sounds an audible alarm when the remaining service life of the apparatus is reduced to within a range of twenty to twenty-five percent of its rated service time.

     (2) Positive-pressure breathing apparatus.

     (a) The employer shall assure that self-contained breathing apparatus ordered or purchased after January 1, 1982, for use by fire brigade members performing interior structural fire fighting operations, are of the pressure-demand or other positive-pressure type. Effective July 1, 1983, only pressure-demand or other positive-pressure self-contained breathing apparatus shall be worn by fire brigade members performing interior structural fire fighting.

     (b) This section does not prohibit the use of a self-contained breathing apparatus where the apparatus can be switched from a demand to a positive-pressure mode. However, such apparatus shall be in the positive-pressure mode when fire brigade members are performing interior structural fire fighting operations.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.010, [49.17].040 and [49.17].050. 99-10-071, § 296-24-58515, filed 5/4/99, effective 9/1/99. Statutory Authority: Chapter 49.17 RCW. 94-15-096 (Order 94-07), § 296-24-58515, filed 7/20/94, effective 9/20/94. Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.040 and 49.17.050. 82-02-003 (Order 81-32), § 296-24-58515, filed 12/24/81.]


AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 01-11-038, filed 5/9/01, effective 9/1/01)

WAC 296-24-58517   Appendix A -- Fire brigades.   (1) Scope. This section does not require an employer to organize a fire brigade. However, if an employer does decide to organize a fire brigade, the requirements of this section apply.

     (2) Prefire planning. It is suggested that prefire planning be conducted by the local fire department and/or the workplace fire brigade in order for them to be familiar with the workplace and process hazards. Involvement with the local fire department or fire prevention bureau is encouraged to facilitate coordination and cooperation between members of the fire brigade and those who might be called upon for assistance during a fire emergency.

     (3) Organizational statement. In addition to the information required in the organizational statement, WAC 296-24-58507(1), it is suggested that the organizational statement also contain the following information: A description of the duties that the fire brigade members are expected to perform; the line authority of each fire brigade officer; the number of the fire brigade officers and number of training instructors; and a list and description of the types of awards or recognition that brigade members may be eligible to receive.

     (4) Physical capability. The physical capability requirement applies only to those fire brigade members who perform interior structural fire fighting. Employees who cannot meet the physical capability requirement may still be members of the fire brigade as long as such employees do not perform interior structural fire fighting. It is suggested that fire brigade members who are unable to perform interior structural fire fighting be assigned less stressful and physically demanding fire brigade duties, e.g., certain types of training, recordkeeping, fire prevention inspection and maintenance, and fire pump operations.

     Physically capable can be defined as being able to perform those duties specified in the training requirements of WAC 296-24-58509. Physically capable can also be determined by physical performance tests or by a physical examination when the examining physician is aware of the duties that the fire brigade member is expected to perform.

     It is also recommended that fire brigade members participate in a physical fitness program. There are many benefits which can be attributed to being physically fit. It is believed that physical fitness may help to reduce the number of sprain and strain injuries as well as contributing to the improvement of the cardiovascular system.

     (5) Training and education. The section on training and education does not contain specific training and education requirements because the type, amount, and frequency of training and education will be as varied as are the purposes for which fire brigades are organized. However, the section does require that training and education be commensurate with those functions that the fire brigade is expected to perform; i.e., those functions specified in the organizational statement. Such a performance requirement provides the necessary flexibility to design a training program which meets the needs of individual fire brigades.

     At a minimum, hands-on training is required to be conducted annually for all fire brigade members. However, for those fire brigade members who are expected to perform interior structural fire fighting, some type of training or education session must be provided at least quarterly.

     In addition to the required hands-on training, it is strongly recommended that fire brigade members receive other types of training and education such as: Classroom instruction, review of emergency action procedures, prefire planning, review of special hazards in the workplace, and practice in the use of self-contained breathing apparatus.

     It is not necessary for the employer to duplicate the same training or education that a fire brigade member receives as a member of a community volunteer fire department, rescue squad, or similar organization. However, such training or education must have been provided to the fire brigade member within the past year and it must be documented that the fire brigade member has received the training or education. For example: There is no need for a fire brigade member to receive another training class in the use of positive-pressure self-contained breathing apparatus if the fire brigade member has recently completed such training as a member of a community fire department. Instead, the fire brigade member should receive training or education covering other important equipment or duties of the fire brigade as they relate to the workplace hazards, facilities and processes.

     It is generally recognized that the effectiveness of fire brigade training and education depends upon the expertise of those providing the training and education as well as the motivation of the fire brigade members. Fire brigade training instructors must receive a higher level of training and education than the fire brigade members they will be teaching. This includes being more knowledgeable about the functions to be performed by the fire brigade and the hazards involved. The instructors should be qualified to train fire brigade members and demonstrate skills in communication, methods of teaching, and motivation. It is important for instructors and fire brigade members alike to be motivated toward the goal of the fire brigade and be aware of the importance of the service that they are providing for the protection of other employees and the workplace.

     It is suggested that publications from the International Fire Service Training Association, the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA-1041), the International Society of Fire Service Instructors and other fire training sources be consulted for recommended qualifications of fire brigade training instructors.

     In order to be effective, fire brigades must have competent leadership and supervision. It is important for those who supervise the fire brigade during emergency situations, e.g., fire brigade chiefs, leaders, etc., to receive the necessary training and education for supervising fire brigade activities during these hazardous and stressful situations. These fire brigade members with leadership responsibilities should demonstrate skills in strategy and tactics, fire suppression and prevention techniques, leadership principles, prefire planning, and safety practices. It is again suggested that fire service training sources be consulted for determining the kinds of training and education which are necessary for those with fire brigade leadership responsibilities.

     It is further suggested that fire brigade leaders and fire brigade instructors receive more formalized training and education on a continuing basis by attending classes provided by such training sources as universities and university fire extension services.

     The following recommendations should not be considered to be all of the necessary elements of a complete comprehensive training program, but the information may be helpful as a guide in developing a fire brigade training program.

     All fire brigade members should be familiar with exit facilities and their location, emergency escape routes for handicapped workers, and the workplace "emergency action plan."

     In addition, fire brigade members who are expected to control and extinguish fires in the incipient stage should, at a minimum, be trained in the use of fire extinguishers, standpipes, and other fire equipment they are assigned to use. They should also be aware of first aid medical procedures and procedures for dealing with special hazards to which they may be exposed. Training and education should include both classroom instruction and actual operation of the equipment under simulated emergency conditions. Hands-on type training must be conducted at least annually but some functions should be reviewed more often.

     In addition to the above training, fire brigade members who are expected to perform emergency rescue and interior structural fire fighting should, at a minimum, be familiar with the proper techniques in rescue and fire suppression procedures. Training and education should include fire protection courses, classroom training, simulated fire situations including "wet drills" and, when feasible, extinguishment of actual mock fires. Frequency of training or education must be at least quarterly, but some drills or classroom training should be conducted as often as monthly or even weekly to maintain the proficiency of fire brigade members.

     There are many excellent sources of training and education that the employer may want to use in developing a training program for the workplace fire brigade. These sources include publications, seminars, and courses offered by universities.

     There are also excellent fire school courses by such facilities as Texas A and M University, Delaware State Fire School, Lamar University, and Reno Fire School, that deal with those unique hazards which may be encountered by fire brigades in the oil and chemical industry. These schools, and others, also offer excellent training courses which would be beneficial to fire brigades in other types of industries. These courses should be a continuing part of the training program, and employers are strongly encouraged to take advantage of these excellent resources.

     It is also important that fire brigade members be informed about special hazards to which they may be exposed during fire and other emergencies. Such hazards as storage and use areas of flammable liquids and gases, toxic chemicals, water-reactive substances, etc., can pose difficult problems. There must be written procedures developed that describe the actions to be taken in situations involving special hazards. Fire brigade members must be trained in handling these special hazards as well as keeping abreast of any changes that occur in relation to these special hazards.

     (6) Fire fighting equipment. It is important that fire fighting equipment that is in damaged or unserviceable condition be removed from service and replaced. This will prevent fire brigade members from using unsafe equipment by mistake.

     Fire fighting equipment, except portable fire extinguishers and respirators, must be inspected at least annually. Portable fire extinguishers and respirators are required to be inspected at least monthly.

     (7) Protective clothing.

     (a) General. WAC 296-24-58513 does not require all fire brigade members to wear protective clothing. It is not the intention of these standards to require employers to provide a full ensemble of protective clothing for every fire brigade member without consideration given to the types of hazardous environments to which the fire brigade member might be exposed. It is the intention of these standards to require adequate protection for those fire brigade members who might be exposed to fires in an advanced stage, smoke, toxic gases, and high temperatures. Therefore, the protective clothing requirements only apply to those fire brigade members who perform interior structural fire fighting operations.

     Additionally, the protective clothing requirements do not apply to the protective clothing worn during outside fire fighting operations (brush and forest fires, crash crew operations) or other special fire fighting activities. It is important that the protective clothing to be worn during these types of fire fighting operations reflect the hazards which are expected to be encountered by fire brigade members.

     (b) Foot and leg protection. WAC 296-24-58513 permits an option to achieve foot and leg protection.

     The section recognizes the interdependence of protective clothing to cover one or more parts of the body. Therefore, an option is given so that fire brigade members may meet the foot and leg requirements by either wearing long fire-resistive coats in combination with fully extended boots, or by wearing shorter fire-resistive coats in combination with protective trousers and protective shoes or shorter boots.

     (c) Body protection. WAC 296-24-58513(3) provides an option for fire brigade members to achieve body protection. Fire brigade members may wear a fire-resistive coat in combination with fully extended boots, or they may wear a fire-resistive coat in combination with protective trousers.

     Fire-resistive coats and protective trousers meeting all of the requirements contained in NFPA 1971-1975, "Protective Clothing for Structural Fire Fighters," are acceptable as meeting the requirements of this standard.

     The lining is required to be permanently attached to the outer shell. However, it is permissible to attach the lining to the outer shell material by stitching in one area such as at the neck. Fastener tape or snap fasteners may be used to secure the rest of the lining to the outer shell to facilitate cleaning. Reference to permanent lining does not refer to a winter liner which is a detachable extra lining used to give added protection to the wearer against the effects of cold weather and wind.

     (d) Hand protection. The requirements of WAC 296-24-58513(4) on hand protection may be met by protective gloves or a glove system. A glove system consists of a combination of different gloves. The usual components of a glove system consist of a pair of gloves, which provide thermal insulation to the hand, worn in combination with a second pair of gloves which provide protection against flame, cut and puncture.

     It is suggested that protective gloves provide dexterity and a sense of feel for objects. Criteria and test methods for dexterity are contained in the NIOSH publications, "The Development of Criteria for Firefighters' Gloves; Vol. I: Glove Requirements," and "Vol. II: Glove Criteria and Test Methods." These NIOSH publications also contain a permissible modified version of Federal Test Method 191, Method 5903, (WAC 296-24-63599(3) Appendix E) for flame resistance when gloves, rather than glove material, are tested for flame resistance.

     (e) Head, eye and face protection. Head protective devices which meet the requirements contained in NFPA No. 1972 are acceptable as meeting the requirements of this standard for head protection.

     Head protective devices are required to be provided with ear flaps so that the ear flaps will be available if needed. It is recommended that ear protection always be used while fighting interior structural fires.

     Many head protective devices are equipped with face shields to protect the eyes and face. These face shields are permissible as meeting the eye and face protection requirements of this section as long as such face shields meet the requirements of WAC 296-800-160 of the general safety and health standards.

     Additionally, full facepieces, helmets or hoods of approved breathing apparatus which meet the requirements of chapter 296-842 WAC ((296-62-071)) and WAC 296-24-58515 are also acceptable as meeting the eye and face protection requirements.

     It is recommended that a flame resistant protective head covering such as a hood or snood, which will not adversely affect the seal of a respirator facepiece, be worn during interior structural fire fighting operations to protect the sides of the face and hair.

     (8) Respiratory protective devices. Respiratory protection is required to be worn by fire brigade members while working inside buildings or confined spaces where toxic products of combustion or an oxygen deficiency is likely to be present; respirators are also to be worn during emergency situations involving toxic substances. When fire brigade members respond to emergency situations, they may be exposed to unknown contaminants in unknown concentrations. Therefore, it is imperative that fire brigade members wear proper respiratory protective devices during these situations. Additionally, there are many instances where toxic products of combustion are still present during mop-up and overhaul operations. Therefore, fire brigade members should continue to wear respirators during these types of operations.

     Self-contained breathing apparatus are not required to be equipped with either buddy-breathing device or a quick disconnect valve. However, these accessories may be very useful and are acceptable as long as such accessories do not cause damage to the apparatus, restrict the air flow of the apparatus, or obstruct the normal operation of the apparatus.

     Buddy-breathing devices are useful for emergency situations where a victim or another fire brigade member can share the same air supply with the wearer of the apparatus for emergency escape purposes.

     The employer is encouraged to provide fire brigade members with an alternative means of respiratory protection to be used only for emergency escape purposes if the self-contained breathing apparatus becomes inoperative. Such alternative means of respiratory protection may be either a buddy-breathing device or an escape self-contained breathing apparatus (ESCBA). The ESCBA is a short-duration respiratory protective device which is approved for only emergency escape purposes. It is suggested that if ESCBA units are used, that they be of at least five minutes service life.

     Quick disconnect valves are devices which start the flow of air by insertion of the hose (which leads to the facepiece) into the regulator of self-contained breathing apparatus, and stop the flow of air by disconnecting the hose from the regulator. These devices are particularly useful for those positive-pressure self-contained breathing apparatus which do not have the capability of being switched from the demand to the positive-pressure mode.

     The use of a self-contained breathing apparatus where the apparatus can be switched from a demand to a positive-pressure mode is acceptable as long as the apparatus is in the positive-pressure mode when performing interior structural fire fighting operations. Also acceptable are approved respiratory protective devices which have been converted to the positive-pressure type when such modification is accomplished by trained and experienced persons using kits or parts approved by NIOSH and provided by the manufacturer and by following the manufacturer's instructions.

     There are situations which require the use of respirators which have a duration of two hours or more. Presently, there are no approved positive-pressure apparatus with a rated service life of more than two hours. Consequently, negative-pressure self-contained breathing apparatus with a rated service life of more than two hours and which have a minimum protection factor of 5,000 as determined by an acceptable quantitative fit test performed on each individual, will be acceptable for use during situations which require long duration apparatus. Long duration apparatus may be needed in such instances as working in tunnels, subway systems, etc. Such negative-pressure breathing apparatus will continue to be acceptable for a maximum of eighteen months after a positive-pressure apparatus with the same or longer rated service life of more than two hours is certified by NIOSH/MSHA. After this eighteen-month phase-in period, all self-contained breathing apparatus used for these long duration situations will have to be of the positive-pressure type.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.010, [49.17].040, and [49.17].050. 01-11-038, § 296-24-58517, filed 5/9/01, effective 9/1/01; 99-10-071, § 296-24-58517, filed 5/4/99, effective 9/1/99. Statutory Authority: Chapter 49.17 RCW. 94-15-096 (Order 94-07), § 296-24-58517, filed 7/20/94, effective 9/20/94. Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.040 and 49.17.050. 82-02-003 (Order 81-32), § 296-24-58517, filed 12/24/81.]


AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 02-12-098, filed 6/5/02, effective 8/1/02)

WAC 296-24-67515   Personal protective equipment.   (1) Employers must use only respirators certified by NIOSH under 42 CFR part 84 for protecting employees from dusts produced during abrasive-blasting operations.

     (2) Abrasive-blasting respirators. Abrasive-blasting respirators must be worn by all abrasive-blasting operators in the following situations: (a) When working inside of blast cleaning rooms, or (b) when using silica sand in manual blasting operations except where the nozzle and blast are physically separated from the operator in an exhaust ventilated enclosure, or (c) where concentrations of toxic dusts dispersed by the abrasive blasting may exceed the limits set in chapter ((296-62 WAC, Part E)) 296-842 WAC except where the nozzle and blast are physically separated from the operator in an exhaust-ventilated enclosure.

     (3) Particulate-filter respirators.

     (a) Properly fitted particulate-filter respirators, commonly referred to as dust-filter respirators, may be used for short, intermittent, or occasional dust exposures such as clean-up, dumping of dust collectors, or unloading shipments of sand at a receiving point when it is not feasible to control the dust by enclosure, exhaust ventilation, or other means.

     (b) Dust-filter respirators may also be used to protect the operator of outside (outdoor) abrasive-blasting operations where nonsilica abrasives are used on materials having low toxicity.

     (c) Dust-filter respirators used must be certified by NIOSH under 42 CFR part 84 for protection against the specific type of dust encountered.

     (d) Dust-filter respirators must be properly fitted as required in chapter ((296-62 WAC, Part E)) 296-842 WAC.

     (e) Dust-filter respirators must not be used for continuous protection where silica sand is used as the blasting abrasive, or when toxic materials are blasted.

     (4) A respiratory protection program as required in chapter ((296-62 WAC, Part E)) 296-842 WAC must be established wherever it is necessary to use respirators.

     (5) Personal protective clothing.

     (a) Operators must be equipped with heavy canvas or leather gloves and aprons or equivalent protection to protect them from the impact of abrasives.

     (b) Safety shoes must be worn where there is a hazard of foot injury.

     (c) Equipment for protection of the eyes and face must be supplied to the operator and to other personnel working near abrasive blasting operations when the respirator design does not provide such protection.

     (6) Personal protective clothing, equipment and their use must comply with WAC 296-800-160.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.010, [49.17].040, [49.17].050. 02-12-098, § 296-24-67515, filed 6/5/02, effective 8/1/02; 01-11-038, § 296-24-67515, filed 5/9/01, effective 9/1/01; 99-10-071, § 296-24-67515, filed 5/4/99, effective 9/1/99. Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.040, [49.17].050 and [49.17].060. 98-02-006, § 296-24-67515, filed 12/26/97, effective 3/1/98. Statutory Authority: Chapter 49.17 RCW. 94-15-096 (Order 94-07), § 296-24-67515, filed 7/20/94, effective 9/20/94; Order 73-5, § 296-24-67515, filed 5/9/73 and Order 73-4, § 296-24-67515, filed 5/7/73.]


AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 99-10-071, filed 5/4/99, effective 9/1/99)

WAC 296-24-67517   Air supply and air compressors.   Clean air supply. The air for abrasive-blasting respirators must be free of harmful quantities of dusts, mists, or noxious gases, and must meet the requirements for supplied-air quality and use as specified in chapter ((296-62 WAC, Part E)) 296-842 WAC.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.010, [49.17].040 and [49.17].050. 99-10-071, § 296-24-67517, filed 5/4/99, effective 9/1/99. Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.040, [49.17].050 and [49.17].060. 98-02-006, § 296-24-67517, filed 12/26/97, effective 3/1/98; Order 73-5, § 296-24-67517, filed 5/9/73 and Order 73-4, § 296-24-67517, filed 5/7/73.]


AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending Order 73-5, filed 5/9/73 and Order 73-4, filed 5/7/73)

WAC 296-24-71515   Beryllium.   Welding or cutting indoors, outdoors, or in confined spaces involving beryllium-containing base or filler metals shall be done using local exhaust ventilation and airline respirators unless atmospheric tests under the most adverse conditions have established that the workers' exposure is within the acceptable concentrations defined by chapter ((296-62)) 296-841 WAC. In all cases, workers in the immediate vicinity of the welding or cutting operations shall be protected as necessary by local exhaust ventilation or airline respirators.

[Order 73-5, § 296-24-71515, filed 5/9/73 and Order 73-4, § 296-24-71515, filed 5/7/73.]


AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 99-10-071, filed 5/4/99, effective 9/1/99)

WAC 296-24-71519   Mercury.   In confined spaces or indoors, welding or cutting operations involving metals coated with mercury-bearing materials, including paint, must be done using local exhaust ventilation or airline respirators unless atmospheric tests under the most adverse conditions show that employee exposure is within the acceptable concentrations specified by chapter ((296-62)) 296-841 WAC. Such operations, when done outdoors, must be done using respirators certified for this purpose by NIOSH under 24 CFR part 84.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.010, [49.17].040 and [49.17].050. 99-10-071, § 296-24-71519, filed 5/4/99, effective 9/1/99. Statutory Authority: Chapter 49.17 RCW. 94-15-096 (Order 94-07), § 296-24-71519, filed 7/20/94, effective 9/20/94; Order 73-5, § 296-24-71519, filed 5/9/73 and Order 73-4, § 296-24-71519, filed 5/7/73.]

OTS-7244.1


AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 99-17-117, filed 8/18/99, effective 12/1/99)

WAC 296-54-51150   Respiratory protection.   The employer must provide respiratory protection when required by the general occupational health standards, chapter ((296-62)) 296-842 WAC.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.010, [49.17].040 and [49.17].050. 99-17-117, § 296-54-51150, filed 8/18/99, effective 12/1/99.]

OTS-7245.1


AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 03-11-060, filed 5/19/03, effective 8/1/03)

WAC 296-56-60001   Scope and applicability.   (1) The rules included in this chapter apply throughout the state of Washington, to any and all waterfront operations under the jurisdiction of the department of labor and industries.

     (2) These minimum requirements are promulgated in order to augment the general safety and health standards, and any other safety and health standards promulgated by the department of labor and industries which are applicable to all places of employment under the jurisdiction of the department of labor and industries. The rules of this chapter, and the rules of chapters 296-24, 296-62 and 296-800 WAC are applicable to all longshore, stevedore and related waterfront operations: Provided, That such rules shall not be applicable to those operations under the exclusive safety jurisdiction of the federal government.

     (3) The provisions of this chapter shall prevail in the event of a conflict with, or duplication of, provisions contained in chapters 296-24, 296-62 and 296-800 WAC. Specific standards which are applicable include, but are not limited to:

     (a) Electrical -- Chapter 296-24 WAC Part L, and WAC 296-800-280.

     (b) Toxic and hazardous substances are regulated by chapters 296-62 and 296-841 WAC. Where references to this chapter are given they are for informational purposes only. Where specific requirements of this chapter conflict with the provisions of chapters 296-62 and 296-841 WAC, this chapter prevails. Chapter 296-62 WAC does not apply when a substance or cargo is contained within a manufacturer's original, sealed, intact means of packaging or containment complying with the department of transportation or International Maritime Organization requirements.

     (c) Hearing loss prevention (noise) -- Chapter 296-817 WAC.

     (d) Standards for commercial diving operations -- Chapter 296-37 WAC.

     (e) Safety requirements for scaffolding -- Chapter 296-24 WAC Part J-2.

     (f) Safe practices of abrasive blasting operations -- Chapter 296-24 WAC Part H-2.

     (g) Access to employee exposure and medical records -- Chapter 296-62 WAC Part B.

     (h) Respiratory protection -- Chapter ((296-62)) 296-842 WAC ((Part E)).

     (i) Safety standards for grain handling facilities -- Chapter 296-99 WAC.

     (j) Chemical hazard communication program -- WAC 296-800-170.

     (k) Asbestos -- Chapters 296-62 Part I-1 and 296-65 WAC.

     (l) Permit - required confined spaces and confined space -- Chapter 296-62 WAC Part M.

     (m) Servicing multipiece and single-piece rim wheels -- Chapter 296-24 WAC Part D.

     (n) First-aid requirements -- WAC 296-800-150.

     (o) Employee emergency plans and fire prevention plans -- Chapter 296-24 WAC Part G-1.

     (4) The provisions of this chapter do not apply to the following:

     (a) Fully automated bulk coal handling facilities contiguous to electrical power generating plants.

     (b) Facilities subject to the regulations of the office of pipeline safety regulation of the materials transportation bureau, department of transportation, to the extent such regulations apply.

     (5) WAC 296-62-074 shall apply to the exposure of every employee to cadmium in every employment and place of employment covered by chapter 296-56 WAC in lieu of any different standard on exposures to cadmium that would otherwise be applicable by virtue of those sections.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.010, 49.17.040, 49.17.050, and 49.17.060. 03-11-060, § 296-56-60001, filed 5/19/03, effective 8/1/03. Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.010, [49.17].040, and [49.17].050. 01-11-038, § 296-56-60001, filed 5/9/01, effective 9/1/01. Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.040. 99-02-024, § 296-56-60001, filed 12/30/98, effective 3/30/99. Statutory Authority: Chapter 49.17 RCW. 95-04-007, § 296-56-60001, filed 1/18/95, effective 3/1/95; 93-07-044 (Order 93-01), § 296-56-60001, filed 3/13/93, effective 4/27/93. Statutory Authority: Chapter 49.17 RCW and RCW 49.17.040, [49.17].050 and [49.17].060. 92-22-067 (Order 92-06), § 296-56-60001, filed 10/30/92, effective 12/8/92. Statutory Authority: Chapter 49.17 RCW. 91-24-017 (Order 91-07), § 296-56-60001, filed 11/22/91, effective 12/24/91; 89-11-035 (Order 89-03), § 296-56-60001, filed 5/15/89, effective 6/30/89; 88-14-108 (Order 88-11), § 296-56-60001, filed 7/6/88. Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.040 and 49.17.050. 86-03-064 (Order 86-02), § 296-56-60001, filed 1/17/86; 85-10-004 (Order 85-09), § 296-56-60001, filed 4/19/85; 85-01-022 (Order 84-24), § 296-56-60001, filed 12/11/84.]


AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 00-21-103, filed 10/18/00, effective 2/1/01)

WAC 296-56-60005   Definitions.   "Apron" means that open portion of a marine terminal immediately adjacent to a vessel berth and used in the direct transfer of cargo between the terminal and vessel.

     "Assistant director for the division of WISHA services" means the assistant director of WISHA services, department of labor and industries or his/her authorized representative.

     "Authorized," in reference to an employee's assignment, means selected by the employer for that purpose.

     "Cargo door" (transit shed door) means a door designed to permit transfer of cargo to and from a marine terminal structure.

     "Cargo packaging" means any method of containment for shipment, including cases, cartons, crates and sacks, but excluding large units such as intermodal containers, vans or similar devices.

     "Confined space" means a space that:

     • Is large enough and so configured that an employee can bodily enter and perform assigned work; and

     • Has limited or restricted means for entry or exit (for example, tanks, vessels, silos, storage bins, hoppers, vaults, and pits are spaces that may have limited means of entry); and

     • Is not designed for continuous employee occupancy.

     "Conveyor" means a device designed exclusively for transporting bulk materials, packages or objects in a predetermined path and having fixed or selective points of loading or discharge.

     "Danger zone" means any place in or about a machine or piece of equipment where an employee may be struck by or caught between moving parts, caught between moving and stationary objects or parts of the machine, caught between the material and a moving part of the machine, burned by hot surfaces or exposed to electric shock. Examples of danger zones are nip and shear points, shear lines, drive mechanisms, and areas beneath counterweights.

     "Designated person" means a person who possesses specialized abilities in a specific area and is assigned by the employer to perform a specific task in that area.

     "Dock" means a wharf or pier forming all or part of a waterfront facility, including marginal or quayside berthing facilities; not to be confused with "loading dock" as at a transit shed or container freight station, or with the body of water between piers or wharves.

     "Dock facilities" includes all piers, wharves, sheds, aprons, dolphins, cranes, or other gear or equipment owned or controlled by the dock or facility owner, where cargo or materials are loaded, moved or handled to or from a vessel.

     "Dockboards" (car and bridge plates) mean devices for spanning short distances between rail cars or highway vehicles and loading platforms that do not expose employees to falls greater than 4 feet (1.22 m).

     "Enclosed space" means an indoor space, other than a confined space, that may contain or accumulate a hazardous atmosphere due to inadequate natural ventilation. Examples of enclosed spaces are trailers, railcars, and storage rooms.

     "Examination," as applied to material handling devices required to be certified by this chapter, means a comprehensive survey consisting of the criteria outlined in WAC 296-56-60093 through 296-56-60097. The examination is supplemented by a unit proof test in the case of annual survey.

     "Flammable atmosphere" means an atmosphere containing more than ten percent of the lower flammable limit (LEL) of a flammable or combustible vapor or dust mixed with air. Such atmospheres are usually toxic as well as flammable.

     "Front-end attachments."

     • As applied to power-operated industrial trucks, means the various devices, such as roll clamps, rotating and sideshifting carriages, magnets, rams, crane arms or booms, load stabilizers, scoops, buckets, and dumping bins, attached to the load end for handling lifts as single or multiple units.

     • As applied to cranes, means various attachments applied to the basic machine for the performance of functions such as lifting, clamshell or magnet services.

     "Fumigant" is a substance or mixture of substances, used to kill pests or prevent infestation, which is a gas or is rapidly or progressively transformed to the gaseous state even though some nongaseous or particulate matter may remain and be dispersed in the treatment space.

     "Hazardous cargo, material, substance or atmosphere" means:

     • Any substance listed in chapters 296-62 and 296-841 WAC;

     • Any material in the hazardous materials table and hazardous materials communications regulations of the Department of Transportation, 49 CFR Part 172;

     • Any article not properly described by a name in the hazardous materials table and hazardous materials communications regulations of the Department of Transportation, 49 CFR Part 172, but which is properly classified under the definition of those categories of dangerous articles given in 49 CFR Part 173;

     • Atmospheres having concentrations of airborne chemicals in excess of permissible exposure limits as defined in chapter 296-62 WAC; or

     • Any atmosphere with an oxygen content of less than nineteen and one-half percent by volume.

     "House falls" means spans and supporting members, winches, blocks, and standing and running rigging forming part of a marine terminal and used with a vessel's cargo gear to load or unload by means of married falls.

     "Inspection," as applied to material handling devices required to be certified by this chapter, includes a complete visual examination of all visible parts of the device.

     "Intermodal container" means a reusable cargo container of rigid construction and rectangular configuration intended to contain one or more articles of cargo or bulk commodities for transportation by water and one or more other transport modes without intermediate cargo handling. The term includes completely enclosed units, open top units, fractional height units, units incorporating liquid or gas tanks and other variations fitting into the container system, demountable or with attached wheels. It does not include cylinders, drums, crates, cases, cartons, packages, sacks, unitized loads or any other form of packaging.

     "Loose gear" means removable or replaceable components of equipment or devices which may be used with or as a part of assembled material handling units for purposes such as making connections, changing line direction and multiplying mechanical advantage. Examples include shackles and snatch blocks.

     "Marina" means a small harbor or boat basin providing dockage, supplies, and services for small craft.

     "Marine terminal" means wharves, bulkheads, quays, piers, docks and other berthing locations and adjacent storage or contiguous areas and structures associated with the primary movement of cargo or materials from vessel to shore or shore to vessel. It includes structures which are devoted to receiving, handling, holding, consolidation, loading or delivery of waterborne shipments and passengers, and areas devoted to the maintenance of the terminal or equipment. The term does not include production or manufacturing areas having their own docking facilities and located at a marine terminal nor storage facilities directly associated with those production or manufacturing areas.

     "Permit-required confined space (permit space)" means a confined space that has one or more of the following characteristics:

     • Contains or has a potential to contain a hazardous atmosphere;

     • Contains a material that has the potential for engulfing an entrant;

     • Has an internal configuration such that an entrant could be trapped or asphyxiated by inwardly converging walls or by a floor which slopes downward and tapers to a smaller cross-section; or

     • Contains any other recognized serious safety or health hazard.

     "Ramps" mean other flat-surface devices for passage between levels and across openings not covered under "dockboards."

[Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.010, [49.17].040, and [49.17].050. 00-21-103, § 296-56-60005, filed 10/18/00, effective 2/1/01. Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.040. 99-02-024, § 296-56-60005, filed 12/30/98, effective 3/30/99. Statutory Authority: Chapter 49.17 RCW. 95-04-007, § 296-56-60005, filed 1/18/95, effective 3/1/95. Statutory Authority: Chapter 49.17 RCW and RCW 49.17.040, [49.17].050 and [49.17].060. 92-22-067 (Order 92-06), § 296-56-60005, filed 10/30/92, effective 12/8/92. Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.040 and 49.17.050. 86-03-064 (Order 86-02), § 296-56-60005, filed 1/17/86; 85-01-022 (Order 84-24), § 296-56-60005, filed 12/11/84.]


AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 99-10-071, filed 5/4/99, effective 9/1/99)

WAC 296-56-60053   Hazardous atmospheres and substances.   (1) Purpose and scope. This section covers areas where a hazardous atmosphere or substance may exist, except where one or more of the following sections apply: WAC 296-56-60049 Hazardous cargo; WAC 296-56-60051 Handling explosives or hazardous materials; WAC 296-56-60055 Carbon monoxide; WAC 296-56-60057 Fumigants, pesticides, insecticides and hazardous preservatives; WAC 296-56-60107 Terminal facilities handling menhaden and similar species of fish; WAC 296-56-60235 Welding, cutting and heating (hot work); and WAC 296-56-60237 Spray painting.

     (2) Determination of hazard.

     (a) Whenever a room, building, vehicle, railcar or other space contains or has contained a hazardous atmosphere, a designated and appropriately equipped person shall test the atmosphere before entry to determine whether a hazardous atmosphere exists.

     (b) Records of results of any tests required by this section shall be maintained for at least thirty days.

     (3) Testing during ventilation. When mechanical ventilation is used to maintain a safe atmosphere, tests shall be made by a designated person to ensure that the atmosphere is not hazardous.

     (4) Entry into hazardous atmospheres. Only designated persons shall enter hazardous atmospheres. The following provisions shall apply:

     (a) Persons entering a space containing a hazardous atmosphere shall be protected by respiratory and emergency protective equipment meeting the requirements of chapter ((296-62)) 296-842 WAC((, Part E));

     (b) Persons entering a space containing a hazardous atmosphere shall be instructed in the nature of the hazard, precautions to be taken, and the use of protective and emergency equipment. Standby observers, similarly equipped and instructed, shall continuously monitor the activity of employees within such space; and

     (c) Except for emergency or rescue operations, employees shall not enter into any atmosphere which has been identified as flammable or oxygen deficient (less than nineteen and one-half percent oxygen). Persons who may be required to enter flammable or oxygen deficient atmospheres in emergency operations shall be instructed in the dangers attendant to those atmospheres and instructed in the use of self-contained breathing apparatus, which shall be utilized.

     (d) To prevent inadvertent employee entry into spaces that have been identified as having hazardous, flammable or oxygen deficient atmospheres, appropriate warning signs or equivalent means shall be posted at all means of access to those spaces.

     (5) When the packaging of asbestos cargo leaks, spillage shall be cleaned up by designated employees protected from the harmful effects of asbestos as required by WAC 296-62-07517 and chapter 296-65 WAC.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.010, [49.17].040 and [49.17].050. 99-10-071, § 296-56-60053, filed 5/4/99, effective 9/1/99. Statutory Authority: Chapter 49.17 RCW and RCW 49.17.040, [49.17].050 and [49.17].060. 92-22-067 (Order 92-06), § 296-56-60053, filed 10/30/92, effective 12/8/92. Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.040 and 49.17.050. 86-03-064 (Order 86-02), § 296-56-60053, filed 1/17/86; 85-01-022 (Order 84-24), § 296-56-60053, filed 12/11/84.]


AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 00-21-103, filed 10/18/00, effective 2/1/01)

WAC 296-56-60057   Fumigants, pesticides, insecticides and hazardous preservatives (see also WAC 296-56-60049, 296-56-60051 and 296-56-60053).   (1) Whenever cargo in a space is or has been stowed, handled, or treated with a fumigant, pesticide, insecticide, or hazardous preservative, a determination shall be made as to whether a hazardous atmosphere is present in the space. Only employees protected as required in subsection (5) of this section shall enter the space if it is hazardous.

     (2) Tests to determine the atmospheric concentration of chemicals used to treat cargo shall be:

     (a) Appropriate for the hazard involved;

     (b) Conducted by designated persons; and

     (c) Performed at the intervals necessary to ensure that employee exposure does not exceed the permissible exposure limit for the chemical involved, see chapters 296-62 and 296-841 WAC.

     (3) Results of any tests shall be available for at least thirty days.

     (4) Chemicals shall only be applied to cargoes by designated persons.

     (5) Only designated persons shall enter hazardous atmospheres. Whenever a hazardous atmosphere is entered the following provisions apply.

     (a) Persons entering a space containing a hazardous atmosphere shall be protected by respiratory and emergency protective equipment meeting the requirements of part G of this standard; and

     (b) Persons entering a space containing a hazardous atmosphere shall be instructed in the nature of the hazard, precautions to be taken, and the use of protective and emergency equipment. Standby observers, similarly equipped and instructed, shall continuously monitor the activity of employees within such a space.

     (6) Signs shall be clearly posted where fumigants, pesticides or hazardous preservatives have created a hazardous atmosphere. These signs shall note the danger, identify specific chemical hazards, and give appropriate information and precautions, including instructions for the emergency treatment of employees affected by any chemical in use.

     (7) In the case of containerized shipments of fumigated tobacco, the contents of the container shall be aerated by opening the container doors for a period of forty-eight hours after the completion of fumigation and prior to loading. When tobacco is within shipping cases having polyethylene or similar bag liners, the aeration period shall be seventy-two hours. The employer shall obtain a written warranty from the fumigation facility stating that the appropriate aeration period has been met.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.010, [49.17].040, and [49.17].050. 00-21-103, § 296-56-60057, filed 10/18/00, effective 2/1/01. Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.040. 99-02-024, § 296-56-60057, filed 12/30/98, effective 3/30/99. Statutory Authority: Chapter 49.17 RCW and RCW 49.17.040, [49.17].050 and [49.17].060. 92-22-067 (Order 92-06), § 296-56-60057, filed 10/30/92, effective 12/8/92. Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.040 and 49.17.050. 86-03-064 (Order 86-02), § 296-56-60057, filed 1/17/86; 85-01-022 (Order 84-24), § 296-56-60057, filed 12/11/84.]


AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 00-21-103, filed 10/18/00, effective 2/1/01)

WAC 296-56-60107   Terminal facilities handling menhaden and similar species of fish.   (1)(a) Tanks in terminal areas used for receiving or storing bailwater for recirculating into vessel holds in discharging operations shall be opened or ventilated to minimize contamination of water circulated to the vessel. Bailwater tanks shall be thoroughly drained upon completion of each day's operations and shall be left open to the air. Drainage is unnecessary when bailwater has been treated to remove hydrogen sulfide-producing contaminants and the efficiency of such treatment has been established.

     (b) Before employees enter a dock tank, it shall first be drained, rinsed and tested for hydrogen sulfide and oxygen deficiency. Employees shall not enter the tank when the hydrogen sulfide level exceeds twenty ppm or oxygen content is less than nineteen and one-half percent, except in emergencies.

     (c) Tests shall be conducted by designated personnel with suitable test equipment and respiratory protective equipment complying with the provisions of this chapter and chapter ((296-62)) 296-842 WAC.

     (2) Pipelines and hoses on the dock or terminal used for receiving and circulating used bailwater shall be completely drained upon completion of each day's operation and left open to the air.

     (3) At least four units of respiratory protective equipment consisting of supplied-air respirators or self-contained breathing apparatus complying with the requirements of chapter ((296-62)) 296-842 WAC shall be available in a suitably labeled cabinet for immediate use in case of an emergency caused by oxygen deficiency or hydrogen sulfide. Any employee entering a tank in an emergency shall, in addition to respiratory protective equipment, wear a lifeline and safety harness to facilitate rescue. At least two other employees, similarly equipped, shall be continuously stationed outside the tank to observe and to provide rescue services.

     (4) The plant superintendent and foremen shall be trained and knowledgeable about the hazards of hydrogen sulfide and oxygen deficiency. They shall be trained in the use of appropriate respiratory and other protective equipment, and in rescue procedures. Other supervisory plant personnel shall be informed of these hazards and instructed in the necessary safety measures, including use of respiratory and rescue equipment.

     (5) Supervisory personnel shall be on hand at dockside to supervise discharging of bailwater from vessels.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.010, [49.17].040, and [49.17].050. 00-21-103, § 296-56-60107, filed 10/18/00, effective 2/1/01. Statutory Authority: Chapter 49.17 RCW and RCW 49.17.040, [49.17].050 and [49.17].060. 92-22-067 (Order 92-06), § 296-56-60107, filed 10/30/92, effective 12/8/92. Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.040 and 49.17.050. 86-03-064 (Order 86-02), § 296-56-60107, filed 1/17/86; 85-01-022 (Order 84-24), § 296-56-60107, filed 12/11/84.]


AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending Order 86-02, filed 1/17/86)

WAC 296-56-60110   Respiratory protection.   The respiratory protection requirements of the general occupational health standards, chapter ((296-62)) 296-842 WAC, apply.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.040 and 49.17.050. 86-03-064 (Order 86-02), § 296-56-60110, filed 1/17/86; 85-01-022 (Order 84-24), § 296-56-60110, filed 12/11/84.]


AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 00-21-103, filed 10/18/00, effective 2/1/01)

WAC 296-56-60235   Welding, cutting and heating (hot work) (see also definition of "hazardous cargo, material, substance or atmosphere").   (1) Definition. "Hot work" means riveting, welding, flame cutting or other fire or spark-producing operation.

     (2) Hot work in confined spaces. Hot work shall not be performed in a confined space until all requirements of chapter 296-62 WAC, Part M, are met.

     (3) Fire protection.

     (a) To the extent possible, hot work shall be performed in designated locations that are free of fire hazards.

     (b) When hot work must be performed in a location that is not free of fire hazards, all necessary precautions shall be taken to confine heat, sparks, and slag so that they cannot contact flammable or combustible material.

     (c) Fire extinguishing equipment suitable for the location shall be immediately available and shall be maintained in readiness for use at all times.

     (d) When the hot work operation is such that normal fire prevention precautions are not sufficient, additional personnel shall be assigned to guard against fire during hot work and for a sufficient time after completion of the work to ensure that no fire hazard remains. The employer shall instruct all employees involved in hot work operations as to potential fire hazards and the use of fire fighting equipment.

     (e) Drums and containers which contain or have contained flammable or combustible liquids shall be kept closed. Empty containers shall be removed from the hot work area.

     (f) When openings or cracks in flooring cannot be closed, precautions shall be taken to ensure that no employees or flammable or combustible materials are exposed to sparks dropping through the floor. Similar precautions shall be taken regarding cracks or holes in walls, open doorways and open or broken windows.

     (g) Hot work shall not be performed:

     (i) In flammable or potentially flammable atmospheres;

     (ii) On or in equipment or tanks that have contained flammable gas or liquid or combustible liquid or dust-producing material, until a designated person has tested the atmosphere inside the equipment or tanks and determined that it is not hazardous; or

     (iii) Near any area in which exposed readily ignitable materials such as bulk sulphur, baled paper or cotton are stored. Bulk sulphur is excluded from this prohibition if suitable precautions are followed, the person in charge is knowledgeable and the person performing the work has been instructed in preventing and extinguishing sulphur fires.

     (h)(i) Drums, containers or hollow structures that have contained flammable or combustible substances shall either be filled with water or cleaned, and shall then be ventilated. A designated person shall test the atmosphere and determine that it is not hazardous before hot work is performed on or in such structures.

     (ii) Before heat is applied to a drum, container or hollow structure, an opening to release built-up pressure during heat application shall be provided.

     (4) Gas welding and cutting.

     (a) Compressed gas cylinders:

     (i) Shall have valve protection caps in place except when in use, hooked up or secured for movement. Oil shall not be used to lubricate caps;

     (ii) Shall be hoisted only while secured, as on a cradle or pallet, and shall not be hoisted by magnet, choker sling or cylinder caps;

     (iii) Shall be moved only by tilting or rolling on their bottom edges;

     (iv) Shall be secured when moved by vehicle;

     (v) Shall be secured while in use;

     (vi) Shall have valves closed when cylinders are empty, being moved or stored;

     (vii) Shall be secured upright except when hoisted or carried;

     (viii) Shall not be freed when frozen by prying the valves or caps with bars or by hitting the valve with a tool;

     (ix) Shall not be thawed by boiling water;

     (x) Shall not be exposed to sparks, hot slag, or flame;

     (xi) Shall not be permitted to become part of electrical circuits or have electrodes struck against them to strike arcs;

     (xii) Shall not be used as rollers or supports;

     (xiii) Shall not have contents used for purposes not authorized by the supplier;

     (xiv) Shall not be used if damaged or defective;

     (xv) Shall not have gases mixed within, except by gas suppliers;

     (xvi) Shall be stored so that oxygen cylinders are separated from fuel gas cylinders and combustible materials by either a minimum distance of twenty feet (6.1 m) or a barrier having a fire-resistance rating of thirty minutes; and

     (xvii) Shall not have objects that might either damage the safety device or obstruct the valve placed on top of the cylinder when in use.

     (b) Use of fuel gas. Fuel gas shall be used only as follows:

     (i) Before regulators are connected to cylinder valves, the valves shall be opened slightly (cracked) and closed immediately to clear away dust or dirt. Valves shall not be cracked if gas could reach possible sources of ignition;

     (ii) Cylinder valves shall be opened slowly to prevent regulator damage and shall not be opened more than one and one-half turns. Any special wrench required for emergency closing shall be positioned on the valve stem during cylinder use. For manifolded or coupled cylinders, at least one wrench shall be immediately available. Nothing shall be placed on top of a cylinder or associated parts when the cylinder is in use;

     (iii) Pressure-reducing regulators shall be attached to cylinder valves when cylinders are supplying torches or devices equipped with shut-off valves;

     (iv) Cylinder valves shall be closed and gas released from the regulator or manifold before regulators are removed;

     (v) Leaking fuel gas cylinder valves shall be closed and the gland nut tightened. If the leak continues, the cylinder shall be tagged, removed from service, and moved to a location where the leak will not be hazardous. If a regulator attached to a valve stops a leak, the cylinder need not be removed from the workplace but shall be tagged and may not be used again before it is repaired; and

     (vi) If a plug or safety device leaks, the cylinder shall be tagged, removed from service, and moved to a location where the leak will not be hazardous.

     (c) Hose.

     (i) Fuel gas and oxygen hoses shall be easily distinguishable from each other by color or sense of touch. Oxygen and fuel hoses shall not be interchangeable. Hoses having more than one gas passage shall not be used.

     (ii) When oxygen and fuel gas hoses are taped together, not more than four of each twelve inches (10.16 cm of each 30.48 cm) shall be taped.

     (iii) Hose shall be inspected before use. Hose subjected to flashback or showing evidence of severe wear or damage shall be tested to twice the normal working pressure but not less than two hundred p.s.i. (1378.96 kPa) before reuse. Defective hose shall not be used.

     (iv) Hose couplings shall not unlock or disconnect without rotary motion.

     (v) Hose connections shall be clamped or securely fastened to withstand twice the normal working pressure but not less than three hundred p.s.i. (2068.44 kPa) without leaking.

     (vi) Gas hose storage boxes shall be ventilated.

     (d) Torches.

     (i) Torch tip openings shall only be cleaned with devices designed for that purpose.

     (ii) Torches shall be inspected before each use for leaking shut-off valves, hose couplings and tip connections. Torches shall be inspected before each use for leaking shut-off valves, hose couplings and tip connections. Torches with such defects shall not be used.

     (iii) Torches shall not be lighted from matches, cigarette lighters, other flames or hot work.

     (e) Pressure regulators. Pressure regulators, including associated gauges, shall be maintained in safe working order.

     (f) Operational precaution. Gas welding equipment shall be maintained free of oil and grease.

     (5) Arc welding and cutting.

     (a) Manual electrode holders.

     (i) The employer shall ensure that only manual electrode holders intended for arc welding and cutting and capable of handling the maximum current required for such welding or cutting shall be used.

     (ii) Current-carrying parts passing through those portions of the holder gripped by the user and through the outer surfaces of the jaws of the holder shall be insulated against the maximum voltage to ground.

     (b) Welding cables and connectors.

     (i) Arc welding and cutting cables shall be insulated, flexible and capable of handling the maximum current required by the operation, taking into account the duty cycles.

     (ii) Only cable free from repair or splice for ten feet (3 m) from the electrode holder shall be used unless insulated connectors or splices with insulating quality equal to that of the cable are provided.

     (iii) When a cable other than the lead mentioned in (b)(ii) of this subsection wears and exposes bare conductors, the portion exposed shall not be used until it is protected by insulation equivalent in performance capacity to the original.

     (iv) Insulated connectors of equivalent capacity shall be used for connecting or splicing cable. Cable lugs, where used as connectors, shall provide electrical contact. Exposed metal parts shall be insulated.

     (c) Ground returns and machine grounding.

     (i) Ground return cables shall have current-carrying capacity equal to or exceeding the total maximum output capacities of the welding or cutting units served.

     (ii) Structures or pipelines, other than those containing gases or flammable liquids or conduits containing electrical circuits, may be used in the ground return circuit if their current-carrying capacity equals or exceeds the total maximum output capacities of the welding or cutting units served.

     (iii) Structures or pipelines forming a temporary ground return circuit shall have electrical contact at all joints. Arcs, sparks or heat at any point in the circuit shall cause rejection as a ground circuit.

     (iv) Structures or pipelines acting continuously as ground return circuits shall have joints bonded and maintained to ensure that no electrolysis or fire hazard exists.

     (v) Arc welding and cutting machine frames shall be grounded, either through a third wire in the cable containing the circuit conductor or through a separate wire at the source of the current. Grounding circuits shall have resistance low enough to permit sufficient current to flow to cause the fuse or circuit breaker to interrupt the current.

     (vi) Ground connections shall be mechanically and electrically adequate to carry the current.

     (d) When electrode holders are left unattended, electrodes shall be removed and holders placed to prevent employee injury.

     (e) Hot electrode holders shall not be dipped in water.

     (f) The employer shall ensure that when arc welders or cutters leave or stop work or when machines are moved, the power supply switch is kept in the off position.

     (g) Arc welding or cutting equipment having a functional defect shall not be used.

     (h)(i) Arc welding and cutting operations shall be separated from other operations by shields, screens, or curtains to protect employees in the vicinity from the direct rays and sparks of the arc.

     (ii) Employees in areas not protected from the arc by screening shall be protected by appropriate filter lenses in accordance with subsection (8) of this section. When welders are exposed to their own arc or to each other's arc, they shall wear filter lenses complying with the requirements of subsection (8) of this section.

     (i) The control apparatus of arc welding machines shall be enclosed, except for operating wheels, levers, and handles.

     (j) Input power terminals, top change devices and live metal parts connected to input circuits shall be enclosed and accessible only by means of insulated tools.

     (k) When arc welding is performed in wet or high-humidity conditions, employees shall use additional protection, such as rubber pads or boots, against electric shock.

     (6) Ventilation and employee protection in welding, cutting and heating.

     (a) Mechanical ventilation requirements. The employer shall ensure that general mechanical ventilation or local exhaust systems shall meet the following requirements:

     (i) General mechanical ventilation shall maintain vapors, fumes and smoke below a hazardous level;

     (ii) Local exhaust ventilation shall consist of movable hoods positioned close to the work and shall be of such capacity and arrangement as to keep breathing zone concentrations below hazardous levels;

     (iii) Exhausts from working spaces shall be discharged into the open air, clear of intake air sources;

     (iv) Replacement air shall be clean and respirable; and

     (v) Oxygen shall not be used for ventilation, cooling or cleaning clothing or work areas.

     (b) Hot work in confined spaces. Except as specified in (c)(ii) and (iii) of this subsection, when hot work is performed in a confined space the employer shall, in addition to the requirements of chapter 296-62 WAC, Part M, ensure that:

     (i) General mechanical or local exhaust ventilations shall be provided; or

     (ii) Employees in the space shall wear respirators in accordance with chapter ((296-62)) 296-842 WAC((, Part E)).

     (c) Welding, cutting or heating of toxic metals.

     (i) In confined or enclosed spaces, hot work involving the following metals shall only be performed with general mechanical or local exhaust ventilation that ensures that employees are not exposed to hazardous levels of fumes:

     (A) Lead base metals;

     (B) Cadmium-bearing filler materials; and

     (C) Chromium-bearing metals or metals coated with chromium-bearing materials.

     (ii) In confined or enclosed spaces, hot work involving the following metals shall only be performed with local exhaust ventilation meeting the requirements of this subsection or by employees wearing supplied air respirators in accordance with chapter ((296-62)) 296-842 WAC((, Part E));

     (A) Zinc-bearing base or filler metals or metals coated with zinc-bearing materials;

     (B) Metals containing lead other than as an impurity, or coated with lead-bearing materials;

     (C) Cadmium-bearing or cadmium-coated base metals; and

     (D) Metals coated with mercury-bearing materials.

     (iii) Employees performing hot work in confined or enclosed spaces involving beryllium-containing base or filler metals shall be protected by local exhaust ventilation and wear supplied air respirators or self-contained breathing apparatus, in accordance with the requirements of chapter ((296-62)) 296-842 WAC((, Part E)).

     (iv) The employer shall ensure that employees performing hot work in the open air that involves any of the metals listed in (c)(i) and (ii) of this subsection shall be protected by respirators in accordance with the requirements of chapter ((296-62)) 296-842 WAC((, Part E)) and those working on beryllium-containing base or filler metals shall be protected by supplied air respirators, in accordance with the requirements of chapter ((296-62)) 296-842 WAC((, Part E)).

     (v) Any employee exposed to the same atmosphere as the welder or burner shall be protected by the same type of respiratory and other protective equipment as that worn by the welder or burner.

     (d) Inert-gas metal-arc welding. Employees shall not engage in and shall not be exposed to the inert-gas metal-arc welding process unless the following precautions are taken:

     (i) Chlorinated solvents shall not be used within two hundred feet (61 m) of the exposed arc. Surfaces prepared with chlorinated solvents shall be thoroughly dry before welding is performed on them.

     (ii) Employees in areas not protected from the arc by screening shall be protected by appropriate filter lenses in accordance with the requirements of subsection (8) of this section. When welders are exposed to their own arc or to each other's arc, filter lenses complying with the requirements of subsection (8) of this section shall be worn to protect against flashes and radiant energy.

     (iii) Employees exposed to radiation shall have their skin covered completely to prevent ultraviolet burns and damage. Helmets and hand shields shall not have leaks, openings or highly reflective surfaces.

     (iv) Inert-gas metal-arc welding on stainless steel shall not be performed unless exposed employees are protected either by local exhaust ventilation or by wearing supplied air respirators in accordance with the requirements of chapter ((296-62)) 296-842 WAC((, Part E)).

     (7) Welding, cutting and heating on preservative coatings.

     (a) Before hot work is commenced on surfaces covered by a preservative coating of unknown flammability, a test shall be made by a designated person to determine the coating's flammability. Preservative coatings shall be considered highly flammable when scrapings burn with extreme rapidity.

     (b) Appropriate precaution shall be taken to prevent ignition of highly flammable hardened preservative coatings. Highly flammable coatings shall be stripped from the area to be heated. An uncoiled fire hose with fog nozzle, under pressure, shall be immediately available in the hot work area.

     (c) Surfaces covered with preservative coatings shall be stripped for at least four inches (10.16 cm) from the area of heat application or employees shall be protected by supplied air respirators in accordance with the requirements of chapter 296-62 WAC.

     (8) Protection against radiant energy.

     (a) Employees shall be protected from radiant energy eye hazards by spectacles, cup goggles, helmets, hand shields or face shields with filter lenses complying with the requirements of this subsection.

     (b) Filter lenses shall have an appropriate shade number, as indicated in Table G-1, for the work performed. Variations of one or two shade numbers are permissible to suit individual preferences.

     (c) If filter lenses are used in goggles worn under the helmet, the shade numbers of both lenses equals the value shown in Table G-1 for the operation.


Table G-1. -- Filter Lenses for Protection

Against Radiant Energy

Operation Shade No.
Soldering . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Torch Brazing . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 or 4
Light cutting, up to 1 inch . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 or 4
Medium cutting, 1-6 inches . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 or 5
Heavy cutting, over 6 inches . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 or 6
Light gas welding, up to 1/8 inch . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 or 5
Medium gas welding, 1/8-1/2 inch . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 or 6
Heavy gas welding, over 1/2 inch . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 or 8
Shielded Metal-Arc Welding 1/16 to

     5/32-inch electrodes . . . . . . . . . . . .

10
Inert gas Metal-Arc Welding (nonferrous) 1/16 to 5/32-inch electrodes . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Shielded Metal-Arc Welding:
     3/16 to 1/4-inch electrodes . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
     5/16 and 3/8-inch electrodes . . . . . . . . . . . .
14

[Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.010, [49.17].040, and [49.17].050. 00-21-103, § 296-56-60235, filed 10/18/00, effective 2/1/01. Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.010, [49.17].040 and [49.17].050. 99-10-071, § 296-56-60235, filed 5/4/99, effective 9/1/99. Statutory Authority: Chapter 49.17 RCW. 95-04-007, § 296-56-60235, filed 1/18/95, effective 3/1/95. Statutory Authority: Chapter 49.17 RCW and RCW 49.17.040, [49.17].050 and [49.17].060. 92-22-067 (Order 92-06), § 296-56-60235, filed 10/30/92, effective 12/8/92. Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.040 and 49.17.050. 86-03-064 (Order 86-02), § 296-56-60235, filed 1/17/86; 85-10-004 (Order 85-09), § 296-56-60235, filed 4/19/85; 85-01-022 (Order 84-24), § 296-56-60235, filed 12/11/84.]

OTS-7246.2


AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 01-11-038, filed 5/9/01, effective 9/1/01)

WAC 296-62-07306   Requirements for areas containing carcinogens listed in WAC 296-62-07302.   (1) A regulated area shall be established by an employer where listed carcinogens are manufactured, processed, used, repackaged, released, handled or stored.

     (2) All such areas shall be controlled in accordance with the requirements for the following category or categories describing the operation involved:

     (a) Isolated systems. Employees working with carcinogens within an isolated system such as a "glove box" shall wash their hands and arms upon completion of the assigned task and before engaging in other activities not associated with the isolated system.

     (b) Closed system operation. Within regulated areas where carcinogens are stored in sealed containers, or contained in a closed system including piping systems with any sample ports or openings closed while carcinogens are contained within:

     (i) Access shall be restricted to authorized employees only;

     (ii) Employees shall be required to wash hands, forearms, face and neck upon each exit from the regulated areas, close to the point of exit and before engaging in other activities.

     (c) Open vessel system operations. Open vessel system operations as defined in WAC 296-62-07304(12) are prohibited.

     (d) Transfer from a closed system. Charging or discharging point operations, or otherwise opening a closed system. In operations involving "laboratory-type hoods," or in locations where a carcinogen is contained in an otherwise "closed system," but is transferred, charged, or discharged into other normally closed containers, the provisions of this section shall apply.

     (i) Access shall be restricted to authorized employees only;

     (ii) Each operation shall be provided with continuous local exhaust ventilation so that air movement is always from ordinary work areas to the operation. Exhaust air shall not be discharged to regulated areas, nonregulated areas or the external environment unless decontaminated. Clean makeup air shall be introduced in sufficient volume to maintain the correct operation of the local exhaust system.

     (iii) Employees shall be provided with, and required to wear, clean, full body protective clothing (smocks, coveralls, or long-sleeved shirt and pants), shoe covers and gloves prior to entering the regulated area.

     (iv) Employees engaged in handling operations involving the following carcinogens must be provided with and required to wear and use a full-face, supplied-air respirator, of the continuous flow or pressure-demand type as required in chapter ((296-62)) 296-842 WAC((, Part E)):


• Methyl Chloromethyl Ether;
• bis-Chloromethyl Ether;
• Ethylenemine;
• beta-Propiolactone;
• 4-Amino Diphenyl.

     (v) Employees engaged in handling operations involving:


• 4-nitrobiphenyl;
• alpha-naphthylamine;
• 4-4'methylene bis(2-chloroaniline);
• 3-3'dichlorobenzidine (and its salts);
• beta-naphthylamine;
• benzidine;
• 2-acetylamino fluroene;
• 4-dimethylaminobenzene;
• n-nitrosodimethylamine
must be provided with, and required to wear and use, a half-face, filter-type respirator certified for solid or liquid particulates with minimum efficiency rating of 95% as required in chapter ((296-62)) 296-842 WAC((, Part E)). A respirator affording higher levels of protection than this respirator may be substituted.

     (vi) Prior to each exit from a regulated area, employees shall be required to remove and leave protective clothing and equipment at the point of exit and at the last exit of the day, to place used clothing and equipment in impervious containers at the point of exit for purposes of decontamination or disposal. The contents of such impervious containers shall be identified, as required under WAC 296-62-07310 (2), (3) and (4).

     (vii) Employees shall be required to wash hands, forearms, face and neck on each exit from the regulated area, close to the point of exit, and before engaging in other activities.

     (viii) Employees shall be required to shower after the last exit of the day.

     (ix) Drinking fountains are prohibited in the regulated area.

     (e) Maintenance and decontamination activities. In clean up of leaks or spills, maintenance or repair operations on contaminated systems or equipment, or any operations involving work in an area where direct contact with carcinogens could result, each authorized employee entering the area shall:

     (i) Be provided with and required to wear, clean, impervious garments, including gloves, boots and continuous-air supplied hood in accordance with WAC 296-800-160, and respiratory protective equipment required by this chapter ((296-62)) 296-842 WAC;

     (ii) Be decontaminated before removing the protective garments and hood;

     (iii) Be required to shower upon removing the protective garments and hood.

     (f) Laboratory activities. The requirements of this subdivision shall apply to research and quality control activities involving the use of carcinogens listed in WAC 296-62-07302.

     (i) Mechanical pipetting aids shall be used for all pipetting procedures.

     (ii) Experiments, procedures and equipment which could produce aerosols shall be confined to laboratory-type hoods or glove boxes.

     (iii) Surfaces on which carcinogens are handled shall be protected from contamination.

     (iv) Contaminated wastes and animal carcasses shall be collected in impervious containers which are closed and decontaminated prior to removal from the work area. Such wastes and carcasses shall be incinerated in such a manner that no carcinogenic products are released.

     (v) All other forms of listed carcinogens shall be inactivated prior to disposal.

     (vi) Laboratory vacuum systems shall be protected with high efficiency scrubbers or with disposable absolute filters.

     (vii) Employees engaged in animal support activities shall be:

     (A) Provided with, and required to wear, a complete protective clothing change, clean each day, including coveralls or pants and shirt, foot covers, head covers, gloves, and appropriate respiratory protective equipment or devices; and

     (B) Prior to each exit from a regulated area, employees shall be required to remove and leave protective clothing and equipment at the point of exit and at the last exit of the day, to place used clothing and equipment in impervious containers at the point of exit for purposes of decontamination or disposal. The contents of such impervious containers shall be identified as required under WAC 296-62-07310 (2), (3) and (4).

     (C) Required to wash hands, forearms, face and neck upon each exit from the regulated area close to the point of exit, and before engaging in other activities; and

     (D) Required to shower after the last exit of the day.

     (viii) Employees, other than those engaged only in animal support activities, each day shall be:

     (A) Provided with and required to wear a clean change of appropriate laboratory clothing, such as a solid front gown, surgical scrub suit, or fully buttoned laboratory coat.

     (B) Prior to each exit from a regulated area, employees shall be required to remove and leave protective clothing and equipment at the point of exit and at the last exit of the day, to place used clothing and equipment in impervious containers at the point of exit for purposes of decontamination or disposal. The contents of such impervious containers shall be identified as required under WAC 296-62-07310 (2), (3) and (4).

     (C) Required to wash hands, forearms, face and neck upon each exit from the regulated area close to the point of exit, and before engaging in other activities.

     (ix) Air pressure in laboratory areas and animal rooms where carcinogens are handled and bioassay studies are performed shall be negative in relation to the pressure in surrounding areas. Exhaust air shall not be discharged to regulated areas, nonregulated areas or the external environment unless decontaminated.

     (x) There shall be no connection between regulated areas and any other areas through the ventilation system.

     (xi) A current inventory of the carcinogens shall be maintained.

     (xii) Ventilated apparatus such as laboratory-type hoods, shall be tested at least semi-annually or immediately after ventilation modification or maintenance operations, by personnel fully qualified to certify correct containment and operation.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.010, [49.17].040, and [49.17].050. 01-11-038, § 296-62-07306, filed 5/9/01, effective 9/1/01; 99-10-071, § 296-62-07306, filed 5/4/99, effective 9/1/99. Statutory Authority: Chapter 49.17 RCW. 96-09-030, § 296-62-07306, filed 4/10/96, effective 6/1/96. Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.040 and 49.17.050. 86-16-009 (Order 86-28), § 296-62-07306, filed 7/25/86; 85-10-004 (Order 85-09), § 296-62-07306, filed 4/19/85. Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.040, 49.17.050 and 49.17.240. 81-16-015 (Order 81-20), § 296-62-07306, filed 7/27/81. Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.040, 49.17.050, 49.17.240, chapters 42.30 and 43.22 RCW. 80-17-014 (Order 80-20), § 296-62-07306, filed 11/13/80.]


AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 04-10-026, filed 4/27/04, effective 8/1/04)

WAC 296-62-07329   Vinyl chloride.   (1) Scope and application.

     (a) This section includes requirements for the control of employee exposure to vinyl chloride (chloroethene), Chemical Abstracts Service Registry No. 75014.

     (b) This section applies to the manufacture, reaction, packaging, repackaging, storage, handling or use of vinyl chloride or polyvinyl chloride, but does not apply to the handling or use of fabricated products made of polyvinyl chloride.

     (c) This section applies to the transportation of vinyl chloride or polyvinyl chloride except to the extent that the department of transportation may regulate the hazards covered by this section.

     (2) Definitions.

     (a) "Action level" means a concentration of vinyl chloride of 0.5 ppm averaged over an 8-hour work day.

     (b) "Authorized person" means any person specifically authorized by the employer whose duties require him/her to enter a regulated area or any person entering such an area as a designated representative of employees for the purpose of exercising an opportunity to observe monitoring and measuring procedures.

     (c) "Director" means the director of department of labor and industries or his/her designated representative.

     (d) "Emergency" means any occurrence such as, but not limited to, equipment failure, or operation of a relief device which is likely to, or does, result in massive release of vinyl chloride.

     (e) "Fabricated product" means a product made wholly or partly from polyvinyl chloride, and which does not require further processing at temperatures, and for times, sufficient to cause mass melting of the polyvinyl chloride resulting in the release of vinyl chloride.

     (f) "Hazardous operation" means any operation, procedure, or activity where a release of either vinyl chloride liquid or gas might be expected as a consequence of the operation or because of an accident in the operation, which would result in an employee exposure in excess of the permissible exposure limit.

     (g) "Polyvinyl chloride" means polyvinyl chloride homopolymer or copolymer before such is converted to a fabricated product.

     (h) "Vinyl chloride" means vinyl chloride monomer.

     (3) Permissible exposure limit.

     (a) No employee may be exposed to vinyl chloride at concentrations greater than 1 ppm averaged over any 8-hour period, and

     (b) No employee may be exposed to vinyl chloride at concentrations greater than 5 ppm averaged over any period not exceeding 15 minutes.

     (c) No employee may be exposed to vinyl chloride by direct contact with liquid vinyl chloride.

     (4) Monitoring.

     (a) A program of initial monitoring and measurement shall be undertaken in each establishment to determine if there is any employee exposed, without regard to the use of respirators, in excess of the action level.

     (b) Where a determination conducted under subdivision (a) of this subsection shows any employee exposures without regard to the use of respirators, in excess of the action level, a program for determining exposures for each such employee shall be established. Such a program:

     (i) Shall be repeated at least monthly where any employee is exposed, without regard to the use of respirators, in excess of the permissible exposure limit.

     (ii) Shall be repeated not less than quarterly where any employee is exposed, without regard to the use of respirators, in excess of the action level.

     (iii) May be discontinued for any employee only when at least two consecutive monitoring determinations, made not less than 5 working days apart, show exposures for that employee at or below the action level.

     (c) Whenever there has been a production, process or control change which may result in an increase in the release of vinyl chloride, or the employer has any other reason to suspect that any employee may be exposed in excess of the action level, a determination of employee exposure under subdivision (a) of this subsection shall be performed.

     (d) The method of monitoring and measurement shall have an accuracy (with a confidence level of 95 percent) of not less than plus or minus 50 percent from 0.25 through 0.5 ppm, plus or minus 35 percent from over 0.5 ppm through 1.0 ppm, plus or minus 25 percent over 1.0 ppm, (methods meeting these accuracy requirements are available from the director).

     (e) Employees or their designated representatives shall be afforded reasonable opportunity to observe the monitoring and measuring required by this subsection.

     (5) Regulated area.

     (a) A regulated area shall be established where:

     (i) Vinyl chloride or polyvinyl chloride is manufactured, reacted, repackaged, stored, handled or used; and

     (ii) Vinyl chloride concentrations are in excess of the permissible exposure limit.

     (b) Access to regulated areas shall be limited to authorized persons.

     (6) Methods of compliance. Employee exposures to vinyl chloride shall be controlled to at or below the permissible exposure limit provided in subsection (3) of this section by engineering, work practice, and personal protective controls as follows:

     (a) Feasible engineering and work practice controls shall immediately be used to reduce exposures to at or below the permissible exposure limit.

     (b) Wherever feasible engineering and work practice controls which can be instituted immediately are not sufficient to reduce exposures to at or below the permissible exposure limit, they shall nonetheless be used to reduce exposures to the lowest practicable level, and shall be supplemented by respiratory protection in accordance with subsection (7) of this section. A program shall be established and implemented to reduce exposures to at or below the permissible exposure limit, or to the greatest extent feasible, solely by means of engineering and work practice controls, as soon as feasible.

     (c) Written plans for such a program shall be developed and furnished upon request for examination and copying to the director. Such plans shall be updated at least every six months.

     (7) Respiratory protection.

     (a) General. For employees who use respirators required by this section, the employer must provide respirators that comply with the requirements of this section.

     (b) Respirator program. The employer must establish, implement, and maintain a respiratory protection program as required in chapter ((296-62 WAC, Part E (except WAC 296-62-07130(1), 296-62-07131 (4)(b)(i) and (ii), and 296-62-07150 through 296-62-17156))) 296-842 WAC, except WAC 296-842-13005 and 296-842-14005.

     (c) Respirator selection. Respirators must be selected from the following table.


Atmospheric

concentration of

Vinyl Chloride

Apparatus

(i) Not over 10 ppm Any chemical cartridge respirator with a vinyl chloride cartridge which provides a service life of at least 1 hour for concentrations of vinyl chloride up to 10 ppm.
(ii) Not over 25 ppm (A) A powered air-purifying respirator with hood, helmet, full or half facepiece, and a canister which provides a service life of at least 4 hours for concentrations of vinyl chloride up to 25 ppm, or

(B) Gas mask, front or back-mounted canister which provides a service life of at least 4 hours for concentrations of vinyl chloride up to 25 ppm.

(iii) Not over 100 ppm Supplied air respirator demand type, with full facepiece.
(iv) Not over 250 ppm Type C, supplied air respirator, continuous flow type, with full or half facepiece, helmet or hood.
(v) Not over 3,600 ppm Combination Type C supplied air respirator, pressure demand type, with full or half facepiece and auxiliary self-contained air supply.
(vi) Unknown, or above 3,600 ppm Open-circuit, self-contained breathing apparatus, pressure demand type, with full facepiece.

     (d) Where air-purifying respirators are used:

     (i) Air-purifying canisters or cartridges must be replaced prior to the expiration of their service life or the end of the shift in which they are first used, whichever occurs first, and

     (ii) A continuous monitoring and alarm system must be provided when concentrations of vinyl chloride could reasonably exceed the allowable concentrations for the devices in use. Such system shall be used to alert employees when vinyl chloride concentrations exceed the allowable concentrations for the devices in use, and

     (iii) Respirators specified for higher concentrations may be used for lower concentration.

     (8) Hazardous operations.

     (a) Employees engaged in hazardous operations, including entry of vessels to clean polyvinyl chloride residue from vessel walls, shall be provided and required to wear and use;

     (i) Respiratory protection in accordance with subsections (3) and (7) of this section; and

     (ii) Protective garments to prevent skin contact with liquid vinyl chloride or with polyvinyl chloride residue from vessel walls. The protective garments shall be selected for the operation and its possible exposure conditions.

     (b) Protective garments shall be provided clean and dry for each use.

     (c) Emergency situations. A written operational plan for emergency situations shall be developed for each facility storing, handling, or otherwise using vinyl chloride as a liquid or compressed gas. Appropriate portions of the plan shall be implemented in the event of an emergency. The plan shall specifically provide that:

     (i) Employees engaged in hazardous operations or correcting situations of existing hazardous releases shall be equipped as required in subdivisions (a) and (b) of this subsection;

     (ii) Other employees not so equipped shall evacuate the area and not return until conditions are controlled by the methods required in subsection (6) of this section and the emergency is abated.

     (9) Training. Each employee engaged in vinyl chloride or polyvinyl chloride operations shall be provided training in a program relating to the hazards of vinyl chloride and precautions for its safe use.

     (a) The program shall include:

     (i) The nature of the health hazard from chronic exposure to vinyl chloride including specifically the carcinogenic hazard;

     (ii) The specific nature of operations which could result in exposure to vinyl chloride in excess of the permissible limit and necessary protective steps;

     (iii) The purpose for, proper use, and limitations of respiratory protective devices;

     (iv) The fire hazard and acute toxicity of vinyl chloride, and the necessary protective steps;

     (v) The purpose for and a description of the monitoring program;

     (vi) The purpose for and a description of, the medical surveillance program;

     (vii) Emergency procedures:

     (A) Specific information to aid the employee in recognition of conditions which may result in the release of vinyl chloride; and

     (B) A review of this standard at the employee's first training and indoctrination program, and annually thereafter.

     (b) All materials relating to the program shall be provided upon request to the director.

     (10) Medical surveillance. A program of medical surveillance shall be instituted for each employee exposed, without regard to the use of respirators, to vinyl chloride in excess of the action level. The program shall provide each such employee with an opportunity for examinations and tests in accordance with this subsection. All medical examinations and procedures shall be performed by or under the supervision of a licensed physician and shall be provided without cost to the employee.

     (a) At the time of initial assignment, or upon institution of medical surveillance;

     (i) A general physical examination shall be performed with specific attention to detecting enlargement of liver, spleen or kidneys, or dysfunction in these organs, and for abnormalities in skin, connective tissues and the pulmonary system (see Appendix A).

     (ii) A medical history shall be taken, including the following topics:

     (A) Alcohol intake,

     (B) Past history of hepatitis,

     (C) Work history and past exposure to potential hepatotoxic agents, including drugs and chemicals,

     (D) Past history of blood transfusions, and

     (E) Past history of hospitalizations.

     (iii) A serum specimen shall be obtained and determinations made of:

     (A) Total bilirubin,

     (B) Alkaline phosphatase,

     (C) Serum glutamic oxalacetic transaminase (SGOT),

     (D) Serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase (SGPT), and

     (E) Gamma glustamyl transpeptidase.

     (b) Examinations provided in accordance with this subdivision shall be performed at least:

     (i) Every 6 months for each employee who has been employed in vinyl chloride or polyvinyl chloride manufacturing for 10 years or longer; and

     (ii) Annually for all other employees.

     (c) Each employee exposed to an emergency shall be afforded appropriate medical surveillance.

     (d) A statement of each employee's suitability for continued exposure to vinyl chloride including use of protective equipment and respirators, shall be obtained from the examining physician promptly after any examination. A copy of the physician's statement shall be provided each employee.

     (e) If any employee's health would be materially impaired by continued exposure, such employee shall be withdrawn from possible contact with vinyl chloride.

     (f) Laboratory analyses for all biological specimens included in medical examinations shall be performed in laboratories licensed under 42 CFR Part 74.

     (g) If the examining physician determines that alternative medical examinations to those required by subdivision (a) of this subsection will provide at least equal assurance of detecting medical conditions pertinent to the exposure to vinyl chloride, the employer may accept such alternative examinations as meeting the requirements of subdivision (a) of this subsection, if the employer obtains a statement from the examining physician setting forth the alternative examinations and the rationale for substitution. This statement shall be available upon request for examination and copying to authorized representatives of the director.

     (11) Signs and labels.

     (a) Entrances to regulated areas shall be posted with legible signs bearing the legend:

CANCER-SUSPECT AGENT AREA AUTHORIZED PERSONNEL ONLY


     (b) Areas containing hazardous operations or where an emergency currently exists shall be posted with legible signs bearing the legend:

CANCER-SUSPECT AGENT IN THIS AREA PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT REQUIRED AUTHORIZED PERSONNEL ONLY


     (c) Containers of polyvinyl chloride resin waste from reactors or other waste contaminated with vinyl chloride shall be legibly labeled:

CONTAMINATED WITH VINYL CHLORIDE CANCER-SUSPECT AGENT


     (d) Containers of polyvinyl chloride shall be legibly labeled:

POLYVINYL CHLORIDE (OR TRADE NAME) CONTAINS VINYL CHLORIDE VINYL CHLORIDE IS A CANCER-SUSPECT AGENT


     (e) Containers of vinyl chloride shall be legibly labeled either:

VINYL CHLORIDE EXTREMELY FLAMMABLE GAS UNDER PRESSURE CANCER-SUSPECT AGENT


(or)
     (f) In accordance with 49 CFR Part 173, Subpart H, with the additional legends:

CANCER-SUSPECT AGENT


Applied near the label or placard.

     (g) No statement shall appear on or near any required sign, label or instruction which contradicts or detracts from the effect of any required warning, information or instruction.

     (12) Records.

     (a) All records maintained in accordance with this section shall include the name and social security number of each employee where relevant.

     (b) Records of required monitoring and measuring and medical records shall be provided upon request to employees, designated representatives, and the director in accordance with chapter 296-802 WAC. These records shall be provided upon request to the director. Authorized personnel rosters shall also be provided upon request to the director.

     (i) Monitoring and measuring records shall:

     (A) State the date of such monitoring and measuring and the concentrations determined and identify the instruments and methods used;

     (B) Include any additional information necessary to determine individual employee exposures where such exposures are determined by means other than individual monitoring of employees; and

     (C) Be maintained for not less than 30 years.

     (ii) Medical records shall be maintained for the duration of the employment of each employee plus 20 years, or 30 years, whichever is longer.

     (c) In the event that the employer ceases to do business and there is no successor to receive and retain his/her records for the prescribed period, these records shall be transmitted by registered mail to the director, and each employee individually notified in writing of this transfer. The employer shall also comply with any additional requirements set forth in chapter 296-802 WAC.

     (d) Employees or their designated representatives shall be provided access to examine and copy records of required monitoring and measuring.

     (e) Former employees shall be provided access to examine and copy required monitoring and measuring records reflecting their own exposures.

     (f) Upon written request of any employee, a copy of the medical record of that employee shall be furnished to any physician designated by the employee.

     (13) Reports.

     (a) Not later than 1 month after the establishment of a regulated area, the following information shall be reported to the director. Any changes to such information shall be reported within 15 days.

     (i) The address and location of each establishment which has one or more regulated areas; and

     (ii) The number of employees in each regulated area during normal operations, including maintenance.

     (b) Emergencies and the facts obtainable at that time, shall be reported within 24 hours to the director. Upon request of the director, the employer shall submit additional information in writing relevant to the nature and extent of employee exposures and measures taken to prevent future emergencies of similar nature.

     (c) Within 10 working days following any monitoring and measuring which discloses that any employee has been exposed, without regard to the use of respirators, in excess of the permissible exposure limit, each such employee shall be notified in writing of the results of the exposure measurement and the steps being taken to reduce the exposure to within the permissible exposure limit.

     (14) Appendix A supplementary medical information.

     When required tests under subsection (10)(a) of this section show abnormalities, the tests should be repeated as soon as practicable, preferably within 3 to 4 weeks. If tests remain abnormal, consideration should be given to withdrawal of the employee from contact with vinyl chloride, while a more comprehensive examination is made.

     Additional tests which may be useful:

     (A) For kidney dysfunction: Urine examination for albumin, red blood cells, and exfoliative abnormal cells.

     (B) Pulmonary system: Forced vital capacity, forced expiratory volume at 1 second, and chest roentgenogram (posterior-anterior, 14 x 17 inches).

     (C) Additional serum tests: Lactic acid dehydrogenase, lactic acid dehydrogenase isoenzyme, protein determination, and protein electrophoresis.

     (D) For a more comprehensive examination on repeated abnormal serum tests: Hepatitis B antigen, and liver scanning.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.010, 49.17.040, 49.17.050, and 49.17.060. 04-10-026, § 296-62-07329, filed 4/27/04, effective 8/1/04. Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.010, [49.17].040 and [49.17].050. 99-10-071, § 296-62-07329, filed 5/4/99, effective 9/1/99. Statutory Authority: Chapter 49.17 RCW. 94-15-096 (Order 94-07), § 296-62-07329, filed 7/20/94, effective 9/20/94; 91-03-044 (Order 90-18), § 296-62-07329, filed 1/10/91, effective 2/12/91. Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.040 and 49.17.050. 86-16-009 (Order 86-28), § 296-62-07329, filed 7/25/86; 82-13-045 (Order 82-22), § 296-62-07329, filed 6/11/82. Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.040, 49.17.050 and 49.17.240. 81-18-029 (Order 81-21), § 296-62-07329, filed 8/27/81; 81-16-015 (Order 81-20), § 296-62-07329, filed 7/27/81; Order 75-41, § 296-62-07329, filed 12/19/75.]


AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 04-10-026, filed 4/27/04, effective 8/1/04)

WAC 296-62-07336   Acrylonitrile.   (1) Scope and application.

     (a) This section applies to all occupational exposure to acrylonitrile (AN), Chemical Abstracts Service Registry No. 000107131, except as provided in (b) and (c) of this subsection.

     (b) This section does not apply to exposures which result solely from the processing, use, and handling of the following materials:

     (i) ABS resins, SAN resins, nitrile barrier resins, solid nitrile elastomers, and acrylic and modacrylic fibers, when these listed materials are in the form of finished polymers, and products fabricated from such finished polymers;

     (ii) Materials made from and/or containing AN for which objective data is reasonably relied upon to demonstrate that the material is not capable of releasing AN in airborne concentrations in excess of 1 ppm as an eight-hour time-weighted average, under the expected conditions of processing, use, and handling which will cause the greatest possible release; and

     (iii) Solid materials made from and/or containing AN which will not be heated above 170°F during handling, use, or processing.

     (c) An employer relying upon exemption under (1)(b)(ii) shall maintain records of the objective data supporting that exemption, and of the basis of the employer's reliance on the data as provided in subsection (17) of this section.

     (2) Definitions, as applicable to this section:

     (a) "Acrylonitrile" or "AN" - acrylonitrile monomer, chemical formula CH2=CHCN.

     (b) "Action level" - a concentration of AN of 1 ppm as an eight-hour time-weighted average.

     (c) "Authorized person" - any person specifically authorized by the employer whose duties require the person to enter a regulated area, or any person entering such an area as a designated representative of employees for the purpose of exercising the opportunity to observe monitoring procedures under subsection (18) of this section.

     (d) "Decontamination" means treatment of materials and surfaces by water washdown, ventilation, or other means, to assure that the materials will not expose employees to airborne concentrations of AN above 1 ppm as an eight-hour time-weighted average.

     (e) "Director" - the director of labor and industries, or his authorized representative.

     (f) "Emergency" - any occurrence such as, but not limited to, equipment failure, rupture of containers, or failure of control equipment, which is likely to, or does, result in unexpected exposure to AN in excess of the ceiling limit.

     (g) "Liquid AN" means AN monomer in liquid form, and liquid or semiliquid polymer intermediates, including slurries, suspensions, emulsions, and solutions, produced during the polymerization of AN.

     (h) "Polyacrylonitrile" or "PAN" - polyacrylonitrile homopolymers or copolymers, except for materials as exempted under subsection (1)(b) of this section.

     (3) Permissible exposure limits.

     (a) Inhalation.

     (i) Time-weighted average limit (TWA). The employer shall assure that no employee is exposed to an airborne concentration of acrylonitrile in excess of two parts acrylonitrile per million parts of air (2 ppm), as an eight-hour time-weighted average.

     (ii) Ceiling limit. The employer shall assure that no employee is exposed to an airborne concentration of acrylonitrile in excess of 10 ppm as averaged over any fifteen-minute period during the working day.

     (b) Dermal and eye exposure. The employer shall assure that no employee is exposed to skin contact or eye contact with liquid AN or PAN.

     (4) Notification of use and emergencies.

     (a) Use. Within ten days of the effective date of this standard, or within fifteen days following the introduction of AN into the workplace, every employer shall report, unless he has done so pursuant to the emergency temporary standard, the following information to the director for each such workplace:

     (i) The address and location of each workplace in which AN is present;

     (ii) A brief description of each process of operation which may result in employee exposure to AN;

     (iii) The number of employees engaged in each process or operation who may be exposed to AN and an estimate of the frequency and degree of exposure that occurs; and

     (iv) A brief description of the employer's safety and health program as it relates to limitation of employee exposure to AN. Whenever there has been a significant change in the information required by this subsection, the employer shall promptly amend such information previously provided to the director.

     (b) Emergencies and remedial action. Emergencies, and the facts obtainable at that time, shall be reported within 24 hours of the initial occurrence to the director. Upon request of the director, the employer shall submit additional information in writing relevant to the nature and extent of employee exposures and measures taken to prevent future emergencies of a similar nature.

     (5) Exposure monitoring.

     (a) General.

     (i) Determinations of airborne exposure levels shall be made from air samples that are representative of each employee's exposure to AN over an eight-hour period.

     (ii) For the purposes of this section, employee exposure is that which would occur if the employee were not using a respirator.

     (b) Initial monitoring. Each employer who has a place of employment in which AN is present shall monitor each such workplace and work operation to accurately determine the airborne concentrations of AN to which employees may be exposed. Such monitoring may be done on a representative basis, provided that the employer can demonstrate that the determinations are representative of employee exposures.

     (c) Frequency.

     (i) If the monitoring required by this section reveals employee exposure to be below the action level, the employer may discontinue monitoring for that employee. The employer shall continue these quarterly measurements until at least two consecutive measurements taken at least seven days apart, are below the action level, and thereafter the employer may discontinue monitoring for that employee.

     (ii) If the monitoring required by this section reveals employee exposure to be at or above the action level but below the permissible exposure limits, the employer shall repeat such monitoring for each such employee at least quarterly.

     (iii) If the monitoring required by this section reveals employee exposure to be in excess of the permissible exposure limits, the employer shall repeat these determinations for each such employee at least monthly. The employer shall continue these monthly measurements until at least two consecutive measurements, taken at least seven days apart, are below the permissible exposure limits, and thereafter the employer shall monitor at least quarterly.

     (d) Additional monitoring. Whenever there has been a production, process, control or personnel change which may result in new or additional exposure to AN, or whenever the employer has any other reason to suspect a change which may result in new or additional exposures to AN, additional monitoring which complies with this subsection shall be conducted.

     (e) Employee notification.

     (i) Within five working days after the receipt of monitoring results, the employer shall notify each employee in writing of the results which represent that employee's exposure.

     (ii) Whenever the results indicate that the representative employee exposure exceeds the permissible exposure limits, the employer shall include in the written notice a statement that the permissible exposure limits were exceeded and a description of the corrective action being taken to reduce exposure to or below the permissible exposure limits.

     (f) Accuracy of measurement. The method of measurement of employee exposures shall be accurate, to a confidence level of 95 percent, to within plus or minus 25 percent for concentrations of AN at or above the permissible exposure limits, and plus or minus 35 percent for concentrations of AN between the action level and the permissible exposure limits.

     (g) Weekly survey of operations involving liquid AN. In addition to monitoring of employee exposures to AN as otherwise required by this subsection, the employer shall survey areas of operations involving liquid AN at least weekly to detect points where AN liquid or vapor are being released into the workplace. The survey shall employ an infra-red gas analyzer calibrated for AN, a multipoint gas chromatographic monitor, or comparable system for detection of AN. A listing of levels detected and areas of AN release, as determined from the survey, shall be posted prominently in the workplace, and shall remain posted until the next survey is completed.

     (6) Regulated areas.

     (a) The employer shall establish regulated areas where AN concentrations are in excess of the permissible exposure limits.

     (b) Regulated areas shall be demarcated and segregated from the rest of the workplace, in any manner that minimizes the number of persons who will be exposed to AN.

     (c) Access to regulated areas shall be limited to authorized persons or to persons otherwise authorized by the act or regulations issued pursuant thereto.

     (d) The employer shall assure that in the regulated area, food or beverages are not present or consumed, smoking products are not present or used, and cosmetics are not applied, (except that these activities may be conducted in the lunchrooms, change rooms and showers required under subsections (13)(a)-(13)(c) of this section.

     (7) Methods of compliance.

     (a) Engineering and work practice controls.

     (i) The employer shall institute engineering or work practice controls to reduce and maintain employee exposures to AN, to or below the permissible exposure limits, except to the extent that the employer establishes that such controls are not feasible.

     (ii) Wherever the engineering and work practice controls which can be instituted are not sufficient to reduce employee exposures to or below the permissible exposure limits, the employer shall nonetheless use them to reduce exposures to the lowest levels achievable by these controls and shall supplement them by the use of respiratory protection which complies with the requirements of subsection (8) of this section.

     (b) Compliance program.

     (i) The employer shall establish and implement a written program to reduce employee exposures to or below the permissible exposure limits solely by means of engineering and work practice controls, as required by subsection (7)(a) of this section.

     (ii) Written plans for these compliance programs shall include at least the following:

     (A) A description of each operation or process resulting in employee exposure to AN above the permissible exposure limits;

     (B) Engineering plans and other studies used to determine the controls for each process;

     (C) A report of the technology considered in meeting the permissible exposure limits;

     (D) A detailed schedule for the implementation of engineering or work practice controls; and

     (E) Other relevant information.

     (iii) The employer shall complete the steps set forth in the compliance program by the dates in the schedule.

     (iv) Written plans for such a program shall be submitted upon request to the director, and shall be available at the worksite for examination and copying by the director, or any affected employee or representative.

     (v) The plans required by this subsection shall be revised and updated at least every six months to reflect the current status of the program.

     (8) Respiratory protection.

     (a) General. For employees who use respirators required by this section, the employer must provide respirators that comply with the requirements of this subsection. Respirators must be used during:

     (i) Periods necessary to install or implement feasible engineering and work-practice controls;

     (ii) Work operations, such as maintenance and repair activities or reactor cleaning, for which the employer establishes that engineering and work-practice controls are not feasible;

     (iii) Work operations for which feasible engineering and work-practice controls are not yet sufficient to reduce employee exposure to or below the permissible exposure limits;

     (iv) In emergencies.

     (b) Respirator program.

     The employer must implement a respiratory protection program in accordance with chapter ((296-62 WAC, Part E (except WAC 296-62-07130(1) and 296-62-07150 through 296-62-07156))) 296-842 WAC, except WAC 296-842-13005 and 296-842-14005.

     (c) Respirator selection. The employer must select the appropriate respirator from Table I of this subsection.


TABLE I
RESPIRATORY PROTECTION FOR ACRYLONITRILE (AN)

Concentration of AN or

Condition of Use

Respirator Type
(a) Less than or equal to 25 x permissible exposure limits. (i) Any Type C supplied

air respirator.

(b) Less than or equal to 100 x permissible

exposure limits.

(i) Any supplied air

respirator with full

facepiece; or

(ii) Any self-contained breathing apparatus with full facepiece.
(c) Less than or equal to 250 x permissible

exposure limits

(i) Supplied air respirator in positive pressure mode with full facepiece, helmet, hood, or suit.
(d) Greater than 250 x permissible exposure limits. (i) Supplied air respirator with full facepiece and an auxiliary self-contained air supply, operated in pressure demand mode; or
(ii) Open circuit self-contained breathing apparatus with full facepiece in positive pressure mode.
(e) Emergency entry into unknown concentration or firefighting (i) Any self-contained breathing apparatus with full facepiece in positive pressure mode.
(f) Escape. (i) Any organic vapor gas mask; or
(ii) Any self-contained breathing.

     (9) Emergency situations.

     (a) Written plans.

     (i) A written plan for emergency situations shall be developed for each workplace where AN is present. Appropriate portions of the plan shall be implemented in the event of an emergency.

     (ii) The plan shall specifically provide that employees engaged in correcting emergency conditions shall be equipped as required in subsection (8) of this section until the emergency is abated.

     (b) Alerting employees.

     (i) Where there is the possibility of employee exposure to AN in excess of the ceiling limit due to the occurrence of an emergency, a general alarm shall be installed and maintained to promptly alert employees of such occurrences.

     (ii) Employees not engaged in correcting the emergency shall be evacuated from the area and shall not be permitted to return until the emergency is abated.

     (10) Protective clothing and equipment.

     (a) Provision and use. Where eye or skin contact with liquid AN or PAN may occur, the employer shall provide at no cost to the employee, and assure that employees wear, appropriate protective clothing or other equipment in accordance with WAC 296-800-160 to protect any area of the body which may come in contact with liquid AN or PAN.

     (b) Cleaning and replacement.

     (i) The employer shall clean, launder, maintain, or replace protective clothing and equipment required by this subsection, as needed to maintain their effectiveness. In addition, the employer shall provide clean protective clothing and equipment at least weekly to each affected employee.

     (ii) The employer shall assure that impermeable protective clothing which contacts or is likely to have contacted liquid AN shall be decontaminated before being removed by the employee.

     (iii) The employer shall assure that AN- or PAN-contaminated protective clothing and equipment is placed and stored in closable containers which prevent dispersion of the AN or PAN outside the container.

     (iv) The employer shall assure that an employee whose nonimpermeable clothing becomes wetted with liquid AN shall immediately remove that clothing and proceed to shower. The clothing shall be decontaminated before it is removed from the regulated area.

     (v) The employer shall assure that no employee removes AN- or PAN-contaminated protective equipment or clothing from the change room, except for those employees authorized to do so for the purpose of laundering, maintenance, or disposal.

     (vi) The employer shall inform any person who launders or cleans AN- or PAN-contaminated protective clothing or equipment of the potentially harmful effects of exposure to AN.

     (vii) The employer shall assure that containers of contaminated protective clothing and equipment which are to be removed from the workplace for any reason are labeled in accordance with subsection (16)(c)(ii) of this section, and that such labels remain affixed when such containers leave the employer's workplace.

     (11) Housekeeping.

     (a) All surfaces shall be maintained free of accumulations of liquid AN and of PAN.

     (b) For operations involving liquid AN, the employer shall institute a program for detecting leaks and spills of liquid AN, including regular visual inspections.

     (c) Where spills of liquid AN are detected, the employer shall assure that surfaces contacted by the liquid AN are decontaminated. Employees not engaged in decontamination activities shall leave the area of the spill, and shall not be permitted in the area until decontamination is completed.

     (d) Liquids. Where AN is present in a liquid form, or as a resultant vapor, all containers or vessels containing AN shall be enclosed to the maximum extent feasible and tightly covered when not in use, with adequate provision made to avoid any resulting potential explosion hazard.

     (e) Surfaces.

     (i) Dry sweeping and the use of compressed air for the cleaning of floors and other surfaces where AN and PAN are found is prohibited.

     (ii) Where vacuuming methods are selected, either portable units or a permanent system may be used.

     (A) If a portable unit is selected, the exhaust shall be attached to the general workplace exhaust ventilation system or collected within the vacuum unit, equipped with high efficiency filters or other appropriate means of contaminant removal, so that AN is not reintroduced into the workplace air; and

     (B) Portable vacuum units used to collect AN may not be used for other cleaning purposes and shall be labeled as prescribed by subsection (16)(c)(ii) of this section.

     (iii) Cleaning of floors and other contaminated surfaces may not be performed by washing down with a hose, unless a fine spray has first been laid down.

     (12) Waste disposal. AN and PAN waste, scrap, debris, bags, containers or equipment, shall be disposed of in sealed bags or other closed containers which prevent dispersion of AN outside the container, and labeled as prescribed in subsection (16)(c)(ii) of this section.

     (13) Hygiene facilities and practices. Where employees are exposed to airborne concentrations of AN above the permissible exposure limits, or where employees are required to wear protective clothing or equipment pursuant to subsection (11) of this section, or where otherwise found to be appropriate, the facilities required by WAC 296-800-230 shall be provided by the employer for the use of those employees, and the employer shall assure that the employees use the facilities provided. In addition, the following facilities or requirements are mandated.

     (a) Change rooms. The employer shall provide clean change rooms in accordance with WAC 296-800-230.

     (b) Showers.

     (i) The employer shall provide shower facilities in accordance with WAC 296-800-230.

     (ii) In addition, the employer shall also assure that employees exposed to liquid AN and PAN shower at the end of the work shift.

     (iii) The employer shall assure that, in the event of skin or eye exposure to liquid AN, the affected employee shall shower immediately to minimize the danger of skin absorption.

     (c) Lunchrooms.

     (i) Whenever food or beverages are consumed in the workplace, the employer shall provide lunchroom facilities which have a temperature controlled, positive pressure, filtered air supply, and which are readily accessible to employees exposed to AN above the permissible exposure limits.

     (ii) In addition, the employer shall also assure that employees exposed to AN above the permissible exposure limits wash their hands and face prior to eating.

     (14) Medical surveillance.

     (a) General.

     (i) The employer shall institute a program of medical surveillance for each employee who is or will be exposed to AN above the action level. The employer shall provide each such employee with an opportunity for medical examinations and tests in accordance with this subsection.

     (ii) The employer shall assure that all medical examinations and procedures are performed by or under the supervision of a licensed physician, and shall be provided without cost to the employee.

     (b) Initial examinations. At the time of initial assignment, or upon institution of the medical surveillance program, the employer shall provide each affected employee an opportunity for a medical examination, including at least the following elements:

     (i) A work history and medical history with special attention to skin, respiratory, and gastrointestinal systems, and those nonspecific symptoms, such as headache, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, weakness, or other central nervous system dysfunctions that may be associated with acute or chronic exposure to AN.

     (ii) A physical examination giving particular attention to central nervous system, gastrointestinal system, respiratory system, skin and thyroid.

     (iii) A 14" x 17" posteroanterior chest X ray.

     (iv) Further tests of the intestinal tract, including fecal occult blood screening, and proctosigmoidoscopy, for all workers 40 years of age or older, and for any other affected employees for whom, in the opinion of the physician, such testing is appropriate.

     (c) Periodic examinations.

     (i) The employer shall provide examinations specified in this subsection at least annually for all employees specified in subsection (14)(a) of this section.

     (ii) If an employee has not had the examinations prescribed in subsection (14)(b) of this section within six months of termination of employment, the employer shall make such examination available to the employee upon such termination.

     (d) Additional examinations. If the employee for any reason develops signs or symptoms commonly associated with exposure to AN, the employer shall provide appropriate examination and emergency medical treatment.

     (e) Information provided to the physician. The employer shall provide the following information to the examining physician:

     (i) A copy of this standard and its appendices;

     (ii) A description of the affected employee's duties as they relate to the employee's exposure;

     (iii) The employee's representative exposure level;

     (iv) The employee's anticipated or estimated exposure level (for preplacement examinations or in cases of exposure due to an emergency);

     (v) A description of any personal protective equipment used or to be used; and

     (vi) Information from previous medical examinations of the affected employee, which is not otherwise available to the examining physician.

     (f) Physician's written opinion.

     (i) The employer shall obtain a written opinion from the examining physician which shall include:

     (A) The results of the medical examination and test performed;

     (B) The physician's opinion as to whether the employee has any detected medical condition which would place the employee at an increased risk of material impairment of the employee's health from exposure to AN;

     (C) Any recommended limitations upon the employee's exposure to AN or upon the use of protective clothing and equipment such as respirators; and

     (D) A statement that the employee has been informed by the physician of the results of the medical examination and any medical conditions which require further examination or treatment.

     (ii) The employer shall instruct the physician not to reveal in the written opinion specific findings or diagnoses unrelated to occupational exposure to AN.

     (iii) The employer shall provide a copy of the written opinion to the affected employee.

     (15) Employee information and training.

     (a) Training program.

     (i) The employer shall institute a training program for all employees where there is occupational exposure to AN and shall assure their participation in the training program.

     (ii) The training program shall be provided at the time of initial assignment, or upon institution of the training program, and at least annually thereafter, and the employer shall assure that each employee is informed of the following:

     (A) The information contained in Appendices A, B and C;

     (B) The quantity, location, manner of use, release or storage of AN and the specific nature of operations which could result in exposure to AN, as well as any necessary protective steps;

     (C) The purpose, proper use, and limitations of respirators and protective clothing;

     (D) The purpose and a description of the medical surveillance program required by subsection (14) of this section;

     (E) The emergency procedures developed, as required by subsection (9) of this section; and

     (F) The engineering and work practice controls, their function and the employee's relationship thereto; and

     (G) A review of this standard.

     (b) Access to training materials.

     (i) The employer shall make a copy of this standard and its appendices readily available to all affected employees.

     (ii) The employer shall provide, upon request, all materials relating to the employee information and training program to the director.

     (16) Signs and labels.

     (a) General.

     (i) The employer may use labels or signs required by other statutes, regulations, or ordinances in addition to, or in combination with, signs and labels required by this subsection.

     (ii) The employer shall assure that no statement appears on or near any sign or label, required by this subsection, which contradicts or detracts from such effects of the required sign or label.

     (b) Signs.

     (i) The employer shall post signs to clearly indicate all workplaces where AN concentrations exceed the permissible exposure limits. The signs shall bear the following legend:

DANGER

ACRYLONITRILE (AN)

CANCER HAZARD

AUTHORIZED PERSONNEL ONLY

RESPIRATORS REQUIRED



     (ii) The employer shall assure that signs required by this subsection are illuminated and cleaned as necessary so that the legend is readily visible.

     (c) Labels.

     (i) The employer shall assure that precautionary labels are affixed to all containers of AN, and to containers of PAN and products fabricated from PAN, except for those materials for which objective data is provided as to the conditions specified in subsection (1)(b) of this section. The employer shall assure that the labels remain affixed when the AN or PAN are sold, distributed or otherwise leave the employer's workplace.

     (ii) The employer shall assure that the precautionary labels required by this subsection are readily visible and legible. The labels shall bear the following legend:

DANGER

CONTAINS ACRYLONITRILE (AN)

CANCER HAZARD



     (17) Recordkeeping.

     (a) Objective data for exempted operations.

     (i) Where the processing, use, and handling of products fabricated from PAN are exempted pursuant to subsection (1)(b) of this section, the employer shall establish and maintain an accurate record of objective data reasonably relied upon in support of the exemption.

     (ii) This record shall include the following information:

     (A) The relevant condition in subsection (1)(b) upon which exemption is based;

     (B) The source of the objective data;

     (C) The testing protocol, results of testing, and/or analysis of the material for the release of AN;

     (D) A description of the operation exempted and how the data supports the exemption; and

     (E) Other data relevant to the operations, materials, and processing covered by the exemption.

     (iii) The employer shall maintain this record for the duration of the employer's reliance upon such objective data.

     (b) Exposure monitoring.

     (i) The employer shall establish and maintain an accurate record of all monitoring required by subsection (5) of this section.

     (ii) This record shall include:

     (A) The dates, number, duration, and results of each of the samples taken, including a description of the sampling procedure used to determine representative employee exposure;

     (B) A description of the sampling and analytical methods used and the data relied upon to establish that the methods used meet the accuracy and precision requirements of subsection (5)(f) of this section;

     (C) Type of respiratory protective devices worn, if any; and

     (D) Name, social security number and job classification of the employee monitored and of all other employees whose exposure the measurement is intended to represent.

     (iii) The employer shall maintain this record for at least 40 years or the duration of employment plus 20 years, whichever is longer.

     (c) Medical surveillance.

     (i) The employer shall establish and maintain an accurate record for each employee subject to medical surveillance as required by subsection (14) of this section.

     (ii) This record shall include:

     (A) A copy of the physicians' written opinions;

     (B) Any employee medical complaints related to exposure to AN;

     (C) A copy of the information provided to the physician as required by subsection (14)(f) of this section; and

     (D) A copy of the employee's medical and work history.

     (iii) The employer shall assure that this record be maintained for at least forty years or for the duration of employment plus twenty years, whichever is longer.

     (d) Availability.

     (i) The employer shall assure that all records required to be maintained by this section be made available upon request to the director for examination and copying.

     (ii) Records required by subdivisions (a) through (c) of this subsection shall be provided upon request to employees, designated representatives, and the assistant director in accordance with chapter 296-802 WAC. Records required by subdivision (a) of this section shall be provided in the same manner as exposure monitoring records.

     (iii) The employer shall assure that employee medical records required to be maintained by this section, be made available, upon request, for examination and copying, to the affected employee or former employee, or to a physician designated by the affected employee, former employee, or designated representative.

     (e) Transfer of records.

     (i) Whenever the employer ceases to do business, the successor employer shall receive and retain all records required to be maintained by this section.

     (ii) Whenever the employer ceases to do business and there is no successor employer to receive and retain the records for the prescribed period, these records shall be transmitted to the director.

     (iii) At the expiration of the retention period for the records required to be maintained pursuant to this section, the employer shall transmit these records to the director.

     (iv) The employer shall also comply with any additional requirements involving transfer of records set forth in chapter 296-802 WAC.

     (18) Observation of monitoring.

     (a) Employee observation. The employer shall provide affected employees, or their designated representatives, an opportunity to observe any monitoring of employee exposure to AN conducted pursuant to subsection (5) of this section.

     (b) Observation procedures.

     (i) Whenever observation of the monitoring of employee exposure to AN requires entry into an area where the use of protective clothing or equipment is required, the employer shall provide the observer with personal protective clothing or equipment required to be worn by employees working in the area, assure the use of such clothing and equipment, and require the observer to comply with all other applicable safety and health procedures.

     (ii) Without interfering with the monitoring, observers shall be entitled:

     (A) To receive an explanation of the measurement procedures;

     (B) To observe all steps related to the measurement of airborne concentrations of AN performed at the place of exposure; and

     (C) To record the results obtained.

     (19) Appendices. The information contained in the appendices is not intended, by itself, to create any additional obligation not otherwise imposed, or to detract from any obligation.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.010, 49.17.040, 49.17.050, and 49.17.060. 04-10-026, § 296-62-07336, filed 4/27/04, effective 8/1/04; 03-18-090, § 296-62-07336, filed 9/2/03, effective 11/1/03. Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.010, [49.17].040, and [49.17].050. 01-11-038, § 296-62-07336, filed 5/9/01, effective 9/1/01; 99-10-071, § 296-62-07336, filed 5/4/99, effective 9/1/99. Statutory Authority: Chapter 49.17 RCW. 88-11-021 (Order 88-04), § 296-62-07336, filed 5/11/88.]


AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 04-10-026, filed 4/27/04, effective 8/1/04)

WAC 296-62-07342   1,2-Dibromo-3-chloropropane.   (1) Scope and application.

     (a) This section applies to occupational exposure to 1,2-dibromo-3-chloropropane (DBCP).

     (b) This section does not apply to:

     (i) Exposure to DBCP which results solely from the application and use of DBCP as a pesticide; or

     (ii) The storage, transportation, distribution or sale of DBCP in intact containers sealed in such a manner as to prevent exposure to DBCP vapors or liquids, except for the requirements of subsections (11), (16) and (17) of this section.

     (2) Definitions applicable to this section:

     (a) "Authorized person" - any person specifically authorized by the employer and whose duties require the person to be present in areas where DBCP is present; and any person entering this area as a designated representative of employees exercising an opportunity to observe employee exposure monitoring.

     (b) "DBCP" - 1,2-dibromo-3-chloropropane, Chemical Abstracts Service Registry Number 96-12-8, and includes all forms of DBCP.

     (c) "Director" - the director of labor and industries, or his authorized representative.

     (d) "Emergency" - any occurrence such as, but not limited to equipment failure, rupture of containers, or failure of control equipment which may, or does, result in unexpected release of DBCP.

     (3) Permissible exposure limits.

     (a) Inhalation.

     (i) Time-weighted average limit (TWA). The employer shall assure that no employee is exposed to an airborne concentration in excess of 1 part DBCP per billion part of air (ppb) as an eight-hour time-weighted average.

     (ii) Ceiling limit. The employer shall assure that no employee is exposed to an airborne concentration in excess of 5 parts DBCP per billion parts of air (ppb) as averaged over any 15 minutes during the working day.

     (b) Dermal and eye exposure. The employer shall assure that no employee is exposed to eye or skin contact with DBCP.

     (4) Notification of use. Within ten days of the effective date of this section or within ten days following the introduction of DBCP into the workplace, every employer who has a workplace where DBCP is present shall report the following information to the director for each such workplace:

     (a) The address and location of each workplace in which DBCP is present;

     (b) A brief description of each process or operation which may result in employee exposure to DBCP;

     (c) The number of employees engaged in each process or operation who may be exposed to DBCP and an estimate of the frequency and degree of exposure that occurs;

     (d) A brief description of the employer's safety and health program as it relates to limitation of employee exposure to DBCP.

     (5) Regulated areas. The employer shall establish, within each place of employment, regulated areas wherever DBCP concentrations are in excess of the permissible exposure limit.

     (a) The employer shall limit access to regulated areas to authorized persons.

     (b) All employees entering or working in a regulated area shall wear respiratory protection in accordance with Table I.

     (6) Exposure monitoring.

     (a) General. Determinations of airborne exposure levels shall be made from air samples that are representative of each employee's exposure to DBCP over an eight-hour period. (For the purposes of this section, employee exposure is that exposure which would occur if the employee were not using a respirator.)

     (b) Initial. Each employer who has a place of employment in which DBCP is present shall monitor each workplace and work operation to accurately determine the airborne concentrations of DBCP to which employees may be exposed.

     (c) Frequency.

     (i) If the monitoring required by this section reveals employee exposures to be below the permissible exposure limits, the employer shall repeat these determinations at least quarterly.

     (ii) If the monitoring required by this section reveals employee exposure to be in excess of the permissible exposure limits, the employer shall repeat these determinations for each such employee at least monthly. The employer shall continue these monthly determinations until at least two consecutive measurements, taken at least seven days apart, are below the permissible exposure limit, thereafter the employer shall monitor at least quarterly.

     (d) Additional. Whenever there has been a production process, control or personnel change which may result in any new or additional exposure to DBCP, or whenever the employer has any other reason to suspect a change which may result in new or additional exposure to DBCP, additional monitoring which complies with subsection (6) shall be conducted.

     (e) Employee notification.

     (i) Within five working days after the receipt of monitoring results, the employer shall notify each employee in writing of results which represent the employee's exposure.

     (ii) Whenever the results indicate that employee exposure exceeds the permissible exposure limit, the employer shall include in the written notice a statement that the permissible exposure limit was exceeded and a description of the corrective action being taken to reduce exposure to or below the permissible exposure limits.

     (f) Accuracy of measurement. The method of measurement shall be accurate, to a confidence level of 95 percent, to within plus or minus 25 percent for concentrations of DBCP at or above the permissible exposure limits.

     (7) Methods of compliance.

     (a) Priority of compliance methods. The employer shall institute engineering and work practice controls to reduce and maintain employee exposures to DBCP at or below the permissible exposure limit, except to the extent that the employer establishes that such controls are not feasible. Where feasible engineering and work practice controls are not sufficient to reduce employee exposures to within the permissible exposure limit, the employer shall nonetheless use them to reduce exposures to the lowest level achievable by these controls, and shall supplement them by use of respiratory protection.

     (b) Compliance program.

     (i) The employer shall establish and implement a written program to reduce employee exposure to DBCP to or below the permissible exposure limit solely by means of engineering and work practice controls as required by this section.

     (ii) The written program shall include a detailed schedule for development and implementation of the engineering and work practice controls. These plans shall be revised at least every six months to reflect the current status of the program.

     (iii) Written plans for these compliance programs shall be submitted upon request to the director, and shall be available at the worksite for examination and copying by the director, and any affected employee or designated representative of employees.

     (iv) The employer shall institute and maintain at least the controls described in his most recent written compliance program.

     (8) Respiratory protection.

     (a) General. For employees who are required to use respirators under this section, the employer must provide respirators that comply with the requirements of this subsection. Respirators must be used during:

     (i) Period necessary to install or implement feasible engineering and work-practice controls;

     (ii) Maintenance and repair activities for which engineering and work-practice controls are not feasible;

     (iii) Work operations for which feasible engineering and work-practice controls are not yet sufficient to reduce employee exposure to or below the permissible exposure limit;

     (iv) Emergencies.

     (b) The employer must establish, implement, and maintain a respiratory protection program as required by chapter ((296-62 WAC, Part E (except WAC 296-62-07130(1) and 296-62-07150 through 296-62-07156))) 296-842 WAC, except WAC 296-842-13005 and 296-842-14005.

     (c) Respirator selection. The employer must select the appropriate respirator from Table I of this subsection.


TABLE I
RESPIRATORY PROTECTION FOR DBCP

Concentration

Not Greater Than

Respirator Type
(a) 10 ppb: (i) Any supplied-air respirator.
(ii) Any self-contained breathing apparatus.
(b) 50 ppb: (i) Any supplied-air respirator with full facepiece, helmet or hood.
(ii) Any self-contained breathing apparatus with full facepiece.
(c) 250 ppb: (i) A Type C supplied-air respirator operated in pressure-demand or other positive pressure or continuous flow mode.
(d) 500 ppb: (i) A Type C supplied-air respirator with full facepiece operated in pressure-demand mode with full facepiece.
(e) Greater than 500 ppb or entry into unknown concentrations: (i) A combination respirator which includes a Type C supplied-air respirator with full facepiece operated in pressure-demand mode and an auxiliary self-contained breathing apparatus.
(ii) A self-contained breathing apparatus with full facepiece operated in pressure-demand mode.
(f) Fire fighting: (i) A self-contained breathing apparatus with full facepiece operated in pressure-demand mode.

     (9) Reserved.

     (10) Emergency situations.

     (a) Written plans.

     (i) A written plan for emergency situations shall be developed for each workplace in which DBCP is present.

     (ii) Appropriate portions of the plan shall be implemented in the event of an emergency.

     (b) Employees engaged in correcting conditions shall be equipped as required in subsection (11) of this section until the emergency is abated.

     (c) Evacuation. Employees not engaged in correcting the emergency shall be removed and restricted from the area and normal operations in the affected area shall not be resumed until the emergency is abated.

     (d) Alerting employees. Where there is a possibility of employee exposure to DBCP due to the occurrence of an emergency, a general alarm shall be installed and maintained to promptly alert employees of such occurrences.

     (e) Medical surveillance. For any employee exposed to DBCP in an emergency situation, the employer shall provide medical surveillance in accordance with subsection (14) of this section.

     (f) Exposure monitoring.

     (i) Following an emergency, the employer shall conduct monitoring which complies with subsection (6) of this section.

     (ii) In workplaces not normally subject to periodic monitoring, the employer may terminate monitoring when two consecutive measurements indicate exposures below the permissible exposure limit.

     (11) Protective clothing and equipment.

     (a) Provision and use. Where eye or skin contact with liquid or solid DBCP may occur, employers shall provide at no cost to the employee, and assure that employees wear impermeable protective clothing and equipment in accordance with WAC 296-800-160 to protect the area of the body which may come in contact with DBCP.

     (b) Cleaning and replacement.

     (i) The employer shall clean, launder, maintain, or replace protective clothing and equipment required by this subsection to maintain their effectiveness. In addition, the employer shall provide clean protective clothing and equipment at least daily to each affected employee.

     (ii) Removal and storage.

     (A) The employer shall assure that employees remove DBCP contaminated work clothing only in change rooms provided in accordance with subsection (13) of this section.

     (B) The employer shall assure that employees promptly remove any protective clothing and equipment which becomes contaminated with DBCP-containing liquids and solids. This clothing shall not be reworn until the DBCP has been removed from the clothing or equipment.

     (C) The employer shall assure that no employee takes DBCP contaminated protective devices and work clothing out of the change room, except those employees authorized to do so for the purpose of laundering, maintenance, or disposal.

     (iii) The employer shall assure that DBCP-contaminated protective work clothing and equipment is placed and stored in closed containers which prevent dispersion of DBCP outside the container.

     (iv) The employer shall inform any person who launders or cleans DBCP-contaminated protective clothing or equipment of the potentially harmful effects of exposure to DBCP.

     (v) The employer shall assure that the containers of contaminated protective clothing and equipment which are to be removed from the workplace for any reason are labeled in accordance with subsection (16)(c) of this section.

     (vi) The employer shall prohibit the removal of DBCP from protective clothing and equipment by blowing or shaking.

     (12) Housekeeping.

     (a) Surfaces.

     (i) All surfaces shall be maintained free of accumulations of DBCP.

     (ii) Dry sweeping and the use of air for the cleaning of floors and other surfaces where DBCP dust or liquids are found is prohibited.

     (iii) Where vacuuming methods are selected, either portable units or a permanent system may be used.

     (A) If a portable unit is selected, the exhaust shall be attached to the general workplace exhaust ventilation system or collected within the vacuum unit, equipped with high efficiency filters or other appropriate means of contaminant removal, so that DBCP is not reintroduced into the workplace air; and

     (B) Portable vacuum units used to collect DBCP may not be used for other cleaning purposes and shall be labeled as prescribed by subsection (16)(c) of this section.

     (iv) Cleaning of floors and other contaminated surfaces may not be performed by washing down with a hose, unless a fine spray has first been laid down.

     (b) Liquids. Where DBCP is present in a liquid form, or as a resultant vapor, all containers or vessels containing DBCP shall be enclosed to the maximum extent feasible and tightly covered when not in use.

     (c) Waste disposal. DBCP waste, scrap, debris, bags, containers or equipment, shall be disposed in sealed bags or other closed containers which prevent dispersion of DBCP outside the container.

     (13) Hygiene facilities and practices.

     (a) Change rooms. The employer shall provide clean change rooms equipped with storage facilities for street clothes and separate storage facilities for protective clothing and equipment whenever employees are required to wear protective clothing and equipment in accordance with subsections (8), (9) and (11) of this section.

     (b) Showers.

     (i) The employer shall assure that employees working in the regulated area shower at the end of the work shift.

     (ii) The employer shall assure that employees whose skin becomes contaminated with DBCP-containing liquids or solids immediately wash or shower to remove any DBCP from the skin.

     (iii) The employer shall provide shower facilities in accordance with WAC 296-800-230.

     (c) Lunchrooms. The employer shall provide lunchroom facilities which have a temperature controlled, positive pressure, filtered air supply, and which are readily accessible to employees working in regulated areas.

     (d) Lavatories.

     (i) The employer shall assure that employees working in the regulated area remove protective clothing and wash their hands and face prior to eating.

     (ii) The employer shall provide a sufficient number of lavatory facilities which comply with WAC 296-800-230.

     (e) Prohibition of activities in regulated areas. The employer shall assure that, in regulated areas, food or beverages are not present or consumed, smoking products and implements are not present or used, and cosmetics are not present or applied.

     (14) Medical surveillance.

     (a) General. The employer shall institute a program of medical surveillance for each employee who is or will be exposed, without regard to the use of respirators, to DBCP. The employer shall provide each such employee with an opportunity for medical examinations and tests in accordance with this subsection. All medical examinations and procedures shall be performed by or under the supervision of a licensed physician, and shall be provided without cost to the employee.

     (b) Frequency and content. At the time of initial assignment, annually thereafter, and whenever exposure to DBCP occurs, the employer shall provide a medical examination for employees who work in regulated areas, which includes at least the following:

     (i) A complete medical and occupational history with emphasis on reproductive history.

     (ii) A complete physical examination with emphasis on the genito-urinary tract, testicle size, and body habitus including the following tests:

     (A) Sperm count;

     (B) Complete urinalysis (U/A);

     (C) Complete blood count; and

     (D) Thyroid profile.

     (iii) A serum specimen shall be obtained and the following determinations made by radioimmunoassay techniques utilizing National Institutes of Health (NIH) specific antigen or one of equivalent sensitivity:

     (A) Serum multiphasic analysis (SMA 12);

     (B) Serum follicle stimulating hormone (FSH);

     (C) Serum luteinizing hormone (LH); and

     (D) Serum estrogen (females).

     (iv) Any other tests deemed appropriate by the examining physician.

     (c) Additional examinations. If the employee for any reason develops signs or symptoms commonly associated with exposure to DBCP, the employer shall provide the employee with a medical examination which shall include those elements considered appropriate by the examining physician.

     (d) Information provided to the physician. The employer shall provide the following information to the examining physician:

     (i) A copy of this standard and its appendices;

     (ii) A description of the affected employee's duties as they relate to the employee's exposure;

     (iii) The level of DBCP to which the employee is exposed; and

     (iv) A description of any personal protective equipment used or to be used.

     (e) Physician's written opinion.

     (i) For each examination under this section, the employer shall obtain and provide the employee with a written opinion from the examining physician which shall include:

     (A) The results of the medical tests performed;

     (B) The physician's opinion as to whether the employee has any detected medical condition which would place the employee at an increased risk of material impairment of health from exposure to DBCP;

     (C) Any recommended limitations upon the employee's exposure to DBCP or upon the use of protective clothing and equipment such as respirators; and

     (D) A statement that the employee was informed by the physician of the results of the medical examination, and any medical conditions which require further examination or treatment.

     (ii) The employer shall instruct the physician not to reveal in the written opinion specific findings or diagnoses unrelated to occupational exposure to DBCP.

     (iii) The employer shall provide a copy of the written opinion to the affected employee.

     (f) Emergency situations. If the employee is exposed to DBCP in an emergency situation, the employer shall provide the employee with a sperm count test as soon as practicable, or, if the employee is unable to produce a semen specimen, the hormone tests contained in subsection (14)(b) of this section. The employer shall provide these same tests three months later.

     (15) Employee information and training.

     (a) Training program.

     (i) Within thirty days of the effective date of this standard, the employer shall institute a training program for all employees who may be exposed to DBCP and shall assure their participation in such training program.

     (ii) The employer shall assure that each employee is informed of the following:

     (A) The information contained in Appendices A, B and C;

     (B) The quantity, location, manner of use, release or storage of DBCP and the specific nature of operations which could result in exposure to DBCP as well as any necessary protective steps;

     (C) The purpose, proper use, limitations, and other training requirements covering respiratory protection as required in chapter 296-62 WAC, Part E;

     (D) The purpose and description of the medical surveillance program required by subsection (14) of this section; and

     (E) A review of this standard.

     (b) Access to training materials.

     (i) The employer shall make a copy of this standard and its appendices readily available to all affected employees.

     (ii) The employer shall provide, upon request, all materials relating to the employee information and training program to the director.

     (16) Signs and labels.

     (a) General.

     (i) The employer may use labels or signs required by other statutes, regulations, or ordinances in addition to or in combination with, signs and labels required by this subsection.

     (ii) The employer shall assure that no statement appears on or near any sign or label required by this subsection which contradicts or detracts from the required sign or label.

     (b) Signs.

     (i) The employer shall post signs to clearly indicate all work areas where DBCP may be present. These signs shall bear the legend:
DANGER
1,2-Dibromo-3-chloropropane
(Insert appropriate trade or common names)

CANCER HAZARD

AUTHORIZED PERSONNEL ONLY


     (ii) Where airborne concentrations of DBCP exceed the permissible exposure limits, the signs shall bear the additional legend:

RESPIRATOR REQUIRED


     (c) Labels.

     (i) The employer shall assure that precautionary labels are affixed to all containers of DBCP and of products containing DBCP, and that the labels remain affixed when the DBCP or products containing DBCP are sold, distributed, or otherwise leave the employer's workplace. Where DBCP or products containing DBCP are sold, distributed or otherwise leave the employer's workplace bearing appropriate labels required by EPA under the regulations in 40 CFR Part 162, the labels required by this subsection need not be affixed.

     (ii) The employer shall assure that the precautionary labels required by this subsection are readily visible and legible. The labels shall bear the following legend:

DANGER

1,2-Dibromo-3-chloropropane

CANCER HAZARD



     (17) Recordkeeping.

     (a) Exposure monitoring.

     (i) The employer shall establish and maintain an accurate record of all monitoring required by subsection (6) of this section.

     (ii) This record shall include:

     (A) The dates, number, duration and results of each of the samples taken, including a description of the sampling procedure used to determine representative employee exposure;

     (B) A description of the sampling and analytical methods used;

     (C) Type of respiratory worn, if any; and

     (D) Name, Social Security number, and job classification of the employee monitored and of all other employees whose exposure the measurement is intended to represent.

     (iii) The employer shall maintain this record for at least forty years or the duration of employment plus twenty years, whichever is longer.

     (b) Medical surveillance.

     (i) The employer shall establish and maintain an accurate record for each employee subject to medical surveillance required by subsection (14) of this section.

     (ii) This record shall include:

     (A) The name and Social Security number of the employee;

     (B) A copy of the physician's written opinion;

     (C) Any employee medical complaints related to exposure to DBCP;

     (D) A copy of the information provided the physician as required by subsection (14)(c) of this section; and

     (E) A copy of the employee's medical and work history.

     (iii) The employer shall maintain this record for at least forty years or the duration of employment plus twenty years, whichever is longer.

     (c) Availability.

     (i) The employer shall assure that all records required to be maintained by this section be made available upon request to the director for examination and copying.

     (ii) Employee exposure monitoring records and employee medical records required by this subsection shall be provided upon request to employees' designated representatives and the assistant director in accordance with chapter 296-802 WAC.

     (d) Transfer of records.

     (i) If the employer ceases to do business, the successor employer shall receive and retain all records required to be maintained by this section for the prescribed period.

     (ii) If the employer ceases to do business and there is no successor employer to receive and retain the records for the prescribed period, the employer shall transmit these records by mail to the director.

     (iii) At the expiration of the retention period for the records required to be maintained under this section, the employer shall transmit these records by mail to the director.

     (iv) The employer shall also comply with any additional requirements involving transfer of records set forth in chapter 296-802 WAC.

     (18) Observation of monitoring.

     (a) Employee observation. The employer shall provide affected employees, or their designated representatives, an opportunity to observe any monitoring of employee exposure to DBCP conducted under subsection (6) of this section.

     (b) Observation procedures.

     (i) Whenever observation of the measuring or monitoring of employee exposure to DBCP requires entry into an area where the use of protective clothing or equipment is required, the employer shall provide the observer with personal protective clothing or equipment required to be worn by employees working in the area, assure the use of such clothing and equipment, and require the observer to comply with all other applicable safety and health procedures.

     (ii) Without interfering with the monitoring or measurement, observers shall be entitled to:

     (A) Receive an explanation of the measurement procedures;

     (B) Observe all steps related to the measurement of airborne concentrations of DBCP performed at the place of exposure; and

     (C) Record the results obtained.

     (19) Appendices. The information contained in the appendices is not intended, by itself, to create any additional obligations not otherwise imposed or to detract from any existing obligation.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.010, 49.17.040, 49.17.050, and 49.17.060. 04-10-026, § 296-62-07342, filed 4/27/04, effective 8/1/04; 03-18-090, § 296-62-07342, filed 9/2/03, effective 11/1/03. Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.010, [49.17].040, and [49.17].050. 01-11-038, § 296-62-07342, filed 5/9/01, effective 9/1/01; 99-10-071, § 296-62-07342, filed 5/4/99, effective 9/1/99. Statutory Authority: Chapter 49.17 RCW. 96-09-030, § 296-62-07342, filed 4/10/96, effective 6/1/96; 88-11-021 (Order 88-04), § 296-62-07342, filed 5/11/88.]


AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 01-11-038, filed 5/9/01, effective 9/1/01)

WAC 296-62-07367   Respiratory protection and personal protective equipment.   (1) General. For employees who use respirators required by this section, the employer must provide respirators that comply with the requirements of WAC 296-62-07355 through 296-62-07389. Respirators must be used during:

     (a) Periods necessary to install or implement feasible engineering and work-practice controls;

     (b) Work operations, such as maintenance and repair activities, vessel cleaning, or other activities, for which engineering and work-practice controls are not feasible;

     (c) Work operations for which feasible engineering and work-practice controls are not yet sufficient to reduce employee exposure to or below the TWA or excursion limit;

     (d) Emergencies.

     (2) Respirator program. The employer must establish, implement, and maintain a respiratory protection program as required in chapter ((296-62 WAC, Part E (except WAC 296-62-07130(1) and 296-62-07150 through 296-62-07156))) 296-842 WAC, except WAC 296-842-13005 and 296-842-14005.

     (3) Respirator selection. The employer must select the appropriate respirator from Table 1 of this section.


Table 1. -- Minimum Requirements for Respiratory Protection for Airborne EtO


Condition of use or

concentration of

airborne EtO (ppm)


Minimum required respirator


Equal to or less

than 50


(a)

Full facepiece respirator with EtO approved canister, front- or back-mounted.
Equal to or less than 2,000 (a) Positive-pressure supplied air respirator, equipped with full facepiece, hood or helmet, or
(b) Continuous-flow supplied air respirator (positive pressure) equipped with hood, helmet or suit.
Concentration above 2,000 or unknown concentration (such as in emergencies) (a) Positive-pressure self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA), equipped with full facepiece, or
(b) Positive-pressure full facepiece supplied air respirator equipped with an auxiliary positive-pressure self-contained breathing apparatus.
Fire fighting (a) Positive pressure self-contained breathing apparatus equipped with full facepiece.
Escape (a) Any respirator described above.
Note: Respirators approved for use in higher concentrations are permitted to be used in lower concentrations.


     (4) Protective clothing and equipment. Where employees could have eye or skin contact with EtO or EtO solutions, the employer must select and provide, at no cost to the employee, appropriate protective clothing or other equipment in accordance with WAC 296-800-160, and to protect any area of the body that may come in contact with liquid EtO or EtO in solution, and must ensure that the employee wears the protective clothing and equipment provided.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.010, [49.17].040, and [49.17].050. 01-11-038, § 296-62-07367, filed 5/9/01, effective 9/1/01; 99-10-071, § 296-62-07367, filed 5/4/99, effective 9/1/99. Statutory Authority: Chapter 49.17 RCW. 94-20-057 (Order 94-16), § 296-62-07367, filed 9/30/94, effective 11/20/94; 88-23-054 (Order 88-25), § 296-62-07367, filed 11/14/88; 87-24-051 (Order 87-24), § 296-62-07367, filed 11/30/87.]


AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 99-10-071, filed 5/4/99, effective 9/1/99)

WAC 296-62-07413   Respirator protection.   (1) General. For employees who use respirators required by this section, the employer must provide respirators that comply with the requirements of this subsection. Respirators must be used during:

     (a) Periods necessary to install or implement feasible engineering and work-practice controls when employee exposure levels exceed the PEL;

     (b) Maintenance and repair activities, and brief or intermittent operations, where employee exposures exceed the PEL and engineering and work-practice controls are not feasible or are not required;

     (c) Activities in regulated areas as specified in WAC 296-62-07409;

     (d) Work operations for which the employer has implemented all feasible engineering and work-practice controls and such controls are not sufficient to reduce employee exposures to or below the PEL;

     (e) Work operations for which an employee who is exposed to cadmium at or above the action level, and the employee requests a respirator;

     (f) Work operations for which an employee is exposed above the PEL and engineering controls are not required by WAC 296-62-07411 (1)(b); and

     (g) Emergencies.

     (2) Respirator program.

     (a) The employer must implement a respiratory protection program as required by chapter ((296-62 WAC, Part E (except WAC 296-62-07130(1) and 296-62-07150 through 296-62-07156))) 296-842 WAC, except WAC 296-842-13005 and 296-842-14005.

     (b) No employees must use a respirator if, based on their recent medical examination, the examining physician determines that they will be unable to continue to function normally while using a respirator. If the physician determines that the employee must be limited in, or removed from, their current job because of their inability to use a respirator, the limitation or removal must be in accordance with WAC 296-62-07423 (11) and (12).

     (c) If an employee has breathing difficulty during fit testing or respirator use, the employer must provide the employee with a medical examination as required by WAC 296-62-07423 (6)(b) to determine if the employee can use a respirator while performing the required duties.

     (3) Respirator selection.

     (a) The employer must select the appropriate respirator from Table 2 of this section.


Table 2.—Respiratory Protection for Cadmium

Airborne concentration or condition of usea Required respirator typeb
10 x or less A half mask, air-purifying respirator equipped with a HEPAc filterd.
25 x or less A powered air-purifying respirator ("PAPR") with a loose-fitting hood or helmet equipped with a HEPA filter, or a supplied-air respirator with a loose-fitting hood or helmet facepiece operated in the continuous flow mode.
50 x or less A full facepiece air-purifying respirator equipped with a HEPA filter, or a powered air-purifying respirator with a tight-fitting half mask equipped with a HEPA filter, or a supplied air respirator with a tight-fitting half mask operated in the continuous flow mode.
250 x or less A powered air-purifying respirator with a tight-fitting full facepiece equipped with a HEPA filter, or a supplied-air respirator with a tight-fitting full facepiece operated in the continuous flow mode.
1000 x or less A supplied-air respirator with half mask or full facepiece operated in the pressure demand or other positive pressure mode.
>1000 x or unknown concentrations A self-contained breathing apparatus with a full facepiece operated in the pressure demand or other positive pressure mode, or a supplied-air respirator with a full facepiece operated in the pressure demand or other positive pressure mode and equipped with an auxiliary escape type self-contained breathing apparatus operated in the pressure demand mode.
Fire fighting A self-contained breathing apparatus with full facepiece operated in the pressure demand or other positive pressure mode.

a Concentratrations expressed as multiple of the PEL.
b Respirators assigned for higher environmental concentrations may be used at lower exposure levels. Quantitative fit testing is required for all tight-fitting air purifying respirators where airborne concentration of cadmium exceeds 10 times the TWA PEL (10x5 ΅g/m3 = 50 ΅g/m3). A full facepiece respirator is required when eye irritation is experienced.
c HEPA means High Efficiency Particulate Air.
d Fit testing, qualitative or quantitative, is required.

SOURCE: Respiratory Decision Logic, NIOSH, 1987

     (b) The employer must provide an employee with a powered, air-purifying respirator (PAPR) instead of a negative-pressure respirator when an employee who is entitled to a respirator chooses to use this type of respirator and such a respirator provides adequate protection to the employee.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.010, [49.17].040 and [49.17].050. 99-10-071, § 296-62-07413, filed 5/4/99, effective 9/1/99. Statutory Authority: Chapter 49.17 RCW. 93-21-075 (Order 93-06), § 296-62-07413, filed 10/20/93, effective 12/1/93; 93-07-044 (Order 93-01), § 296-62-07413, filed 3/13/93, effective 4/27/93.]


AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 04-10-026, filed 4/27/04, effective 8/1/04)

WAC 296-62-07460   Butadiene.   (1) Scope and application.

     (a) This section applies to all occupational exposures to 1,3-Butadiene (BD), Chemical Abstracts Service Registry No. 106-99-0, except as provided in (b) of this subsection.

     (b)(i) Except for the recordkeeping provisions in subsection (13)(a) of this section, this section does not apply to the processing, use, or handling of products containing BD or to other work operations and streams in which BD is present where objective data are reasonably relied upon that demonstrate the work operation or the product or the group of products or operations to which it belongs may not reasonably be foreseen to release BD in airborne concentrations at or above the action level or in excess of the STEL under the expected conditions of processing, use, or handling that will cause the greatest possible release or in any plausible accident.

     (ii) This section also does not apply to work operations, products or streams where the only exposure to BD is from liquid mixtures containing 0.1% or less of BD by volume or the vapors released from such liquids, unless objective data become available that show that airborne concentrations generated by such mixtures can exceed the action level or STEL under reasonably predictable conditions of processing, use or handling that will cause the greatest possible release.

     (iii) Except for labeling requirements and requirements for emergency response, this section does not apply to the storage, transportation, distribution or sale of BD or liquid mixtures in intact containers or in transportation pipelines sealed in such a manner as to fully contain BD vapors or liquids.

     (c) Where products or processes containing BD are exempted under (b) of this subsection, the employer shall maintain records of the objective data supporting that exemption and the basis for the employer's reliance on the data, as provided in subsection (13)(a) of this section.

     (2) Definitions: For the purpose of this section, the following definitions shall apply:

     "Action level" means a concentration of airborne BD of 0.5 ppm calculated as an 8-hour time-weighted average.

     "Director" means the director of the department of labor and industries, or authorized representatives.

     "Authorized person" means any person specifically designated by the employer, whose duties require entrance into a regulated area, or a person entering such an area as a designated representative of employees to exercise the right to observe monitoring and measuring procedures under subsection (4)(h) of this section, or a person designated under the WISH Act or regulations issued under the WISH Act to enter a regulated area.

     "1,3-Butadiene" means an organic compound with chemical formula CH(2)=CH-CH=CH(2) that has a molecular weight of approximately 54.15 gm/mole.

     "Business day" means any Monday through Friday, except those days designated as federal, state, local or company specific holidays.

     "Complete blood count (CBC)" means laboratory tests performed on whole blood specimens and includes the following: White blood cell count (WBC), hematocrit (Hct), red blood cell count (RBC), hemoglobin (Hgb), differential count of white blood cells, red blood cell morphology, red blood cell indices, and platelet count.

     "Day" means any part of a calendar day.

     "Emergency situation" means any occurrence such as, but not limited to, equipment failure, rupture of containers, or failure of control equipment that may or does result in an uncontrolled significant release of BD.

     "Employee exposure" means exposure of a worker to airborne concentrations of BD which would occur if the employee were not using respiratory protective equipment.

     "Objective data" means monitoring data, or mathematical modelling or calculations based on composition, chemical and physical properties of a material, stream or product.

     "Permissible exposure limits (PELs)" means either the 8-hour time-weighted average (8-hour TWA) exposure or the short-term exposure limit (STEL).

     "Physician or other licensed health care professional" is an individual whose legally permitted scope of practice (i.e., license, registration, or certification) allows him or her to independently provide or be delegated the responsibility to provide one or more of the specific health care services required by (k) of this subsection.

     "Regulated area" means any area where airborne concentrations of BD exceed or can reasonably be expected to exceed the 8-hour time-weighted average (8-hour TWA) exposure of 1 ppm or the short-term exposure limit (STEL) of 5 ppm for 15 minutes.

     "This section" means this 1,3-butadiene standard.

     (3) Permissible exposure limits (PELs).

     (a) Time-weighted average (TWA) limit. The employer shall ensure that no employee is exposed to an airborne concentration of BD in excess of one part BD per million parts of air (ppm) measured as an eight (8)-hour time-weighted average.

     (b) Short-term exposure limit (STEL). The employer shall ensure that no employee is exposed to an airborne concentration of BD in excess of five parts of BD per million parts of air (5 ppm) as determined over a sampling period of fifteen minutes.

     (4) Exposure monitoring.

     (a) General.

     (i) Determinations of employee exposure shall be made from breathing zone air samples that are representative of the 8-hour TWA and 15-minute short-term exposures of each employee.

     (ii) Representative 8-hour TWA employee exposure shall be determined on the basis of one or more samples representing full-shift exposure for each shift and for each job classification in each work area.

     (iii) Representative 15-minute short-term employee exposures shall be determined on the basis of one or more samples representing 15-minute exposures associated with operations that are most likely to produce exposures above the STEL for each shift and for each job classification in each work area.

     (iv) Except for the initial monitoring required under (b) of this subsection, where the employer can document that exposure levels are equivalent for similar operations on different work shifts, the employer need only determine representative employee exposure for that operation from the shift during which the highest exposure is expected.

     (b) Initial monitoring.

     (i) Each employer who has a workplace or work operation covered by this section, shall perform initial monitoring to determine accurately the airborne concentrations of BD to which employees may be exposed, or shall rely on objective data pursuant to subsection (1)(b)(i) of this section to fulfill this requirement.

     (ii) Where the employer has monitored within two years prior to the effective date of this section and the monitoring satisfies all other requirements of this section, the employer may rely on such earlier monitoring results to satisfy the requirements of (b)(i) of this subsection, provided that the conditions under which the initial monitoring was conducted have not changed in a manner that may result in new or additional exposures.

     (c) Periodic monitoring and its frequency.

     (i) If the initial monitoring required by (b) of this subsection reveals employee exposure to be at or above the action level but at or below both the 8-hour TWA limit and the STEL, the employer shall repeat the representative monitoring required by (a) of this subsection every twelve months.

     (ii) If the initial monitoring required by (b) of this subsection reveals employee exposure to be above the 8-hour TWA limit, the employer shall repeat the representative monitoring required by (a)(ii) of this subsection at least every three months until the employer has collected two samples per quarter (each at least 7 days apart) within a two-year period, after which such monitoring must occur at least every six months.

     (iii) If the initial monitoring required by (b) of this subsection reveals employee exposure to be above the STEL, the employer shall repeat the representative monitoring required by (a)(iii) of this subsection at least every three months until the employer has collected two samples per quarter (each at least 7 days apart) within a two-year period, after which such monitoring must occur at least every six months.

     (iv) The employer may alter the monitoring schedule from every six months to annually for any required representative monitoring for which two consecutive measurements taken at least 7 days apart indicate that employee exposure has decreased to or below the 8-hour TWA, but is at or above the action level.

     (d) Termination of monitoring.

     (i) If the initial monitoring required by (b) of this subsection reveals employee exposure to be below the action level and at or below the STEL, the employer may discontinue the monitoring for employees whose exposures are represented by the initial monitoring.

     (ii) If the periodic monitoring required by (c) of this subsection reveals that employee exposures, as indicated by at least two consecutive measurements taken at least 7 days apart, are below the action level and at or below the STEL, the employer may discontinue the monitoring for those employees who are represented by such monitoring.

     (e) Additional monitoring.

     (i) The employer shall institute the exposure monitoring required under subsection (4) of this section whenever there has been a change in the production, process, control equipment, personnel or work practices that may result in new or additional exposures to BD or when the employer has any reason to suspect that a change may result in new or additional exposures.

     (ii) Whenever spills, leaks, ruptures or other breakdowns occur that may lead to employee exposure above the 8-hour TWA limit or above the STEL, the employer shall monitor (using leak source, such as direct reading instruments, area or personal monitoring), after the cleanup of the spill or repair of the leak, rupture or other breakdown, to ensure that exposures have returned to the level that existed prior to the incident.

     (f) Accuracy of monitoring.

     Monitoring shall be accurate, at a confidence level of 95 percent, to within plus or minus 25 percent for airborne concentrations of BD at or above the 1 ppm TWA limit and to within plus or minus 35 percent for airborne concentrations of BD at or above the action level of 0.5 ppm and below the 1 ppm TWA limit.

     (g) Employee notification of monitoring results.

     (i) The employer shall, within 5 business days after the receipt of the results of any monitoring performed under this section, notify the affected employees of these results in writing either individually or by posting of results in an appropriate location that is accessible to affected employees.

     (ii) The employer shall, within 15 business days after receipt of any monitoring performed under this section indicating the 8-hour TWA or STEL has been exceeded, provide the affected employees, in writing, with information on the corrective action being taken by the employer to reduce employee exposure to or below the 8-hour TWA or STEL and the schedule for completion of this action.

     (h) Observation of monitoring.

     (i) Employee observation. The employer shall provide affected employees or their designated representatives an opportunity to observe any monitoring of employee exposure to BD conducted in accordance with this section.

     (ii) Observation procedures. When observation of the monitoring of employee exposure to BD requires entry into an area where the use of protective clothing or equipment is required, the employer shall provide the observer at no cost with protective clothing and equipment, and shall ensure that the observer uses this equipment and complies with all other applicable safety and health procedures.

     (5) Regulated areas.

     (a) The employer shall establish a regulated area wherever occupational exposures to airborne concentrations of BD exceed or can reasonably be expected to exceed the permissible exposure limits, either the 8-hour TWA or the STEL.

     (b) Access to regulated areas shall be limited to authorized persons.

     (c) Regulated areas shall be demarcated from the rest of the workplace in any manner that minimizes the number of employees exposed to BD within the regulated area.

     (d) An employer at a multiemployer worksite who establishes a regulated area shall communicate the access restrictions and locations of these areas to other employers with work operations at that worksite whose employees may have access to these areas.

     (6) Methods of compliance.

     (a) Engineering controls and work practices.

     (i) The employer shall institute engineering controls and work practices to reduce and maintain employee exposure to or below the PELs, except to the extent that the employer can establish that these controls are not feasible or where subsection (8)(a)(i) of this section applies.

     (ii) Wherever the feasible engineering controls and work practices which can be instituted are not sufficient to reduce employee exposure to or below the 8-hour TWA or STEL, the employer shall use them to reduce employee exposure to the lowest levels achievable by these controls and shall supplement them by the use of respiratory protection that complies with the requirements of subsection (8) of this section.

     (b) Compliance plan.

     (i) Where any exposures are over the PELs, the employer shall establish and implement a written plan to reduce employee exposure to or below the PELs primarily by means of engineering and work practice controls, as required by (a) of this subsection, and by the use of respiratory protection where required or permitted under this section. No compliance plan is required if all exposures are under the PELs.

     (ii) The written compliance plan shall include a schedule for the development and implementation of the engineering controls and work practice controls including periodic leak detection surveys.

     (iii) Copies of the compliance plan required in (b) of this subsection shall be furnished upon request for examination and copying to the director, affected employees and designated employee representatives. Such plans shall be reviewed at least every 12 months, and shall be updated as necessary to reflect significant changes in the status of the employer's compliance program.

     (iv) The employer shall not implement a schedule of employee rotation as a means of compliance with the PELs.

     (7) Exposure goal program.

     (a) For those operations and job classifications where employee exposures are greater than the action level, in addition to compliance with the PELs, the employer shall have an exposure goal program that is intended to limit employee exposures to below the action level during normal operations.

     (b) Written plans for the exposure goal program shall be furnished upon request for examination and copying to the director, affected employees and designated employee representatives.

     (c) Such plans shall be updated as necessary to reflect significant changes in the status of the exposure goal program.

     (d) Respirator use is not required in the exposure goal program.

     (e) The exposure goal program shall include the following items unless the employer can demonstrate that the item is not feasible, will have no significant effect in reducing employee exposures, or is not necessary to achieve exposures below the action level:

     (i) A leak prevention, detection, and repair program.

     (ii) A program for maintaining the effectiveness of local exhaust ventilation systems.

     (iii) The use of pump exposure control technology such as, but not limited to, mechanical double-sealed or seal-less pumps.

     (iv) Gauging devices designed to limit employee exposure, such as magnetic gauges on rail cars.

     (v) Unloading devices designed to limit employee exposure, such as a vapor return system.

     (vi) A program to maintain BD concentration below the action level in control rooms by use of engineering controls.

     (8) Respiratory protection.

     (a) General. For employees who use respirators required by this section, the employer must provide respirators that comply with the requirements of this subsection. Respirators must be used during:

     (i) Periods necessary to install or implement feasible engineering and work-practice controls;

     (ii) Nonroutine work operations that are performed infrequently and for which exposures are limited in duration;

     (iii) Work operations for which feasible engineering controls and work-practice controls are not yet sufficient to reduce employee exposures to or below the PELs;

     (iv) Emergencies.

     (b) Respirator program.

     (i) The employer must implement a respiratory protection program as required by chapter ((296-62 WAC, Part E (except WAC 296-62-07130(1), 296-62-07131 (4)(b)(i) and (ii), and 296-62-07150 through 296-62-07156))) 296-842 WAC, except WAC 296-842-13005 and 296-842-14005.

     (ii) If air-purifying respirators are used, the employer must replace the air-purifying filter elements according to the replacement schedule set for the class of respirators listed in Table 1 of this section, and at the beginning of each work shift.

     (iii) Instead of using the replacement schedule listed in Table 1 of this section, the employer may replace cartridges or canisters at 90% of their expiration service life, provided the employer:

     (A) Demonstrates that employees will be adequately protected by this procedure;

     (B) Uses BD breakthrough data for this purpose that have been derived from tests conducted under worst-case conditions of humidity, temperature, and air-flow rate through the filter element, and the employer also describes the data supporting the cartridge- or canister-change schedule, as well as the basis for using the data in the employer's respirator program.

     (iv) A label must be attached to each filter element to indicate the date and time it is first installed on the respirator.

     (v) If NIOSH approves an end-of-service-life indicator (ESLI) for an air-purifying filter element, the element may be used until the ESLI shows no further useful service life or until the element is replaced at the beginning of the next work shift, whichever occurs first.

     (vi) Regardless of the air-purifying element used, if an employee detects the odor of BD, the employer must replace the air-purifying element immediately.

     (c) Respirator selection.

     (i) The employer must select appropriate respirators from Table 1 of this section.


Table 1. - Minimum Requirements for Respiratory Protection for Airborne BD
Concentration of Airborne BD (ppm) or condition of use Minimum required respirator
Less than or equal to 5 ppm (5 times PEL) (a) Air-purifying half mask or full facepiece respirator equipped with approved BD or organic vapor cartridges or canisters. Cartridges or canisters shall be replaced every 4 hours.
Less than or equal to 10 ppm (10 times PEL) (a) Air-purifying half mask or full facepiece respirator equipped with approved BD or organic vapor cartridges or canisters. Cartridges or canisters shall be replaced every 3 hours.
Less than or equal to 25 ppm (25 times PEL) (a) Air-purifying full facepiece respirator equipped with approved BD or organic vapor cartridges or canisters. Cartridges or canisters shall be replaced every 2 hours.
(b) Any powered air-purifying respirator equipped with approved BD or organic vapor cartridges. PAPR cartridges shall be replaced every 2 hours.
(c) Continuous flow supplied air respirator equipped with a hood or helmet.
Less than or equal to 50 ppm (50 times PEL) (a) Air-purifying full facepiece respirator equipped with approved BD or organic vapor cartridges or canisters. Cartridges or canisters shall be replaced every 1 hour.
(b) Powered air purifying respirator equipped with a tight-fitting facepiece and an approved BD or organic vapor cartridges. PAPR cartridges shall be replaced every 1 hour.
Less than or equal to 1,000 ppm (1,000 times PEL) (a) Supplied air respirator equipped with a half mask or full facepiece and operated in a pressure demand or other positive pressure mode.
Greater than 1,000 ppm (a) Self-contained breathing unknown concentration, or apparatus equipped with a fire fighting full facepiece and operated in a pressure demand or other positive pressure mode.
(b) Any supplied air respirator equipped with a full facepiece and operated in a pressure demand or other positive pressure mode in combination with an auxiliary self-contained breathing apparatus operated in a pressure demand or other positive pressure mode.
Escape from IDLH Conditions (a) Any positive pressure self-contained breathing apparatus with an appropriate service life.
(b) Any air-purifying full facepiece respirator equipped with a front or back mounted BD or organic vapor canister.

Notes: Respirators approved for use in higher concentrations are permitted to be used in lower concentrations. Full facepiece is required when eye irritation is anticipated.
     (ii) Air-purifying respirators must have filter elements certified by NIOSH for organic vapor or BD.

     (iii) When an employee whose job requires the use of a respirator cannot use a negative-pressure respirator, the employer must provide the employee with a respirator that has less breathing resistance than the negative-pressure respirator, such as a powered air-purifying respirator or supplied-air respirator, when the employee is able to use it and if it provides the employee adequate protection.

     (9) Protective clothing and equipment. Where appropriate to prevent eye contact and limit dermal exposure to BD, the employer shall provide protective clothing and equipment at no cost to the employee and shall ensure its use. Eye and face protection shall meet the requirements of WAC 296-800-160.

     (10) Emergency situations. Written plan. A written plan for emergency situations shall be developed, or an existing plan shall be modified, to contain the applicable elements specified in WAC 296-24-567, Employee emergency plans and fire prevention plans, and in WAC 296-62-3112, hazardous waste operations and emergency responses, for each workplace where there is a possibility of an emergency.

     (11) Medical screening and surveillance.

     (a) Employees covered. The employer shall institute a medical screening and surveillance program as specified in this subsection for:

     (i) Each employee with exposure to BD at concentrations at or above the action level on 30 or more days or for employees who have or may have exposure to BD at or above the PELs on 10 or more days a year;

     (ii) Employers (including successor owners) shall continue to provide medical screening and surveillance for employees, even after transfer to a non-BD exposed job and regardless of when the employee is transferred, whose work histories suggest exposure to BD:

     (A) At or above the PELs on 30 or more days a year for 10 or more years;

     (B) At or above the action level on 60 or more days a year for 10 or more years; or

     (C) Above 10 ppm on 30 or more days in any past year; and

     (iii) Each employee exposed to BD following an emergency situation.

     (b) Program administration.

     (i) The employer shall ensure that the health questionnaire, physical examination and medical procedures are provided without cost to the employee, without loss of pay, and at a reasonable time and place.

     (ii) Physical examinations, health questionnaires, and medical procedures shall be performed or administered by a physician or other licensed health care professional.

     (iii) Laboratory tests shall be conducted by an accredited laboratory.

     (c) Frequency of medical screening activities. The employer shall make medical screening available on the following schedule:

     (i) For each employee covered under (a)(i) and (ii) of this subsection, a health questionnaire and complete blood count (CBC) with differential and platelet count every year, and a physical examination as specified below:

     (A) An initial physical examination that meets the requirements of this rule, if twelve months or more have elapsed since the last physical examination conducted as part of a medical screening program for BD exposure;

     (B) Before assumption of duties by the employee in a job with BD exposure;

     (C) Every 3 years after the initial physical examination;

     (D) At the discretion of the physician or other licensed health care professional reviewing the annual health questionnaire and CBC;

     (E) At the time of employee reassignment to an area where exposure to BD is below the action level, if the employee's past exposure history does not meet the criteria of (a)(ii) of this subsection for continued coverage in the screening and surveillance program, and if twelve months or more have elapsed since the last physical examination; and

     (F) At termination of employment if twelve months or more have elapsed since the last physical examination.

     (ii) Following an emergency situation, medical screening shall be conducted as quickly as possible, but not later than 48 hours after the exposure.

     (iii) For each employee who must wear a respirator, physical ability to perform the work and use the respirator must be determined as required by chapter 296-842 WAC ((296-62-071)).

     (d) Content of medical screening.

     (i) Medical screening for employees covered by (a)(i) and (ii) of this subsection shall include:

     (A) A baseline health questionnaire that includes a comprehensive occupational and health history and is updated annually. Particular emphasis shall be placed on the hematopoietic and reticuloendothelial systems, including exposure to chemicals, in addition to BD, that may have an adverse effect on these systems, the presence of signs and symptoms that might be related to disorders of these systems, and any other information determined by the examining physician or other licensed health care professional to be necessary to evaluate whether the employee is at increased risk of material impairment of health from BD exposure. Health questionnaires shall consist of the sample forms in Appendix C to this section, or be equivalent to those samples;

     (B) A complete physical examination, with special emphasis on the liver, spleen, lymph nodes, and skin;

     (C) A CBC; and

     (D) Any other test which the examining physician or other licensed health care professional deems necessary to evaluate whether the employee may be at increased risk from exposure to BD.

     (ii) Medical screening for employees exposed to BD in an emergency situation shall focus on the acute effects of BD exposure and at a minimum include: A CBC within 48 hours of the exposure and then monthly for three months; and a physical examination if the employee reports irritation of the eyes, nose, throat, lungs, or skin, blurred vision, coughing, drowsiness, nausea, or headache. Continued employee participation in the medical screening and surveillance program, beyond these minimum requirements, shall be at the discretion of the physician or other licensed health care professional.

     (e) Additional medical evaluations and referrals.

     (i) Where the results of medical screening indicate abnormalities of the hematopoietic or reticuloendothelial systems, for which a nonoccupational cause is not readily apparent, the examining physician or other licensed health care professional shall refer the employee to an appropriate specialist for further evaluation and shall make available to the specialist the results of the medical screening.

     (ii) The specialist to whom the employee is referred under this subsection shall determine the appropriate content for the medical evaluation, e.g., examinations, diagnostic tests and procedures, etc.

     (f) Information provided to the physician or other licensed health care professional. The employer shall provide the following information to the examining physician or other licensed health care professional involved in the evaluation:

     (i) A copy of this section including its appendices;

     (ii) A description of the affected employee's duties as they relate to the employee's BD exposure;

     (iii) The employee's actual or representative BD exposure level during employment tenure, including exposure incurred in an emergency situation;

     (iv) A description of pertinent personal protective equipment used or to be used; and

     (v) Information, when available, from previous employment-related medical evaluations of the affected employee which is not otherwise available to the physician or other licensed health care professional or the specialist.

     (g) The written medical opinion.

     (i) For each medical evaluation required by this section, the employer shall ensure that the physician or other licensed health care professional produces a written opinion and provides a copy to the employer and the employee within 15 business days of the evaluation. The written opinion shall be limited to the following information:

     (A) The occupationally pertinent results of the medical evaluation;

     (B) A medical opinion concerning whether the employee has any detected medical conditions which would place the employee's health at increased risk of material impairment from exposure to BD;

     (C) Any recommended limitations upon the employee's exposure to BD; and

     (D) A statement that the employee has been informed of the results of the medical evaluation and any medical conditions resulting from BD exposure that require further explanation or treatment.

     (ii) The written medical opinion provided to the employer shall not reveal specific records, findings, and diagnoses that have no bearing on the employee's ability to work with BD.

Note: This provision does not negate the ethical obligation of the physician or other licensed health care professional to transmit any other adverse findings directly to the employee.


     (h) Medical surveillance.

     (i) The employer shall ensure that information obtained from the medical screening program activities is aggregated (with all personal identifiers removed) and periodically reviewed, to ascertain whether the health of the employee population of that employer is adversely affected by exposure to BD.

     (ii) Information learned from medical surveillance activities must be disseminated to covered employees, as defined in (a) of this subsection, in a manner that ensures the confidentiality of individual medical information.

     (12) Communication of BD hazards to employees.

     (a) Hazard communication. The employer shall communicate the hazards associated with BD exposure in accordance with the requirements of the chemical hazard communication standard, WAC 296-800-170.

     (b) Employee information and training.

     (i) The employer shall provide all employees exposed to BD with information and training in accordance with the requirements of the chemical hazard communication standard, WAC 296-800-170.

     (ii) The employer shall institute a training program for all employees who are potentially exposed to BD at or above the action level or the STEL, ensure employee participation in the program and maintain a record of the contents of such program.

     (iii) Training shall be provided prior to or at the time of initial assignment to a job potentially involving exposure to BD at or above the action level or STEL and at least annually thereafter.

     (iv) The training program shall be conducted in a manner that the employee is able to understand. The employer shall ensure that each employee exposed to BD over the action level or STEL is informed of the following:

     (A) The health hazards associated with BD exposure, and the purpose and a description of the medical screening and surveillance program required by this section;

     (B) The quantity, location, manner of use, release, and storage of BD and the specific operations that could result in exposure to BD, especially exposures above the PEL or STEL;

     (C) The engineering controls and work practices associated with the employee's job assignment, and emergency procedures and personal protective equipment;

     (D) The measures employees can take to protect themselves from exposure to BD;

     (E) The contents of this standard and its appendices; and

     (F) The right of each employee exposed to BD at or above the action level or STEL to obtain:

     (I) Medical examinations as required by subsection (10) of this section at no cost to the employee;

     (II) The employee's medical records required to be maintained by subsection (13)(c) of this section; and

     (III) All air monitoring results representing the employee's exposure to BD and required to be kept by subsection (13)(b) of this section.

     (c) Access to information and training materials.

     (i) The employer shall make a copy of this standard and its appendices readily available without cost to all affected employees and their designated representatives and shall provide a copy if requested.

     (ii) The employer shall provide to the director, or the designated employee representatives, upon request, all materials relating to the employee information and the training program.

     (13) Recordkeeping.

     (a) Objective data for exemption from initial monitoring.

     (i) Where the processing, use, or handling of products or streams made from or containing BD are exempted from other requirements of this section under subsection (1)(b) of this section, or where objective data have been relied on in lieu of initial monitoring under subsection (4)(b)(ii) of this section, the employer shall establish and maintain a record of the objective data reasonably relied upon in support of the exemption.

     (ii) This record shall include at least the following information:

     (A) The product or activity qualifying for exemption;

     (B) The source of the objective data;

     (C) The testing protocol, results of testing, and analysis of the material for the release of BD;

     (D) A description of the operation exempted and how the data support the exemption; and

     (E) Other data relevant to the operations, materials, processing, or employee exposures covered by the exemption.

     (iii) The employer shall maintain this record for the duration of the employer's reliance upon such objective data.

     (b) Exposure measurements.

     (i) The employer shall establish and maintain an accurate record of all measurements taken to monitor employee exposure to BD as prescribed in subsection (4) of this section.

     (ii) The record shall include at least the following information:

     (A) The date of measurement;

     (B) The operation involving exposure to BD which is being monitored;

     (C) Sampling and analytical methods used and evidence of their accuracy;

     (D) Number, duration, and results of samples taken;

     (E) Type of protective devices worn, if any;

     (F) Name, Social Security number and exposure of the employees whose exposures are represented; and

     (G) The written corrective action and the schedule for completion of this action required by subsection (4)(g)(ii) of this section.

     (iii) The employer shall maintain this record for at least 30 years in accordance with chapter 296-802 WAC.

     (c) Medical screening and surveillance.

     (i) The employer shall establish and maintain an accurate record for each employee subject to medical screening and surveillance under this section.

     (ii) The record shall include at least the following information:

     (A) The name and Social Security number of the employee;

     (B) Physician's or other licensed health care professional's written opinions as described in subsection (11)(e) of this section;

     (C) A copy of the information provided to the physician or other licensed health care professional as required by subsection (11)(e) of this section.

     (iii) Medical screening and surveillance records shall be maintained for each employee for the duration of employment plus 30 years, in accordance with chapter 296-802 WAC.

     (d) Availability.

     (i) The employer, upon written request, shall make all records required to be maintained by this section available for examination and copying to the director.

     (ii) Access to records required to be maintained by (a) and (b) of this subsection shall be granted in accordance with chapter 296-802 WAC.

     (e) Transfer of records.

     (i) Whenever the employer ceases to do business, the employer shall transfer records required by this section to the successor employer. The successor employer shall receive and maintain these records. If there is no successor employer, the employer shall notify the director, at least three months prior to disposal, and transmit them to the director if requested by the director within that period.

     (ii) The employer shall transfer medical and exposure records as set forth in chapter 296-802 WAC.

     (14) Dates.

     (a) Effective date. This section shall become effective (day, month), 1997.

     (b) Start-up dates.

     (i) The initial monitoring required under subsection (4)(b) of this section shall be completed immediately or within sixty days of the introduction of BD into the workplace.

     (ii) The requirements of subsections (3) through (13) of this section, including feasible work practice controls but not including engineering controls specified in subsection (6)(a) of this section, shall be complied with immediately.

     (iii) Engineering controls specified by subsection (6)(a) of this section shall be implemented by February 4, 1999, and the exposure goal program specified in subsection (7) of this section shall be implemented by February 4, 2000.

     (15) Appendices.

     Appendices A, B, C, D, and F to this section are informational and are not intended to create any additional obligations not otherwise imposed or to detract from any existing obligations.


     Appendix A. Substance Safety Data Sheet For 1,3-Butadiene (Non-Mandatory)

     (1) Substance Identification.

     (a) Substance: 1,3-Butadiene (CH(2)=CH-CH=CH(2)).

     (b) Synonyms: 1,3-Butadiene (BD); butadiene; biethylene; bi-vinyl; divinyl; butadiene-1,3; buta-1,3-diene; erythrene; NCI-C50602; CAS-106-99-0.

     (c) BD can be found as a gas or liquid.

     (d) BD is used in production of styrene-butadiene rubber and polybutadiene rubber for the tire industry. Other uses include copolymer latexes for carpet backing and paper coating, as well as resins and polymers for pipes and automobile and appliance parts. It is also used as an intermediate in the production of such chemicals as fungicides.

     (e) Appearance and odor: BD is a colorless, noncorrosive, flammable gas with a mild aromatic odor at standard ambient temperature and pressure.

     (f) Permissible exposure: Exposure may not exceed 1 part BD per million parts of air averaged over the 8-hour workday, nor may short-term exposure exceed 5 parts of BD per million parts of air averaged over any 15-minute period in the 8-hour workday.

     (2) Health Hazard Data.

     (a) BD can affect the body if the gas is inhaled or if the liquid form, which is very cold (cryogenic), comes in contact with the eyes or skin.

     (b) Effects of overexposure: Breathing very high levels of BD for a short time can cause central nervous system effects, blurred vision, nausea, fatigue, headache, decreased blood pressure and pulse rate, and unconsciousness. There are no recorded cases of accidental exposures at high levels that have caused death in humans, but this could occur. Breathing lower levels of BD may cause irritation of the eyes, nose, and throat. Skin contact with liquefied BD can cause irritation and frostbite.

     (c) Long-term (chronic) exposure: BD has been found to be a potent carcinogen in rodents, inducing neoplastic lesions at multiple target sites in mice and rats. A recent study of BD-exposed workers showed that exposed workers have an increased risk of developing leukemia. The risk of leukemia increases with increased exposure to BD. OSHA has concluded that there is strong evidence that workplace exposure to BD poses an increased risk of death from cancers of the lymphohematopoietic system.

     (d) Reporting signs and symptoms: You should inform your supervisor if you develop any of these signs or symptoms and suspect that they are caused by exposure to BD.

     (3) Emergency First-Aid Procedures.

     In the event of an emergency, follow the emergency plan and procedures designated for your work area. If you have been trained in first-aid procedures, provide the necessary first aid measures. If necessary, call for additional assistance from co-workers and emergency medical personnel.

     (a) Eye and Skin Exposures: If there is a potential that liquefied BD can come in contact with eye or skin, face shields and skin protective equipment must be provided and used. If liquefied BD comes in contact with the eye, immediately flush the eyes with large amounts of water, occasionally lifting the lower and the upper lids. Flush repeatedly. Get medical attention immediately. Contact lenses should not be worn when working with this chemical. In the event of skin contact, which can cause frostbite, remove any contaminated clothing and flush the affected area repeatedly with large amounts of tepid water.

     (b) Breathing: If a person breathes in large amounts of BD, move the exposed person to fresh air at once. If breathing has stopped, begin cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) if you have been trained in this procedure. Keep the affected person warm and at rest. Get medical attention immediately.

     (c) Rescue: Move the affected person from the hazardous exposure. If the exposed person has been overcome, call for help and begin emergency rescue procedures. Use extreme caution so that you do not become a casualty. Understand the plant's emergency rescue procedures and know the locations of rescue equipment before the need arises.

     (4) Respirators and Protective Clothing.

     (a) Respirators: Good industrial hygiene practices recommend that engineering and work practice controls be used to reduce environmental concentrations to the permissible exposure level. However, there are some exceptions where respirators may be used to control exposure. Respirators may be used when engineering and work practice controls are not technically feasible, when such controls are in the process of being installed, or when these controls fail and need to be supplemented or during brief, nonroutine, intermittent exposure. Respirators may also be used in situations involving nonroutine work operations which are performed infrequently and in which exposures are limited in duration, and in emergency situations. In some instances cartridge respirator use is allowed, but only with strict time constraints. For example, at exposure below 5 ppm BD, a cartridge (or canister) respirator, either full or half face, may be used, but the cartridge must be replaced at least every 4 hours, and it must be replaced every 3 hours when the exposure is between 5 and 10 ppm.

     If the use of respirators is necessary, the only respirators permitted are those that have been approved by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). In addition to respirator selection, a complete respiratory protection program must be instituted which includes regular training, maintenance, fit testing, inspection, cleaning, and evaluation of respirators. If you can smell BD while wearing a respirator, proceed immediately to fresh air, and change cartridge (or canister) before re-entering an area where there is BD exposure. If you experience difficulty in breathing while wearing a respirator, tell your supervisor.

     (b) Protective Clothing: Employees should be provided with and required to use impervious clothing, gloves, face shields (eight-inch minimum), and other appropriate protective clothing necessary to prevent the skin from becoming frozen by contact with liquefied BD (or a vessel containing liquid BD).

     Employees should be provided with and required to use splash-proof safety goggles where liquefied BD may contact the eyes.

     (5) Precautions for Safe Use, Handling, and Storage.

     (a) Fire and Explosion Hazards: BD is a flammable gas and can easily form explosive mixtures in air. It has a lower explosive limit of 2%, and an upper explosive limit of 11.5%. It has an autoignition temperature of 420 deg. C (788 deg. F). Its vapor is heavier than air (vapor density, 1.9) and may travel a considerable distance to a source of ignition and flash back. Usually it contains inhibitors to prevent self-polymerization (which is accompanied by evolution of heat) and to prevent formation of explosive peroxides. At elevated temperatures, such as in fire conditions, polymerization may take place. If the polymerization takes place in a container, there is a possibility of violent rupture of the container.

     (b) Hazard: Slightly toxic. Slight respiratory irritant. Direct contact of liquefied BD on skin may cause freeze burns and frostbite.

     (c) Storage: Protect against physical damage to BD containers. Outside or detached storage of BD containers is preferred. Inside storage should be in a cool, dry, well-ventilated, noncombustible location, away from all possible sources of ignition. Store cylinders vertically and do not stack. Do not store with oxidizing material.

     (d) Usual Shipping Containers: Liquefied BD is contained in steel pressure apparatus.

     (e) Electrical Equipment: Electrical installations in Class I hazardous locations, as defined in Article 500 of the National Electrical Code, should be in accordance with Article 501 of the Code. If explosion-proof electrical equipment is necessary, it shall be suitable for use in Group B. Group D equipment may be used if such equipment is isolated in accordance with Section 501-5(a) by sealing all conduit 1/2-inch size or larger. See Venting of Deflagrations (NFPA No. 68, 1994), National Electrical Code (NFPA No. 70, 1996), Static Electricity (NFPA No. 77, 1993), Lightning Protection Systems (NFPA No. 780, 1995), and Fire Hazard Properties of Flammable Liquids, Gases and Volatile Solids (NFPA No. 325, 1994).

     (f) Fire Fighting: Stop flow of gas. Use water to keep fire-exposed containers cool. Fire extinguishers and quick drenching facilities must be readily available, and you should know where they are and how to operate them.

     (g) Spill and Leak: Persons not wearing protective equipment and clothing should be restricted from areas of spills or leaks until clean-up has been completed. If BD is spilled or leaked, the following steps should be taken:

     (i) Eliminate all ignition sources.

     (ii) Ventilate area of spill or leak.

     (iii) If in liquid form, for small quantities, allow to evaporate in a safe manner.

     (iv) Stop or control the leak if this can be done without risk. If source of leak is a cylinder and the leak cannot be stopped in place, remove the leaking cylinder to a safe place and repair the leak or allow the cylinder to empty.

     (h) Disposal: This substance, when discarded or disposed of, is a hazardous waste according to Federal regulations (40 CFR part 261). It is listed as hazardous waste number D001 due to its ignitability. The transportation, storage, treatment, and disposal of this waste material must be conducted in compliance with 40 CFR parts 262, 263, 264, 268 and 270. Disposal can occur only in properly permitted facilities. Check state and local regulation of any additional requirements as these may be more restrictive than federal laws and regulation.

     (i) You should not keep food, beverages, or smoking materials in areas where there is BD exposure, nor should you eat or drink in such areas.

     (j) Ask your supervisor where BD is used in your work area and ask for any additional plant safety and health rules.

     (6) Medical Requirements.

     Your employer is required to offer you the opportunity to participate in a medical screening and surveillance program if you are exposed to BD at concentrations exceeding the action level (0.5 ppm BD as an 8-hour TWA) on 30 days or more a year, or at or above the 8-hr TWA (1 ppm) or STEL (5 ppm for 15 minutes) on 10 days or more a year. Exposure for any part of a day counts. If you have had exposure to BD in the past, but have been transferred to another job, you may still be eligible to participate in the medical screening and surveillance program.

     The WISHA rule specifies the past exposures that would qualify you for participation in the program. These past exposure are work histories that suggest the following:

     (a) That you have been exposed at or above the PELs on 30 days a year for 10 or more years;

     (b) That you have been exposed at or above the action level on 60 days a year for 10 or more years; or

     (c) That you have been exposed above 10 ppm on 30 days in any past year.

     Additionally, if you are exposed to BD in an emergency situation, you are eligible for a medical examination within 48 hours. The basic medical screening program includes a health questionnaire, physical examination, and blood test. These medical evaluations must be offered to you at a reasonable time and place, and without cost or loss of pay.

     (7) Observation of Monitoring.

     Your employer is required to perform measurements that are representative of your exposure to BD and you or your designated representative are entitled to observe the monitoring procedure. You are entitled to observe the steps taken in the measurement procedure, and to record the results obtained. When the monitoring procedure is taking place in an area where respirators or personal protective clothing and equipment are required to be worn, you or your representative must also be provided with, and must wear, the protective clothing and equipment.

     (8) Access to Information.

     (a) Each year, your employer is required to inform you of the information contained in this appendix. In addition, your employer must instruct you in the proper work practices for using BD, emergency procedures, and the correct use of protective equipment.

     (b) Your employer is required to determine whether you are being exposed to BD. You or your representative has the right to observe employee measurements and to record the results obtained. Your employer is required to inform you of your exposure. If your employer determines that you are being overexposed, he or she is required to inform you of the actions which are being taken to reduce your exposure to within permissible exposure limits and of the schedule to implement these actions.

     (c) Your employer is required to keep records of your exposures and medical examinations. These records must be kept by the employer for at least thirty (30) years.

     (d) Your employer is required to release your exposure and medical records to you or your representative upon your request.


     Appendix B. Substance Technical Guidelines for 1,3-Butadiene (Non-Mandatory)

     (1) Physical and Chemical Data.

     (a) Substance identification:

     (i) Synonyms: 1,3-Butadiene (BD); butadiene; biethylene; bivinyl; divinyl; butadiene-1,3; buta-1,3-diene; erythrene; NCI-C50620; CAS-106-99-0.

     (ii) Formula: (CH(2)=CH-CH=CH(2)).

     (iii) Molecular weight: 54.1.

     (b) Physical data:

     (i) Boiling point (760 mm Hg): -4.7 deg. C (23.5 deg. F).

     (ii) Specific gravity (water = 1): 0.62 at 20 deg. C (68 deg. F).

     (iii) Vapor density (air = 1 at boiling point of BD): 1.87.

     (iv) Vapor pressure at 20 deg. C (68 deg. F): 910 mm Hg.

     (v) Solubility in water, g/100 g water at 20 deg. C (68 deg. F): 0.05.

     (vi) Appearance and odor: Colorless, flammable gas with a mildly aromatic odor. Liquefied BD is a colorless liquid with a mildly aromatic odor.

     (2) Fire, Explosion, and Reactivity Hazard Data.

     (a) Fire:

     (i) Flash point: -76 deg. C (-105 deg. F) for take out; liquefied BD; Not applicable to BD gas.

     (ii) Stability: A stabilizer is added to the monomer to inhibit formation of polymer during storage. Forms explosive peroxides in air in absence of inhibitor.

     (iii) Flammable limits in air, percent by volume: Lower: 2.0; Upper: 11.5.

     (iv) Extinguishing media: Carbon dioxide for small fires, polymer or alcohol foams for large fires.

     (v) Special fire fighting procedures: Fight fire from protected location or maximum possible distance. Stop flow of gas before extinguishing fire. Use water spray to keep fire-exposed cylinders cool.

     (vi) Unusual fire and explosion hazards: BD vapors are heavier than air and may travel to a source of ignition and flash back. Closed containers may rupture violently when heated.

     (vii) For purposes of compliance with the requirements of WAC 296-24-330, BD is classified as a flammable gas. For example, 7,500 ppm, approximately one-fourth of the lower flammable limit, would be considered to pose a potential fire and explosion hazard.

     (viii) For purposes of compliance with WAC 296-24-585, BD is classified as a Class B fire hazard.

     (ix) For purposes of compliance with WAC 296-24-956 and 296-800-280, locations classified as hazardous due to the presence of BD shall be Class I.

     (b) Reactivity:

     (i) Conditions contributing to instability: Heat. Peroxides are formed when inhibitor concentration is not maintained at proper level. At elevated temperatures, such as in fire conditions, polymerization may take place.

     (ii) Incompatibilities: Contact with strong oxidizing agents may cause fires and explosions. The contacting of crude BD (not BD monomer) with copper and copper alloys may cause formations of explosive copper compounds.

     (iii) Hazardous decomposition products: Toxic gases (such as carbon monoxide) may be released in a fire involving BD.

     (iv) Special precautions: BD will attack some forms of plastics, rubber, and coatings. BD in storage should be checked for proper inhibitor content, for self-polymerization, and for formation of peroxides when in contact with air and iron. Piping carrying BD may become plugged by formation of rubbery polymer.

     (c) Warning Properties:

     (i) Odor Threshold: An odor threshold of 0.45 ppm has been reported in The American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA) Report, Odor Thresholds for Chemicals with Established Occupational Health Standards. (Ex. 32-28C).

     (ii) Eye Irritation Level: Workers exposed to vapors of BD (concentration or purity unspecified) have complained of irritation of eyes, nasal passages, throat, and lungs. Dogs and rabbits exposed experimentally to as much as 6700 ppm for 7 1/2 hours a day for 8 months have developed no histologically demonstrable abnormality of the eyes.

     (iii) Evaluation of Warning Properties: Since the mean odor threshold is about half of the 1 ppm PEL, and more than 10-fold below the 5 ppm STEL, most wearers of air purifying respirators should still be able to detect breakthrough before a significant overexposure to BD occurs.

     (3) Spill, Leak, and Disposal Procedures.

     (a) Persons not wearing protective equipment and clothing should be restricted from areas of spills or leaks until cleanup has been completed. If BD is spilled or leaked, the following steps should be taken:

     (i) Eliminate all ignition sources.

     (ii) Ventilate areas of spill or leak.

     (iii) If in liquid form, for small quantities, allow to evaporate in a safe manner.

     (iv) Stop or control the leak if this can be done without risk. If source of leak is a cylinder and the leak cannot be stopped in place, remove the leaking cylinder to a safe place and repair the leak or allow the cylinder to empty.

     (b) Disposal: This substance, when discarded or disposed of, is a hazardous waste according to Federal regulations (40 CFR part 261). It is listed by the EPA as hazardous waste number D001 due to its ignitability. The transportation, storage, treatment, and disposal of this waste material must be conducted in compliance with 40 CFR parts 262, 263, 264, 268 and 270. Disposal can occur only in properly permitted facilities. Check state and local regulations for any additional requirements because these may be more restrictive than federal laws and regulations.

     (4) Monitoring and Measurement Procedures.

     (a) Exposure above the Permissible Exposure Limit (8-hr TWA) or Short-Term Exposure Limit (STEL):

     (i) 8-hr TWA exposure evaluation: Measurements taken for the purpose of determining employee exposure under this standard are best taken with consecutive samples covering the full shift. Air samples must be taken in the employee's breathing zone (air that would most nearly represent that inhaled by the employee).

     (ii) STEL exposure evaluation: Measurements must represent 15 minute exposures associated with operations most likely to exceed the STEL in each job and on each shift.

     (iii) Monitoring frequencies: Table 1 gives various exposure scenarios and their required monitoring frequencies, as required by the final standard for occupational exposure to butadiene.

Table 1. -- Five Exposure Scenarios and Their Associated
Monitoring Frequencies

Action Level 8-hr TWA STEL Required Monitoring Activity
__* __ __ No 8-hour TWA or STEL monitoring required.
+* __ __ No STEL monitoring required. Monitor 8-hr TWA annually.
+ __ __ No STEL monitoring required. Periodic monitoring 8-hour TWA, in accordance with (4)(c)(iii).**
+ + + Periodic monitoring 8-hour TWA, in accordance with (4)(c)(iii)**. Periodic monitoring STEL in accordance with (4)(c)(iii).
+ __ + Periodic monitoring STEL, in accordance with (4)(c)(iii). Monitor 8-hour TWA annually.

Footnote (*) Exposure Scenario, Limit Exceeded: + = Yes, - =No.
Footnote (**) The employer may decrease the frequency of exposure monitoring to annually when at least 2 consecutive measurements taken at least 7 days apart show exposures to be below the 8-hour TWA, but at or above the action level.
     (iv) Monitoring techniques: Appendix D describes the validated method of sampling and analysis which has been tested by OSHA for use with BD. The employer has the obligation of selecting a monitoring method which meets the accuracy and precision requirements of the standard under his or her unique field conditions. The standard requires that the method of monitoring must be accurate, to a 95 percent confidence level, to plus or minus 25 percent for concentrations of BD at or above 1 ppm, and to plus or minus 35 percent for concentrations below 1 ppm.

     (5) Personal Protective Equipment.

     (a) Employees should be provided with and required to use impervious clothing, gloves, face shields (eight-inch minimum), and other appropriate protective clothing necessary to prevent the skin from becoming frozen from contact with liquid BD.

     (b) Any clothing which becomes wet with liquid BD should be removed immediately and not reworn until the butadiene has evaporated.

     (c) Employees should be provided with and required to use splash proof safety goggles where liquid BD may contact the eyes.

     (6) Housekeeping and Hygiene Facilities.

     For purposes of complying with WAC 296-800-220 and 296-800-230, the following items should be emphasized:

     (a) The workplace should be kept clean, orderly, and in a sanitary condition.

     (b) Adequate washing facilities with hot and cold water are to be provided and maintained in a sanitary condition.

     (7) Additional Precautions.

     (a) Store BD in tightly closed containers in a cool, well-ventilated area and take all necessary precautions to avoid any explosion hazard.

     (b) Nonsparking tools must be used to open and close metal containers. These containers must be effectively grounded.

     (c) Do not incinerate BD cartridges, tanks or other containers.

     (d) Employers must advise employees of all areas and operations where exposure to BD might occur.


     Appendix C. Medical Screening and Surveillance for 1,3-Butadiene (Nonmandatory)

     (1) Basis for Medical Screening and Surveillance Requirements.

     (a) Route of Entry Inhalation.

     (b) Toxicology.

     Inhalation of BD has been linked to an increased risk of cancer, damage to the reproductive organs, and fetotoxicity. Butadiene can be converted via oxidation to epoxybutene and diepoxybutane, two genotoxic metabolites that may play a role in the expression of BD's toxic effects. BD has been tested for carcinogenicity in mice and rats. Both species responded to BD exposure by developing cancer at multiple primary organ sites. Early deaths in mice were caused by malignant lymphomas, primarily lymphocytic type, originating in the thymus.

     Mice exposed to BD have developed ovarian or testicular atrophy. Sperm head morphology tests also revealed abnormal sperm in mice exposed to BD; lethal mutations were found in a dominant lethal test. In light of these results in animals, the possibility that BD may adversely affect the reproductive systems of male and female workers must be considered.

     Additionally, anemia has been observed in animals exposed to butadiene. In some cases, this anemia appeared to be a primary response to exposure; in other cases, it may have been secondary to a neoplastic response.

     (c) Epidemiology.

     Epidemiologic evidence demonstrates that BD exposure poses an increased risk of leukemia. Mild alterations of hematologic parameters have also been observed in synthetic rubber workers exposed to BD.

     (2) Potential Adverse Health Effects.

     (a) Acute.

     Skin contact with liquid BD causes characteristic burns or frostbite. BD in gaseous form can irritate the eyes, nasal passages, throat, and lungs. Blurred vision, coughing, and drowsiness may also occur. Effects are mild at 2,000 ppm and pronounced at 8,000 ppm for exposures occurring over the full workshift.

     At very high concentrations in air, BD is an anesthetic, causing narcosis, respiratory paralysis, unconsciousness, and death. Such concentrations are unlikely, however, except in an extreme emergency because BD poses an explosion hazard at these levels.

     (b) Chronic.

     The principal adverse health effects of concern are BD-induced lymphoma, leukemia and potential reproductive toxicity. Anemia and other changes in the peripheral blood cells may be indicators of excessive exposure to BD.

     (c) Reproductive.

     Workers may be concerned about the possibility that their BD exposure may be affecting their ability to procreate a healthy child. For workers with high exposures to BD, especially those who have experienced difficulties in conceiving, miscarriages, or stillbirths, appropriate medical and laboratory evaluation of fertility may be necessary to determine if BD is having any adverse effect on the reproductive system or on the health of the fetus.

     (3) Medical Screening Components At-A-Glance.

     (a) Health Questionnaire.

     The most important goal of the health questionnaire is to elicit information from the worker regarding potential signs or symptoms generally related to leukemia or other blood abnormalities. Therefore, physicians or other licensed health care professionals should be aware of the presenting symptoms and signs of lymphohematopoietic disorders and cancers, as well as the procedures necessary to confirm or exclude such diagnoses. Additionally, the health questionnaire will assist with the identification of workers at greatest risk of developing leukemia or adverse reproductive effects from their exposures to BD.

     Workers with a history of reproductive difficulties or a personal or family history of immune deficiency syndromes, blood dyscrasias, lymphoma, or leukemia, and those who are or have been exposed to medicinal drugs or chemicals known to affect the hematopoietic or lymphatic systems may be at higher risk from their exposure to BD. After the initial administration, the health questionnaire must be updated annually.

     (b) Complete Blood Count (CBC).

     The medical screening and surveillance program requires an annual CBC, with differential and platelet count, to be provided for each employee with BD exposure. This test is to be performed on a blood sample obtained by phlebotomy of the venous system or, if technically feasible, from a fingerstick sample of capillary blood. The sample is to be analyzed by an accredited laboratory.

     Abnormalities in a CBC may be due to a number of different etiologies. The concern for workers exposed to BD includes, but is not limited to, timely identification of lymphohematopoietic cancers, such as leukemia and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Abnormalities of portions of the CBC are identified by comparing an individual's results to those of an established range of normal values for males and females. A substantial change in any individual employee's CBC may also be viewed as "abnormal" for that individual even if all measurements fall within the population-based range of normal values. It is suggested that a flowsheet for laboratory values be included in each employee's medical record so that comparisons and trends in annual CBCs can be easily made.

     A determination of the clinical significance of an abnormal CBC shall be the responsibility of the examining physician, other licensed health care professional, or medical specialist to whom the employee is referred. Ideally, an abnormal CBC should be compared to previous CBC measurements for the same employee, when available. Clinical common sense may dictate that a CBC value that is very slightly outside the normal range does not warrant medical concern. A CBC abnormality may also be the result of a temporary physical stressor, such as a transient viral illness, blood donation, or menorrhagia, or laboratory error. In these cases, the CBC should be repeated in a timely fashion, i.e., within 6 weeks, to verify that return to the normal range has occurred. A clinically significant abnormal CBC should result in removal of the employee from further exposure to BD. Transfer of the employee to other work duties in a BD-free environment would be the preferred recommendation.

     (c) Physical Examination.

     The medical screening and surveillance program requires an initial physical examination for workers exposed to BD; this examination is repeated once every three years. The initial physical examination should assess each worker's baseline general health and rule out clinical signs of medical conditions that may be caused by or aggravated by occupational BD exposure. The physical examination should be directed at identification of signs of lymphohematopoietic disorders, including lymph node enlargement, splenomegaly, and hepatomegaly.

     Repeated physical examinations should update objective clinical findings that could be indicative of interim development of a lymphohematopoietic disorder, such as lymphoma, leukemia, or other blood abnormality. Physical examinations may also be provided on an as needed basis in order to follow up on a positive answer on the health questionnaire, or in response to an abnormal CBC. Physical examination of workers who will no longer be working in jobs with BD exposure are intended to rule out lymphohematopoietic disorders.

     The need for physical examinations for workers concerned about adverse reproductive effects from their exposure to BD should be identified by the physician or other licensed health care professional and provided accordingly. For these workers, such consultations and examinations may relate to developmental toxicity and reproductive capacity.

     Physical examination of workers acutely exposed to significant levels of BD should be especially directed at the respiratory system, eyes, sinuses, skin, nervous system, and any region associated with particular complaints. If the worker has received a severe acute exposure, hospitalization may be required to assure proper medical management. Since this type of exposure may place workers at greater risk of blood abnormalities, a CBC must be obtained within 48 hours and repeated at one, two, and three months.


     Appendix D: Sampling and Analytical Method for 1,3-Butadiene (Nonmandatory)

     OSHA Method No.: 56.

     Matrix: Air.

     Target concentration: 1 ppm (2.21 mg/m(3)).

     Procedure: Air samples are collected by drawing known volumes of air through sampling tubes containing charcoal adsorbent which has been coated with 4-tert-butylcatechol. The samples are desorbed with carbon disulfide and then analyzed by gas chromatography using a flame ionization detector.

     Recommended sampling rate and air volume: 0.05 L/min and 3 L.

     Detection limit of the overall procedure: 90 ppb (200 ug/m(3)) (based on 3 L air volume).

     Reliable quantitation limit: 155 ppb (343 ug/m(3)) (based on 3 L air volume).

     Standard error of estimate at the target concentration: 6.5%.

     Special requirements: The sampling tubes must be coated with 4-tert-butylcatechol. Collected samples should be stored in a freezer.

     Status of method: A sampling and analytical method has been subjected to the established evaluation procedures of the Organic Methods Evaluation Branch, OSHA Analytical Laboratory, Salt Lake City, Utah 84165.

     (1) Background.

     This work was undertaken to develop a sampling and analytical procedure for BD at 1 ppm. The current method recommended by OSHA for collecting BD uses activated coconut shell charcoal as the sampling medium (Ref. 5.2). This method was found to be inadequate for use at low BD levels because of sample instability.

     The stability of samples has been significantly improved through the use of a specially cleaned charcoal which is coated with 4-tert-butylcatechol (TBC). TBC is a polymerization inhibitor for BD (Ref. 5.3).

     (a) Toxic effects.

     Symptoms of human exposure to BD include irritation of the eyes, nose and throat. It can also cause coughing, drowsiness and fatigue. Dermatitis and frostbite can result from skin exposure to liquid BD. (Ref. 5.1)

     NIOSH recommends that BD be handled in the workplace as a potential occupational carcinogen. This recommendation is based on two inhalation studies that resulted in cancers at multiple sites in rats and in mice. BD has also demonstrated mutagenic activity in the presence of a liver microsomal activating system. It has also been reported to have adverse reproductive effects. (Ref. 5.1)

     (b) Potential workplace exposure.

     About 90% of the annual production of BD is used to manufacture styrene-butadiene rubber and Polybutadiene rubber. Other uses include: Polychloroprene rubber, acrylonitrile butadiene-styrene resins, nylon intermediates, styrene-butadiene latexes, butadiene polymers, thermoplastic elastomers, nitrile resins, methyl methacrylate-butadiene styrene resins and chemical intermediates. (Ref. 5.1)

     (c) Physical properties (Ref. 5.1).

     CAS No.: 106-99-0

     Molecular weight: 54.1

     Appearance: Colorless gas

     Boiling point: -4.41 deg. C (760 mm Hg)

     Freezing point: -108.9 deg. C

     Vapor pressure: 2 atm (a) 15.3 deg. C; 5 atm (a) 47 deg. C

     Explosive limits: 2 to 11.5% (by volume in air)

     Odor threshold: 0.45 ppm

     Structural formula: H(2)C:CHCH:CH(2)

     Synonyms: BD; biethylene; bivinyl; butadiene; divinyl; buta-1,3-diene; alpha-gamma-butadiene; erythrene; NCI-C50602; pyrrolylene; vinylethylene.

     (d) Limit defining parameters.

     The analyte air concentrations listed throughout this method are based on an air volume of 3 L and a desorption volume of 1 mL. Air concentrations listed in ppm are referenced to 25 deg. C and 760 mm Hg.

     (e) Detection limit of the analytical procedure.

     The detection limit of the analytical procedure was 304 pg per injection. This was the amount of BD which gave a response relative to the interferences present in a standard.

     (f) Detection limit of the overall procedure.

     The detection limit of the overall procedure was 0.60 ug per sample (90 ppb or 200 ug/m(3)). This amount was determined graphically. It was the amount of analyte which, when spiked on the sampling device, would allow recovery approximately equal to the detection limit of the analytical procedure.

     (g) Reliable quantitation limit.

     The reliable quantitation limit was 1.03 ug per sample (155 ppb or 343 ug/m(3)). This was the smallest amount of analyte which could be quantitated within the limits of a recovery of at least 75% and a precision (+/- 1.96 SD) of +/-25% or better.

     (h) Sensitivity.(1)


Footnote (1) The reliable quantitation limit and detection limits reported in the method are based upon optimization of the instrument for the smallest possible amount of analyte. When the target concentration of an analyte is exceptionally higher than these limits, they may not be attainable at the routine operation parameters.
     The sensitivity of the analytical procedure over a concentration range representing 0.6 to 2 times the target concentration, based on the recommended air volume, was 387 area units per ug/mL. This value was determined from the slope of the calibration curve. The sensitivity may vary with the particular instrument used in the analysis.

     (i) Recovery.

     The recovery of BD from samples used in storage tests remained above 77% when the samples were stored at ambient temperature and above 94% when the samples were stored at refrigerated temperature. These values were determined from regression lines which were calculated from the storage data. The recovery of the analyte from the collection device must be at least 75% following storage.

     (j) Precision (analytical method only).

     The pooled coefficient of variation obtained from replicate determinations of analytical standards over the range of 0.6 to 2 times the target concentration was 0.011.

     (k) Precision (overall procedure).

     The precision at the 95% confidence level for the refrigerated temperature storage test was +/- 12.7%. This value includes an additional +/- 5% for sampling error. The overall procedure must provide results at the target concentrations that are +/- 25% at the 95% confidence level.

     (l) Reproducibility.

     Samples collected from a controlled test atmosphere and a draft copy of this procedure were given to a chemist unassociated with this evaluation. The average recovery was 97.2% and the standard deviation was 6.2%.

     (2) Sampling procedure.

     (a) Apparatus. Samples are collected by use of a personal sampling pump that can be calibrated to within +/- 5% of the recommended 0.05 L/min sampling rate with the sampling tube in line.

     (b) Samples are collected with laboratory prepared sampling tubes. The sampling tube is constructed of silane-treated glass and is about 5-cm long. The ID is 4 mm and the OD is 6 mm. One end of the tube is tapered so that a glass wool end plug will hold the contents of the tube in place during sampling. The opening in the tapered end of the sampling tube is at least one-half the ID of the tube (2 mm). The other end of the sampling tube is open to its full 4-mm ID to facilitate packing of the tube. Both ends of the tube are fire-polished for safety. The tube is packed with 2 sections of pretreated charcoal which has been coated with TBC. The tube is packed with a 50-mg backup section, located nearest the tapered end, and with a 100-mg sampling section of charcoal. The two sections of coated adsorbent are separated and retained with small plugs of silanized glass wool. Following packing, the sampling tubes are sealed with two 7/32 inch OD plastic end caps. Instructions for the pretreatment and coating of the charcoal are presented in Section 4.1 of this method.

     (c) Reagents.

     None required.

     (d) Technique.

     (i) Properly label the sampling tube before sampling and then remove the plastic end caps.

     (ii) Attach the sampling tube to the pump using a section of flexible plastic tubing such that the larger front section of the sampling tube is exposed directly to the atmosphere. Do not place any tubing ahead of the sampling tube. The sampling tube should be attached in the worker's breathing zone in a vertical manner such that it does not impede work performance.

     (iii) After sampling for the appropriate time, remove the sampling tube from the pump and then seal the tube with plastic end caps. Wrap the tube lengthwise.

     (iv) Include at least one blank for each sampling set. The blank should be handled in the same manner as the samples with the exception that air is not drawn through it.

     (v) List any potential interferences on the sample data sheet.

     (vi) The samples require no special shipping precautions under normal conditions. The samples should be refrigerated if they are to be exposed to higher than normal ambient temperatures. If the samples are to be stored before they are shipped to the laboratory, they should be kept in a freezer. The samples should be placed in a freezer upon receipt at the laboratory.

     (e) Breakthrough.

     (Breakthrough was defined as the relative amount of analyte found on the backup section of the tube in relation to the total amount of analyte collected on the sampling tube. Five-percent breakthrough occurred after sampling a test atmosphere containing 2.0 ppm BD for 90 min. at 0.05 L/min. At the end of this time 4.5 L of air had been sampled and 20.1 ug of the analyte was collected. The relative humidity of the sampled air was 80% at 23 deg. C.)

     Breakthrough studies have shown that the recommended sampling procedure can be used at air concentrations higher than the target concentration. The sampling time, however, should be reduced to 45 min. if both the expected BD level and the relative humidity of the sampled air are high.

     (f) Desorption efficiency.

     The average desorption efficiency for BD from TBC coated charcoal over the range from 0.6 to 2 times the target concentration was 96.4%. The efficiency was essentially constant over the range studied.

     (g) Recommended air volume and sampling rate.

     (h) The recommended air volume is 3 L.

     (i) The recommended sampling rate is 0.05 L/min. for 1 hour.

     (j) Interferences.

     There are no known interferences to the sampling method.

     (k) Safety precautions.

     (i) Attach the sampling equipment to the worker in such a manner that it will not interfere with work performance or safety.

     (ii) Follow all safety practices that apply to the work area being sampled.

     (3) Analytical procedure.

     (a) Apparatus.

     (i) A gas chromatograph (GC), equipped with a flame ionization detector (FID).(2)


Footnote (2) A Hewlett-Packard Model 5840A GC was used for this evaluation. Injections were performed using a Hewlett-Packard Model 7671A automatic sampler.
     (ii) A GC column capable of resolving the analytes from any interference.(3)


Footnote (3) A 20-ft x 1/8-inch OD stainless steel GC column containing 20% FFAP on 80/100 mesh Chromabsorb W-AW-DMCS was used for this evaluation.
     (iii) Vials, glass 2-mL with Teflon-lined caps.

     (iv) Disposable Pasteur-type pipets, volumetric flasks, pipets and syringes for preparing samples and standards, making dilutions and performing injections.

     (b) Reagents.

     (i) Carbon disulfide.(4)


Footnote (4) Fisher Scientific Company A.C.S. Reagent Grade solvent was used in this evaluation.
     The benzene contaminant that was present in the carbon disulfide was used as an internal standard (ISTD) in this evaluation.

     (ii) Nitrogen, hydrogen and air, GC grade.

     (iii) BD of known high purity.(5)


Footnote (5) Matheson Gas Products, CP Grade 1,3-butadiene was used in this study.
     (c) Standard preparation.

     (i) Prepare standards by diluting known volumes of BD gas with carbon disulfide. This can be accomplished by injecting the appropriate volume of BD into the headspace above the 1-mL of carbon disulfide contained in sealed 2-mL vial. Shake the vial after the needle is removed from the septum.(6)


Footnote (6) A standard containing 7.71 ug/mL (at ambient temperature and pressure) was prepared by diluting 4 uL of the gas with 1-mL of carbon disulfide.
     (ii) The mass of BD gas used to prepare standards can be determined by use of the following equations:

     MV = (760/BP)(273+t)/(273)(22.41)

     Where:

     MV = ambient molar volume

     BP = ambient barometric pressure

     T = ambient temperature

     ug/uL = 54.09/MV

     ug/standard = (ug/uL)(uL) BD used to prepare the standard

     (d) Sample preparation.

     (i) Transfer the 100-mg section of the sampling tube to a 2-mL vial. Place the 50-mg section in a separate vial. If the glass wool plugs contain a significant amount of charcoal, place them with the appropriate sampling tube section.

     (ii) Add 1-mL of carbon disulfide to each vial.

     (iii) Seal the vials with Teflon-lined caps and then allow them to desorb for one hour. Shake the vials by hand vigorously several times during the desorption period.

     (iv) If it is not possible to analyze the samples within 4 hours, separate the carbon disulfide from the charcoal, using a disposable Pasteur-type pipet, following the one hour. This separation will improve the stability of desorbed samples.

     (v) Save the used sampling tubes to be cleaned and repacked with fresh adsorbent.

     (e) Analysis.

     (i) GC Conditions.

     Column temperature: 95 deg. C

     Injector temperature: 180 deg. C

     Detector temperature: 275 deg. C

     Carrier gas flow rate: 30 mL/min.

     Injection volume: 0.80 uL

     GC column: 20-ft x 1/8-in OD stainless steel GC column containing 20%

     FFAP on 80/100 Chromabsorb W-AW-DMCS.

     (ii) Chromatogram. See Section 4.2.

     (iii) Use a suitable method, such as electronic or peak heights, to measure detector response.

     (iv) Prepare a calibration curve using several standard solutions of different concentrations. Prepare the calibration curve daily. Program the integrator to report the results in ug/mL.

     (v) Bracket sample concentrations with standards.

     (f) Interferences (analytical).

     (i) Any compound with the same general retention time as the analyte and which also gives a detector response is a potential interference. Possible interferences should be reported by the industrial hygienist to the laboratory with submitted samples.

     (ii) GC parameters (temperature, column, etc.) may be changed to circumvent interferences.

     (iii) A useful means of structure designation is GC/MS. It is recommended that this procedure be used to confirm samples whenever possible.

     (g) Calculations.

     (i) Results are obtained by use of calibration curves. Calibration curves are prepared by plotting detector response against concentration for each standard. The best line through the data points is determined by curve fitting.

     (ii) The concentration, in ug/mL, for a particular sample is determined by comparing its detector response to the calibration curve. If any analyte is found on the backup section, this amount is added to the amount found on the front section. Blank corrections should be performed before adding the results together.

     (iii) The BD air concentration can be expressed using the following equation:

     mg/m(3) = (A)(B)/(C)(D)

     Where:

     A = ug/mL from Section 3.7.2

     B = volume

     C = L of air sampled

     D = efficiency

     (iv) The following equation can be used to convert results in mg/m(3) to ppm:

     ppm = (mg/m(3))(24.46)/54.09

     Where:

     mg/m(3) = result from Section 3.7.3.

     24.46 = molar volume of an ideal gas at 760 mm Hg and 25 deg. C.

     (h) Safety precautions (analytical).

     (i) Avoid skin contact and inhalation of all chemicals.

     (ii) Restrict the use of all chemicals to a fume hood whenever possible.

     (iii) Wear safety glasses and a lab coat in all laboratory areas.

     (4) Additional Information.

     (a) A procedure to prepare specially cleaned charcoal coated with TBC.

     (i) Apparatus.

     (A) Magnetic stirrer and stir bar.

     (B) Tube furnace capable of maintaining a temperature of 700 deg. C and equipped with a quartz tube that can hold 30 g of charcoal.(8)


Footnote (8) A Lindberg Type 55035 Tube furnace was used in this evaluation.
     (C) A means to purge nitrogen gas through the charcoal inside the quartz tube.

     (D) Water bath capable of maintaining a temperature of 60 deg. C.

     (E) Miscellaneous laboratory equipment: One-liter vacuum flask, 1-L Erlenmeyer flask, 350-M1 Buchner funnel with a coarse fitted disc, 4-oz brown bottle, rubber stopper, Teflon tape etc.

     (ii) Reagents.

     (A) Phosphoric acid, 10% by weight, in water.(9)


Footnote (9) Baker Analyzed Reagent grade was diluted with water for use in this evaluation.
     (B) 4-tert-Butylcatechol (TBC).(10)


Footnote (10) The Aldrich Chemical Company 99% grade was used in this evaluation.
     (C) Specially cleaned coconut shell charcoal, 20/40 mesh.(11)


Footnote (11) Specially cleaned charcoal was obtained from Supelco, Inc. for use in this evaluation. The cleaning process used by Supelco is proprietary.
     (D) Nitrogen gas, GC grade.

     (iii) Procedure.

     Weigh 30g of charcoal into a 500-mL Erlenmeyer flask. Add about 250 mL of 10% phosphoric acid to the flask and then swirl the mixture. Stir the mixture for 1 hour using a magnetic stirrer. Filter the mixture using a fitted Buchner funnel. Wash the charcoal several times with 250-mL portions of deionized water to remove all traces of the acid. Transfer the washed charcoal to the tube furnace quartz tube. Place the quartz tube in the furnace and then connect the nitrogen gas purge to the tube. Fire the charcoal to 700 deg. C. Maintain that temperature for at least 1 hour. After the charcoal has cooled to room temperature, transfer it to a tared beaker. Determine the weight of the charcoal and then add an amount of TBC which is 10% of the charcoal, by weight.

     CAUTION-TBC is toxic and should only be handled in a fume hood while wearing gloves.

     Carefully mix the contents of the beaker and then transfer the mixture to a 4-oz bottle. Stopper the bottle with a clean rubber stopper which has been wrapped with Teflon tape. Clamp the bottle in a water bath so that the water level is above the charcoal level. Gently heat the bath to 60 deg. C and then maintain that temperature for 1 hour. Cool the charcoal to room temperature and then transfer the coated charcoal to a suitable container.

     The coated charcoal is now ready to be packed into sampling tubes. The sampling tubes should be stored in a sealed container to prevent contamination. Sampling tubes should be stored in the dark at room temperature. The sampling tubes should be segregated by coated adsorbent lot number.

     (b) Chromatograms.

     The chromatograms were obtained using the recommended analytical method. The chart speed was set at 1 cm/min. for the first three min. and then at 0.2 cm/min. for the time remaining in the analysis.

     The peak which elutes just before BD is a reaction product between an impurity on the charcoal and TBC. This peak is always present, but it is easily resolved from the analyte. The peak which elutes immediately before benzene is an oxidation product of TBC.

     (5) References.

     (a) "Current Intelligence Bulletin 41, 1,3-Butadiene", U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service, Center for Disease Control, NIOSH.

     (b) "NIOSH Manual of Analytical Methods", 2nd ed.; U.S. Dept. of Health Education and Welfare, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health: Cincinnati, OH. 1977, Vol. 2, Method No. S91 DHEW (NIOSH) Publ. (U.S.), No. 77-157-B.

     (c) Hawley, G.C., Ed. "The Condensed Chemical Dictionary", 8th ed.; Van Nostrand Rienhold Company: New York, 1971; 139.5.4. Chem. Eng. News (June 10, 1985), (63), 22-66.


     Appendix E: Reserved.


APPENDIX F, MEDICAL QUESTIONNAIRES, (Non-mandatory)


1,3-Butadiene (BD) Initial Health Questionnaire


DIRECTIONS:


You have been asked to answer the questions on this form because you work with BD (butadiene). These questions are about your work, medical history, and health concerns. Please do your best to answer all of the questions. If you need help, please tell the doctor or health care professional who reviews this form.


This form is a confidential medical record. Only information directly related to your health and safety on the job may be given to your employer. Personal health information will not be given to anyone without your consent.


Date:
Name: SSN / /    
Last First MI
Job Title:
Company's Name:
Supervisor's Name:
Supervisor's Phone No.: ( )      -    

Work History


1. Please list all jobs you have had in the past, starting with the job you have now and moving back in time to your first job. (For more space, write on the back of this page.)


Main Job Duty

Year

Company Name

City, State


Chemicals

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.


2. Please describe what you do during a typical work day. Be sure to tell about your work with BD.

3. Please check any of these chemicals that you work with now or have worked with in the past:


benzene     
glues     
toluene     
inks, dyes     
other solvents, grease cutters     
insecticides (like DDT, lindane, etc.)     
paints, varnishes, thinners, strippers     
dusts     
carbon tetrachloride ("carbon tet")     
arsine     
carbon disulfide     
lead     
cement     
petroleum products     
nitrites     

4. Please check the protective clothing or equipment you use at the job you have now:


gloves     
coveralls     
respirator     
dust mask     
safety glasses, goggles     

Please circle your answer.


5. Does your protective clothing or equipment fit you

properly? yes no


6. Have you ever made changes in your protective clothing or equipment to make it fit better? yes no


7. Have you been exposed to BD when you were not wearing protective clothing or equipment? yes no


8. Where do you eat, drink and/or smoke when you are at work? (Please check all that apply.)

Cafeteria/restaurant/snack bar     
Break room/employee lounge     
Smoking lounge     
At my work station     

Please circle your answer.


9. Have you been exposed to radiation (like x-rays or nuclear material) at the job you have now or at past

jobs? yes no


10. Do you have any hobbies that expose you to dusts or chemicals (including paints, glues, etc.)? yes no


11. Do you have any second or side jobs? yes no

If yes, what are your duties there?

12. Were you in the military? yes no


If yes, what did you do in the military?

Family Health History

1. In the FAMILY MEMBER column, across from the disease name, write which family member, if any, had the disease.


DISEASE                         FAMILY MEMBER

Cancer

Lymphoma

Sickle Cell Disease or Trait

Immune Disease

Leukemia

Anemia


2. Please fill in the following information about family health


Relative

Alive?

Age at Death?

Cause of Death?

Father

Mother

Brother/Sister

Brother/Sister

Brother/Sister


Personal Health History


Birth Date      / / Age      Sex      Height     Weight     


Please circle your answer.


1. Do you smoke any tobacco products? yes no


2. Have you ever had any kind of surgery or operation?

     yes no


     If yes, what type of surgery:


3. Have you ever been in the hospital for any other

reasons? yes no

If yes, please describe the reason

4. Do you have any on-going or current medical problems

or conditions? yes no


If yes, please describe:

5. Do you now have or have you ever had any of the following? Please check all that apply to you.
unexplained fever     
anemia ("low blood")     
HIV/AIDS     
weakness     
sickle cell     
miscarriage     
skin rash     
bloody stools     
leukemia/lymphoma     
neck mass/swelling     
wheezing     
yellowing of skin     
bruising easily     
lupus     
weight loss     
kidney problems     
enlarged lymph nodes     
liver disease     
cancer     
infertility     
drinking problems     
thyroid problems     
night sweats     
chest pain     
still birth     
eye redness     
lumps you can feel     
child with birth defect     
autoimmune disease     
overly tired     
lung problems     
rheumatoid arthritis     
mononucleosis ("mono")     
nagging cough     

Please circle your answer.


6. Do you have any symptoms or health problems that you think may be related to your work with BD? yes no

If yes, please describe:
7. Have any of your co-workers had similar symptoms or

problems? yes no don't know


If yes, please describe:

8. Do you notice any irritation of your eyes, nose, throat, lungs, or skin when working with BD? yes no


9. Do you notice any blurred vision, coughing, drowsiness, nausea, or headache when working with BD? yes no


10. Do you take any medications (including birth control or over-the-counter)? yes no


If yes, please list:

11. Are you allergic to any medication, food, or chemicals? yes no


If yes, please list:

12. Do you have any health conditions not covered by this questionnaire that you think are affected by your work with

BD? yes no


If yes, please explain:

13. Did you understand all the questions? yes no

              

Signature



1,3-Butadiene (BD) Health Update Questionnaire


DIRECTIONS:


You have been asked to answer the questions on this form because you work with BD (butadiene). These questions are about your work, medical history, and health concerns. Please do your best to answer all of the questions. If you need help, please tell the doctor or health care professional who reviews this form.


This form is a confidential medical record. Only information directly related to your health and safety on the job may be given to your employer. Personal health information will not be given to anyone without your consent.

Date:
Name: SSN / /    
Last First MI
Job Title:
Company's Name:
Supervisor's Name:
Supervisor's Phone No.: ( )      -    

1. Please describe any NEW duties that you have at your

job.                                                            


2. Please describe any additional job duties you have:
Please circle your answer.


3. Are you exposed to any other chemicals in your work

since the last time you were evaluated for exposure to

BD? yes no


If yes, please list what they are:                         

4. Does your personal protective equipment and clothing fit you properly? yes no


5. Have you made changes in this equipment or clothing to make if fit better? yes no


6. Have you been exposed to BD when you were not wearing protective clothing or equipment? yes no


7. Are you exposed to any NEW chemicals at home or while working on hobbies? yes no


If yes, please list what they are:                         

8. Since your last BD health evaluation, have you started working any new second or side jobs? yes no


If yes, what are your duties there?


Personal Health History


1. What is your current weight?      pounds


2. Have you been diagnosed with any new medical

conditions or illness since your last evaluation?

yes     no


If yes, please tell what they are:                         

3. Since your last evaluation, have you been in the hospital for any illnesses, injuries, or surgery? yes no


If yes, please describe:                                   

4. Do you have any of the following? Please place a check for all that apply to you.
unexplained fever     
anemia ("low blood")     
HIV/AIDS     
weakness     
sickle cell     
miscarriage     
skin rash     
bloody stools     
leukemia/lymphoma     
neck mass/swelling     
wheezing     
yellowing of skin     
bruising easily     
lupus     
weight loss     
kidney problems     
enlarged lymph nodes     
liver disease     
cancer     
infertility     
drinking problems     
thyroid problems     
night sweats     
chest pain     
still birth     
eye redness     
lumps you can feel     
child with birth defect     
autoimmune disease     
overly tired     
lung problems     
rheumatoid arthritis     
mononucleosis ("mono")     
nagging cough     

     Please circle your answer.


5. Do you have any symptoms or health problems that you think may be related to your work with BD? yes no

If yes, please describe:

6. Have any of your co-workers had similar symptoms or

problems? yes no don't know

If yes, please describe:

7. Do you notice any irritation of your eyes, nose, throat, lungs, or skin when working with BD? yes no


8. Do you notice any blurred vision, coughing, drowsiness, nausea, or headache when working with BD? yes no


9. Have you been taking any NEW medications (including birth control or over-the-counter)? yes no


     If yes, please list:

10. Have you developed any new allergies to medications, foods, or chemicals? yes no


     If yes, please list:

11. Do you have any health conditions not covered by this

questionnaire that you think are affected by your work with

BD? yes no

If yes, please explain:

12. Do you understand all the questions? yes no


              

Signature

[Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.010, 49.17.040, 49.17.050, and 49.17.060. 04-10-026, § 296-62-07460, filed 4/27/04, effective 8/1/04; 03-18-090, § 296-62-07460, filed 9/2/03, effective 11/1/03. Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.010, [49.17].040, and [49.17].050. 01-11-038, § 296-62-07460, filed 5/9/01, effective 9/1/01; 99-10-071, § 296-62-07460, filed 5/4/99, effective 9/1/99. Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.040, [49.17.]050 and [49.17.]060. 97-19-014, § 296-62-07460, filed 9/5/97, effective 11/5/97.]


AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 04-10-026, filed 4/27/04, effective 8/1/04)

WAC 296-62-07521   Lead.   (1) Scope and application.

     (a) This section applies to all occupational exposure to lead, except as provided in subdivision (1)(b).

     (b) This section does not apply to the construction industry or to agricultural operations covered by chapter 296-307 WAC.

     (2) Definitions as applicable to this part.

     (a) "Action level" - employee exposure, without regard to the use of respirators, to an airborne concentration of lead of thirty micrograms per cubic meter of air (30 ΅g/m3) averaged over an eight-hour period.

     (b) "Director" - the director of the department of labor and industries.

     (c) "Lead" - metallic lead, all inorganic lead compounds, and organic lead soaps. Excluded from this definition are all other organic lead compounds.

     (3) General requirements.

     (a) Employers will assess the hazards of lead in the work place and provide information to the employees about the hazards of the lead exposures to which they may be exposed.

     (b) Information provided shall include:

     (i) Exposure monitoring (including employee notification);

     (ii) Written compliance programs;

     (iii) Respiratory protection programs;

     (iv) Personnel protective equipment and housekeeping;

     (v) Medical surveillance and examinations;

     (vi) Training requirements;

     (vii) Recordkeeping requirements.

     (4) Permissible exposure limit (PEL).

     (a) The employer shall assure that no employee is exposed to lead at concentrations greater than fifty micrograms per cubic meter of air (50 ΅g/m3) averaged over an eight-hour period.

     (b) If an employee is exposed to lead for more than eight hours in any work day, the permissible exposure limit, as a time weighted average (TWA) for that day, shall be reduced according to the following formula:


     Maximum permissible limit (in ΅g/m3) = 400 χ

     hours worked in the day.


     (c) When respirators are used to supplement engineering and work practice controls to comply with the PEL and all the requirements of subsection (7) have been met, employee exposure, for the purpose of determining whether the employer has complied with the PEL, may be considered to be at the level provided by the protection factor of the respirator for those periods the respirator is worn. Those periods may be averaged with exposure levels during periods when respirators are not worn to determine the employee's daily TWA exposure.

     (5) Exposure monitoring.

     (a) General.

     (i) For the purposes of subsection (5), employee exposure is that exposure which would occur if the employee were not using a respirator.

     (ii) With the exception of monitoring under subdivision (5)(c), the employer shall collect full shift (for at least seven continuous hours) personal samples including at least one sample for each shift for each job classification in each work area.

     (iii) Full shift personal samples shall be representative of the monitored employee's regular, daily exposure to lead.

     (b) Initial determination. Each employer who has a workplace or work operation covered by this standard shall determine if any employee may be exposed to lead at or above the action level.

     (c) Basis of initial determination.

     (i) The employer shall monitor employee exposures and shall base initial determinations on the employee exposure monitoring results and any of the following, relevant considerations:

     (A) Any information, observations, or calculations which would indicate employee exposure to lead;

     (B) Any previous measurements of airborne lead; and

     (C) Any employee complaints of symptoms which may be attributable to exposure to lead.

     (ii) Monitoring for the initial determination may be limited to a representative sample of the exposed employees who the employer reasonably believes are exposed to the greatest airborne concentrations of lead in the workplace.

     (iii) Measurements of airborne lead made in the preceding twelve months may be used to satisfy the requirement to monitor under item (5)(c)(i) if the sampling and analytical methods used meet the accuracy and confidence levels of subdivision (5)(i) of this section.

     (d) Positive initial determination and initial monitoring.

     (i) Where a determination conducted under subdivision (5)(b) and (5)(c) of this section shows the possibility of any employee exposure at or above the action level, the employer shall conduct monitoring which is representative of the exposure for each employee in the workplace who is exposed to lead.

     (ii) Measurements of airborne lead made in the preceding twelve months may be used to satisfy this requirement if the sampling and analytical methods used meet the accuracy and confidence levels of subdivision (5)(i) of this section.

     (e) Negative initial determination. Where a determination, conducted under subdivisions (5)(b) and (5)(c) of this section is made that no employee is exposed to airborne concentrations of lead at or above the action level, the employer shall make a written record of such determination. The record shall include at least the information specified in subdivision (5)(c) of this section and shall also include the date of determination, location within the worksite, and the name and social security number of each employee monitored.

     (f) Frequency.

     (i) If the initial monitoring reveals employee exposure to be below the action level the measurements need not be repeated except as otherwise provided in subdivision (5)(g) of this section.

     (ii) If the initial determination or subsequent monitoring reveals employee exposure to be at or above the action level but below the permissible exposure limit the employer shall repeat monitoring in accordance with this subsection at least every six months. The employer shall continue monitoring at the required frequency until at least two consecutive measurements, taken at least seven days apart, are below the action level at which time the employer may discontinue monitoring for that employee except as otherwise provided in subdivision (5)(g) of this section.

     (iii) If the initial monitoring reveals that employee exposure is above the permissible exposure limit the employer shall repeat monitoring quarterly. The employer shall continue monitoring at the required frequency until at least two consecutive measurements, taken at least seven days apart, are below the PEL but at or above the action level at which time the employer shall repeat monitoring for that employee at the frequency specified in item (5)(f)(ii), except as otherwise provided in subdivision (5)(g) of this section.

     (g) Additional monitoring. Whenever there has been a production, process, control or personnel change which may result in new or additional exposure to lead, or whenever the employer has any other reason to suspect a change which may result in new or additional exposures to lead, additional monitoring in accordance with this subsection shall be conducted.

     (h) Employee notification.

     (i) Within five working days after the receipt of monitoring results, the employer shall notify each employee in writing of the results which represent that employee's exposure.

     (ii) Whenever the results indicate that the representative employee exposure, without regard to respirators, exceeds the permissible exposure limit, the employer shall include in the written notice a statement that the permissible exposure limit was exceeded and a description of the corrective action taken or to be taken to reduce exposure to or below the permissible exposure limit.

     (i) Accuracy of measurement. The employer shall use a method of monitoring and analysis which has an accuracy (to a confidence level of ninety-five percent) of not less than plus or minus twenty percent for airborne concentrations of lead equal to or greater than 30 ΅g/m3.

     (6) Methods of compliance.

     (a) Engineering and work practice controls.

     (i) Where any employee is exposed to lead above the permissible exposure limit for more than thirty days per year, the employer shall implement engineering and work practice controls (including administrative controls) to reduce and maintain employee exposure to lead in accordance with the implementation schedule in Table I below, except to the extent that the employer can demonstrate that such controls are not feasible. Wherever the engineering and work practice controls which can be instituted are not sufficient to reduce employee exposure to or below the permissible exposure limit, the employer shall nonetheless use them to reduce exposures to the lowest feasible level and shall supplement them by the use of respiratory protection which complies with the requirements of subsection (7) of this section.

     (ii) Where any employee is exposed to lead above the permissible exposure limit, but for thirty days or less per year, the employer shall implement engineering controls to reduce exposures to 200 ΅g/m3, but thereafter may implement any combination of engineering, work practice (including administrative controls), and respiratory controls to reduce and maintain employee exposure to lead to or below 50 ΅g/m3.

TABLE 1

          Industry Compliance dates:1

(50 ΅g/m3)

Lead chemicals, secondary copper smelting.

Nonferrous foundries . . . . . . . . . . . .

July 19, 1996

July 19, 1996.2

Brass and bronze ingot manufacture. 6 years.3

1 Calculated by counting from the date the stay on implementation of subsection (6)(a) was lifted by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia, the number of years specified in the 1978 lead standard and subsequent amendments for compliance with the PEL of 50 ΅g/m3 for exposure to airborne concentrations of lead levels for the particular industry.
2 Large nonferrous foundries (20 or more employees) are required to achieve the PEL of 50 ΅g/m3 by means of engineering and work practice controls. Small nonferrous foundries (fewer than 20 employees) are required to achieve an 8-hour TWA of 75 ΅g/m3 by such controls.
3 Expressed as the number of years from the date on which the Court lifts the stay on the implementation of subsection (6)(a) for this industry for employers to achieve a lead in air concentration of 75 ΅g/m3. Compliance with subsection (6) in this industry is determined by a compliance directive that incorporates elements from the settlement agreement between OSHA and representatives of the industry.

     (b) Respiratory protection. Where engineering and work practice controls do not reduce employee exposure to or below the 50 ΅g/m3 permissible exposure limit, the employer shall supplement these controls with respirators in accordance with subsection (7).

     (c) Compliance program.

     (i) Each employer shall establish and implement a written compliance program to reduce exposures to or below the permissible exposure limit, and interim levels if applicable, solely by means of engineering and work practice controls in accordance with the implementation schedule in subdivision (6)(a).

     (ii) Written plans for these compliance programs shall include at least the following:

     (A) A description of each operation in which lead is emitted; e.g., machinery used, material processed, controls in place, crew size, employee job responsibilities, operating procedures and maintenance practices;

     (B) A description of the specific means that will be employed to achieve compliance, including engineering plans and studies used to determine methods selected for controlling exposure to lead;

     (C) A report of the technology considered in meeting the permissible exposure limit;

     (D) Air monitoring data which documents the source of lead emissions;

     (E) A detailed schedule for implementation of the program, including documentation such as copies of purchase orders for equipment, construction contracts, etc.;

     (F) A work practice program which includes items required under subsections (8), (9) and (10) of this regulation;

     (G) An administrative control schedule required by subdivision (6)(f), if applicable; and

     (H) Other relevant information.

     (iii) Written programs shall be submitted upon request to the director, and shall be available at the worksite for examination and copying by the director, any affected employee or authorized employee representatives.

     (iv) Written programs shall be revised and updated at least every six months to reflect the current status of the program.

     (d) Mechanical ventilation.

     (i) When ventilation is used to control exposure, measurements which demonstrate the effectiveness of the system in controlling exposure, such as capture velocity, duct velocity, or static pressure shall be made at least every three months. Measurements of the system's effectiveness in controlling exposure shall be made within five days of any change in production, process, or control which might result in a change in employee exposure to lead.

     (ii) Recirculation of air. If air from exhaust ventilation is recirculated into the workplace, the employer shall assure that (A) the system has a high efficiency filter with reliable back-up filter; and (B) controls to monitor the concentration of lead in the return air and to bypass the recirculation system automatically if it fails are installed, operating, and maintained.

     (e) Administrative controls. If administrative controls are used as a means of reducing employees TWA exposure to lead, the employer shall establish and implement a job rotation schedule which includes:

     (i) Name or identification number of each affected employee;

     (ii) Duration and exposure levels at each job or work station where each affected employee is located; and

     (iii) Any other information which may be useful in assessing the reliability of administrative controls to reduce exposure to lead.

     (7) Respiratory protection.

     (a) General. For employees who use respirators required by this section, the employer must provide respirators that comply with the requirements of this subsection. Respirators must be used during:

     (i) Period necessary to install or implement engineering or work-practice controls;

     (ii) Work operations for which engineering and work-practice controls are not sufficient to reduce exposures to or below the permissible exposure limit;

     (iii) Periods when an employee requests a respirator.

     (b) Respirator program.

     (i) The employer must implement a respiratory protection program as required by chapter ((296-62 WAC, Part E (except WAC 296-62-07130(1) and 296-62-07150 through 296-62-07156))) 296-842 WAC, except WAC 296-842-13005 and 296-842-14005.

     (ii) If an employee has breathing difficulty during fit testing or respirator use, the employer must provide the employee with a medical examination as required by subsection (11)(c)(ii)(C) of this section to determine whether or not the employee can use a respirator while performing the required duty.

     (c) Respirator selection.

     (i) The employer must select the appropriate respirator or combination of respirators from Table II of this section.

     (ii) The employer must provide a powered air-purifying respirator instead of the respirator specified in Table II of this section when an employee chooses to use this type of respirator and that such a respirator provides adequate protection to the employee.


TABLE II
RESPIRATORY PROTECTION FOR LEAD AEROSOLS

Airborne Concentration of

Lead or Condition of Use

Required Respirator1
Not in excess of 0.5 mg/m3

(10X PEL).

Half-mask, air-purifying respirator equipped with high efficiency filters.2,3
Not in excess of 2.5 mg/m3

(50X PEL).

Full facepiece, air-purifying respirator with high efficiency filters.3
Not in excess of 50 mg/m3

(1000X PEL).

(1) Any powered, air-purifying respirator with high efficiency filters3; or (2) Half-mask supplied-air respirator operated in positive-pressure mode.2
Not in excess of 100 mg/m3

(2000X PEL).

Supplied-air respirators with full facepiece, hood, helmet, or suit, operated in positive pressure mode.
Greater than 100 mg/m3,

unknown concentration or

fire fighting.

Full facepiece, self-contained breathing apparatus operated in positive-pressure mode.

Note: 1 Respirators specified for high concentrations can be used at lower concentrations of lead.
2 Full facepiece is required if the lead aerosols cause eye or skin irritation at the use concentrations.
3 A high efficiency particulate filter means 99.97 percent efficient against 0.3 micron size particles.

     (8) Protective work clothing and equipment.

     (a) Provision and use. If an employee is exposed to lead above the PEL, without regard to the use of respirators or where the possibility of skin or eye irritation exists, the employer shall provide at no cost to the employee and assure that the employee uses appropriate protective work clothing and equipment such as, but not limited to:

     (i) Coveralls or similar full-body work clothing;

     (ii) Gloves, hats, and shoes or disposable shoe coverlets; and

     (iii) Face shields, vented goggles, or other appropriate protective equipment which complies with WAC 296-800-160.

     (b) Cleaning and replacement.

     (i) The employer shall provide the protective clothing required in subdivision (8)(a) of this section in a clean and dry condition at least weekly, and daily to employees whose exposure levels without regard to a respirator are over 200 ΅g/m3 of lead as an eight-hour TWA.

     (ii) The employer shall provide for the cleaning, laundering, or disposal of protective clothing and equipment required by subdivision (8)(a) of this section.

     (iii) The employer shall repair or replace required protective clothing and equipment as needed to maintain their effectiveness.

     (iv) The employer shall assure that all protective clothing is removed at the completion of a work shift only in change rooms provided for that purpose as prescribed in subdivision (10)(b) of this section.

     (v) The employer shall assure that contaminated protective clothing which is to be cleaned, laundered, or disposed of, is placed in a closed container in the change-room which prevents dispersion of lead outside the container.

     (vi) The employer shall inform in writing any person who cleans or launders protective clothing or equipment of the potentially harmful effects of exposure to lead.

     (vii) The employer shall assure that the containers of contaminated protective clothing and equipment required by subdivision (8)(b)(v) are labeled as follows:


CAUTION: CLOTHING CONTAMINATED WITH LEAD.

DO NOT REMOVE DUST BY BLOWING OR SHAKING.

DISPOSE OF LEAD CONTAMINATED WASH WATER IN ACCORDANCE WITH APPLICABLE LOCAL, STATE, OR FEDERAL REGULATIONS.


     (viii) The employer shall prohibit the removal of lead from protective clothing or equipment by blowing, shaking, or any other means which disperses lead into the air.

     (9) Housekeeping.

     (a) Surfaces. All surfaces shall be maintained as free as practicable of accumulations of lead.

     (b) Cleaning floors.

     (i) Floors and other surfaces where lead accumulates may not be cleaned by the use of compressed air.

     (ii) Shoveling, dry or wet sweeping, and brushing may be used only where vacuuming or other equally effective methods have been tried and found not to be effective.

     (c) Vacuuming. Where vacuuming methods are selected, the vacuums shall be used and emptied in a manner which minimizes the reentry of lead into the workplace.

     (10) Hygiene facilities and practices.

     (a) The employer shall assure that in areas where employees are exposed to lead above the PEL, without regard to the use of respirators, food or beverage is not present or consumed, tobacco products are not present or used, and cosmetics are not applied, except in change rooms, lunchrooms, and showers required under subdivision (10)(b) through (10)(d) of this section.

     (b) Change rooms.

     (i) The employer shall provide clean change rooms for employees who work in areas where their airborne exposure to lead is above the PEL, without regard to the use of respirators.

     (ii) The employer shall assure that change rooms are equipped with separate storage facilities for protective work clothing and equipment and for street clothes which prevent cross-contamination.

     (c) Showers.

     (i) The employer shall assure that employees who work in areas where their airborne exposure to lead is above the PEL, without regard to the use of respirators, shower at the end of the work shift.

     (ii) The employer shall provide shower facilities in accordance with WAC 296-800-230.

     (iii) The employer shall assure that employees who are required to shower pursuant to item (10)(c)(i) do not leave the workplace wearing any clothing or equipment worn during the work shift.

     (d) Lunchrooms.

     (i) The employer shall provide lunchroom facilities for employees who work in areas where their airborne exposure to lead is above the PEL, without regard to the use of respirators.

     (ii) The employer shall assure that lunchroom facilities have a temperature controlled, positive pressure, filtered air supply, and are readily accessible to employees.

     (iii) The employer shall assure that employees who work in areas where their airborne exposure to lead is above the PEL without regard to the use of a respirator wash their hands and face prior to eating, drinking, smoking or applying cosmetics.

     (iv) The employer shall assure that employees do not enter lunchroom facilities with protective work clothing or equipment unless surface lead dust has been removed by vacuuming, downdraft booth, or other cleaning method.

     (e) Lavatories. The employer shall provide an adequate number of lavatory facilities which comply with WAC 296-800-230.

     (11) Medical surveillance.

     (a) General.

     (i) The employer shall institute a medical surveillance program for all employees who are or may be exposed above the action level for more than thirty days per year.

     (ii) The employer shall assure that all medical examinations and procedures are performed by or under the supervision of a licensed physician.

     (iii) The employer shall provide the required medical surveillance including multiple physician review under item (11)(c)(iii) without cost to employees and at a reasonable time and place.

     (b) Biological monitoring.

     (i) Blood lead and ZPP level sampling and analysis. The employer shall make available biological monitoring in the form of blood sampling and analysis for lead and zinc protoporphyrin levels to each employee covered under item (11)(a)(i) of this section on the following schedule:

     (A) At least every six months to each employee covered under item (11)(a)(i) of this section;

     (B) At least every two months for each employee whose last blood sampling and analysis indicated a blood lead level at or above 40 ΅g/100 g of whole blood. This frequency shall continue until two consecutive blood samples and analyses indicate a blood lead level below 40 ΅g/100 g of whole blood; and

     (C) At least monthly during the removal period of each employee removed from exposure to lead due to an elevated blood lead level.

     (ii) Follow-up blood sampling tests. Whenever the results of a blood lead level test indicate that an employee's blood lead level exceeds the numerical criterion for medical removal under item (12)(a)(i)(A), the employer shall provide a second (follow-up) blood sampling test within two weeks after the employer receives the results of the first blood sampling test.

     (iii) Accuracy of blood lead level sampling and analysis. Blood lead level sampling and analysis provided pursuant to this section shall have an accuracy (to a confidence level of ninety-five percent) within plus or minus fifteen percent or 6 ΅g/100 ml, whichever is greater, and shall be conducted by a laboratory licensed by the Center for Disease Control (CDC), United States Department of Health, Education and Welfare or which has received a satisfactory grade in blood lead proficiency testing from CDC in the prior twelve months.

     (iv) Employee notification. Within five working days after the receipt of biological monitoring results, the employer shall notify in writing each employee whose blood lead level exceeds 40 ΅g/100 g: (A) of that employee's blood lead level and (B) that the standard requires temporary medical removal with medical removal protection benefits when an employee's blood lead level exceeds the numerical criterion for medical removal under item (12)(a)(i) of this section.

     (c) Medical examinations and consultations.

     (i) Frequency. The employer shall make available medical examinations and consultations to each employee covered under item (11)(a)(i) of this section on the following schedule:

     (A) At least annually for each employee for whom a blood sampling test conducted at any time during the preceding twelve months indicated a blood lead level at or above 40 ΅g/100 g;

     (B) Prior to assignment for each employee being assigned for the first time to an area in which airborne concentrations of lead are at or above the action level;

     (C) As soon as possible, upon notification by an employee either that the employee has developed signs or symptoms commonly associated with lead intoxication, that the employee desires medical advice concerning the effects of current or past exposure to lead on the employee's ability to procreate a healthy child, or that the employee has demonstrated difficulty in breathing during a respirator fitting test or during use; and

     (D) As medically appropriate for each employee either removed from exposure to lead due to a risk of sustaining material impairment to health, or otherwise limited pursuant to a final medical determination.

     (ii) Content. Medical examinations made available pursuant to subitems (11)(c)(i)(A) through (B) of this section shall include the following elements:

     (A) A detailed work history and a medical history, with particular attention to past lead exposure (occupational and nonoccupational), personal habits (smoking, hygiene), and past gastrointestinal, hematologic, renal, cardiovascular, reproductive and neurological problems;

     (B) A thorough physical examination, with particular attention to teeth, gums, hematologic, gastrointestinal, renal, cardiovascular, and neurological systems. Pulmonary status should be evaluated if respiratory protection will be used;

     (C) A blood pressure measurement;

     (D) A blood sample and analysis which determines:

     (I) Blood lead level;

     (II) Hemoglobin and hematocrit determinations, red cell indices, and examination of peripheral smear morphology;

     (III) Zinc protoporphyrin;

     (IV) Blood urea nitrogen; and

     (V) Serum creatinine;

     (E) A routine urinalysis with microscopic examination; and

     (F) Any laboratory or other test which the examining physician deems necessary by sound medical practice.

     The content of medical examinations made available pursuant to subitems (11)(c)(i)(C) through (D) of this section shall be determined by an examining physician and, if requested by an employee, shall include pregnancy testing or laboratory evaluation of male fertility.

     (iii) Multiple physician review mechanism.

     (A) If the employer selects the initial physician who conducts any medical examination or consultation provided to an employee under this section, the employee may designate a second physician:

     (I) To review any findings, determinations or recommendations of the initial physician; and

     (II) To conduct such examinations, consultations, and laboratory tests as the second physician deems necessary to facilitate this review.

     (B) The employer shall promptly notify an employee of the right to seek a second medical opinion after each occasion that an initial physician conducts a medical examination or consultation pursuant to this section. The employer may condition its participation in, and payment for, the multiple physician review mechanism upon the employee doing the following within fifteen days after receipt of the foregoing notification, or receipt of the initial physician's written opinion, whichever is later:

     (I) The employee informing the employer that he or she intends to seek a second medical opinion, and

     (II) The employee initiating steps to make an appointment with a second physician.

     (C) If the findings, determinations or recommendations of the second physician differ from those of the initial physician, then the employer and the employee shall assure that efforts are made for the two physicians to resolve any disagreement.

     (D) If the two physicians have been unable to quickly resolve their disagreement, then the employer and the employee through their respective physicians shall designate a third physician:

     (I) To review any findings, determinations or recommendations of the prior physicians; and

     (II) To conduct such examinations, consultations, laboratory tests and discussions with the prior physicians as the third physician deems necessary to resolve the disagreement of the prior physicians.

     (E) The employer shall act consistent with the findings, determinations and recommendations of the third physician, unless the employer and the employee reach an agreement which is otherwise consistent with the recommendations of at least one of the three physicians.

     (iv) Information provided to examining and consulting physicians.

     (A) The employer shall provide an initial physician conducting a medical examination or consultation under this section with the following information:

     (I) A copy of this regulation for lead including all appendices;

     (II) A description of the affected employee's duties as they relate to the employee's exposure;

     (III) The employee's exposure level or anticipated exposure level to lead and to any other toxic substance (if applicable);

     (IV) A description of any personal protective equipment used or to be used;

     (V) Prior blood lead determinations; and

     (VI) All prior written medical opinions concerning the employee in the employer's possession or control.

     (B) The employer shall provide the foregoing information to a second or third physician conducting a medical examination or consultation under this section upon request either by the second or third physician, or by the employee.

     (v) Written medical opinions.

     (A) The employer shall obtain and furnish the employee with a copy of a written medical opinion from each examining or consulting physician which contains the following information:

     (I) The physician's opinion as to whether the employee has any detected medical condition which would place the employee at increased risk of material impairment of the employee's health from exposure to lead;

     (II) Any recommended special protective measures to be provided to the employee, or limitations to be placed upon the employee's exposure to lead;

     (III) Any recommended limitation upon the employee's use of respirators, including a determination of whether the employee can wear a powered air purifying respirator if a physician determines that the employee cannot wear a negative pressure respirator; and

     (IV) The results of the blood lead determinations.

     (B) The employer shall instruct each examining and consulting physician to:

     (I) Not reveal either in the written opinion, or in any other means of communication with the employer, findings, including laboratory results, or diagnoses unrelated to an employee's occupational exposure to lead; and

     (II) Advise the employee of any medical condition, occupational or nonoccupational, which dictates further medical examination or treatment.

     (vi) Alternate physician determination mechanisms. The employer and an employee or authorized employee representative may agree upon the use of any expeditious alternate physician determination mechanism in lieu of the multiple physician review mechanism provided by this subsection so long as the alternate mechanism otherwise satisfies the requirements contained in this subsection.

     (d) Chelation.

     (i) The employer shall assure that any person whom he retains, employs, supervises or controls does not engage in prophylactic chelation of any employee at any time.

     (ii) If therapeutic or diagnostic chelation is to be performed by any person in item (11)(d)(i), the employer shall assure that it be done under the supervision of a licensed physician in a clinical setting with thorough and appropriate medical monitoring and that the employee is notified in writing prior to its occurrence.

     (12) Medical removal protection.

     (a) Temporary medical removal and return of an employee.

     (i) Temporary removal due to elevated blood lead levels.

     (A) The employer shall remove an employee from work having an exposure to lead at or above the action level on each occasion that a periodic and a follow-up blood sampling test conducted pursuant to this section indicate that the employee's blood lead level is at or above 60 ΅g/100 g of whole blood; and

     (B) The employer shall remove an employee from work having an exposure to lead at or above the action level on each occasion that the average of the last three blood sampling tests conducted pursuant to this section (or the average of all blood sampling tests conducted over the previous six months, whichever is longer) indicates that the employee's blood lead level is at or above 50 ΅g/100 g of whole blood; provided, however, that an employee need not be removed if the last blood sampling test indicates a blood lead level at or below 40 ΅g/100 g of whole blood.

     (ii) Temporary removal due to a final medical determination.

     (A) The employer shall remove an employee from work having an exposure to lead at or above the action level on each occasion that a final medical determination results in a medical finding, determination, or opinion that the employee has a detected medical condition which places the employee at increased risk of material impairment to health from exposure to lead.

     (B) For the purposes of this section, the phrase "final medical determination" shall mean the outcome of the multiple physician review mechanism or alternate medical determination mechanism used pursuant to the medical surveillance provisions of this section.

     (C) Where a final medical determination results in any recommended special protective measures for an employee, or limitations on an employee's exposure to lead, the employer shall implement and act consistent with the recommendation.

     (iii) Return of the employee to former job status.

     (A) The employer shall return an employee to his or her former job status:

     (I) For an employee removed due to a blood lead level at or above 60 ΅g/100 g, or due to an average blood lead level at or above 50 ΅g/100 g, when two consecutive blood sampling tests indicate that the employee's blood lead level is at or below 40 ΅g/100 g of whole blood;

     (II) For an employee removed due to a final medical determination, when a subsequent final medical determination results in a medical finding, determination, or opinion that the employee no longer has a detected medical condition which places the employee at increased risk of material impairment to health from exposure to lead.

     (B) For the purposes of this section, the requirement that an employer return an employee to his or her former job status is not intended to expand upon or restrict any rights an employee has or would have had, absent temporary medical removal, to a specific job classification or position under the terms of a collective bargaining agreement.

     (iv) Removal of other employee special protective measure or limitations. The employer shall remove any limitations placed on an employee or end any special protective measures provided to an employee pursuant to a final medical determination when a subsequent final medical determination indicates that the limitations or special protective measures are no longer necessary.

     (v) Employer options pending a final medical determination. Where the multiple physician review mechanism, or alternate medical determination mechanism used pursuant to the medical surveillance provisions of this section, has not yet resulted in a final medical determination with respect to an employee, the employer shall act as follows:

     (A) Removal. The employer may remove the employee from exposure to lead, provide special protective measures to the employee, or place limitations upon the employee, consistent with the medical findings, determinations, or recommendations of any of the physicians who have reviewed the employee's health status.

     (B) Return. The employer may return the employee to his or her former job status, end any special protective measures provided to the employee, and remove any limitations placed upon the employee, consistent with the medical findings, determinations, or recommendations of any of the physicians who have reviewed the employee's health status, with two exceptions. If:

     (I) The initial removal, special protection, or limitation of the employee resulted from a final medical determination which differed from the findings, determinations, or recommendations of the initial physician; or

     (II) The employee has been on removal status for the preceding eighteen months due to an elevated blood lead level, then the employer shall await a final medical determination.

     (b) Medical removal protection benefits.

     (i) Provision of medical removal protection benefits. The employer shall provide to an employee up to eighteen months of medical removal protection benefits on each occasion that an employee is removed from exposure to lead or otherwise limited pursuant to this section.

     (ii) Definition of medical removal protection benefits. For the purposes of this section, the requirement that an employer provide medical removal protection benefits means that the employer shall maintain the earnings, seniority and other employment rights and benefits of an employee as though the employee had not been removed from normal exposure to lead or otherwise limited.

     (iii) Follow-up medical surveillance during the period of employee removal or limitation. During the period of time that an employee is removed from normal exposure to lead or otherwise limited, the employer may condition the provision of medical removal protection benefits upon the employee's participation in follow-up medical surveillance made available pursuant to this section.

     (iv) Workers' compensation claims. If a removed employee files a claim for workers' compensation payments for a lead-related disability, then the employer shall continue to provide medical removal protection benefits pending disposition of the claim. To the extent that an award is made to the employee for earnings lost during the period of removal, the employer's medical removal protection obligation shall be reduced by such amount. The employer shall receive no credit for workers' compensation payments received by the employee for treatment related expenses.

     (v) Other credits. The employer's obligation to provide medical removal protection benefits to a removed employee shall be reduced to the extent that the employee receives compensation for earnings lost during the period of removal either from a publicly or employer-funded compensation program, or receives income from employment with another employer made possible by virtue of the employee's removal.

     (vi) Employees whose blood lead levels do not adequately decline within eighteen months of removal. The employer shall take the following measures with respect to any employee removed from exposure to lead due to an elevated blood lead level whose blood lead level has not declined within the past eighteen months of removal so that the employee has been returned to his or her former job status:

     (A) The employer shall make available to the employee a medical examination pursuant to this section to obtain a final medical determination with respect to the employee;

     (B) The employer shall assure that the final medical determination obtained indicates whether or not the employee may be returned to his or her former job status, and if not, what steps should be taken to protect the employee's health;

     (C) Where the final medical determination has not yet been obtained, or once obtained indicates that the employee may not yet be returned to his or her former job status, the employer shall continue to provide medical removal protection benefits to the employee until either the employee is returned to former job status, or a final medical determination is made that the employee is incapable of ever safely returning to his or her former job status.

     (D) Where the employer acts pursuant to a final medical determination which permits the return of the employee to his or her former job status despite what would otherwise be an unacceptable blood lead level, later questions concerning removing the employee again shall be decided by a final medical determination. The employer need not automatically remove such an employee pursuant to the blood lead level removal criteria provided by this section.

     (vii) Voluntary removal or restriction of an employee. Where an employer, although not required by this section to do so, removes an employee from exposure to lead or otherwise places limitations on an employee due to the effects of lead exposure on the employee's medical condition, the employer shall provide medical removal protection benefits to the employee equal to that required by item (12)(b)(i) of this section.

     (13) Employee information and training.

     (a) Training program.

     (i) Each employer who has a workplace in which there is a potential exposure to airborne lead at any level shall inform employees of the content of Appendices A and B of this regulation.

     (ii) The employer shall institute a training program for and assure the participation of all employees who are subject to exposure to lead at or above the action level or for whom the possibility of skin or eye irritation exists.

     (iii) The employer shall provide initial training by one hundred eighty days from the effective date for those employees covered by item (13)(a)(ii) on the standard's effective date and prior to the time of initial job assignment for those employees subsequently covered by this subsection.

     (iv) The training program shall be repeated at least annually for each employee.

     (v) The employer shall assure that each employee is informed of the following:

     (A) The content of this standard and its appendices;

     (B) The specific nature of the operations which could result in exposure to lead above the action level;

     (C) The purpose, proper use, limitations, and other training requirements for respiratory protection as required by chapter 296-62 WAC, Part E;

     (D) The purpose and a description of the medical surveillance program, and the medical removal protection program including information concerning the adverse health effects associated with excessive exposure to lead (with particular attention to the adverse reproductive effects on both males and females);

     (E) The engineering controls and work practices associated with the employee's job assignment;

     (F) The contents of any compliance plan in effect; and

     (G) Instructions to employees that chelating agents should not routinely be used to remove lead from their bodies and should not be used at all except under the direction of a licensed physician.

     (b) Access to information and training materials.

     (i) The employer shall make readily available to all affected employees a copy of this standard and its appendices.

     (ii) The employer shall provide, upon request, all materials relating to the employee information and training program to the director.

     (iii) In addition to the information required by item (13)(a)(v), the employer shall include as part of the training program, and shall distribute to employees, any materials pertaining to the Occupational Safety and Health Act, the regulations issued pursuant to the act, and this lead standard, which are made available to the employer by the director.

     (14) Signs.

     (a) General.

     (i) The employer may use signs required by other statutes, regulations or ordinances in addition to, or in combination with, signs required by this subsection.

     (ii) The employer shall assure that no statement appears on or near any sign required by this subsection which contradicts or detracts from the meaning of the required sign.

     (b) Signs.

     (i) The employer shall post the following warning signs in each work area where the PEL is exceeded:

WARNING

LEAD WORK AREA

POISON

NO SMOKING OR EATING



     (ii) The employer shall assure that signs required by this subsection are illuminated and cleaned as necessary so that the legend is readily visible.

     (15) Recordkeeping.

     (a) Exposure monitoring.

     (i) The employer shall establish and maintain an accurate record of all monitoring required in subsection (5) of this section.

     (ii) This record shall include:

     (A) The date(s), number, duration, location and results of each of the samples taken, including a description of the sampling procedure used to determine representative employee exposure where applicable;

     (B) A description of the sampling and analytical methods used and evidence of their accuracy;

     (C) The type of respiratory protective devices worn, if any;

     (D) Name, social security number, and job classification of the employee monitored and of all other employees whose exposure the measurement is intended to represent; and

     (E) The environmental variables that could affect the measurement of employee exposure.

     (iii) The employer shall maintain these monitoring records for at least forty years or for the duration of employment plus twenty years, whichever is longer.

     (b) Medical surveillance.

     (i) The employer shall establish and maintain an accurate record for each employee subject to medical surveillance as required by subsection (11) of this section.

     (ii) This record shall include:

     (A) The name, social security number, and description of the duties of the employee;

     (B) A copy of the physician's written opinions;

     (C) Results of any airborne exposure monitoring done for that employee and the representative exposure levels supplied to the physician; and

     (D) Any employee medical complaints related to exposure to lead.

     (iii) The employer shall keep, or assure that the examining physician keeps, the following medical records:

     (A) A copy of the medical examination results including medical and work history required under subsection (11) of this section;

     (B) A description of the laboratory procedures and a copy of any standards or guidelines used to interpret the test results or references to that information; and

     (C) A copy of the results of biological monitoring.

     (iv) The employer shall maintain or assure that the physician maintains those medical records for at least forty years, or for the duration of employment plus twenty years, whichever is longer.

     (c) Medical removals.

     (i) The employer shall establish and maintain an accurate record for each employee removed from current exposure to lead pursuant to subsection (12) of this section.

     (ii) Each record shall include:

     (A) The name and social security number of the employee;

     (B) The date on each occasion that the employee was removed from current exposure to lead as well as the corresponding date on which the employee was returned to his or her former job status;

     (C) A brief explanation of how each removal was or is being accomplished; and

     (D) A statement with respect to each removal indicating whether or not the reason for the removal was an elevated blood lead level.

     (iii) The employer shall maintain each medical removal record for at least the duration of an employee's employment.

     (d) Availability.

     (i) The employer shall make available upon request all records required to be maintained by subsection (15) of this section to the director for examination and copying.

     (ii) Environmental monitoring, medical removal, and medical records required by this subsection shall be provided upon request to employees, designated representatives, and the assistant director in accordance with chapter 296-802 WAC. Medical removal records shall be provided in the same manner as environmental monitoring records.

     (iii) Upon request, the employer shall make an employee's medical records required to be maintained by this section available to the affected employee or former employee or to a physician or other individual designated by such affected employee or former employees for examination and copying.

     (e) Transfer of records.

     (i) Whenever the employer ceases to do business, the successor employer shall receive and retain all records required to be maintained by subsection (15) of this section.

     (ii) Whenever the employer ceases to do business and there is no successor employer to receive and retain the records required to be maintained by this section for the prescribed period, these records shall be transmitted to the director.

     (iii) At the expiration of the retention period for the records required to be maintained by this section, the employer shall notify the director at least three months prior to the disposal of such records and shall transmit those records to the director if requested within the period.

     (iv) The employer shall also comply with any additional requirements involving transfer of records set forth in chapter 296-802 WAC.

     (16) Observation of monitoring.

     (a) Employee observation. The employer shall provide affected employees or their designated representatives an opportunity to observe any monitoring of employee exposure to lead conducted pursuant to subsection (5) of this section.

     (b) Observation procedures.

     (i) Whenever observation of the monitoring of employee exposure to lead requires entry into an area where the use of respirators, protective clothing or equipment is required, the employer shall provide the observer with and assure the use of such respirators, clothing and such equipment, and shall require the observer to comply with all other applicable safety and health procedures.

     (ii) Without interfering with the monitoring, observers shall be entitled to:

     (A) Receive an explanation of the measurement procedures;

     (B) Observe all steps related to the monitoring of lead performed at the place of exposure; and

     (C) Record the results obtained or receive copies of the results when returned by the laboratory.

     (17) Appendices. The information contained in the appendices to this section is not intended by itself, to create any additional obligations not otherwise imposed by this standard nor detract from any existing obligation.

     (a) Appendix A. Substance Data Sheet for Occupational Exposure to Lead.

     (i) Substance identification.

     (A) Substance. Pure lead (Pb) is a heavy metal at room temperature and pressure and is a basic chemical element. It can combine with various other substances to form numerous lead compounds.

     (B) Compounds covered by the standard. The word "lead" when used in this standard means elemental lead, all inorganic lead compounds (except those which are not biologically available due to either solubility or specific chemical interaction), and a class of organic lead compounds called lead soaps. This standard does not apply to other organic lead compounds.

     (C) Uses. Exposure to lead occurs in at least 120 different occupations, including primary and secondary lead smelting, lead storage battery manufacturing, lead pigment manufacturing and use, solder manufacturing and use, shipbuilding and ship repairing, auto manufacturing, and printing.

     (D) Permissible exposure. The Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) set by the standard is 50 micrograms of lead per cubic meter of air (50 ΅g/m3), averaged over an eight-hour work day.

     (E) Action level. The standard establishes an action level of 30 micrograms per cubic meter of air (30 ΅g/m3) time weighted average, based on an eight-hour work day. The action level initiates several requirements of the standard, such as exposure monitoring, medical surveillance, and training and education.

     (ii) Health hazard data.

     (A) Ways in which lead enters your body.

     (I) When absorbed into your body in certain doses lead is a toxic substance. The object of the lead standard is to prevent absorption of harmful quantities of lead. The standard is intended to protect you not only from the immediate toxic effects of lead, but also from the serious toxic effects that may not become apparent until years of exposure have passed.

     (II) Lead can be absorbed into your body by inhalation (breathing) and ingestion (eating). Lead (except for certain organic lead compounds not covered by the standard, such as tetraethyl lead) is not absorbed through your skin. When lead is scattered in the air as a dust, fume or mist, it can be inhaled and absorbed through your lungs and upper respiratory tract. Inhalation of airborne lead is generally the most important source of occupational lead absorption. You can also absorb lead through your digestive system if lead gets into your mouth and is swallowed. If you handle food, cigarettes, chewing tobacco, or make-up which have lead on them or handle them with hands contaminated with lead, this will contribute to ingestion.

     (III) A significant portion of the lead that you inhale or ingest gets into your blood stream. Once in your blood stream lead is circulated throughout your body and stored in various organs and body tissues. Some of this lead is quickly filtered out of your body and excreted, but some remains in your blood and other tissue. As exposure to lead continues, the amount stored in your body will increase if you are absorbing more lead than your body is excreting. Even though you may not be aware of any immediate symptoms of disease, this lead stored in your tissues can be slowly causing irreversible damage, first to individual cells, then to your organs and whole body systems.

     (B) Effects of overexposure to lead.

     (I) Short-term (acute) overexposure. Lead is a potent, systemic poison that serves no known useful function once absorbed by your body. Taken in large enough doses, lead can kill you in a matter of days. A condition affecting the brain called acute encephalopathy may arise which develops quickly to seizures, coma, and death from cardiorespiratory arrest. A short-term dose of lead can lead to acute encephalopathy. Short-term occupational exposures of this magnitude are highly unusual, but not impossible. Similar forms of encephalopathy may, however arise from extended, chronic exposure to lower doses of lead. There is no sharp dividing line between rapidly developing acute effects of lead, and chronic effects which take longer to acquire. Lead adversely affects numerous body systems, and causes forms of health impairment and disease which arise after periods of exposure as short as days or as long as several years.

     (II) Long-term (chronic) overexposure.

     a) Chronic overexposure to lead may result in severe damage to your blood-forming, nervous, urinary and reproductive systems. Some common symptoms of chronic overexposure include loss of appetite, metallic taste in the mouth, anxiety, constipation, nausea, pallor, excessive tiredness, weakness, insomnia, headache, nervous irritability, muscle and joint pain or soreness, fine tremors, numbness, dizziness, hyperactivity and colic. In lead colic there may be severe abdominal pain.

     b) Damage to the central nervous system in general and the brain (encephalopathy) in particular is one of the most severe forms of lead poisoning. The most severe, often fatal, form of encephalopathy may be preceded by vomiting, a feeling of dullness progressing to drowsiness and stupor, poor memory, restlessness, irritability, tremor, and convulsions. It may arise suddenly with the onset of seizures, followed by coma, and death. There is a tendency for muscular weakness to develop at the same time. This weakness may progress to paralysis often observed as a characteristic "wrist drop" or "foot drop" and is a manifestation of a disease to the nervous system called peripheral neuropathy.

     c) Chronic overexposure to lead also results in kidney disease with few, if any, symptoms appearing until extensive and most likely permanent kidney damage has occurred. Routine laboratory tests reveal the presence of this kidney disease only after about two-thirds of kidney function is lost. When overt symptoms of urinary dysfunction arise, it is often too late to correct or prevent worsening conditions, and progression of kidney dialysis or death is possible.

     d) Chronic overexposure to lead impairs the reproductive systems of both men and women. Overexposure to lead may result in decreased sex drive, impotence and sterility in men. Lead can alter the structure of sperm cells raising the risk of birth defects. There is evidence of miscarriage and stillbirth in women whose husbands were exposed to lead or who were exposed to lead themselves. Lead exposure also may result in decreased fertility, and abnormal menstrual cycles in women. The course of pregnancy may be adversely affected by exposure to lead since lead crosses the placental barrier and poses risks to developing fetuses. Children born of parents either one of whom were exposed to excess lead levels are more likely to have birth defects, mental retardation, behavioral disorders or die during the first year of childhood.

     e) Overexposure to lead also disrupts the blood-forming system resulting in decreased hemoglobin (the substance in the blood that carries oxygen to the cells) and ultimately anemia. Anemia is characterized by weakness, pallor and fatigability as a result of decreased oxygen carrying capacity in the blood.

     (III) Health protection goals of the standard.

     a) Prevention of adverse health effects for most workers from exposure to lead throughout a working lifetime requires that worker blood lead (PbB) levels be maintained at or below forty micrograms per one hundred grams of whole blood (40 ΅g/100g). The blood lead levels of workers (both male and female workers) who intend to have children should be maintained below 30 ΅g/100g to minimize adverse reproductive health effects to the parents and to the developing fetus.

     b) The measurement of your blood lead level is the most useful indicator of the amount of lead absorbed by your body. Blood lead levels (PbB) are most often reported in units of milligrams (mg) or micrograms (΅g) of lead (1 mg = 1000 ΅g) per 100 grams (100g), 100 milliliters (100 ml) or deciliter (dl) of blood. These three units are essentially the same. Sometimes PbB's are expressed in the form of mg% or ΅g%. This is a shorthand notation for 100g, 100ml, or dl.

     c) PbB measurements show the amount of lead circulating in your blood stream, but do not give any information about the amount of lead stored in your various tissues. PbB measurements merely show current absorption of lead, not the effect that lead is having on your body or the effects that past lead exposure may have already caused. Past research into lead-related diseases, however, has focused heavily on associations between PbBs and various diseases. As a result, your PbB is an important indicator of the likelihood that you will gradually acquire a lead-related health impairment or disease.

     d) Once your blood lead level climbs above 40 ΅g/100g, your risk of disease increases. There is a wide variability of individual response to lead, thus it is difficult to say that a particular PbB in a given person will cause a particular effect. Studies have associated fatal encephalopathy with PbBs as low as 150 ΅g/100g. Other studies have shown other forms of disease in some workers with PbBs well below 80 ΅g/100g. Your PbB is a crucial indicator of the risks to your health, but one other factor is extremely important. This factor is the length of time you have had elevated PbBs. The longer you have an elevated PbB, the greater the risk that large quantities of lead are being gradually stored in your organs and tissues (body burden). The greater your overall body burden, the greater the chances of substantial permanent damage.

     e) The best way to prevent all forms of lead-related impairments and diseases -- both short-term and long-term -- is to maintain your PbB below 40 ΅g/100g. The provisions of the standard are designed with this end in mind. Your employer has prime responsibility to assure that the provisions of the standard are complied with both by the company and by individual workers. You as a worker, however, also have a responsibility to assist your employer in complying with the standard. You can play a key role in protecting your own health by learning about the lead hazards and their control, learning what the standard requires, following the standard where it governs your own action, and seeing that your employer complies with the provisions governing his actions.

     (IV) Reporting signs and symptoms of health problems. You should immediately notify your employer if you develop signs or symptoms associated with lead poisoning or if you desire medical advice concerning the effects of current or past exposure to lead on your ability to have a healthy child. You should also notify your employer if you have difficulty breathing during a respirator fit test or while wearing a respirator. In each of these cases your employer must make available to you appropriate medical examinations or consultations. These must be provided at no cost to you and at a reasonable time and place.

     (b) Appendix B. Employee Standard Summary. This appendix summarizes key provisions of the standard that you as a worker should become familiar with. The appendix discusses the entire standard.

     (i) Permissible exposure limit (PEL). The standard sets a permissible exposure limit (PEL) of fifty micrograms of lead per cubic meter of air (50 ΅g/m3), averaged over and eight-hour workday. This is the highest level of lead in air to which you may be permissibly exposed over an eight-hour workday. Since it is an eight-hour average it permits short exposures above the PEL so long as for each eight-hour workday your average exposure does not exceed the PEL.

     (ii) Exposure monitoring.

     (A) If lead is present in the work place where you work in any quantity, your employer is required to make an initial determination of whether the action level is exceeded for any employee. The initial determination must include instrument monitoring of the air for the presence of lead and must cover the exposure of a representative number of employees who are reasonably believed to have the highest exposure levels. If your employer has conducted appropriate air sampling for lead in the past year he may use these results. If there have been any employee complaints of symptoms which may be attributable to exposure to lead or if there is any other information or observations which would indicate employee exposure to lead, this must also be considered as part of the initial determination. If this initial determination shows that a reasonable possibility exists that any employee may be exposed, without regard to respirators, over the action level (30 ΅g/m3) your employer must set up an air monitoring program to determine the exposure level of every employee exposed to lead at your work place.

     (B) In carrying out this air monitoring program, your employer is not required to monitor the exposure of every employee, but he or she must monitor a representative number of employees and job types. Enough sampling must be done to enable each employee's exposure level to be reasonably represented by at least one full shift (at least seven hours) air sample. In addition, these air samples must be taken under conditions which represent each employee's regular, daily exposure to lead.

     (C) If you are exposed to lead and air sampling is performed, your employer is required to quickly notify you in writing of air monitoring results which represent your exposure. If the results indicate your exposure exceeds the PEL (without regard to your use of respirators), then your employer must also notify you of this in writing, and provide you with a description of the corrective action that will be taken to reduce your exposure.

     (D) Your exposure must be rechecked by monitoring every six months if your exposure is over the action level but below the PEL. Air monitoring must be repeated every three months if you are exposed over the PEL. Your employer may discontinue monitoring for you if two consecutive measurements, taken at least two weeks apart, are below the action level. However, whenever there is a production, process, control, or personnel change at your work place which may result in new or additional exposure to lead, or whenever there is any other reason to suspect a change which may result in new or additional exposure to lead, your employer must perform additional monitoring.

     (iii) Methods of compliance. Your employer is required to assure that no employee is exposed to lead in excess of the PEL. The standard establishes a priority of methods to be used to meet the PEL.

     (iv) Respiratory protection.

     (A) Your employer is required to provide and assure your use of respirators when your exposure to lead is not controlled below the PEL by other means. The employer must pay the cost of the respirator. Whenever you request one, your employer is also required to provide you a respirator even if your air exposure level does not exceed the PEL. You might desire a respirator when, for example, you have received medical advice that your lead absorption should be decreased. Or, you may intend to have children in the near future, and want to reduce the level of lead in your body to minimize adverse reproductive effects. While respirators are the least satisfactory means of controlling your exposure, they are capable of providing significant protection if properly chosen, fitted, worn, cleaned, maintained, and replaced when they stop providing adequate protection.

     (B) Your employer is required to select respirators from the seven types listed in Table II of the respiratory protection section of this standard (see subsection (7)(c) of this section). Any respirator chosen must be certified by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) under the provisions of 42 CFR part 84. This respirator selection table will enable your employer to choose a type of respirator which will give you a proper amount of protection based on your airborne lead exposure. Your employer may select a type of respirator that provides greater protection than that required by the standard; that is, one recommended for a higher concentration of lead than is present in your work place. For example, a powered air purifying respirator (PAPR) is much more protective than a typical negative-pressure respirator, and may also be more comfortable to wear. A PAPR has a filter, cartridge or canister to clean the air, and a power source which continuously blows filtered air into your breathing zone. Your employer might make a PAPR available to you to ease the burden of having to wear a respirator for long periods of time. The standard provides that you can obtain a PAPR upon request.

     (C) Your employer must also start a respiratory protection program. This program must include written procedures for the proper selection, use, cleaning, storage, and maintenance of respirators.

     (D) Your employer must assure that your respirator facepiece fits properly. Proper fit of a respirator facepiece is critical to your protection against air borne lead. Obtaining a proper fit on each employee may require your employer to make available several different types of respirator masks. To ensure that your respirator fits properly and that facepiece leakage is minimal, your employer must give you either a qualitative or quantitative fit test as required in chapter ((296-62)) 296-842 WAC((, Part E)).

     (E) You must also receive from your employer proper training in the use of respirators. Your employer is required to teach you how to wear a respirator, to know why it is needed, and to understand its limitations.

     (F) The standard provides that if your respirator uses filter elements, you must be given an opportunity to change the filter elements whenever an increase in breathing resistance is detected. You also must be permitted to periodically leave your work area to wash your face and respirator facepiece whenever necessary to prevent skin irritation. If you ever have difficulty breathing during a fit test or while using a respirator, your employer must make a medical examination available to you to determine whether you can safely wear a respirator. The result of this examination may be to give you a positive pressure respirator (which reduces breathing resistance) or to provide alternative means of protection.

     (v) Protective work clothing and equipment. If you are exposed to lead above the PEL, or if you are exposed to lead compounds such as lead arsenate or lead azide which can cause skin and eye irritation, your employer must provide you with protective work clothing and equipment appropriate for the hazard. If work clothing is provided, it must be provided in a clean and dry condition at least weekly, and daily if your airborne exposure to lead is greater than 200 ΅g/m3. Appropriate protective work clothing and equipment can include coveralls or similar full-body work clothing, gloves, hats, shoes or disposable shoe coverlets, and face shields or vented goggles. Your employer is required to provide all such equipment at no cost to you. He or she is responsible for providing repairs and replacement as necessary and also is responsible for the cleaning, laundering or disposal of protective clothing and equipment. Contaminated work clothing or equipment must be removed in change rooms and not worn home or you will extend your exposure and expose your family since lead from your clothing can accumulate in your house, car, etc. Contaminated clothing which is to be cleaned, laundered or disposed of must be placed in closed containers in the change room. At no time may lead be removed from protective clothing or equipment by any means which disperses lead into the work room air.

     (vi) Housekeeping. Your employer must establish a housekeeping program sufficient to maintain all surfaces as free as practicable of accumulations of lead dust. Vacuuming is the preferred method of meeting this requirement, and the use of compressed air to clean floors and other surfaces is absolutely prohibited. Dry or wet sweeping, shoveling, or brushing may not be used except where vacuuming or other equally effective methods have been tried and do not work. Vacuums must be used and emptied in a manner which minimizes the reentry of lead into the work place.

     (vii) Hygiene facilities and practices.

     (A) The standard requires that change rooms, showers and filtered air lunchrooms be constructed and made available to workers exposed to lead above the PEL. When the PEL is exceeded, the employer must assure that food and beverage is not present or consumed, tobacco products are not present or used, and cosmetics are not applied, except in these facilities. Change rooms, showers and lunchrooms, must be used by workers exposed in excess of the PEL. After showering, no clothing or equipment worn during the shift may be worn home and this includes shoes and underwear. Your own clothing worn during the shift should be carried home and cleaned carefully so that it does not contaminate your home. Lunchrooms may not be entered with protective clothing or equipment unless surface dust has been removed by vacuuming, downdraft booth or other cleaning methods. Finally, workers exposed above the PEL must wash both their hands and faces prior to eating, drinking, smoking or applying cosmetics.

     (B) All of the facilities and hygiene practices just discussed are essential to minimize additional sources of lead absorption from inhalation or ingestion of lead that may accumulate on you, your clothes or your possessions. Strict compliance with these provisions can virtually eliminate several sources of lead exposure which significantly contribute to excessive lead absorption.

     (viii) Medical surveillance.

     (A) The medical surveillance program is part of the standard's comprehensive approach to the prevention of lead-related disease. Its purpose is to supplement the main thrust of the standard which is aimed at minimizing airborne concentrations of lead and sources of ingestion. Only medical surveillance can determine if the other provisions of the standard have effectively protected you as an individual. Compliance with the standard's provision will protect most workers from the adverse effects of lead exposure, but may not be satisfactory to protect individual workers (I) who have high body burdens of lead acquired over past years, (II) who have additional uncontrolled sources of nonoccupational lead exposure, (III) who exhibit unusual variations in lead absorption rates, or (IV) who have specific nonwork related medical conditions which could be aggravated by lead exposure (e.g., renal disease, anemia). In addition, control systems may fail, or hygiene and respirator programs may be inadequate. Periodic medical surveillance of individual workers will help detect those failures. Medical surveillance will also be important to protect your reproductive ability -regardless of whether you are a man or a woman.

     (B) All medical surveillance required by the standard must be performed by or under the supervision of a licensed physician. The employer must provide required medical surveillance without cost to employees and at a reasonable time and place. The standard's medical surveillance program has two parts - periodic biological monitoring, and medical examinations.

     (C) Your employer's obligation to offer medical surveillance is triggered by the results of the air monitoring program. Medical surveillance must be made available to all employees who are exposed in excess of the action level for more than 30 days a year. The initial phase of the medical surveillance program, which included blood lead level tests and medical examinations, must be completed for all covered employees no later than 180 days from the effective date of this standard. Priority within this first round of medical surveillance must be given to employees whom the employer believes to be at greatest risk from continued exposure (for example, those with the longest prior exposure to lead, or those with the highest current exposure). Thereafter, the employer must periodically make medical surveillance - both biological monitoring and medical examinations - available to all covered employees.

     (D) Biological monitoring under the standard consists of blood lead level (PbB) and zinc protoporphyrin tests at least every six months after the initial PbB test. A zinc protoporphyrin (ZPP) test is a very useful blood test which measures an effect of lead on your body. If a worker's PbB exceeds 40 ΅g/100g, the monitoring frequency must be increased from every six months to at least every two months and not reduced until two consecutive PbBs indicate a blood lead level below 40 ΅g/100g. Each time your PbB is determined to be over 40 ΅g/100g, your employer must notify you of this in writing within five working days of the receipt of the test results. The employer must also inform you that the standard requires temporary medical removal with economic protection when your PbB exceeds certain criteria (see Discussion of Medical Removal Protection - subsection (12)). During the first year of the standard, this removal criterion is 80 ΅g/100g. Anytime your PbB exceeds 80 ΅g/100g your employer must make available to you a prompt follow-up PbB test to ascertain your PbB. If the two tests both exceed 80 ΅g/100g and you are temporarily removed, then your employer must make successive PbB tests available to you on a monthly basis during the period of your removal.

     (E) Medical examinations beyond the initial one must be made available on an annual basis if your blood lead levels exceeds 40΅g/100g at any time during the preceding year. The initial examination will provide information to establish a baseline to which subsequent data can be compared. An initial medical examination must also be made available (prior to assignment) for each employee being assigned for the first time to an area where the airborne concentration of lead equals or exceeds the action level. In addition, a medical examination or consultation must be made available as soon as possible if you notify your employer that you are experiencing signs or symptoms commonly associated with lead poisoning or that you have difficulty breathing while wearing a respirator or during a respirator fit test. You must also be provided a medical examination or consultation if you notify your employer that you desire medical advice concerning the effects of current or past exposure to lead on your ability to procreate a healthy child.

     (F) Finally, appropriate follow-up medical examinations or consultations may also be provided for employees who have been temporarily removed from exposure under the medical removal protection provisions of the standard (see item (ix) below).

     (G) The standard specifies the minimum content of preassignment and annual medical examinations. The content of other types of medical examinations and consultations is left up to the sound discretion of the examining physician. Preassignment and annual medical examinations must include (I) a detailed work history and medical history, (II) a thorough physical examination, and (III) a series of laboratory tests designed to check your blood chemistry and your kidney function. In addition, at any time upon your request, a laboratory evaluation of male fertility will be made (microscopic examination of a sperm sample), or a pregnancy test will be given.

     (H) The standard does not require that you participate in any of the medical procedures, tests, etc., which your employer is required to make available to you. Medical surveillance can, however, play a very important role in protecting your health. You are strongly encouraged, therefore, to participate in a meaningful fashion. Generally, your employer will choose the physician who conducts medical surveillance under the lead standard - unless you and your employer can agree on the choice of a physician or physicians. Some companies and unions have agreed in advance, for example, to use certain independent medical laboratories or panels of physicians. Any of these arrangements are acceptable so long as required medical surveillance is made available to workers.

     (I) The standard requires your employer to provide certain information to a physician to aid in his or her examination of you. This information includes (I) the standard and its appendices, (II) a description of your duties as they relate to lead exposure, (III) your exposure level, (IV) a description of personal protective equipment you wear, (V) prior blood level results, and (VI) prior written medical opinions concerning you that the employer has. After a medical examination or consultation the physician must prepare a written report which must contain (I) the physician's opinion as to whether you have any medical conditions which places you at increased risk of material impairment to health from exposure to lead, (II) any recommended special protective measures to be provided to you, (III) any blood lead level determinations, and (IV) any recommended limitation on your use of respirators. This last element must include a determination of whether you can wear a powered air purifying respirator (PAPR) if you are found unable to wear a negative pressure respirator.

     (J) The medical surveillance program of the lead standard may at some point in time serve to notify certain workers that they have acquired a disease or other adverse medical condition as a result of occupational lead exposure. If this is true these workers might have legal rights to compensation from public agencies, their employers, firms that supply hazardous products to their employers, or other persons. Some states have laws, including worker compensation laws, that disallow a worker to learn of a job-related health impairment to sue, unless the worker sues within a short period of time after learning of the impairment. (This period of time may be a matter of months or years.) An attorney can be consulted about these possibilities. It should be stressed that WISHA is in no way trying to either encourage or discourage claims or lawsuits. However, since results of the standard's medical surveillance program can significantly affect the legal remedies of a worker who has acquired a job-related disease or impairment, it is proper for WISHA to make you aware of this.

     (K) The medical surveillance section of the standard also contains provisions dealing with chelation. Chelation is the use of certain drugs (administered in pill form or injected into the body) to reduce the amount of lead absorbed in body tissues. Experience accumulated by the medical and scientific communities has largely confirmed the effectiveness of this type of therapy for the treatment of very severe lead poisoning. On the other hand it has also been established that there can be a long list of extremely harmful side effects associated with the use of chelating agents. The medical community has balanced the advantages and disadvantages resulting from the use of chelating agents in various circumstances and has established when the use of these agents is acceptable. The standard includes these accepted limitations due to a history of abuse of chelation therapy by some lead companies. The most widely used chelating agents are calcium disodium EDTA, (Ca Na2EDTA), Calcium Disodium Versenate (Versenate), and d-penicillamine (penicillamine or Cupramine).

     (L) The standard prohibits "prophylactic chelation" of any employee by any person the employer retains, supervises or controls. "Prophylactic chelation" is the routine use of chelating or similarly acting drugs to prevent elevated blood levels in workers who are occupationally exposed to lead, or the use of these drugs to routinely lower blood lead levels to predesignated concentrations believed to be safe. It should be emphasized that where an employer takes a worker who has no symptoms of lead poisoning and has chelation carried out by a physician (either inside or outside of a hospital) solely to reduce the worker's blood lead level, that will generally be considered prophylactic chelation. The use of a hospital and a physician does not mean that prophylactic chelation is not being performed. Routine chelation to prevent increased or reduce current blood lead levels is unacceptable whatever the setting.

     (M) The standard allows the use of "therapeutic" or "diagnostic" chelation if administered under the supervision of a licensed physician in a clinical setting with thorough and appropriate medical monitoring. Therapeutic chelation responds to severe lead poisoning where there are marked symptoms. Diagnostic chelation, involves giving a patient a dose of the drug then collecting all urine excreted for some period of time as an aid to the diagnosis of lead poisoning.

     (N) In cases where the examining physician determines that chelation is appropriate, you must be notified in writing of this fact before such treatment. This will inform you of a potentially harmful treatment, and allow you to obtain a second opinion.

     (ix) Medical removal protection.

     (A) Excessive lead absorption subjects you to increased risk of disease. Medical removal protection (MRP) is a means of protecting you when for whatever reasons, other methods, such as engineering controls, work practices, and respirators, have failed to provide the protection you need. MRP involves the temporary removal of a worker from his or her regular job to a place of significantly lower exposure without any loss of earnings, seniority, or other employment rights of benefits. The purpose of this program is to cease further lead absorption and allow your body to naturally excrete lead which has previously been absorbed. Temporary medical removal can result from an elevated blood lead level, or a medical opinion. Up to eighteen months of protection is provided as a result of either form of removal. The vast majority of removed workers, however, will return to their former jobs long before this eighteen month period expires. The standard contains special provisions to deal with the extraordinary but possible case where a long-term worker's blood lead level does not adequately decline during eighteen months of removal.

     (B) During the first year of the standard, if your blood lead level is 80 ΅g/100g or above you must be removed from any exposure where your air lead level without a respirator would be 100 ΅g/m3 or above. If you are removed from your normal job you may not be returned until your blood lead level declines to at least 60 ΅g/100g. These criteria for removal and return will change according to the following schedule:

TABLE 1

Effective

Date

Removal Blood Level (΅g/100g) Air Lead

(΅g/m3)

Return Blood Lead

(΅g/100g)

9/6/81 At or

above 70

50 or above At or

below 50

9/6/82 At or

above 60

30 or above At or

below 40

9/6/84 At or

above 50

averaged over

six months

30 or above At or

below 40


     (C) You may also be removed from exposure even if your blood lead levels are below these criteria if a final medical determination indicates that you temporarily need reduced lead exposure for medical reasons. If the physician who is implementing your employer's medical program makes a final written opinion recommending your removal or other special protective measures, your employer must implement the physician's recommendation. If you are removed in this manner, you may only be returned when the physician indicates it is safe for you to do so.

     (D) The standard does not give specific instructions dealing with what an employer must do with a removed worker. Your job assignment upon removal is a matter for you, your employer and your union (if any) to work out consistent with existing procedures for job assignments. Each removal must be accomplished in a manner consistent with existing collective bargaining relationships. Your employer is given broad discretion to implement temporary removals so long as no attempt is made to override existing agreements. Similarly, a removed worker is provided no right to veto an employer's choice which satisfies the standard.

     (E) In most cases, employers will likely transfer removed employees to other jobs with sufficiently low lead exposure. Alternatively, a worker's hours may be reduced so that the time weighted average exposure is reduced, or he or she may be temporarily laid off if no other alternative is feasible.

     (F) In all of these situations, MRP benefits must be provided during the period of removal - i.e., you continue to receive the same earnings, seniority, and other rights and benefits you would have had if you had not been removed. Earnings include more that just your base wage; it includes overtime, shift differentials, incentives, and other compensation you would have earned if you had not been removed. During the period of removal you must also be provided with appropriate follow-up medical surveillance. If you were removed because your blood lead level was too high, you must be provided with a monthly blood test. If a medical opinion caused your removal, you must be provided medical tests or examinations that the physician believes to be appropriate. If you do not participate in this follow-up medical surveillance, you may lose your eligibility for MRP benefits.

     (G) When you are medically eligible to return to your former job, your employer must return you to your "former job status." This means that you are entitled to the position, wages, benefits, etc., you would have had if you had not been removed. If you would still be in your old job if no removal had occurred, that is where you go back. If not, you are returned consistent with whatever job assignment discretion your employer would have had if no removal had occurred. MRP only seeks to maintain your rights, not expand them or diminish them.

     (H) If you are removed under MRP and you are also eligible for worker compensation or other compensation for lost wages, your employer's MRP benefits obligation is reduced by the amount that you actually receive from these other sources. This is also true if you obtain other employment during the time you are laid off with MRP benefits.

     (I) The standard also covers situations where an employer voluntarily removes a worker from exposure to lead due to the effects of lead on the employee's medical condition, even though the standard does not require removal. In these situations MRP benefits must still be provided as though the standard required removal. Finally, it is important to note that in all cases where removal is required, respirators cannot be used as a substitute. Respirators may be used before removal becomes necessary, but not as an alternative to a transfer to a low exposure job, or to a lay-off with MRP benefits.

     (x) Employee information and training.

     (A) Your employer is required to provide an information and training program for all employees exposed to lead above the action level or who may suffer skin or eye irritation from lead. This program must inform these employees of the specific hazards associated with their work environment, protective measures which can be taken, the danger of lead to their bodies (including their reproductive systems), and their rights under the standard. In addition, your employer must make readily available to all employees, including those exposed below the action level, a copy of the standard and its appendices and must distribute to all employees any materials provided to the employer under the Washington Industrial Safety and Health Act (WISHA).

     (B) Your employer is required to complete this training for all employees by March 4, 1981. After this date, all new employees must be trained prior to initial assignment to areas where there is possibility of exposure over the action level. This training program must also be provided at least annually thereafter.

     (xi) Signs. The standard requires that the following warning sign be posted in work areas where the exposure to lead exceeds the PEL:

WARNING

LEAD WORK AREA

NO SMOKING OR EATING



     (xii) Recordkeeping.

     (A) Your employer is required to keep all records of exposure monitoring for airborne lead. These records must include the name and job classification of employees measured, details of the sampling and analytic techniques, the results of this sampling and the type of respiratory protection being worn by the person sampled. Your employer is also required to keep all records of biological monitoring and medical examination results. These must include the names of the employees, the physician's written opinion and a copy of the results of the examination. All of the above kinds of records must be kept for 40 years, or for at least 20 years after your termination of employment, whichever is longer.

     (B) Recordkeeping is also required if you are temporarily removed from your job under the MRP program. This record must include your name and social security number, the date of your removal and return, how the removal was or is being accomplished, and whether or not the reason for the removal was an elevated blood lead level. Your employer is required to keep each medical removal record only for as long as the duration of an employee's employment.

     (C) The standard requires that if you request to see or copy environmental monitoring, blood lead level monitoring, or medical removal records, they must be made available to you or to a representative that you authorize. Your union also has access to these records. Medical records other than PbBs must also be provided to you upon request, to your physician or to any other person whom you may specifically designate. Your union does not have access to your personal medical records unless you authorize their access.

     (xiii) Observations of monitoring. When air monitoring for lead is performed at your work place as required by this standard, your employer must allow you or someone you designate to act as an observer of the monitoring. Observers are entitled to an explanation of the measurement procedure, and to record the results obtained. Since results will not normally be available at the time of the monitoring, observers are entitled to record or receive the results of the monitoring when returned by the laboratory. Your employer is required to provide the observer with any personal protective devices required to be worn by employees working in the areas that is being monitored. The employer must require the observer to wear all such equipment and to comply with all other applicable safety and health procedures.

     (xiv) Effective date. The standard's effective date is September 6, 1980, and the employer's obligation under the standard begin to come into effect as of that date. The standard was originally adopted as WAC 296-62-07349 and later recodified to WAC 296-62-07521.

     (c) Appendix C. Medical Surveillance Guidelines.

     (i) Introduction.

     (A) The primary purpose of the Washington Industrial Safety and Health Act of 1973 is to assure, so far as possible, safe and healthful working conditions for every working man and woman. The occupational health standard for inorganic lead* was promulgated to protect workers exposed to inorganic lead including metallic lead, all inorganic lead compounds and organic lead soaps.

     *The term inorganic lead used throughout the medical surveillance appendices is meant to be synonymous with the definition of lead set forth in the standard.

     (B) Under this final standard in effect as of September 6, 1980, occupational exposure to inorganic lead is to be limited to 50 ΅g/m3 (micrograms per cubic meter) based on an eight-hour time-weighted average (TWA). This level of exposure eventually must be achieved through a combination of engineering, work practice and other administrative controls. Periods of time ranging from one to ten years are provided for different industries to implement these controls which are based on individual industry considerations. Until these controls are in place, respirators must be used to meet the 50 ΅g/m3 exposure limit.

     (C) The standard also provides for a program of biological monitoring and medical surveillance for all employees exposed to levels of inorganic lead above the action level of 30 ΅g/m3 for more than thirty days per year.

     (D) The purpose of this document is to outline the medical surveillance provisions of the standard for inorganic lead, and to provide further information to the physician regarding the examination and evaluation of workers exposed to inorganic lead.

     (E) Item (ii) provides a detailed description of the monitoring procedure including the required frequency of blood testing for exposed workers, provisions for medical removal protection (MRP), the recommended right of the employee to a second medical opinion, and notification and recordkeeping requirements of the employer. A discussion of the requirements for respirator use and respirator monitoring and WISHA's position on prophylactic chelation therapy are also included in this section.

     (F) Item (iii) discusses the toxic effects and clinical manifestations of lead poisoning and effects of lead intoxication on enzymatic pathways in heme synthesis. The adverse effects on both male and female reproductive capacity and on the fetus are also discussed.

     (G) Item (iv) outlines the recommended medical evaluation of the worker exposed to inorganic lead including details of the medical history, physical examination, and recommended laboratory tests, which are based on the toxic effects of lead as discussed in item (ii).

     (H) Item (v) provides detailed information concerning the laboratory tests available for the monitoring of exposed workers. Included also is a discussion of the relative value of each test and the limitations and precautions which are necessary in the interpretation of the laboratory results.

     (I) Airborne levels to be achieved without reliance or respirator protection through a combination of engineering and work practice or other administrative controls are illustrated in the following table:

Industry Permissible Lead Level/Compliance Date
200΅g/m3 100΅g/m3 50΅g/m3
Primary Lead Production 1973 06/29/84 06/29/91
Secondary Lead Production

1973

06/29/84

06/29/91

Lead Acid Battery Manufacturing

1973

06/29/83

06/29/91

Automobile Mfg./Solder, Grinding

1973

N/A

03/08/97

Electronics, Gray Iron Foundries, Ink Mfg., Paints and Coatings Mfg., Can Mfg., Wallpaper Mfg., and Printing.

1973

N/A

06/29/91

Lead Chemical Mfg., Nonferrous Foundries, Leaded Steel Mfg., Battery Breaking in the Collection and Processing of Scrap (when not a part of secondary lead smelter) Secondary Copper Smelter, Brass and Bronze Ingot Production. 1973 N/A N/A1*
All Other Industries 1973 N/A 09/08/92

* Feasibility of achieving the PEL by engineering and work practice controls for these industries has yet to be resolved in court, therefore no date has been scheduled.

     (ii) Medical surveillance and monitoring requirements for workers exposed to inorganic lead.

     (A) Under the occupational health standard for inorganic lead, a program of biological monitoring and medical surveillance is to be made available to all employees exposed to lead above the action level of 30 ΅g/m3 TWA for more than thirty days each year. This program consists of periodic blood sampling and medical evaluation to be performed on a schedule which is defined by previous laboratory results, worker complaints or concerns, and the clinical assessment of the examining physician.

     (B) Under this program, the blood lead level of all employees who are exposed to lead above the action level of 30 ΅g/m3 is to be determined at least every six months. The frequency is increased to every two months for employees whose last blood lead level was between 40΅g/100g whole blood and the level requiring employee medical removal to be discussed below. For employees who are removed from exposure to lead due to an elevated blood lead, a new blood lead level must be measured monthly. Zinc protoporphyrin (ZPP) measurement is required on each occasion that a blood lead level measurement is made.

     (C) An annual medical examination and consultation performed under the guidelines discussed in item (iv) is to be made available to each employee for whom a blood test conducted at any time during the preceding twelve months indicated a blood lead level at or above 40 ΅g/100g. Also, an examination is to be given to all employees prior to their assignment to an area in which airborne lead concentrations reach or exceed the action level. In addition, a medical examination must be provided as soon as possible after notification by an employee that the employee has developed signs or symptoms commonly associated with lead intoxication, that the employee desires medical advice regarding lead exposure and the ability to procreate a healthy child, or that the employee has demonstrated difficulty in breathing during a respirator fitting test or during respirator use. An examination is also to be made available to each employee removed from exposure to lead due to a risk of sustaining material impairment to health, or otherwise limited or specially protected pursuant to medical recommendations.

     (D) Results of biological monitoring or the recommendations of an examining physician may necessitate removal of an employee from further lead exposure pursuant to the standard's medical removal program (MRP). The object of the MRP program is to provide temporary medical removals to workers either with substantially elevated blood lead levels or otherwise at risk of sustaining material health impairment from continued substantial exposure to lead. The following guidelines which are summarized in Table 10 were created under the standard for the temporary removal of an exposed employee and his or her subsequent return to work in an exposure area.


TABLE 10

EFFECTIVE DATE
Sept. 6, 1980 Sept. 6, 1981 Sept. 6, 1982 Sept. 6, 1983 Sept. 6, 1984
A. Blood lead level requiring employee medical removal (level must be confirmed with second follow-up blood lead level within two weeks of first report).

>80 ΅g/100g.

>70 ΅g/100g.

>60 ΅g/100g.

>60 ΅g/100g.

>60 ΅g/100g

or average of last three blood samples or all blood samples over previous 6 months (whichever is over a longer time period) is 50 ΅g/100g. or greater unless last sample is 40 ΅g/100g or less.

B. Frequency which employees exposed is action level of lead (30 ΅g/m8 TWA) must have blood lead level checked. (ZPP is also required in each occasion that a blood test is obtained):
1. Last blood lead level less than 40 ΅g/100g . . . . . . . . . . . . Every 6 months. Every 6 months. Every 6 months. Every 6 months. Every 6 months.
2. Last blood lead level between 40 ΅g/100g and level requiring medical removal (see A above) . . . . . . . . . . . . Every 2 months. Every 2 months. Every 2 months. Every 2 months. Every 2 months.
3. Employees removed from exposure to lead because of an elevated blood lead level . . . . . . . . . . . . Every 1 month. Every 1 month. Every 1 month. Every 1 month. Every 1 month.
C. Permissible airborne exposure limit for workers removed from work due to an elevated blood lead level (without regard to respirator protection). 100 ΅g/m3

8 hr TWA

50 ΅g/m3

8 hr TWA

30 ΅g/m3

8 hr TWA

30 ΅g/m3

8 hr TWA

30 ΅g/m3

8 hr TWA

D. Blood lead level confirmed with a second blood analysis, at which employee may return to work. Permissible exposure without regard to respirator protection is listed by industry in Table 1. 60 ΅g/100g 50 ΅g/100g 40 ΅g/100g 40 ΅g/100g 40 ΅g/100g
Note: Where medical opinion indicates that an employee is at risk of material impairment from exposure to lead, the physician can remove an employee from exposure exceeding the action level (or less) or recommend special protective measures as deemed appropriate and necessary. Medical monitoring during the medical removal period can be more stringent than noted in the table above if the physician so specifies. Return to work or removal of limitations and special protections is permitted when the physician indicates that the worker is no longer at risk of material impairment.


     (E) Under the standard's ultimate worker removal criteria, a worker is to be removed from any work having any eight-hour TWA exposure to lead of 30 ΅g/m3 or more whenever either of the following circumstances apply. (I) a blood lead level of 60 ΅g/100g or greater is obtained and confirmed by a second follow-up blood lead level performed within two weeks after the employer receives the results of the first blood sample test, or (II) the average of the previous three blood lead determinations or the average of all blood lead determinations conducted during the previous six months, whichever encompasses the longest time period, equals or exceeds 50 ΅g/100g, unless the last blood sample indicates a blood lead level at or below 40 ΅g/100g, in which case the employee need not be removed. Medical removal is to continue until two consecutive blood lead levels are 40 ΅g/100g or less.

     (F) During the first two years that the ultimate removal criteria are being phased in, the return criteria have been set to assure that a worker's blood lead level has substantially declined during the period of removal. From March 1, 1979, to March 1, 1980, the blood lead level requiring employee medical removal is 80 ΅g/100g. Workers found to have a confirmed blood lead at this level or greater need only be removed from work having a daily eight hour TWA exposure to lead at or above 100 ΅g/m3. Workers so removed are to be returned to work when their blood lead levels are at or below 60 ΅g/100g of whole blood. From March 1, 1980, to March 1, 1981, the blood lead level requiring medical removal is 70 ΅g/100g. During this period workers need only be removed from jobs having a daily eight hour TWA exposure to lead at or above 50 ΅g/m3 and are to be returned to work when a level of 50 ΅g/100g is achieved. Beginning March 1, 1981, return depends on the worker's blood lead level declining to 40 ΅g/100g of whole blood.

     (G) As part of the standard, the employer is required to notify in writing each employee whose whole blood lead level exceeds 40 ΅g/100g. In addition, each such employee is to be informed that the standard requires medical removal with MRP benefits, discussed below, when an employee's blood lead level exceeds the above defined limits.

     (H) In addition to the above blood lead level criteria, temporary worker removal may also take place as a result of medical determinations and recommendations. Written medical opinions must be prepared after each examination pursuant to the standard. If the examining physician includes medical finding, determination or opinion that the employee has a medical condition which places the employee at increased risk of material health impairment from exposure to lead, then the employee must be removed from exposure to lead at or above the action level. Alternatively, if the examining physician recommends special protective measures for an employee (e.g., use of a powered air purifying respirator) or recommends limitations on an employee's exposure to lead, then the employer must implement these recommendations. Recommendations may be more stringent than the specific provisions of the standard. The examining physician, therefore, is given broad flexibility to tailor special protective procedures to the needs of individual employees. This flexibility extends to the evaluation and management of pregnant workers and male and female workers who are planning to conceive children. Based on the history, physical examination, and laboratory studies, the physician might recommend special protective measures or medical removal for an employee who is pregnant or who is planning to conceive a child when, in the physician's judgment, continued exposure to lead at the current job would pose a significant risk. The return of the employee to his or her former job status, or the removal of special protections or limitations, depends upon the examining physician determining that the employee is no longer at increased risk of material impairment or that the special measures are no longer needed.

     (I) During the period of any form of special protection or removal, the employer must maintain the worker's earnings, seniority, and other employment rights and benefits (as though the worker has not been removed) for a period of up to eighteen months. This economic protection will maximize meaningful worker participation in the medical surveillance program, and is appropriate as part of the employer's overall obligation to provide a safe and healthful work place. The provisions of MRP benefits during the employee's removal period may, however, be conditioned upon participation in medical surveillance.

     (J) On rare occasions, an employee's blood lead level may not acceptably decline within eighteen months of removal. This situation will arise only in unusual circumstances, thus the standard relies on an individual medical examination to determine how to protect such an employee. This medical determination is to be based on both laboratory values, including lead levels, zinc protoporphyrin levels, blood counts, and other tests felt to be warranted, as well as the physician's judgment that any symptoms or findings on physical examination are a result of lead toxicity. The medical determination may be that the employee is incapable of ever safely returning to his or her former job status. The medical determination may provide additional removal time past eighteen months for some employees or specify special protective measures to be implemented.

     (K) The lead standard provides for a multiple physician review in cases where the employee wishes a second opinion concerning potential lead poisoning or toxicity. If an employee wishes a second opinion, he or she can make an appointment with a physician of his or her choice. This second physician will review the findings, recommendations or determinations of the first physician and conduct any examinations, consultations or tests deemed necessary in an attempt to make a final medical determination. If the first and second physicians do not agree in their assessment they must try to resolve their differences. If they cannot reach an agreement then they must designate a third physician to resolve the dispute.

     (L) The employer must provide examining and consulting physicians with the following specific information: A copy of the lead regulations and all appendices, a description of the employee's duties as related to exposure, the exposure level to lead and any other toxic substances (if applicable), a description of personal protective equipment used, blood lead levels, and all prior written medical opinions regarding the employee in the employer's possession or control. The employer must also obtain from the physician and provide the employee with a written medical opinion containing blood lead levels, the physician's opinion as to whether the employee is at risk of material impairment to health, any recommended protective measures for the employee if further exposure is permitted, as well as any recommended limitations upon an employee's use of respirators.

     (M) Employers must instruct each physician not to reveal to the employer in writing or in any other way his or her findings, laboratory results, or diagnoses which are felt to be unrelated to occupational lead exposure. They must also instruct each physician to advise the employee of any occupationally or nonoccupationally related medical condition requiring further treatment or evaluation.

     (N) The standard provides for the use of respirators when engineering and other primary controls have not been fully implemented. However, the use of respirator protection shall not be used in lieu of temporary medical removal due to elevated blood lead levels or findings that an employee is at risk of material health impairment. This is based on the numerous inadequacies of respirators including skin rash where the facepiece makes contact with the skin, unacceptable stress to breathing in some workers with underlying cardiopulmonary impairment, difficulty in providing adequate fit, the tendency for respirators to create additional hazards by interfering with vision, hearing, and mobility, and the difficulties of assuring the maximum effectiveness of a complicated work practice program involving respirators. Respirators do, however, serve a useful function where engineering and work practice are inadequate by providing interim or short-term protection, provided they are properly selected for the environment in which the employee will be working, properly fitted to the employee, maintained and cleaned periodically, and worn by the employee when required.

     (O) In its final standard on occupational exposure to inorganic lead, WISHA has prohibited prophylactic chelation. Diagnostic and therapeutic chelation are permitted only under the supervision of a licensed physician with appropriate medical monitoring in an acceptable clinical setting. The decision to initiate chelation therapy must be made on an individual basis and take into account the severity of symptoms felt to be a result of lead toxicity along with blood lead levels, ZPP levels and other laboratory tests as appropriate. EDTA and penicillamine, which are the primary chelating agents used in the therapy of occupational lead poisoning, have significant potential side effects and their use must be justified on the basis of expected benefits to the worker.

     (P) Unless frank and severe symptoms are present, therapeutic chelation is not recommended given the opportunity to remove a worker from exposure and allow the body to naturally excrete accumulated lead. As a diagnostic aid, the chelation mobilization test using CA-EDTA has limited applicability. According to some investigators, the tests can differentiate between lead-induced and other nephropathies. The test may also provide an estimation of the mobile fraction of the total body lead burden.

     (Q) Employers are required to assure that accurate records are maintained on exposure monitoring, medical surveillance, and medical removal for each employee. Exposure monitoring and medical surveillance records must be kept for forty years or the duration of employment plus twenty years, whichever is longer, while medical removal records must be maintained for the duration of employment. All records required under the standard must be made available upon request to representatives of the director of the department of labor and industries. Employers must also make environmental and biological monitoring and medical removal records available to affected employees and to former employees or their authorized employee representatives. Employees or their specifically designated representatives have access to their entire medical surveillance records.

     (R) In addition, the standard requires that the employer inform all workers exposed to lead at or above the action level of the provisions of the standard and all its appendices, the purpose and description of medical surveillance and provisions for medical removal protection if temporary removal is required. An understanding of the potential health effects of lead exposure by all exposed employees along with full understanding of their rights under the lead standard is essential for an effective monitoring program.

     (iii) Adverse health effects of inorganic lead.

     (A) Although the toxicity of lead has been known for 2,000 years, the knowledge of the complex relationship between lead exposure and human response is still being refined. Significant research into the toxic properties of lead continues throughout the world, and it should be anticipated that our understanding of thresholds of effects and margins of safety will be improved in future years. The provisions of the lead standard are founded on two prime medical judgments; first, the prevention of adverse health effects from exposure to lead throughout a working lifetime requires that worker blood lead levels be maintained at or below 40 ΅g/100g, and second, the blood lead levels of workers, male or female, who intend to parent in the near future should be maintained below 30 ΅g/100g to minimize adverse reproduction health effects to the parent and developing fetus. The adverse effects of lead on reproduction are being actively researched and WISHA encourages the physician to remain abreast of recent developments in the area to best advise pregnant workers or workers planning to conceive children.

     (B) The spectrum of health effects caused by lead exposure can be subdivided into five developmental states; normal, physiological changes of uncertain significance, pathophysiological changes, overt symptoms (morbidity), and mortality. Within this process there are no sharp distinctions, but rather a continuum of effects. Boundaries between categories overlap due to the wide variation of individual responses and exposures in the working population. WISHA's development of the lead standard focused on pathophysiological changes as well as later stages of disease.

     (I) Heme synthesis inhibition.

     a) The earliest demonstrated effect of lead involves its ability to inhibit at least two enzymes of the heme synthesis pathway at very low blood levels. Inhibition of delta aminolevulinic acid dehydrase (ALA-D) which catalyzes the conversion of delta-aminolevulinic acid (ALA) to protoporphyrin is observed at a blood lead level below 20΅g/100g whole blood. At a blood lead level of 40 ΅g/100g, more than twenty percent of the population would have seventy percent inhibition of ALA-D. There is an exponential increase in ALA excretion at blood lead levels greater than 40 ΅g/100g.

     b) Another enzyme, ferrochelatase, is also inhibited at low blood lead levels. Inhibition of ferrochelatase leads to increased free erythrocyte protoporphyrin (FEP) in the blood which can then bind to zinc to yield zinc protoporphyrin. At a blood lead level of 50 ΅g/100g or greater, nearly 100 percent of the population will have an increase FEP. There is also an exponential relationship between blood lead levels greater than 40 ΅g/100g and the associated ZPP level, which has led to the development of the ZPP screening test for lead exposure.

     c) While the significance of these effects is subject to debate, it is WISHA's position that these enzyme disturbances are early stages of a disease process which may eventually result in the clinical symptoms of lead poisoning. Whether or not the effects do progress to the later stages of clinical disease, disruption of these enzyme processes over a working lifetime is considered to be a material impairment of health.

     d) One of the eventual results of lead-induced inhibition of enzymes in the heme synthesis pathway is anemia which can be asymptomatic if mild but associated with a wide array of symptoms including dizziness, fatigue, and tachycardia when more severe. Studies have indicated that lead levels as low as 50 ΅g/100g can be associated with a definite decreased hemoglobin, although most cases of lead-induced anemia, as well as shortened red-cell survival times, occur at lead levels exceeding 80 ΅g/100g. Inhibited hemoglobin synthesis is more common in chronic cases whereas shortened erythrocyte life span is more common in acute cases.

     e) In lead-induced anemias, there is usually a reticulocytosis along with the presence of basophilic stippling, and ringed sideroblasts, although none of the above are pathognomonic for lead-induced anemia.

     (II) Neurological effects.

     a) Inorganic lead had been found to have toxic effects on both the central and peripheral nervous systems. The earliest stage of lead-induced central nervous system effects first manifest themselves in the form of behavioral disturbances and central nervous system symptoms including irritability, restlessness, insomnia and other sleep disturbances, fatigue, vertigo, headache, poor memory, tremor, depression, and apathy. With more severe exposure, symptoms can progress to drowsiness, stupor, hallucinations, delirium, convulsions and coma.

     b) The most severe and acute form of lead poisoning which usually follows ingestion or inhalation of large amounts of lead is acute encephalopathy which may arise precipitously with the onset of intractable seizures, coma, cardiorespiratory arrest, and death within 48 hours.

     c) While there is disagreement about what exposure levels are needed to produce the earliest symptoms, most experts agree that symptoms definitely can occur at blood lead levels of 60 ΅g/100g whole blood and therefore recommend a 40 ΅g/100g maximum. The central nervous system effects frequently are not reversible following discontinued exposure or chelation therapy and when improvement does occur, it is almost always only partial.

     d) The peripheral neuropathy resulting from lead exposure characteristically involves only motor function with minimal sensory damage and has a marked predilection for the extensor muscles of the most active extremity. The peripheral neuropathy can occur with varying degrees of severity. The earliest and mildest form which can be detected in workers with blood lead levels as low as 50 ΅g/100g is manifested by slowing or motor nerve conduction velocity often without clinical symptoms. With progression of the neuropathy there is development of painless extensor muscle weakness usually involving the extensor muscles of the fingers and hand in the most active upper extremity, followed in severe cases by wrist drop, much less commonly, foot drop.

     e) In addition to slowing of nerve conduction, electromyographical studies in patients with blood lead levels greater than 50 ΅g/100g have demonstrated a decrease in the number of acting motor unit potentials, an increase in the duration of motor unit potentials, and spontaneous pathological activity including fibrillations and fasciculation. Whether these effects occur at levels of 40 ΅g/100g is undetermined.

     f) While the peripheral neuropathies can occasionally be reversed with therapy, again such recovery is not assured particularly in the more severe neuropathies and often improvement is only partial. The lack of reversibility is felt to be due in part to segmental demyelination.

     (III) Gastrointestinal. Lead may also effect the gastrointestinal system producing abdominal colic or diffuse abdominal pain, constipation, obstipation, diarrhea, anorexia, nausea and vomiting. Lead colic rarely develops at blood lead levels below 80 ΅g/100g.

     (IV) Renal.

     a) Renal toxicity represents one of the most serious health effects of lead poisoning. In the early stages of disease nuclear inclusion bodies can frequently be identified in proximal renal tubular cells. Renal functions remain normal and the changes in this stage are probably reversible. With more advanced disease there is progressive interstitial fibrosis and impaired renal function. Eventually extensive interstitial fibrosis ensues with sclerotic glomeruli and dilated and atrophied proximal tubules; all represent end stage kidney disease. Azotemia can be progressive, eventually resulting in frank uremia necessitating dialysis. There is occasionally associated hypertension and hyperuricemia with or without gout.

     b) Early kidney disease is difficult to detect. The urinalysis is normal in early lead nephropathy and the blood urea nitrogen and serum creatinine increase only when two-thirds of kidney function is lost. Measurement of creatinine clearance can often detect earlier disease as can other methods of measurement of glomerular filtration rate. An abnormal Ca-EDTA mobilization test has been used to differentiate between lead-induced and other nephropathies, but this procedure is not widely accepted. A form of Fanconi syndrome with aminoaciduria, glycosuria, and hyperphosphaturia indicating severe injury to the proximal renal tubules is occasionally seen in children.

     (V) Reproductive effects.

     a) Exposure to lead can have serious effects on reproductive function in both males and females. In male workers exposed to lead there can be a decrease in sexual drive, impotence, decreased ability to produce healthy sperm, and sterility. Malformed sperm (teratospermia), decreased number of sperm (hypospermia), and sperm with decreased motility (asthenospermia) can occur. Teratospermia has been noted at mean blood lead levels of 53 ΅g/100g and hypospermia and asthenospermia at 41 ΅g/100g. Furthermore, there appears to be a dose-response relationship for teratospermia in lead exposed workers.

     b) Women exposed to lead may experience menstrual disturbances including dysmenorrhea, menorrhagia and amenorrhea. Following exposure to lead, women have a higher frequency of sterility, premature births, spontaneous miscarriages, and stillbirths.

     c) Germ cells can be affected by lead and cause genetic damage in the egg or sperm cells before conception and result in failure to implant, miscarriage, stillbirth, or birth defects.

     d) Infants of mothers with lead poisoning have a higher mortality during the first year and suffer from lowered birth weights, slower growth, and nervous system disorders.

     e) Lead can pass through the placental barrier and lead levels in the mother's blood are comparable to concentrations of lead in the umbilical cord at birth. Transplacental passage becomes detectable at 12-14 weeks of gestation and increases until birth.

     f) There is little direct data on damage to the fetus from exposure to lead but it is generally assumed that the fetus and newborn would be at least as susceptible to neurological damage as young children. Blood lead levels of 50-60 ΅g/100g in children can cause significant neurobehavioral impairments, and there is evidence of hyperactivity at blood levels as low as 25 ΅g/100g. Given the overall body of literature concerning the adverse health effects of lead in children, WISHA feels that the blood lead level in children should be maintained below 30 ΅g/100g with a population mean of 15 ΅g/100g. Blood lead levels in the fetus and newborn likewise should not exceed 30 ΅g/100g.

     g) Because of lead's ability to pass through the placental barrier and also because of the demonstrated adverse effects of lead on reproductive function in both males and females as well as the risk of genetic damage of lead on both the ovum and sperm, WISHA recommends a 30 ΅g/100g maximum permissible blood lead level in both males and females who wish to bear children.

     (IV) Other toxic effects.

     a) Debate and research continue on the effects of lead on the human body. Hypertension has frequently been noted in occupationally exposed individuals although it is difficult to assess whether this is due to lead's adverse effects on the kidneys or if some other mechanism is involved.

     b) Vascular and electrocardiographic changes have been detected but have not been well characterized. Lead is thought to impair thyroid function and interfere with the pituitary-adrenal axis, but again these effects have not been well defined.

     (iv) Medical evaluation.

     (A) The most important principle in evaluating a worker for any occupational disease including lead poisoning is a high index of suspicion on the part of the examining physician. As discussed in Section (ii), lead can affect numerous organ systems and produce a wide array of signs and symptoms, most of which are nonspecific and subtle in nature at least in the early stages of disease. Unless serious concern for lead toxicity is present, many of the early clues to diagnosis may easily be overlooked.

     (B) The crucial initial step in the medical evaluation is recognizing that a worker's employment can result in exposure to lead. The worker will frequently be able to define exposures to lead and lead-containing materials but often will not volunteer this information unless specifically asked. In other situations the worker may not know of any exposures to lead but the suspicion might be raised on the part of the physician because of the industry or occupation of the worker. Potential occupational exposure to lead and its compounds occur in at least 120 occupations, including lead smelting, the manufacture of lead storage batteries, the manufacture of lead pigments and products containing pigments, solder manufacture, shipbuilding and ship repair, auto manufacturing, construction, and painting.

     (C) Once the possibility for lead exposure is raised, the focus can then be directed toward eliciting information from the medical history, physical exam, and finally from laboratory data to evaluate the worker for potential lead toxicity.

     (D) A complete and detailed work history is important in the initial evaluation. A listing of all previous employment with information on work processes, exposure to fumes or dust, known exposures to lead or other toxic substances, respiratory protection used, and previous medical surveillance should all be included in the worker's record. Where exposure to lead is suspected, information concerning on-the-job personal hygiene, smoking or eating habits in work areas, laundry procedures, and use of any protective clothing or respiratory protection equipment should be noted. A complete work history is essential in the medical evaluation of a worker with suspected lead toxicity, especially when long-term effects such as neurotoxicity and nephrotoxicity are considered.

     (E) The medical history is also of fundamental importance and should include a listing of all past and current medical conditions, current medications including proprietary drug intake, previous surgeries and hospitalizations, allergies, smoking history, alcohol consumption, and also nonoccupational lead exposures such as hobbies (hunting, riflery). Also known childhood exposures should be elicited. Any previous history of hematological, neurological, gastrointestinal, renal, psychological, gynecological, genetic, or reproductive problems should be specifically noted.

     (F) A careful and complete review of systems must be performed to assess both recognized complaints and subtle or slowly acquired symptoms which the worker might not appreciate as being significant. The review of symptoms should include the following:


General - weight loss, fatigue, decreased appetite.
Head, Eyes, Ears, Nose, Throat (HEENT)

-

headaches, visual disturbance or decreased visual acuity, hearing deficits or tinnitus, pigmentation of the oral mucosa, or metallic taste in mouth.

Cardiopulmonary - shortness of breath, cough, chest pains, palpitations, or orthopnea.
Gastrointestinal - nausea, vomiting, heartburn, abdominal pain, constipation or diarrhea.
Neurologic - irritability, insomnia, weakness (fatigue), dizziness, loss of memory, confusion, hallucinations, incoordination, ataxia, decreased strength in hands or feet, disturbance in gait, difficulty in climbing stairs, or seizures.
Hematologic - pallor, easy fatigability, abnormal blood loss, melena.
Reproductive (male or female and spouse where relevant)

-

history of infertility, impotence, loss of libido, abnormal menstrual periods, history of miscarriages, stillbirths, or children with birth defects.

Musculoskeletal - muscle and joint pains.

     (G) The physical examination should emphasize the neurological, gastrointestinal, and cardiovascular systems. The worker's weight and blood pressure should be recorded and the oral mucosa checked for pigmentation characteristic of a possible Burtonian or lead line on the gingiva. It should be noted, however, that the lead line may not be present even in severe lead poisoning if good oral hygiene is practiced.

     (H) The presence of pallor on skin examination may indicate an anemia, which if severe might also be associated with a tachycardia. If an anemia is suspected, an active search for blood loss should be undertaken including potential blood loss through the gastrointestinal tract.

     (I) A complete neurological examination should include an adequate mental status evaluation including a search for behavioral and psychological disturbances, memory testing, evaluation for irritability, insomnia, hallucinations, and mental clouding. Gait and coordination should be examined along with close observation for tremor. A detailed evaluation of peripheral nerve function including careful sensory and motor function testing is warranted. Strength testing particularly of extensor muscle groups of all extremities is of fundamental importance.

     (J) Cranial nerve evaluation should also be included in the routine examination.

     (K) The abdominal examination should include auscultation for bowel sounds and abnormal bruits and palpation for organomegaly, masses, and diffuse abdominal tenderness.

     (L) Cardiovascular examination should evaluate possible early signs of congestive heart failure. Pulmonary status should be addressed particularly if respirator protection is contemplated.

     (M) As part of the medical evaluation, the lead standard requires the following laboratory studies.

     (I) Blood lead level.

     (II) Hemoglobin and hematocrit determinations, red cell indices, and examination of the peripheral blood smear to evaluate red blood cell morphology.

     (III) Blood urea nitrogen.

     (IV) Serum creatinine.

     (V) Routine urinalysis with microscopic examination.

     (VI) A zinc protoporphyrin level.

     (N) In addition to the above, the physician is authorized to order any further laboratory or other tests which he or she deems necessary in accordance with sound medical practice. The evaluation must also include pregnancy testing or laboratory evaluation of male fertility if requested by the employee.

     (O) Additional tests which are probably not warranted on a routine basis but may be appropriate when blood lead and ZPP levels are equivocal include delta aminolevulinic acid and coproporphyrin concentrations in the urine, and dark-field illumination for detection of basophilic stippling in red blood cells.

     (P) If an anemia is detected further studies including a careful examination of the peripheral smear, reticulocyte count, stool for occult blood, serum iron, total iron binding capacity, bilirubin, and, if appropriate vitamin B12 and folate may be of value in attempting to identify the cause of the anemia.

     (Q) If a peripheral neuropathy is suspected, nerve conduction studies are warranted both for diagnosis and as a basis to monitor any therapy.

     (R) If renal disease is questioned, a 24-hour urine collection for creatinine clearance, protein, and electrolytes may be indicated. Elevated uric acid levels may result from lead-induced renal disease and a serum uric acid level might be performed.

     (S) An electrocardiogram and chest X ray may be obtained as deemed appropriate.

     (T) Sophisticated and highly specialized testing should not be done routinely and where indicated should be under the direction of a specialist.

     (v) Laboratory evaluation.

     (A) The blood level at present remains the single most important test to monitor lead exposure and is the test used in the medical surveillance program under the lead standard to guide employee medical removal. The ZPP has several advantages over the blood lead level. Because of its relatively recent development and the lack of extensive data concerning its interpretation, the ZPP currently remains an ancillary test.

     (B) This section will discuss the blood lead level and ZPP in detail and will outline their relative advantages and disadvantages. Other blood tests currently available to evaluate lead exposure will also be reviewed.

     (C) The blood lead level is a good index of current or recent lead absorption when there is no anemia present and when the worker has not taken any chelating agents. However, blood lead levels along with urinary lead levels do not necessarily indicate the total body burden of lead and are not adequate measures of past exposure. One reason for this is that lead has a high affinity for bone and up to 90 percent of the body's total lead is deposited there. A very important component of the total lead body burden is lead in soft tissue (liver, kidneys, and brain). This fraction of the lead body burden, the biologically active lead, is not entirely reflected by blood lead levels since it is a function of the dynamics of lead absorption, distribution, deposition in bone and excretion. Following discontinuation of exposure to lead, the excess body burden is only slowly mobilized from bone and other relatively stable stores and excreted. Consequently, a high blood lead level may only represent recent heavy exposure to lead without a significant total body excess and likewise a low blood lead level does not exclude an elevated total body burden of lead.

     (D) Also due to its correlation with recent exposures, the blood lead level may vary considerably over short time intervals.

     (E) To minimize laboratory error and erroneous results due to contamination, blood specimens must be carefully collected after thorough cleaning of the skin with appropriate methods using lead-free containers and analyzed by a reliable laboratory. Under the standard, samples must be analyzed in laboratories which are approved by the Center for Disease Control (CDC) or which have received satisfactory grades in proficiency testing by the CDC in the previous year. Analysis is to be made using atomic absorption spectrophotometry anodic stripping; voltammetry or any method which meets the accuracy requirements set forth by the standard.

     (F) The determination of lead in urine is generally considered a less reliable monitoring technique than analysis of whole blood primarily due to individual variability in urinary excretion capacity as well as the technical difficulty of obtaining accurate 24 hour urine collections. In addition, workers with renal insufficiency, whether due to lead or some other cause, may have decreased lead clearance and consequently urine lead levels may underestimate the true lead burden. Therefore, urine lead levels should not be used as a routine test.

     (G) The zinc protoporphyrin test, unlike the blood lead determination, measures an adverse metabolic effect of lead and as such is a better indicator of lead toxicity than the level of blood lead itself. The level of ZPP reflects lead absorption over the preceding three to four months, and therefore is a better indicator of lead body burden. The ZPP requires more time than the blood lead to read significantly elevated levels; the return to normal after discontinuing lead exposure is also slower. Furthermore, the ZPP test is simpler, faster, and less expensive to perform and no contamination is possible. Many investigators believe it is the most reliable means of monitoring chronic lead absorption.

     (H) Zinc protoporphyrin results from the inhibition of the enzyme ferrochelatase which catalyzes the insertion of an iron molecule into the protoporphyrin molecule, which then becomes heme. If iron is not inserted into the molecule then zinc, having a greater affinity for protoporphyrin, takes place in the iron, forming ZPP.

     (I) An elevation in the level of circulating ZPP may occur at blood lead levels as low as 20-30 ΅g/100g in some workers. Once the blood lead level has reached 40 ΅g/100g there is more marked rise in the ZPP value from its normal range of less than 100 ΅g/100ml. Increases in blood lead levels beyond 40 ΅g/100g are associated with exponential increases in ZPP.

     (J) Whereas blood lead levels fluctuate over short time spans, ZPP levels remain relatively stable. ZPP is measured directly in red blood cells and is present for the cell's entire 120 day lifespan. Therefore, the ZPP level in blood reflects the average ZPP production over the previous three to four months and consequently the average lead exposure during that time interval.

     (K) It is recommended that a hematocrit be determined whenever a confirmed ZPP of 50 ΅g/100ml whole blood is obtained to rule out a significant underlying anemia. If the ZPP is in excess of 100 ΅g/100ml and not associated with abnormal elevations in blood lead levels, the laboratory should be checked to be sure the blood leads were determined using atomic absorption spectrophotometry, anodic stripping voltammetry or any method which meets the accuracy requirements set forth by the standard, by a CDC approved laboratory which is experienced in lead level determinations. Repeat periodic blood lead studies should be obtained in all individuals with elevated ZPP levels to be certain that an associated elevated blood lead level has not been missed due to transient fluctuations in blood leads.

     (L) ZPP has characteristic fluorescence spectrum with a peak at 594nm which is detectable with a hematofluorimeter. The hematofluorimeter is accurate and portable and can provide on-site, instantaneous results for workers who can be frequently tested via a finger prick.

     (M) However, careful attention must be given to calibration and quality control procedures. Limited data on blood lead -ZPP correlations and the ZPP levels which are associated with the adverse health effects discussed in item (ii) are the major limitations of the test. Also it is difficult to correlate ZPP levels with environmental exposure and there is some variation of response with age and sex. Nevertheless, the ZPP promises to be an important diagnostic test for the early detection of lead toxicity and its value will increase as more data is collected regarding its relationship to other manifestations of lead poisoning.

     (N) Levels of delta-aminolevulinic acid (ALA) in the urine are also used as a measure of lead exposure. Increasing concentrations of ALA are believed to result from the inhibition of the enzyme delta-aminolevulinic acid dehydrase (ALA-D). Although the test is relatively easy to perform, inexpensive, and rapid, the disadvantages include variability in results, the necessity to collect a complete 24 hour urine sample which has a specific gravity greater than 1.010, and also the fact that ALA decomposes in the presence of light.

     (O) The pattern of porphyrin excretion in the urine can also be helpful in identifying lead intoxication. With lead poisoning, the urine concentrations of coproporphyrins I and II, porphobilinogen and uroporphyrin I rise. The most important increase, however, is that of coproporphyrin III; levels may exceed 5,000 ΅g/1 in the urine in lead poisoned individuals, but its correlation with blood lead levels and ZPP are not as good as those of ALA. Increases in urinary porphyrins are not diagnostic of lead toxicity and may be seen in porphyria, some liver diseases, and in patients with high reticulocyte counts.

     (vi) Summary.

     (A) The WISHA standard for inorganic lead places significant emphasis on the medical surveillance of all workers exposed to levels of inorganic lead above the action level of 30 ΅g/m3 TWA. The physician has a fundamental role in this surveillance program, and in the operation of the medical removal protection program.

     (B) Even with adequate worker education on the adverse health effects of lead and appropriate training in work practices, personal hygiene and other control measures, the physician has a primary responsibility for evaluating potential lead toxicity in the worker. It is only through a careful and detailed medical and work history, a complete physical examination and appropriate laboratory testing that an accurate assessment can be made. Many of the adverse health effects of lead toxicity are either irreversible or only partially reversible and therefore early detection of disease is very important.

     (C) This document outlines the medical monitoring program as defined by the occupational safety and health standard for inorganic lead. It reviews the adverse health effects of lead poisoning and describes the important elements of the history and physical examinations as they relate to these adverse effects.

     (D) It is hoped that this review and discussion will give the physician a better understanding of the WISHA standard with the ultimate goal of protecting the health and well-being of the worker exposed to lead under his or her care.

     (d) Appendix D. Recommendations to employers concerning high-risk tasks (nonmandatory).

     The department advises employers that the following tasks have a high risk for lead overexposure (this list is not complete; other tasks also can result in lead over-exposure):


• Any open flame operation involving lead-containing solder in a manner producing molten solder, including the manufacture or repair of motor vehicle radiators;
• Sanding, cutting or grinding of lead-containing solder;
• Breaking, recycling or manufacture of lead-containing batteries;
• Casting objects using lead, brass, or lead-containing alloys;
• Where lead-containing coatings or paints are present:
• abrasive blasting
• welding
• cutting
• torch burning
• manual demolition of structures
• manual scraping
• manual sanding
• heat gun applications
• power tool cleaning
• rivet busting
• clean-up activities where dry expendable abrasives are used
• abrasive blasting enclosure movement and removal;
• Spray-painting with lead-containing paint;
• Using lead-containing mortar;
• Lead burning;
• Operation or cleaning of shooting facilities where lead bullets are used;
• Formulation or processing of lead-containing pigments or paints;
• Cutting, burning, or melting of lead-containing materials.

     The department recommends that annual blood lead testing be offered to all employees potentially overexposed to lead, including those performing the tasks listed above, regardless of air lead levels. Research has shown that air lead levels often do not accurately predict workers' lead overexposure. The blood lead testing will provide the most information if performed during a period of peak lead exposure.

     Employers should be aware that the United States Public Health Service has set a goal of eliminating occupational exposures which result in whole blood lead levels of 25 ΅g/dl or greater. This goal should guide whether employees' blood lead levels indicate lead overexposure.

     If blood lead levels are elevated in an employee performing a task associated with lead overexposure, employers should assess the maintenance and effectiveness of exposure controls, hygiene facilities, respiratory protection program, the employee's work practices and personal hygiene, and the employee's respirator use, if any. If a deficiency exists in any of these areas, the employer should correct the problem.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.010, 49.17.040, 49.17.050, and 49.17.060. 04-10-026, § 296-62-07521, filed 4/27/04, effective 8/1/04; 03-18-090, § 296-62-07521, filed 9/2/03, effective 11/1/03. Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.010, [49.17].040, and [49.17].050. 01-11-038, § 296-62-07521, filed 5/9/01, effective 9/1/01; 99-10-071, § 296-62-07521, filed 5/4/99, effective 9/1/99. Statutory Authority: Chapter 49.17 RCW. 96-09-030, § 296-62-07521, filed 4/10/96, effective 6/1/96; 95-04-078, § 296-62-07521, filed 1/30/95, effective 3/2/95; 91-24-017 (Order 91-07), § 296-62-07521, filed 11/22/91, effective 12/24/91; 90-17-051 (Order 90-10), § 296-62-07521, filed 8/13/90, effective 9/24/90; 90-03-029 (Order 89-20), § 296-62-07521, filed 1/11/90, effective 2/26/90; 88-14-108 (Order 88-11), § 296-62-07521, filed 7/6/88. Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.040 and 49.17.050. 83-24-013 (Order 83-34), § 296-62-07521, filed 11/30/83; 82-13-045 (Order 82-22), § 296-62-07521, filed 6/11/82. Formerly WAC 296-62-07349.]


AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 04-10-026, filed 4/27/04, effective 8/1/04)

WAC 296-62-07540   Formaldehyde.   (1) Scope and application. This standard applies to all occupational exposures to formaldehyde, i.e., from formaldehyde gas, its solutions, and materials that release formaldehyde.

     (2) Definitions. For purposes of this standard, the following definitions shall apply:

     (a) "Action level" means a concentration of 0.5 part formaldehyde per million parts of air (0.5 ppm) calculated as an 8-hour time-weighted average (TWA) concentration.

     (b) "Approved" means approved by the director of the department of labor and industries or his/her authorized representative: Provided, however, That should a provision of this chapter state that approval by an agency or organization other than the department of labor and industries is required, such as Underwriters' Laboratories or the Mine Safety and Health Administration and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, the provision of WAC 296-800-370 shall apply.

     (c) "Authorized person" means any person required by work duties to be present in regulated work areas, or authorized to do so by the employer, by this section of the standard, or by the WISHA Act.

     (d) "Director" means the director of the department of labor and industries, or his/her designated representative.

     (e) "Emergency" is any occurrence, such as but not limited to equipment failure, rupture of containers, or failure of control equipment that results in an uncontrolled release of a significant amount of formaldehyde.

     (f) "Employee exposure" means the exposure to airborne formaldehyde which would occur without corrections for protection provided by any respirator that is in use.

     (g) "Formaldehyde" means the chemical substance, HCHO, Chemical Abstracts Service Registry No. 50-00-0.

     (3) Permissible exposure limit (PEL).

     (a) TWA: The employer shall assure that no employee is exposed to an airborne concentration of formaldehyde which exceeds 0.75 part formaldehyde per million parts of air as an 8-hour TWA.

     (b) Short term exposure limit (STEL): The employer shall assure that no employee is exposed to an airborne concentration of formaldehyde which exceeds two parts formaldehyde per million parts of air (2 ppm) as a fifteen-minute STEL.

     (4) Exposure monitoring.

     (a) General.

     (i) Each employer who has a workplace covered by this standard shall monitor employees to determine their exposure to formaldehyde.

     (ii) Exception. Where the employer documents, using objective data, that the presence of formaldehyde or formaldehyde-releasing products in the workplace cannot result in airborne concentrations of formaldehyde that would cause any employee to be exposed at or above the action level or the STEL under foreseeable conditions of use, the employer will not be required to measure employee exposure to formaldehyde.

     (iii) When an employee's exposure is determined from representative sampling, the measurements used shall be representative of the employee's full shift or short-term exposure to formaldehyde, as appropriate.

     (iv) Representative samples for each job classification in each work area shall be taken for each shift unless the employer can document with objective data that exposure levels for a given job classification are equivalent for different workshifts.

     (b) Initial monitoring. The employer shall identify all employees who may be exposed at or above the action level or at or above the STEL and accurately determine the exposure of each employee so identified.

     (i) Unless the employer chooses to measure the exposure of each employee potentially exposed to formaldehyde, the employer shall develop a representative sampling strategy and measure sufficient exposures within each job classification for each workshift to correctly characterize and not underestimate the exposure of any employee within each exposure group.

     (ii) The initial monitoring process shall be repeated each time there is a change in production, equipment, process, personnel, or control measures which may result in new or additional exposure to formaldehyde.

     (iii) If the employer receives reports or signs or symptoms of respiratory or dermal conditions associated with formaldehyde exposure, the employer shall promptly monitor the affected employee's exposure.

     (c) Periodic monitoring.

     (i) The employer shall periodically measure and accurately determine exposure to formaldehyde for employees shown by the initial monitoring to be exposed at or above the action level or at or above the STEL.

     (ii) If the last monitoring results reveal employee exposure at or above the action level, the employer shall repeat monitoring of the employees at least every six months.

     (iii) If the last monitoring results reveal employee exposure at or above the STEL, the employer shall repeat monitoring of the employees at least once a year under worst conditions.

     (d) Termination of monitoring. The employer may discontinue periodic monitoring for employees if results from two consecutive sampling periods taken at least seven days apart show that employee exposure is below the action level and the STEL. The results must be statistically representative and consistent with the employer's knowledge of the job and work operation.

     (e) Accuracy of monitoring. Monitoring shall be accurate, at the ninety-five percent confidence level, to within plus or minus twenty-five percent for airborne concentrations of formaldehyde at the TWA and the STEL and to within plus or minus thirty-five percent for airborne concentrations of formaldehyde at the action level.

     (f) Employee notification of monitoring results. Within fifteen days of receiving the results of exposure monitoring conducted under this standard, the employer shall notify the affected employees of these results. Notification shall be in writing, either by distributing copies of the results to the employees or by posting the results. If the employee exposure is over either PEL, the employer shall develop and implement a written plan to reduce employee exposure to or below both PELs, and give written notice to employees. The written notice shall contain a description of the corrective action being taken by the employer to decrease exposure.

     (g) Observation of monitoring.

     (i) The employer shall provide affected employees or their designated representatives an opportunity to observe any monitoring of employee exposure to formaldehyde required by this standard.

     (ii) When observation of the monitoring of employee exposure to formaldehyde requires entry into an area where the use of protective clothing or equipment is required, the employer shall provide the clothing and equipment to the observer, require the observer to use such clothing and equipment, and assure that the observer complies with all other applicable safety and health procedures.

     (5) Regulated areas.

     (a) The employer shall establish regulated areas where the concentration of airborne formaldehyde exceeds either the TWA or the STEL and post all entrances and accessways with signs bearing the following information:

DANGER

FORMALDEHYDE

IRRITANT AND POTENTIAL CANCER HAZARD

AUTHORIZED PERSONNEL ONLY



     (b) The employer shall limit access to regulated areas to authorized persons who have been trained to recognize the hazards of formaldehyde.

     (c) An employer at a multiemployer worksite who establishes a regulated area shall communicate the access restrictions and locations of these areas to other employers with work operations at that worksite.

     (6) Methods of compliance.

     (a) Engineering controls and work practices. The employer shall institute engineering and work practice controls to reduce and maintain employee exposures to formaldehyde at or below the TWA and the STEL.

     (b) Exception. Whenever the employer has established that feasible engineering and work practice controls cannot reduce employee exposure to or below either of the PELs, the employer shall apply these controls to reduce employee exposures to the extent feasible and shall supplement them with respirators which satisfy this standard.

     (7) Respiratory protection.

     (a) General. For employees who use respirators required by this section, the employer must provide respirators that comply with the requirements of this subsection. Respirators must be used during:

     (i) Periods necessary to install or implement feasible engineering and work-practice controls;

     (ii) Work operations, such as maintenance and repair activities or vessel cleaning, for which the employer establishes that engineering and work-practice controls are not feasible;

     (iii) Work operations for which feasible engineering and work-practice controls are not yet sufficient to reduce exposure to or below the PELs;

     (iv) Emergencies.

     (b) Respirator program.

     (i) The employer must implement a respiratory protection program as required by chapter ((296-62 WAC, Part E (except WAC 296-62-07130(1), 296-62-07131(4), and 296-62-07150 through 296-62-07156))) 296-842 WAC, except WAC 296-842-13005 and 296-842-14005.

     (ii) If air-purifying chemical-cartridge respirators are used, the employer must:

     (A) Replace the cartridge after three hours of use or at the end of the workshift, whichever occurs first, unless the cartridge contains a NIOSH-certified end-of-service-life indicator (ESLI) to show when breakthrough occurs.

     (B) Unless the canister contains a NIOSH-certified ESLI to show when breakthrough occurs, replace canisters used in atmospheres up to 7.5 ppm (10 x PEL) every four hours and industrial-sized canisters used in atmospheres up to 75 ppm (100 x PEL) every two hours, or at the end of the workshift, whichever occurs first.

     (c) Respirator selection.

     (i) The employer must select appropriate respirators from Table 1 of this section.


TABLE 1
MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS FOR RESPIRATORY PROTECTION AGAINST FORMALDEHYDE

Condition of use

or formaldehyde

concentration (ppm)

Minimum respirator required1
Up to 7.5

ppm (10 x PEL) . . . . . . . . . . . .

Full facepiece with cartridges or canisters specifically approved for protection against formaldehyde2.

Up to 75

ppm (100 x PEL) . . . . . . . . . . . .

Full-face mask with chin style or chest or back mounted type industrial size canister specifically approved for protection against formaldehyde.

Type C supplied-air respirator pressure demand or continuous flow type, with full facepiece, hood, or helmet.
Above 75 ppm or

unknown (emergencies)

(100 x PEL) . . . . . . . . . . . .

Self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) with positive-pressure full facepiece.

Combination supplied-air, full facepiece positive-pressure respirator with auxiliary self-contained air supply.
Fire fighting . . . . . . . . . . . . SCBA with positive-pressure in full facepiece.
Escape . . . . . . . . . . . . SCBA in demand or pressure demand mode.
Full-face mask with chin style or front or back mounted type industrial size canister specifically approved for protection against formaldehyde.

1 Respirators specified for use at higher concentrations may be used at lower concentrations.
2 A half-mask respirator with cartridges specifically approved for protection against formaldehyde can be substituted for the full facepiece respirator providing that effective gas-proof goggles are provided and used in combination with the half-mask respirator.

     (ii) The employer must provide a powered air-purifying respirator adequate to protect against formaldehyde exposure to any employee who has difficulty using a negative-pressure respirator.

     (8) Protective equipment and clothing. Employers shall comply with the provisions of WAC 296-800-160. When protective equipment or clothing is provided under these provisions, the employer shall provide these protective devices at no cost to the employee and assure that the employee wears them.

     (a) Selection. The employer shall select protective clothing and equipment based upon the form of formaldehyde to be encountered, the conditions of use, and the hazard to be prevented.

     (i) All contact of the eyes and skin with liquids containing one percent or more formaldehyde shall be prevented by the use of chemical protective clothing made of material impervious to formaldehyde and the use of other personal protective equipment, such as goggles and face shields, as appropriate to the operation.

     (ii) Contact with irritating or sensitizing materials shall be prevented to the extent necessary to eliminate the hazard.

     (iii) Where a face shield is worn, chemical safety goggles are also required if there is a danger of formaldehyde reaching the area of the eye.

     (iv) Full body protection shall be worn for entry into areas where concentrations exceed 100 ppm and for emergency reentry into areas of unknown concentration.

     (b) Maintenance of protective equipment and clothing.

     (i) The employer shall assure that protective equipment and clothing that has become contaminated with formaldehyde is cleaned or laundered before its reuse.

     (ii) When ventilating formaldehyde-contaminated clothing and equipment, the employer shall establish a storage area so that employee exposure is minimized. Containers for contaminated clothing and equipment and storage areas shall have labels and signs containing the following information:

DANGER

FORMALDEHYDE-CONTAMINATED (CLOTHING) EQUIPMENT

AVOID INHALATION AND SKIN CONTACT



     (iii) The employer shall assure that only persons trained to recognize the hazards of formaldehyde remove the contaminated material from the storage area for purposes of cleaning, laundering, or disposal.

     (iv) The employer shall assure that no employee takes home equipment or clothing that is contaminated with formaldehyde.

     (v) The employer shall repair or replace all required protective clothing and equipment for each affected employee as necessary to assure its effectiveness.

     (vi) The employer shall inform any person who launders, cleans, or repairs such clothing or equipment of formaldehyde's potentially harmful effects and of procedures to safely handle the clothing and equipment.

     (9) Hygiene protection.

     (a) The employer shall provide change rooms, as described in WAC 296-24-120 for employees who are required to change from work clothing into protective clothing to prevent skin contact with formaldehyde.

     (b) If employees' skin may become splashed with solutions containing one percent or greater formaldehyde, for example because of equipment failure or improper work practices, the employer shall provide conveniently located quick drench showers and assure that affected employees use these facilities immediately.

     (c) If there is any possibility that an employee's eyes may be splashed with solutions containing 0.1 percent or greater formaldehyde, the employer shall provide acceptable eyewash facilities within the immediate work area for emergency use.

     (10) Housekeeping. For operations involving formaldehyde liquids or gas, the employer shall conduct a program to detect leaks and spills, including regular visual inspections.

     (a) Preventative maintenance of equipment, including surveys for leaks, shall be undertaken at regular intervals.

     (b) In work areas where spillage may occur, the employer shall make provisions to contain the spill, to decontaminate the work area, and to dispose of the waste.

     (c) The employer shall assure that all leaks are repaired and spills are cleaned promptly by employees wearing suitable protective equipment and trained in proper methods for cleanup and decontamination.

     (d) Formaldehyde-contaminated waste and debris resulting from leaks or spills shall be placed for disposal in sealed containers bearing a label warning of formaldehyde's presence and of the hazards associated with formaldehyde.

     (11) Emergencies. For each workplace where there is the possibility of an emergency involving formaldehyde, the employer shall assure appropriate procedures are adopted to minimize injury and loss of life. Appropriate procedures shall be implemented in the event of an emergency.

     (12) Medical surveillance.

     (a) Employees covered.

     (i) The employer shall institute medical surveillance programs for all employees exposed to formaldehyde at concentrations at or exceeding the action level or exceeding the STEL.

     (ii) The employer shall make medical surveillance available for employees who develop signs and symptoms of overexposure to formaldehyde and for all employees exposed to formaldehyde in emergencies. When determining whether an employee may be experiencing signs and symptoms of possible overexposure to formaldehyde, the employer may rely on the evidence that signs and symptoms associated with formaldehyde exposure will occur only in exceptional circumstances when airborne exposure is less than 0.1 ppm and when formaldehyde is present in materials in concentrations less than 0.1 percent.

     (b) Examination by a physician. All medical procedures, including administration of medical disease questionnaires, shall be performed by or under the supervision of a licensed physician and shall be provided without cost to the employee, without loss of pay, and at a reasonable time and place.

     (c) Medical disease questionnaire. The employer shall make the following medical surveillance available to employees prior to assignment to a job where formaldehyde exposure is at or above the action level or above the STEL and annually thereafter. The employer shall also make the following medical surveillance available promptly upon determining that an employee is experiencing signs and symptoms indicative of possible overexposure to formaldehyde.

     (i) Administration of a medical disease questionnaire, such as in Appendix D, which is designed to elicit information on work history, smoking history, any evidence of eye, nose, or throat irritation; chronic airway problems or hyperreactive airway disease; allergic skin conditions or dermatitis; and upper or lower respiratory problems.

     (ii) A determination by the physician, based on evaluation of the medical disease questionnaire, of whether a medical examination is necessary for employees not required to wear respirators to reduce exposure to formaldehyde.

     (d) Medical examinations. Medical examinations shall be given to any employee who the physician feels, based on information in the medical disease questionnaire, may be at increased risk from exposure to formaldehyde and at the time of initial assignment and at least annually thereafter to all employees required to wear a respirator to reduce exposure to formaldehyde. The medical examination shall include:

     (i) A physical examination with emphasis on evidence of irritation or sensitization of the skin and respiratory system, shortness of breath, or irritation of the eyes.

     (ii) Laboratory examinations for respirator wearers consisting of baseline and annual pulmonary function tests. As a minimum, these tests shall consist of forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1), and forced expiratory flow (FEF).

     (iii) Any other test which the examining physician deems necessary to complete the written opinion.

     (iv) Counseling of employees having medical conditions that would be directly or indirectly aggravated by exposure to formaldehyde on the increased risk of impairment of their health.

     (e) Examinations for employees exposed in an emergency. The employer shall make medical examinations available as soon as possible to all employees who have been exposed to formaldehyde in an emergency.

     (i) The examination shall include a medical and work history with emphasis on any evidence of upper or lower respiratory problems, allergic conditions, skin reaction or hypersensitivity, and any evidence of eye, nose, or throat irritation.

     (ii) Other examinations shall consist of those elements considered appropriate by the examining physician.

     (f) Information provided to the physician. The employer shall provide the following information to the examining physician:

     (i) A copy of this standard and Appendices A, C, D, and E;

     (ii) A description of the affected employee's job duties as they relate to the employee's exposure to formaldehyde;

     (iii) The representative exposure level for the employee's job assignment;

     (iv) Information concerning any personal protective equipment and respiratory protection used or to be used by the employee; and

     (v) Information from previous medical examinations of the affected employee within the control of the employer.

     (vi) In the event of a nonroutine examination because of an emergency, the employer shall provide to the physician as soon as possible: A description of how the emergency occurred and the exposure the victim may have received.

     (g) Physician's written opinion.

     (i) For each examination required under this standard, the employer shall obtain a written opinion from the examining physician. This written opinion shall contain the results of the medical examination except that it shall not reveal specific findings or diagnoses unrelated to occupational exposure to formaldehyde. The written opinion shall include:

     (A) The physician's opinion as to whether the employee has any medical condition that would place the employee at an increased risk of material impairment of health from exposure to formaldehyde;

     (B) Any recommended limitations on the employee's exposure or changes in the use of personal protective equipment, including respirators;

     (C) A statement that the employee has been informed by the physician of any medical conditions which would be aggravated by exposure to formaldehyde, whether these conditions may have resulted from past formaldehyde exposure or from exposure in an emergency, and whether there is a need for further examination or treatment.

     (ii) The employer shall provide for retention of the results of the medical examination and tests conducted by the physician.

     (iii) The employer shall provide a copy of the physician's written opinion to the affected employee within fifteen days of its receipt.

     (h) Medical removal.

     (i) The provisions of this subdivision apply when an employee reports significant irritation of the mucosa of the eyes or of the upper airways, respiratory sensitization, dermal irritation, or dermal sensitization attributed to workplace formaldehyde exposure. Medical removal provisions do not apply in case of dermal irritation or dermal sensitization when the product suspected of causing the dermal condition contains less than 0.05% formaldehyde.

     (ii) An employee's report of signs or symptoms of possible overexposure to formaldehyde shall be evaluated by a physician selected by the employer pursuant to (c) of this subsection. If the physician determines that a medical examination is not necessary under (c)(ii) of this subsection, there shall be a two-week evaluation and remediation period to permit the employer to ascertain whether the signs or symptoms subside untreated or with the use of creams, gloves, first-aid treatment, or personal protective equipment. Industrial hygiene measures that limit the employee's exposure to formaldehyde may also be implemented during this period. The employee shall be referred immediately to a physician prior to expiration of the two-week period if the signs or symptoms worsen. Earnings, seniority, and benefits may not be altered during the two-week period by virtue of the report.

     (iii) If the signs or symptoms have not subsided or been remedied by the end of the two-week period, or earlier if signs or symptoms warrant, the employee shall be examined by a physician selected by the employer. The physician shall presume, absent contrary evidence, that observed dermal irritation or dermal sensitization are not attributable to formaldehyde when products to which the affected employee is exposed contain less than 0.1% formaldehyde.

     (iv) Medical examinations shall be conducted in compliance with the requirements of (e)(i) and (ii) of this subsection. Additional guidelines for conducting medical exams are contained in WAC 296-62-07546, Appendix C.

     (v) If the physician finds that significant irritation of the mucosa of the eyes or the upper airways, respiratory sensitization, dermal irritation, or dermal sensitization result from workplace formaldehyde exposure and recommends restrictions or removal. The employer shall promptly comply with the restrictions or recommendations of removal. In the event of a recommendation of removal, the employer shall remove the affected employee from the current formaldehyde exposure and if possible, transfer the employee to work having no or significantly less exposure to formaldehyde.

     (vi) When an employee is removed pursuant to item (v) of this subdivision, the employer shall transfer the employee to comparable work for which the employee is qualified or can be trained in a short period (up to six months), where the formaldehyde exposures are as low as possible, but not higher than the action level. The employer shall maintain the employee's current earnings, seniority, and other benefits. If there is no such work available, the employer shall maintain the employee's current earnings, seniority, and other benefits until such work becomes available, until the employee is determined to be unable to return to workplace formaldehyde exposure, until the employee is determined to be able to return to the original job status, or for six months, whichever comes first.

     (vii) The employer shall arrange for a follow-up medical examination to take place within six months after the employee is removed pursuant to this subsection. This examination shall determine if the employee can return to the original job status, or if the removal is to be permanent. The physician shall make a decision within six months of the date the employee was removed as to whether the employee can be returned to the original job status, or if the removal is to be permanent.

     (viii) An employer's obligation to provide earnings, seniority, and other benefits to a removed employee may be reduced to the extent that the employee receives compensation for earnings lost during the period of removal either from a publicly or employer-funded compensation program or from employment with another employer made possible by virtue of the employee's removal.

     (ix) In making determinations of the formaldehyde content of materials under this subsection the employer may rely on objective data.

     (i) Multiple physician review.

     (i) After the employer selects the initial physician who conducts any medical examination or consultation to determine whether medical removal or restriction is appropriate, the employee may designate a second physician to review any findings, determinations, or recommendations of the initial physician and to conduct such examinations, consultations, and laboratory tests as the second physician deems necessary and appropriate to evaluate the effects of formaldehyde exposure and to facilitate this review.

     (ii) The employer shall promptly notify an employee of the right to seek a second medical opinion after each occasion that an initial physician conducts a medical examination or consultation for the purpose of medical removal or restriction.

     (iii) The employer may condition its participation in, and payment for, the multiple physician review mechanism upon the employee doing the following within fifteen days after receipt of the notification of the right to seek a second medical opinion, or receipt of the initial physician's written opinion, whichever is later:

     (A) The employee informs the employer of the intention to seek a second medical opinion; and

     (B) The employee initiates steps to make an appointment with a second physician.

     (iv) If the findings, determinations, or recommendations of the second physician differ from those of the initial physician, then the employer and the employee shall assure that efforts are made for the two physicians to resolve the disagreement. If the two physicians are unable to quickly resolve their disagreement, then the employer and the employee through their respective physicians shall designate a third physician who shall be a specialist in the field at issue:

     (A) To review the findings, determinations, or recommendations of the prior physicians; and

     (B) To conduct such examinations, consultations, laboratory tests, and discussions with prior physicians as the third physician deems necessary to resolve the disagreement of the prior physicians.

     (v) In the alternative, the employer and the employee or authorized employee representative may jointly designate such third physician.

     (vi) The employer shall act consistent with the findings, determinations, and recommendations of the third physician, unless the employer and the employee reach an agreement which is otherwise consistent with the recommendations of at least one of the three physicians.

     (13) Hazard communication.

     (a) General. Notwithstanding any exemption granted in WAC 296-800-170 for wood products, each employer who has a workplace covered by this standard shall comply with the requirements of WAC 296-800-170. The definitions of the chemical hazard communication standard shall apply under this standard.

     (i) The following shall be subject to the hazard communication requirements of this section: Formaldehyde gas, all mixtures or solutions composed of greater than 0.1 percent formaldehyde, and materials capable of releasing formaldehyde into the air under reasonably foreseeable concentrations reaching or exceeding 0.1 ppm.

     (ii) As a minimum, specific health hazards that the employer shall address are: Cancer, irritation and sensitization of the skin and respiratory system, eye and throat irritation, and acute toxicity.

     (b) Manufacturers and importers who produce or import formaldehyde or formaldehyde-containing products shall provide downstream employers using or handling these products with an objective determination through the required labels and MSDSs as required by chapter 296-839 WAC.

     (c) Labels.

     (i) The employer shall assure that hazard warning labels complying with the requirements of WAC 296-800-170 are affixed to all containers of materials listed in (a)(i) of this subsection, except to the extent that (a)(i) of this subsection is inconsistent with this item.

     (ii) Information on labels. As a minimum, for all materials listed in (a)(i) of this subsection, capable of releasing formaldehyde at levels of 0.1 ppm to 0.5 ppm, labels shall identify that the product contains formaldehyde: List the name and address of the responsible party; and state that physical and health hazard information is readily available from the employer and from material safety data sheets.

     (iii) For materials listed in (a)(i) of this subsection, capable of releasing formaldehyde at levels above 0.5 ppm, labels shall appropriately address all the hazards as defined in WAC 296-800-170, and Appendices A and B, including respiratory sensitization, and shall contain the words "Potential Cancer Hazard."

     (iv) In making the determinations of anticipated levels of formaldehyde release, the employer may rely on objective data indicating the extent of potential formaldehyde release under reasonably foreseeable conditions of use.

     (v) Substitute warning labels. The employer may use warning labels required by other statutes, regulations, or ordinances which impart the same information as the warning statements required by this subitem.

     (d) Material safety data sheets.

     (i) Any employer who uses formaldehyde-containing materials listed in (a)(i) of this subsection shall comply with the requirements of WAC 296-800-170 with regard to the development and updating of material safety data sheets.

     (ii) Manufacturers, importers, and distributors of formaldehyde containing materials listed in (a)(i) of this subsection shall assure that material safety data sheets and updated information are provided to all employers purchasing such materials at the time of the initial shipment and at the time of the first shipment after a material safety data sheet is updated.

     (e) Written hazard communication program. The employer shall develop, implement, and maintain at the workplace, a written hazard communication program for formaldehyde exposures in the workplace, which at a minimum describes how the requirements specified in this section for labels and other forms of warning and material safety data sheets, and subsection (14) of this section for employee information and training, will be met. Employees in multiemployer workplaces shall comply with the requirements of WAC 296-800-170.

     (14) Employee information and training.

     (a) Participation. The employer shall assure that all employees who are assigned to workplaces where there is a health hazard from formaldehyde participate in a training program, except that where the employer can show, using objective data, that employees are not exposed to formaldehyde at or above 0.1 ppm, the employer is not required to provide training.

     (b) Frequency. Employers shall provide such information and training to employees at the time of their initial assignment and whenever a new exposure to formaldehyde is introduced into their work area. The training shall be repeated at least annually.

     (c) Training program. The training program shall be conducted in a manner which the employee is able to understand and shall include:

     (i) A discussion of the contents of this regulation and the contents of the material safety data sheet;

     (ii) The purpose for and a description of the medical surveillance program required by this standard, including:

     (A) A description of the potential health hazards associated with exposure to formaldehyde and a description of the signs and symptoms of exposure to formaldehyde.

     (B) Instructions to immediately report to the employer the development of any adverse signs or symptoms that the employee suspects is attributable to formaldehyde exposure.

     (iii) Description of operations in the work area where formaldehyde is present and an explanation of the safe work practices appropriate for limiting exposure to formaldehyde in each job;

     (iv) The purpose for, proper use of, and limitations of personal protective clothing;

     (v) Instructions for the handling of spills, emergencies, and clean-up procedures;

     (vi) An explanation of the importance of engineering and work practice controls for employee protection and any necessary instruction in the use of these controls;

     (vii) A review of emergency procedures including the specific duties or assignments of each employee in the event of an emergency; and

     (viii) The purpose, proper use, limitations, and other training requirements for respiratory protection as required by chapter ((296-62)) 296-842 WAC((, Part E)).

     (d) Access to training materials.

     (i) The employer shall inform all affected employees of the location of written training materials and shall make these materials readily available, without cost, to the affected employees.

     (ii) The employer shall provide, upon request, all training materials relating to the employee training program to the director of labor and industries, or his/her designated representative.

     (15) Recordkeeping.

     (a) Exposure measurements. The employer shall establish and maintain an accurate record of all measurements taken to monitor employee exposure to formaldehyde. This record shall include:

     (i) The date of measurement;

     (ii) The operation being monitored;

     (iii) The methods of sampling and analysis and evidence of their accuracy and precision;

     (iv) The number, durations, time, and results of samples taken;

     (v) The types of protective devices worn; and

     (vi) The names, job classifications, Social Security numbers, and exposure estimates of the employees whose exposures are represented by the actual monitoring results.

     (b) Exposure determinations. Where the employer has determined that no monitoring is required under this standard, the employer shall maintain a record of the objective data relied upon to support the determination that no employee is exposed to formaldehyde at or above the action level.

     (c) Medical surveillance. The employer shall establish and maintain an accurate record for each employee subject to medical surveillance under this standard. This record shall include:

     (i) The name and Social Security number of the employee;

     (ii) The physician's written opinion;

     (iii) A list of any employee health complaints that may be related to exposure to formaldehyde; and

     (iv) A copy of the medical examination results, including medical disease questionnaires and results of any medical tests required by the standard or mandated by the examining physician.

     (d) Record retention. The employer shall retain records required by this standard for at least the following periods:

     (i) Exposure records and determinations shall be kept for at least thirty years; and

     (ii) Medical records shall be kept for the duration of employment plus thirty years.

     (e) Availability of records.

     (i) Upon request, the employer shall make all records maintained as a requirement of this standard available for examination and copying to the director of labor and industries, or his/her designated representative.

     (ii) The employer shall make employee exposure records, including estimates made from representative monitoring and available upon request for examination and copying, to the subject employee, or former employee, and employee representatives in accordance with chapter 296-802 WAC.

     (iii) Employee medical records required by this standard shall be provided upon request for examination and copying, to the subject employee, or former employee, or to anyone having the specific written consent of the subject employee or former employee in accordance with chapter 296-802 WAC.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.010, 49.17.040, 49.17.050, and 49.17.060. 04-10-026, § 296-62-07540, filed 4/27/04, effective 8/1/04. Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.010, [49.17].040, [49.17].050. 02-12-098, § 296-62-07540, filed 6/5/02, effective 8/1/02; 01-11-038, § 296-62-07540, filed 5/9/01, effective 9/1/01; 99-10-071, § 296-62-07540, filed 5/4/99, effective 9/1/99. Statutory Authority: Chapter 49.17 RCW. 94-15-096 (Order 94-07), § 296-62-07540, filed 7/20/94, effective 9/20/94; 92-23-017 (Order 92-13), § 296-62-07540, filed 11/10/92, effective 12/18/92; 91-11-070 (Order 91-01), § 296-62-07540, filed 5/20/91, effective 6/20/91; 90-03-029 (Order 89-20), § 296-62-07540, filed 1/11/90, effective 2/26/90; 88-21-002 (Order 88-23), § 296-62-07540, filed 10/6/88, effective 11/7/88.]


AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 99-10-071, filed 5/4/99, effective 9/1/99)

WAC 296-62-07615   Respiratory protection.   (1) General. For employees who use respirators required by this section, the employer must provide respirators that comply with the requirements of this subsection. Respirators must be used during:

     (a) Periods necessary to install or implement feasible engineering and work-practice controls;

     (b) Work operations for which the employer establishes that engineering and work-practice controls are not feasible;

     (c) Work operations for which feasible engineering and work-practice controls are not yet sufficient to reduce exposure to or below the PEL;

     (d) Emergencies.

     (2) Respirator program. The employer must implement a respiratory protection program as required by chapter ((296-62 WAC, Part E (except WAC 296-62-07130(1) and 296-62-07150 through 296-62-07156))) 296-842 WAC, except WAC 296-842-13005 and 296-842-14005.

     (3) Respirator selection.

     (a) The employer must select, and ensure that employees use, the appropriate respirator from Table 1 of this section.


Table 1. -- Respiratory Protection for MDA

Airborne concentration of

MDA or condition of use

Respirator type

a. Less than or equal to 10xPEL (1) Half-mask respirator with HEPA1 cartridge2.
b. Less than or equal to 50xPEL (1) Full facepiece respirator with HEPA1 cartridge or canister2.
c. Less than or equal to 1000xPEL (1) Full facepiece powered air-purifying respirator with HEPA1 cartridges2.
d. Greater than 1000xPEL or (1) Self-contained breathing unknown concentrations apparatus with full facepiece in positive pressure mode;
(2) Full facepiece positive pressure demand supplied-air respirator with auxiliary self-contained air supply.
e. Escape (1) Any full facepiece air-purifying respirator with HEPA1 cartridges2;
(2) Any positive pressure or continuous flow self-contained breathing apparatus with full facepiece or hood.
f. Fire fighting (1) Full facepiece self-contained breathing apparatus in positive pressure demand mode.

Note: Respirators assigned for higher environmental concentrations may be used at lower concentrations.
1 High efficiency particulate in air filter (HEPA) means a filter that is at least 99.97 percent efficient against mono-dispersed particles of 0.3 micrometers or larger.
2 Combination HEPA/organic vapor cartridges shall be used whenever MDA in liquid form or a process requiring heat is used.

     (b) Any employee who cannot use a negative-pressure respirator must be given the option of using a positive-pressure respirator, or a supplied-air respirator operated in the continuous-flow or pressure-demand mode.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.010, [49.17].040 and [49.17].050. 99-10-071, § 296-62-07615, filed 5/4/99, effective 9/1/99. Statutory Authority: Chapter 49.17 RCW. 93-04-111 (Order 92-15), § 296-62-07615, filed 2/3/93, effective 3/15/93.]


AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 00-06-075, filed 3/1/00, effective 4/10/00)

WAC 296-62-07722   Employee information and training.   (1) Certification.

     (a) Only certified asbestos workers may work on an asbestos project as required in WAC 296-65-010 and 296-65-030.

     (b) Only certified asbestos supervisors may supervise asbestos abatement projects as required in WAC 296-65-012 and 296-65-030.

     (c) In cases where certification requirements of chapter 296-65 WAC do not apply, all employees must be trained according to the provisions of this section regardless of their exposure levels.

     (d) Certification is not required for asbestos work on materials containing less than one percent asbestos.

     (2) Training must be provided prior to or at the time of initial assignment, unless the employee has received equivalent training within the previous twelve months, and at least annually thereafter.

     (3) Asbestos projects.

     (a) Class I work must be considered an asbestos project. Only certified asbestos workers may do this work.

     (b) Only certified workers may conduct Class II asbestos work that is considered an asbestos project.

     (i) The following Class II asbestos work must be considered asbestos projects:

     (A) All Class II asbestos work where critical barriers, equivalent isolation methods, or negative pressure enclosures are required; or

     (B) All Class II asbestos work where asbestos containing materials do not stay intact (including removal of vinyl asbestos floor (VAT) or roofing materials by mechanical methods such as chipping, grinding, or sanding).

     (ii) The following Class II asbestos work is not considered an asbestos project and is excluded from asbestos worker certification:

     (A) All Class II asbestos work involving intact asbestos containing materials (for example, intact roofing materials, bituminous or asphalt pipeline coatings, and intact flooring/decking materials);

     (B) All Class II asbestos work of less than one square foot of asbestos containing materials; or

     (C) All Class II asbestos work involving asbestos-cement water pipe when the work is done in accordance with training approved by the department through the asbestos certification program (see WAC 296-65-015(4)).

     (iii) Asbestos work involving the removal of one square foot or more of intact roofing materials by mechanical sawing or heavy equipment must meet the following requirements:

     (A) Only certified asbestos workers may conduct mechanical sawing of intact roofing material;

     (B) Noncertified asbestos workers may handle roofing dust, material and debris;

     (C) Operators of heavy equipment (such as track hoes with clam shells and excavators) do not need to be certified asbestos workers in the removal or demolition of intact roofing materials.

     (c) Only certified asbestos workers may conduct all Class III and Class IV asbestos work that is considered an asbestos project.

     (i) The following asbestos work is considered an asbestos project:

     (A) All Class III asbestos work where one square foot or more of asbestos containing materials that do not stay intact;

     (B) All Class IV asbestos work where one square foot or more of asbestos containing materials that do not stay intact; or

     (C) All Class III and Class IV asbestos work with pipe insulation.

     (ii) Except for a project involving pipe insulation work, any project involving only Class III or Class IV asbestos work with less than one square foot of asbestos containing materials is not considered an asbestos project.

     (4) Training requirements for asbestos work that is not considered an asbestos project or is excluded from asbestos worker certification.

     (a) Class II asbestos work.

     (i) Employers must provide eight-hours of training to employees who perform asbestos work on one generic category of asbestos containing materials (ACM). When performing asbestos work in more than one category of asbestos containing materials, additional training must be used to supplement the first eight hour training course.

     (ii) The training course must include:

• Hands-on training that applies to the category of asbestos containing materials,
• Specific work practices and engineering controls related to the category of asbestos containing materials present as specified in WAC 296-62-07712, and
• All the minimum elements of subsection (5) of this section.
     (b) Class III asbestos work (maintenance and custodial work in buildings containing asbestos containing materials).

     (i) Employers must provide training with curriculum and training methods equivalent to the 16-hour operations and maintenance course developed by the EPA. (See 40 CFR 763.92(a)(2).) For those employees whose only affected work is Class II work as described in subsection (4)(a)(i) of this section, employers must meet this 16-hour training requirement or provide training that meets the eight hours Class II requirements in subsection (4)(a) of this section.

     (ii) Sixteen hours of training must include:

• Hands-on training in the use of respiratory protection and work practices, and
• All the minimum elements of subsection (5) of this section.
     (c) Class IV asbestos work (maintenance and custodial work in buildings containing asbestos-containing materials).

     (i) Employers must provide at least two hours of training with curriculum and training methods equivalent to the awareness training course developed by the EPA.

     (ii) Training must include:

• Available information concerning the location of PACM, ACM, asbestos-containing flooring materials or flooring materials where the absence of asbestos has not been certified,
• Instruction on how to recognize damaged, deteriorated, and delimitation of asbestos containing building materials, and
• All of the minimum elements of subsection (5) of this section.
     (5) The training program must be conducted in a manner which the employee is able to understand. The employer must ensure that each employee is informed of the following:

     (a) The health effects associated with asbestos exposure;

     (b) The relationship between smoking and exposure to asbestos producing lung cancer;

     (c) Methods of recognizing asbestos and quantity, location, manner of use, release (including the requirements of WAC 296-62-07721 (1)(c) and (2)(b) to presume certain building materials contain asbestos), and storage of asbestos and the specific nature of operations which could result in exposure to asbestos;

     (d) The engineering controls and work practices associated with the employee's job assignment;

     (e) The specific procedures implemented to protect employees from exposure to asbestos, such as appropriate work practices, housekeeping procedures, hygiene facilities, decontamination procedures, emergency and clean-up procedures (including where Class III and IV work is performed, the contents "Managing Asbestos In Place" (EPA 20T-2003, July 1990) or its equivalent in content), personal protective equipment to be used, waste disposal procedures, and any necessary instructions in the use of these controls and procedures;

     (f) The purpose, proper use, and limitations of protective clothing;

     (g) The purpose and a description of the medical surveillance program required by WAC 296-62-07725;

     (h) The content of this standard, including appendices;

     (i) The names, addresses and phone numbers of public health organizations which provide information, materials, and/or conduct programs concerning smoking cessation. The employer may distribute the list of such organizations contained in Appendix I, to comply with this requirement;

     (j) The requirements for posting signs and affixing labels and the meaning of the required legends for such signs and labels; and

     (k) The purpose, proper use, limitations, and other training requirements for respiratory protection as required by chapter ((296-62)) 296-842 WAC((, Part E)) (see WAC ((296-62-07117)) 296-842-11005, ((296-62-07172)) 296-842-16005, and ((296-62-07186 through 296-62-07190)) 296-842-19005).

     (6) The employer must also provide, at no cost to employees who perform housekeeping operations in a facility which contains ACM or PACM, an asbestos awareness training course to all employees who are or will work in areas where ACM and/or PACM is present who work in buildings containing asbestos-containing materials, which must, at a minimum, contain the following elements:

• Health effects of asbestos,
• Locations of ACM and PACM in the building/facility,
• Recognition of ACM and PACM damage and deterioration,
• Requirements in this standard relating to housekeeping, and
• Proper response to fiber release episodes.
     Each such employee must be so trained at least once a year.

     (7) Access to information and training materials.

     (a) The employer must make a copy of this standard and its appendices readily available without cost to all affected employees.

     (b) The employer must provide, upon request, all materials relating to the employee information and training program to the director.

     (c) The employer must inform all employees concerning the availability of self-help smoking cessation program material. Upon employee request, the employer must distribute such material, consisting of NIH Publication No. 89-1647, or equivalent self-help material, which is approved or published by a public health organization listed in Appendix I, WAC 296-62-07751.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.010, [49.17].040, [49.17].050, and 49.26.130. 00-06-075, § 296-62-07722, filed 3/1/00, effective 4/10/00. Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.040, 49.17.050, 49.26.040 and 49.26.130. 99-17-026, § 296-62-07722, filed 8/10/99, effective 11/10/99. Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.010, [49.17].040 and [49.17].050. 99-10-071, § 296-62-07722, filed 5/4/99, effective 9/1/99. Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.040, [49.17.]050 and [49.17.]060. 97-01-079, § 296-62-07722, filed 12/17/96, effective 3/1/97.]


AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 04-10-026, filed 4/27/04, effective 8/1/04)

WAC 296-62-14533   Cotton dust.   (1) Scope and application.

     (a) This section, in its entirety, applies to the control of employee exposure to cotton dust in all workplaces where employees engage in yarn manufacturing, engage in slashing and weaving operations, or work in waste houses for textile operations.

     (b) This section does not apply to the handling or processing of woven or knitted materials; to maritime operations covered by chapters 296-56 and 296-304 WAC; to harvesting or ginning of cotton; or to the construction industry.

     (c) Only subsection (8) Medical surveillance, subsection (11)(b) Medical surveillance, subsection (11)(c) Availability, subsection (11)(d) Transfer of records, and Appendices B, C, and D of this section apply in all work places where employees exposed to cotton dust engage in cottonseed processing or waste processing operations.

     (d) This section applies to yarn manufacturing and slashing and weaving operations exclusively using washed cotton (as defined by subsection (14) of this section) only to the extent specified by subsection (14) of this section.

     (e) This section, in its entirety, applies to the control of all employees exposure to the cotton dust generated in the preparation of washed cotton from opening until the cotton is thoroughly wetted.

     (f) This section does not apply to knitting, classing or warehousing operations except that employers with these operations, if requested by WISHA, shall grant WISHA access to their employees and workplaces for exposure monitoring and medical examinations for purposes of a health study to be performed by WISHA on a sampling basis.

     (2) Definitions applicable to this section:

     (a) "Blow down" - the cleaning of equipment and surfaces with compressed air.

     (b) "Blow off" - the use of compressed air for cleaning of short duration and usually for a specific machine or any portion of a machine.

     (c) "Cotton dust" - dust present in the air during the handling or processing of cotton, which may contain a mixture of many substances including ground-up plant matter, fiber, bacteria, fungi, soil, pesticides, noncotton plant matter and other contaminants which may have accumulated with the cotton during the growing, harvesting and subsequent processing or storage periods. Any dust present during the handling and processing of cotton through the weaving or knitting of fabrics, and dust present in other operations or manufacturing processes using raw or waste cotton fibers or cotton fiber byproducts from textile mills are considered cotton dust within this definition. Lubricating oil mist associated with weaving operations is not considered cotton dust.

     (d) "Director" - the director of labor and industries or his authorized representative.

     (e) "Equivalent instrument" - a cotton dust sampling device that meets the vertical elutriator equivalency requirements as described in subsection (4)(a)(iii) of this section.

     (f) "Lint-free respirable cotton dust" - particles of cotton dust of approximately 15 microns or less aerodynamic equivalent diameter.

     (g) "Vertical elutriator cotton dust sampler" or "vertical elutriator" - a dust sampler which has a particle size cut-off at approximately 15 microns aerodynamic equivalent diameter when operating at the flow rate of 7.4 ± 0.2 liters per minute.

     (h) "Waste processing" - waste recycling (sorting, blending, cleaning and willowing) and garnetting.

     (i) "Yarn manufacturing" - all textile mill operations from opening to, but not including, slashing and weaving.

     (3) Permissible exposure limits and action levels.

     (a) Permissible exposure limits (PEL).

     (i) The employer shall assure that no employee who is exposed to cotton dust in yarn manufacturing and cotton washing operations is exposed to airborne concentrations of lint-free respirable cotton dust greater than 200 ΅g/m3 mean concentration, averaged over an eight-hour period, as measured by a vertical elutriator or an equivalent instrument.

     (ii) The employer shall assure than no employee who is exposed to cotton dust in textile mill waste house operations or is exposed in yarn manufacturing to dust from "lower grade washed cotton" as defined in subsection (14)(e) of this section is exposed to airborne concentrations of lint-free respirable cotton dust greater than 500 ΅g/m3 mean concentration, averaged over an eight-hour period, as measured by a vertical elutriator or an equivalent instrument.

     (iii) The employer shall assure that no employee who is exposed to cotton dust in the textile processes known as slashing and weaving is exposed to airborne concentrations of lint-free respirable cotton dust greater than 750 ΅g/m3 mean concentration, averaged over an eight-hour period, as measured by a vertical elutriator or an equivalent instrument.

     (b) Action levels.

     (i) The action level for yarn manufacturing and cotton washing operations is an airborne concentration of lint-free respirable cotton dust of 100 ΅g/m3 mean concentration, averaged over an eight-hour period, as measured by a vertical elutriator or an equivalent instrument.

     (ii) The action level for waste houses for textile operations is an airborne concentration of lint-free respirable cotton dust of 250 ΅g/m3 mean concentration, averaged over an eight-hour period, as measured by a vertical elutriator or an equivalent instrument.

     (iii) The action level for the textile processes known as slashing and weaving is an airborne concentration of lint-free respirable cotton dust of 375 ΅g/m3 mean concentration, averaged over an eight-hour period, as measured by a vertical elutriator or an equivalent instrument.

     (4) Exposure monitoring and measurement.

     (a) General.

     (i) For the purposes of this section, employee exposure is that exposure which would occur if the employee were not using a respirator.

     (ii) The sampling device to be used shall be either the vertical elutriator cotton dust sampler or an equivalent instrument.

     (iii) If an alternative to the vertical elutriator cotton dust sampler is used, the employer shall establish equivalency by demonstrating that the alternative sampling devices:

     (A) It collects respirable particulates in the same range as the vertical elutriator (approximately 15 microns);

     (B) Replicate exposure data used to establish equivalency are collected in side-by-side field and laboratory comparisons; and

     (C) A minimum of 100 samples over the range of 0.5 to 2 times the permissible exposure limit are collected, and ninety percent of these samples have an accuracy range of plus or minus twenty-five percent of the vertical elutriator reading with a ninety-five percent confidence level as demonstrated by a statistically valid protocol. (An acceptable protocol for demonstrating equivalency is described in Appendix E of this section.)

     (iv) WISHA will issue a written opinion stating that an instrument is equivalent to a vertical elutriator cotton dust sampler if:

     (A) A manufacturer or employer requests an opinion in writing and supplies the following information:

     (I) Sufficient test data to demonstrate that the instrument meets the requirements specified in this paragraph and the protocol specified in Appendix E of this section;

     (II) Any other relevant information about the instrument and its testing requested by WISHA; and

     (III) A certification by the manufacturer or employer that the information supplied is accurate, and

     (B) If WISHA finds, based on information submitted about the instrument, that the instrument meets the requirements for equivalency specified by this subsection.

     (b) Initial monitoring. Each employer who has a place of employment within the scope of subsections (1)(a), (d) or (e) of this section shall conduct monitoring by obtaining measurements which are representative of the exposure of all employees to airborne concentrations of lint-free respirable cotton dust over an eight-hour period. The sampling program shall include at least one determination during each shift for each work area.

     (c) Periodic monitoring.

     (i) If the initial monitoring required by (4)(b) of this section or any subsequent monitoring reveals employee exposure to be at or below the permissible exposure limit, the employer shall repeat the monitoring for those employees at least annually.

     (ii) If the initial monitoring required by (4)(b) of this section or any subsequent monitoring reveals employee exposure to be above the PEL, the employer shall repeat the monitoring for those employees at least every six months.

     (iii) Whenever there has been a production, process, or control change which may result in new or additional exposure to cotton dust, or whenever the employer has any other reason to suspect an increase in employee exposure, the employer shall repeat the monitoring and measurements for those employees affected by the change or increase.

     (d) Employee notification.

     (i) Within twenty working days after the receipt of monitoring results, the employer shall notify each employee in writing of the exposure measurements which represent that employee's exposure.

     (ii) Whenever the results indicate that the employee's exposure exceeds the applicable permissible exposure limit specified in subsection (3) of this section, the employer shall include in the written notice a statement that the permissible exposure limit was exceeded and a description of the corrective action taken to reduce exposure below the permissible exposure limit.

     (5) Methods of compliance.

     (a) Engineering and work practice controls. The employer shall institute engineering and work practice controls to reduce and maintain employee exposure to cotton dust at or below the permissible exposure limit specified in subsection (3) of this section, except to the extent that the employer can establish that such controls are not feasible.

     (b) Whenever feasible engineering and work practice controls are not sufficient to reduce employee exposure to or below the permissible exposure limit, the employer shall nonetheless institute these controls to immediately reduce exposure to the lowest feasible level, and shall supplement these controls with the use of respirators which shall comply with the provisions of subsection (6) of this section.

     (c) Compliance program.

     (i) Where the most recent exposure monitoring data indicates that any employee is exposed to cotton dust levels greater than the permissible exposure limit, the employer shall establish and implement a written program sufficient to reduce exposures to or below the permissible exposure limit solely by means of engineering controls and work practices as required by (a) of this subsection.

     (ii) The written program shall include at least the following:

     (A) A description of each operation or process resulting in employee exposure to cotton dust;

     (B) Engineering plans and other studies used to determine the controls for each process;

     (C) A report of the technology considered in meeting the permissible exposure limit;

     (D) Monitoring data obtained in accordance with subsection (4) of this section;

     (E) A detailed schedule for development and implementation of engineering and work practice controls, including exposure levels projected to be achieved by such controls;

     (F) Work practice program; and

     (G) Other relevant information.

     (iii) The employer's schedule as set forth in the compliance program, shall project completion of the implementation of the compliance program no later than March 27, 1984 or as soon as possible if monitoring after March 27, 1984 reveals exposures over the PEL, except as provided in (13)(b)(ii)(B) of this section.

     (iv) The employer shall complete the steps set forth in his program by the dates in the schedule.

     (v) Written programs shall be submitted, upon request, to the director, and shall be available at the worksite for examination and copying by the director, and any affected employee or their designated representatives.

     (vi) The written programs required under subsection (5)(c) of this section shall be revised and updated at least every six months to reflect the current status of the program and current exposure levels.

     (d) Mechanical ventilation. When mechanical ventilation is used to control exposure, measurements which demonstrate the effectiveness of the system to control exposure, such as capture velocity, duct velocity, or static pressure shall be made at reasonable intervals.

     (6) Use of respirators.

     (a) General. For employees who are required to use respirators by this section, the employer must provide respirators that comply with the requirements of this section. Respirators must be used during:

     (i) Periods necessary to install or implement feasible engineering controls and work-practice controls;

     (ii) Maintenance and repair activities for which engineering and work-practice controls are not feasible;

     (iii) Work operations for which feasible engineering and work-practice controls are not yet sufficient to reduce employee exposure to or below the permissible exposure limits;

     (iv) Work operations specified under subsection (7)(a) of this section;

     (v) Periods for which an employee requests a respirator.

     (b) Respirator program.

     (i) The employer must implement a respiratory protection program as required by chapter ((296-62 WAC, Part E (except WAC 296-62-07130(1) and 296-62-07150 through 296-62-07156))) 296-842 WAC, except WAC 296-842-13005 and 296-842-14005.

     (ii) Whenever a physician determines that an employee who works in an area in which the cotton-dust concentration exceeds the PEL is unable to use a respirator, including a powered air-purifying respirator, the employee must be given the opportunity to transfer to an available position, or to a position that becomes available later, that has a cotton-dust concentration at or below the PEL. The employer must ensure that such employees retain their current wage rate or other benefits as a result of the transfer.

     (c) Respirator selection.

     (i) The employer must select the appropriate respirator from Table 1 of this section.

TABLE - 1

Cotton dust

concentration

Required respirator

Not greater than --
(a) 5 x the applicable

permissible exposure limit (PEL).

A disposable respirator with a particulate filter.
(b) 10 x the applicable PEL. A quarter or half-mask respirator, other than a disposable respirator, equipped with particulate filters.
(c) 100 x the applicable PEL. A full facepiece respirator equipped with high-efficiency particulate filters.
(d) Greater than 100 x

the applicable PEL.

A powered air-purifying

respirator equipped with high-efficiency particulate filters.


Notes 1. A disposable respirator means the filter element is an inseparable part of the respirator.
2. Any respirators permitted at higher environmental concentrations can be used at lower concentrations.
3. Self-contained breathing apparatus are not required respirators but are permitted respirators.
4. Supplied air respirators are not required but are permitted under the following conditions: Cotton dust concentration not greater than 10X the PEL--Any supplied air respirator; not greater than 100X the PEL -- Any supplied air respirator with full facepiece, helmet or hood; greater than 100X the PEL -- A supplied air respirator operated in positive pressure mode.

     (ii) Whenever respirators are required by this section for cotton-dust concentrations that do not exceed the applicable permissible exposure limit by a multiple of 100 (100 x), the employer must, when requested by an employee, provide a powered air-purifying respirator with a high-efficiency particulate filter instead of the respirator specified in (a), (b), or (c) of Table 1 of this section.

     (7) Work practices. Each employer shall, regardless of the level of employee exposure, immediately establish and implement a written program of work practices which shall minimize cotton dust exposure. The following shall be included where applicable:

     (a) Compressed air "blow down" cleaning shall be prohibited, where alternative means are feasible. Where compressed air is used for cleaning, the employees performing the "blow down" or "blow off" shall wear suitable respirators. Employees whose presence is not required to perform "blow down" or "blow off" shall be required to leave the area affected by the "blow down" or "blow off" during this cleaning operation.

     (b) Cleaning of clothing or floors with compressed air shall be prohibited.

     (c) Floor sweeping shall be performed with a vacuum or with methods designed to minimize dispersal of dust.

     (d) In areas where employees are exposed to concentrations of cotton dust greater than the permissible exposure limit, cotton and cotton waste shall be stacked, sorted, baled, dumped, removed or otherwise handled by mechanical means, except where the employer can show that it is infeasible to do so. Where infeasible, the method used for handling cotton and cotton waste shall be the method which reduces exposure to the lowest level feasible.

     (8) Medical surveillance.

     (a) General.

     (i) Each employer covered by the standard shall institute a program of medical surveillance for all employees exposed to cotton dust.

     (ii) The employer shall assure that all medical examinations and procedures are performed by or under the supervision of a licensed physician and are provided without cost to the employee.

     (iii) Persons other than licensed physicians, who administer the pulmonary function testing required by this section shall have completed a NIOSH approved training course in spirometry.

     (b) Initial examinations. The employer shall provide medical surveillance to each employee who is or may be exposed to cotton dust. For new employees' this examination shall be provided prior to initial assignment. The medical surveillance shall include at least the following:

     (i) A medical history;

     (ii) The standardized questionnaire contained in WAC 296-62-14537; and

     (iii) A pulmonary function measurement, including a determination of forced vital capacity (FVC) and forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1), the FEV1/FVC ratio, and the percentage that the measured values of FEV1 and FVC differ from the predicted values, using the standard tables in WAC 296-62-14539. These determinations shall be made for each employee before the employee enters the workplace on the first day of the work week, preceded by at least thirty-five hours of no exposure to cotton dust. The tests shall be repeated during the shift, no less than four hours and no more than ten hours after the beginning of the work shift; and, in any event, no more than one hour after cessation of exposure. Such exposure shall be typical of the employee's usual workplace exposure. The predicted FEV1 and FVC for blacks shall be multiplied by 0.85 to adjust for ethnic differences.

     (iv) Based upon the questionnaire results, each employee shall be graded according to Schilling's byssinosis classification system.

     (c) Periodic examinations.

     (i) The employer shall provide at least annual medical surveillance for all employees exposed to cotton dust above the action level in yarn manufacturing, slashing and weaving, cotton washing and waste house operations. The employer shall provide medical surveillance at least every two years for all employees exposed to cotton dust at or below the action level, for all employees exposed to cotton dust from washed cotton (except from washed cotton defined in subsection (9)(c) of this section), and for all employees exposed to cotton dust in cottonseed processing and waste processing operations. Periodic medical surveillance shall include at least an update of the medical history, standardized questionnaire (Appendix B-111), Schilling byssinosis grade, and the pulmonary function measurements in (b)(iii) of this subsection.

     (ii) Medical surveillance as required in (c)(i) of this subsection shall be provided every six months for all employees in the following categories:

     (A) An FEV1 of greater than eighty percent of the predicted value, but with an FEV1 decrement of five percent or 200 ml. on a first working day;

     (B) An FEV1 of less than eighty percent of the predicted value; or

     (C) Where, in the opinion of the physician, any significant change in questionnaire findings, pulmonary function results, or other diagnostic tests have occurred.

     (iii) An employee whose FEV1 is less than sixty percent of the predicted value shall be referred to a physician for a detailed pulmonary examination.

     (iv) A comparison shall be made between the current examination results and those of previous examinations and a determination made by the physician as to whether there has been a significant change.

     (d) Information provided to the physician. The employer shall provide the following information to the examining physician:

     (i) A copy of this regulation and its appendices;

     (ii) A description of the affected employee's duties as they relate to the employee's exposure;

     (iii) The employee's exposure level or anticipated exposure level;

     (iv) A description of any personal protective equipment used or to be used; and

     (v) Information from previous medical examinations of the affected employee which is not readily available to the examining physician.

     (e) Physician's written opinion.

     (i) The employer shall obtain and furnish the employee with a copy of a written opinion from the examining physician containing the following:

     (A) The results of the medical examination and tests including the FEV1, FVC, and FEV1/FVC ratio;

     (B) The physician's opinion as to whether the employee has any detected medical conditions which would place the employee at increased risk of material impairment of the employee's health from exposure to cotton dust;

     (C) The physician's recommended limitations upon the employee's exposure to cotton dust or upon the employee's use of respirators including a determination of whether an employee can wear a negative pressure respirator, and where the employee cannot, a determination of the employee's ability to wear a powered air purifying respirator; and

     (D) A statement that the employee has been informed by the physician of the results of the medical examination and any medical conditions which require further examination or treatment.

     (ii) The written opinion obtained by the employer shall not reveal specific findings or diagnoses unrelated to occupational exposure.

     (9) Employee education and training.

     (a) Training program.

     (i) The employer shall provide a training program for all employees exposed to cotton dust and shall assure that each employee is informed of the following:

     (A) The acute and long term health hazards associated with exposure to cotton dust;

     (B) The names and descriptions of jobs and processes which could result in exposure to cotton dust at or above the PEL.

     (C) The measures, including work practices required by subsection (7) of this section, necessary to protect the employee from exposures in excess of the permissible exposure limit;

     (D) The purpose, proper use, limitations, and other training requirements for respiratory protection as required by subsection (6) of this section and chapter ((296-62)) 296-842 WAC((, Part E)) (see WAC ((296-62-07117, 296-62-07172, and 296-62-01786 through 296-62-07190)) 296-842-11005, 296-842-16005 and 296-842-19005);

     (E) The purpose for and a description of the medical surveillance program required by subsection (8) of this section and other information which will aid exposed employees in understanding the hazards of cotton dust exposure; and

     (F) The contents of this standard and its appendices.

     (ii) The training program shall be provided prior to initial assignment and shall be repeated annually for each employee exposed to cotton dust, when job assignments or work processes change and when employee performance indicates a need for retraining.

     (b) Access to training materials.

     (i) Each employer shall post a copy of this section with its appendices in a public location at the workplace, and shall, upon request, make copies available to employees.

     (ii) The employer shall provide all materials relating to the employee training and information program to the director upon request.

     (10) Signs. The employer shall post the following warning sign in each work area where the permissible exposure limit for cotton dust is exceeded:


WARNING

COTTON DUST WORK AREA

MAY CAUSE ACUTE OR DELAYED LUNG INJURY

(BYSSINOSIS)

RESPIRATORS REQUIRED IN THIS AREA



     (11) Recordkeeping.

     (a) Exposure measurements.

     (i) The employer shall establish and maintain an accurate record of all measurements required by subsection (4) of this section.

     (ii) The record shall include:

     (A) A log containing the items listed in WAC 296-62-14535 (4)(a), and the dates, number, duration, and results of each of the samples taken, including a description of the procedure used to determine representative employee exposures;

     (B) The type of protective devices worn, if any, and length of time worn; and

     (C) The names, social security number, job classifications, and exposure levels of employees whose exposure the measurement is intended to represent.

     (iii) The employer shall maintain this record for at least twenty years.

     (b) Medical surveillance.

     (i) The employer shall establish and maintain an accurate medical record for each employee subject to medical surveillance required by subsection (8) of this section.

     (ii) The record shall include:

     (A) The name and social security number and description of the duties of the employee;

     (B) A copy of the medical examination results including the medical history, questionnaire response, results of all tests, and the physician's recommendation;

     (C) A copy of the physician's written opinion;

     (D) Any employee medical complaints related to exposure to cotton dust;

     (E) A copy of this standard and its appendices, except that the employer may keep one copy of the standard and the appendices for all employees, provided that he references the standard and appendices in the medical surveillance record of each employee; and

     (F) A copy of the information provided to the physician as required by subsection (8)(d) of this section.

     (iii) The employer shall maintain this record for at least twenty years.

     (c) Availability.

     (i) The employer shall make all records required to be maintained by subsection (11) of this section available to the director for examination and copying.

     (ii) Employee exposure measurement records and employee medical records required by this subsection shall be provided upon request to employees, designated representatives, and the assistant director in accordance with chapter 296-802 WAC.

     (d) Transfer of records.

     (i) Whenever the employer ceases to do business, the successor employer shall receive and retain all records required to be maintained by subsection (11) of this section.

     (ii) Whenever the employer ceases to do business, and there is no successor employer to receive and retain the records for the prescribed period, these records shall be transmitted to the director.

     (iii) At the expiration of the retention period for the records required to be maintained by this section, the employer shall notify the director at least three months prior to the disposal of such records and shall transmit those records to the director if he requests them within that period.

     (iv) The employer shall also comply with any additional requirements involving transfer of records set forth in chapter 296-802 WAC.

     (12) Observation of monitoring.

     (a) The employer shall provide affected employees or their designated representatives an opportunity to observe any measuring or monitoring of employee exposure to cotton dust conducted pursuant to subsection (4) of this section.

     (b) Whenever observation of the measuring or monitoring of employee exposure to cotton dust requires entry into an area where the use of personal protective equipment is required, the employer shall provide the observer with and assure the use of such equipment and shall require the observer to comply with all other applicable safety and health procedures.

     (c) Without interfering with the measurement, observers shall be entitled to:

     (i) An explanation of the measurement procedures;

     (ii) An opportunity to observe all steps related to the measurement of airborne concentrations of cotton dust performed at the place of exposure; and

     (iii) An opportunity to record the results obtained.

     (13) Washed cotton.

     (a) Exemptions. Cotton, after it has been washed by the processes described in this section is exempt from all or parts of this section as specified if the requirements of this section are met.

     (b) Initial requirements.

     (i) In order for an employer to qualify as exempt or partially exempt from this standard for operations using washed cotton, the employer must demonstrate that the cotton was washed in a facility which is open to inspection by the director and the employer must provide sufficient accurate documentary evidence to demonstrate that the washing methods utilized meet the requirements of this section.

     (ii) An employer who handles or processes cotton which has been washed in a facility not under the employer's control and claims an exemption or partial exemption under this paragraph, must obtain from the cotton washer and make available at the worksite, to the director, or his designated representative, to any affected employee, or to their designated representative the following:

     (A) A certification by the washer of the cotton of the grade of cotton, the type of washing process, and that the batch meets the requirements of this section:

     (B) Sufficient accurate documentation by the washer of the cotton grades and washing process; and

     (C) An authorization by the washer that the director may inspect the washer's washing facilities and documentation of the process.

     (c) Medical and dyed cotton. Medical grade (USP) cotton, cotton that has been scoured, bleached and dyed, and mercerized yarn shall be exempt from all provisions of this standard.

     (d) Higher grade washed cotton. The handling or processing of cotton classed as "low middling light spotted or better" (color grade 52 or better and leaf grade code 5 or better according to the 1993 USDA classification system) shall be exempt from all provisions of the standard except requirements of subsection (8) of this section, medical surveillance; subsection (11)(b) through (d) of this section, recordkeeping-medical records, and Appendices B, C, and D of this section, if they have been washed on one of the following systems:

     (i) On a continuous batt system or a rayon rinse system including the following conditions:

     (A) With water;

     (B) At a temperature of no less than 60°C;

     (C) With a water-to-fiber ratio of no less than 40:1; and

     (D) With the bacterial levels in the wash water controlled to limit bacterial contamination of the cotton.

     (ii) On a batch kier washing system including the following conditions:

     (A) With water;

     (B) With cotton fiber mechanically opened and thoroughly prewetted before forming the cake;

     (C) For low-temperature processing, at a temperature of no less than 60°C with a water-to-fiber ratio of no less than 40:1; or, for high-temperature processing, at a temperature of no less than 93°C with a water-to-fiber ratio of no less than 15:1;

     (D) With a minimum of one wash cycle followed by two rinse cycles for each batch, using fresh water in each cycle; and

     (E) With bacterial levels in the wash water controlled to limit bacterial contamination of the cotton.

     (e) Lower grade washed cotton. The handling and processing of cotton of grades lower than "low middling light spotted," that has been washed as specified in (d) of this subsection and has also been bleached, shall be exempt from all provisions of the standard except the requirements of subsection (3)(a) Permissible exposure limits, subsection (4) Exposure monitoring and measurement, subsection (8) Medical surveillance, subsection (11) Recordkeeping, and Appendices B, C and D of this section.

     (f) Mixed grades of washed cotton. If more than one grade of washed cotton is being handled or processed together, the requirements of the grade with the most stringent exposure limit, medical and monitoring requirements shall be followed.

     (14) Appendices.

     (a) Appendix B (B-I, B-II and B-III), WAC 296-62-14537, Appendix C, WAC 296-62-14539 and Appendix D, WAC 296-62-14541 are incorporated as part of this chapter and the contents of these appendices are mandatory.

     (b) Appendix A of this chapter, WAC 296-62-14535 contains information which is not intended to create any additional obligations not otherwise imposed or to detract from any existing obligations.

     (c) Appendix E of this chapter is a protocol which may be followed in the validation of alternative measuring devices as equivalent to the vertical elutriator cotton dust sampler. Other protocols may be used if it is demonstrated that they are statistically valid, meet the requirements in subsection (4)(a)(iii) of this section, and are appropriate for demonstrating equivalency.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.010, 49.17.040, 49.17.050, and 49.17.060. 04-10-026, § 296-62-14533, filed 4/27/04, effective 8/1/04. Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.010, [49.17].040, and [49.17].050. 01-19-065, § 296-62-14533, filed 9/18/01, effective 11/1/01; 99-10-071, § 296-62-14533, filed 5/4/99, effective 9/1/99. Statutory Authority: Chapter 49.17 RCW. 87-24-051 (Order 87-24), § 296-62-14533, filed 11/30/87. Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.040 and 49.17.050. 86-16-009 (Order 86-28), § 296-62-14533, filed 7/25/86; 82-03-023 (Order 82-1), § 296-62-14533, filed 1/15/82. Statutory Authority: 49.17.040, 49.17.050, and 49.17.240. 81-16-015 (Order 81-20), § 296-62-14533, filed 7/27/81. Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.040, 49.17.050, 49.17.240, chapters 42.30 and 43.22 RCW. 80-17-014 (Order 80-20), § 296-62-14533, filed 11/13/80.]


AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 99-10-071, filed 5/4/99, effective 9/1/99)

WAC 296-62-20011   Respiratory protection.   (1) General.

     For employees who use respirators required by this section, the employer must provide respirators that comply with the requirements of this section. Compliance with the permissible exposure limit may not be achieved by the use of respirators except during:

     (a) Periods necessary to install or implement feasible engineering and work-practice controls;

     (b) Work operations, such as maintenance and repair activity, for which engineering and work-practice controls are technologically not feasible;

     (c) Work operations for which feasible engineering and work-practice controls are not yet sufficient to reduce employee exposure to or below the permissible exposure limit;

     (d) Emergencies.

     (2) Respirator program. The employer must implement a respiratory protection program as required by chapter ((296-62 WAC, Part E (except WAC 296-62-07130(1) and 296-62-07150 through 296-62-07156))) 296-842 WAC, except WAC 296-842-13005 and 296-842-14005.

     (3) Respirator selection. The employer must select appropriate respirators or combination of respirators from Table I of this section.

TABLE I
RESPIRATORY PROTECTION FOR COKE
OVEN EMISSIONS

Airborne concentration of coke oven emissions Required respirator
(i) Any concentration. (A) A Type C supplied air respirator operated in pressure demand or other positive pressure or continuous flow mode; or
(B) A powered air-purifying particulate filter respirator for dust, mist, and fume; or
(C) A powered air-purifying particulate filter respirator combination chemical cartridge and particulate filter respirator for coke oven emissions.
(ii) Concentrations not greater than 1500 ΅g/m3. (A) Any particulate filter respirator for dust, mist and fume, except single-use respirator; or
(B) Any particulate filter respirator or combination chemical cartridge and particulate filter respirator for coke oven emissions; or
(C) Any respirator listed in subsection (2)(a)(i) of this section.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.010, [49.17].040 and [49.17].050. 99-10-071, § 296-62-20011, filed 5/4/99, effective 9/1/99. Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.040 and 49.17.050. 86-16-009 (Order 86-28), § 296-62-20011, filed 7/25/86. Statutory Authority: 49.17.040, 49.17.050, and 49.17.240. 81-16-015 (Order 81-20), § 296-62-20011, filed 7/27/81; Order 77-14, § 296-62-20011, filed 7/25/77.]


AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 99-10-071, filed 5/4/99, effective 9/1/99)

WAC 296-62-20019   Employee information and training.   (1) Training program.

     (a) The employer shall institute a training program for employees who are employed in the regulated area and shall assure their participation.

     (b) The training program shall be provided as of January 20, 1977, for employees who are employed in the regulated area at that time or at the time of initial assignment to a regulated area.

     (c) The training program shall be provided at least annually for all employees who are employed in the regulated area, except that training regarding the occupational safety and health hazards associated with exposure to coke oven emissions and the purpose, proper use, and limitations of respiratory protective devices shall be provided at least quarterly until January 20, 1978.

     (d) The training program shall include informing each employee of:

     (i) The information contained in the substance information sheet for coke oven emissions (Appendix A);

     (ii) The purpose, proper use, and limitations of respiratory protective devices in addition to other information as required by chapter ((296-62)) 296-842 WAC((, Part E)) (see WAC ((296-62-07117)) 296-842-11005, ((296-62-07172)) 296-842-16005, and ((296-62-07186 through 296-62-07190)) 296-842-19005).

     (iii) The purpose for and a description of the medical surveillance program required by WAC 296-62-20017 including information on the occupational safety and health hazards associated with exposure to coke oven emissions;

     (iv) A review of all written procedures and schedules required under WAC 296-62-20009; and

     (v) A review of this standard.

     (2) Access to training materials.

     (a) The employer shall make a copy of this standard and its appendixes readily available to all employees who are employed in the regulated area.

     (b) The employer shall provide all materials relating to the employee information and training program to the director.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.010, [49.17].040 and [49.17].050. 99-10-071, § 296-62-20019, filed 5/4/99, effective 9/1/99; Order 77-14, § 296-62-20019, filed 7/25/77.]


AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 99-07-097, filed 3/23/99, effective 6/23/99)

WAC 296-62-3060   Engineering controls, work practices, and personal protective equipment for employee protection.   (1) Engineering controls, work practices, personal protective equipment, or a combination of these must be implemented in accordance with this section to protect employees from exposure to hazardous substances and health hazards.

     (a) Engineering controls, work practices, and PPE for substances regulated in chapters 296-62 and 296-841 WAC.

     Engineering controls and work practices must be instituted to reduce and maintain employee exposure to or below the permissible exposure limits for substances regulated by this chapter, except to the extent that such controls and practices are not feasible.


Note: Engineering controls which may be feasible include the use of pressurized cabs or control booths on equipment, and/or the use of remotely operated material handling equipment. Work practices which may be feasible are removing all nonessential employees from potential exposure during opening of drums, wetting down dusty operations, and locating employees upwind of possible hazards.


     (b) Whenever engineering controls and work practices are not feasible, or not required, any reasonable combination of engineering controls, work practices, and PPE must be used to reduce and maintain exposures to or below the permissible exposure limits or dose limits for substances regulated by chapters 296-62 and 296-841 WAC.

     (c) The employer must not implement a schedule of employee rotation as a means of compliance with permissible exposure limits or dose limits except when there is no other feasible way of complying with the airborne or dermal dose limits for ionizing radiation.

     (d) The provisions of WAC 296-62-080 through 296-62-09013, 296-62-09015 through 296-62-09055, and 296-62-100 through 296-62-130 must be followed.

     (2) Engineering controls, work practices, and personal protective equipment for substances not regulated in chapters 296-62 and 296-841 WAC. An appropriate combination of engineering controls, work practices, and personal protective equipment must be used to reduce and maintain employee exposure to or below published exposure levels for hazardous substances and health hazards not regulated by chapter 296-62 WAC. The employer may use the published literature and MSDS as a guide in making the employer's determination as to what level of protection the employer believes is appropriate for hazardous substances and health hazards for which there is no permissible exposure limit or published exposure level.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.040. 99-07-097, § 296-62-3060, filed 3/23/99, effective 6/23/99. Statutory Authority: Chapter 49.17 RCW. 94-15-096 (Order 94-07), § 296-62-3060, filed 7/20/94, effective 9/20/94; 90-20-091 (Order 90-14), § 296-62-3060, filed 10/1/90, effective 11/15/90; 89-21-018, § 296-62-3060, filed 10/10/89, effective 11/24/89; 88-21-002 (Order 88-23), § 296-62-3060, filed 10/6/88, effective 11/7/88.]


AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 01-11-038, filed 5/9/01, effective 9/1/01)

WAC 296-62-3195   Appendix E -- Training curriculum guidelines.   The following nonmandatory general criteria may be used for assistance in developing site-specific training curriculum used to meet the training requirements of WAC 296-62-3040 through 296-62-30465, 296-62-31435 through 296-62-31445, 296-62-31465, 296-62-4102 through 296-62-41021, and 296-62-41023.

     These are generic guidelines and they are not presented as a complete training curriculum for any specific employer. Site-specific training programs must be developed on the basis of a needs assessment of the hazardous waste site, RCRA/TSDF, or emergency response operation in accordance with this chapter (chapter 296-62 WAC, Part P and Part R).

     The guidance set forth here presents a highly effective program that in the areas covered would meet or exceed the regulatory requirements. In addition, other approaches could meet the regulatory requirements.

     Suggested general criteria:

     Definitions:

     "Competent" means possessing the skills, knowledge, experience, and judgment to perform assigned tasks or activities satisfactorily as determined by the employer.

     "Demonstration" means the showing by actual use of equipment or procedures.

     "Hands-on training" means training in a simulated work environment that permits each student to have experience performing tasks, making decisions, or using equipment appropriate to the job assignment for which the training is being conducted.

     "Initial training" means training required prior to beginning work.

     "Lecture" means an interactive discourse with a class lead by an instructor.

     "Proficient" means meeting a stated level of achievement.

     "Site-specific" means individual training directed to the operations of a specific job site.

     "Training hours" means the number of hours devoted to lecture, learning activities, small group work sessions, demonstration, evaluations, or hands-on experience.

     Suggested core criteria:

     (1) Training facility. The training facility should have available sufficient resources, equipment, and site locations to perform concise and hands-on training when appropriate. Training facilities should have sufficient organization, support staff, and services to conduct training in each of the courses offered.

     (2) Training director. Each training program should be under the direction of a training director who is responsible for the program. The training director should have a minimum of two years of employee education experience.

     (3) Instructors. Instructors should be deemed competent on the basis of previous documented experience in their area of instruction, successful completion of a "train-the-trainer" program specific to the topics they will teach, and an evaluation of instructional competence by the training director.

     (a) Instructors should be required to maintain professional competency by participating in continuing education or professional development programs or by successfully completing an annual refresher course and having an annual review by the training director.

     (b) The annual review by the training director should include observation of an instructor's delivery, a review of those observations with the trainer, and an analysis of any instructor or class evaluations completed by the students during the previous year.

     (4) Course materials. The training director should approve all course materials to be used by the training provider. Course materials should be reviewed and updated at least annually. Materials and equipment should be in good working order and maintained properly.

     (a) All written and audio-visual materials in training curricula should be peer reviewed by technically competent outside reviewers or by a standing advisory committee.

     (b) Reviewers should possess expertise in the following disciplines were applicable: Occupational health, industrial hygiene and safety, chemical/environmental engineering, employee education, or emergency response. One or more of the peer reviewers should be an employee experienced in the work activities to which the training is directed.

     (5) Students. The program for accepting students should include:

     (a) Assurance that the student is or will be involved in work where chemical exposures are likely and that the student possesses the skills necessary to perform the work.

     (b) A policy on the necessary medical clearance.

     (6) Ratios. Student-instructor ratios should not exceed thirty students per instructor. Hands-on activity requiring the use of personal protective equipment should have the following student-instructor ratios: For Level C or Level D personal protective equipment the ratio should be ten students per instructor. For Level A or Level B personal protective equipment the ratio should be five students per instructor.

     (7) Proficiency assessment. Proficiency should be evaluated and documented by the use of a written assessment and a skill demonstration selected and developed by the training director and training staff. The assessment and demonstration should evaluate the knowledge and individual skills developed in the course of training. The level of minimum achievement necessary for proficiency must be specified in writing by the training director.

     (a) If a written test is used, there should be a minimum of fifty questions. If a written test is used in combination with a skills demonstration, a minimum of twenty-five questions should be used. If a skills demonstration is used, the tasks chosen and the means to rate successful completion should be fully documented by the training director.

     (b) The content of the written test or of the skill demonstration must be relevant to the objectives of the course.

     The written test and skill demonstration should be updated as necessary to reflect changes in the curriculum and any update should be approved by the training director.

     (c) The proficiency assessment methods, regardless of the approach or combination of approaches used, should be justified, documented and approved by the training director.

     (d) The proficiency of those taking the additional courses for supervisors should be evaluated and documented by using proficiency assessment methods acceptable to the training director. These proficiency assessment methods must reflect the additional responsibilities borne by supervisory personnel in hazardous waste operations or emergency response.

     (8) Course certificate. Written documentation should be provided to each student who satisfactorily completes the training course. The documentation should include:

     (a) Student's name.

     (b) Course title.

     (c) Course date.

     (d) Statement that the student has successfully completed the course.

     (e) Name and address of the training provider.

     (f) An individual identification number for the certificate.

     (g) List of the levels of personal protective equipment used by the student to complete the course.

     (i) This documentation may include a certificate and an appropriate wallet-sized laminated card with a photograph of the student and the above information.

     (ii) When such course certificate cards are used, the individual identification number for the training certificate should be shown on the card.

     (9) Recordkeeping. Training providers should maintain records listing the dates courses were presented, the names of the individual course attendees, the names of those students successfully completing each course, and the number of training certificates issued to each successful student. These records should be maintained for a minimum of five years after the date an individual participated in a training program offered by the training provider. These records should be available and provided upon the student's request or as mandated by law.

     (10) Program quality control. The training director should conduct or direct an annual written audit of the training program. Program modifications to address deficiencies, if any, should be documented, approved, and implemented by the training provider. The audit and the program modification documents should be maintained at the training facility.

     Suggested Program Quality Control Criteria:

     Factors listed here are suggested criteria for determining the quality and appropriateness of employee health and safety training for hazardous waste operations and emergency response.

     (1) Training plan. Adequacy and appropriateness of the training program's curriculum development, instructor training, distribution of course materials, and direct student training should be considered, including:

     (a) The duration of training, course content, and course schedules/agendas;

     (b) The different training requirements of the various target populations, as specified in the appropriate generic training curriculum;

     (c) The process for the development of curriculum, which includes appropriate technical input, outside review, evaluation, program pretesting.

     (d) The adequate and appropriate inclusion of hands-on, demonstration, and instruction methods;

     (e) Adequate monitoring of student safety, progress, and performance during the training.

     (2) Program management, training director, staff, and consultants. Adequacy and appropriateness of staff performance and delivering an effective training program should be considered, including:

     (a) Demonstration of the training director's leadership in assuring quality of health and safety training;

     (b) Demonstration of the competency of the staff to meet the demands of delivering high quality hazardous waste employee health and safety training;

     (c) Organization charts establishing clear lines of authority;

     (d) Clearly defined staff duties including the relationship of the training staff to the overall program;

     (e) Evidence that the training organizational structure suits the needs of the training program;

     (f) Appropriateness and adequacy of the training methods used by the instructors;

     (g) Sufficiency of the time committed by the training director and staff to the training program;

     (h) Adequacy of the ratio of training staff to students;

     (i) Availability and commitment of the training program of adequate human and equipment resources in the areas of:

     (i) Health effects;

     (ii) Safety;

     (iii) Personal protective equipment (PPE);

     (iv) Operational procedures;

     (v) Employee protection practices/procedures;

     (j) Appropriateness of management controls;

     (k) Adequacy of the organization and appropriate resources assigned to assure appropriate training;

     (l) In the case of multiple-site training programs, adequacy of management of the satellite centers.

     (3) Training facilities and resources. Adequacy and appropriateness of the facilities and resources for supporting the training program should be considered, including:

     (a) Space and equipment to conduct the training;

     (b) Facilities for representative hands-on training;

     (c) In the case of multiple-site programs, equipment and facilities at the satellite centers;

     (d) Adequacy and appropriateness of the quality control and evaluations program to account for instructor performance;

     (e) Adequacy and appropriateness of the quality control and evaluation program to ensure appropriate course evaluation, feedback, updating, and corrective action;

     (f) Adequacy and appropriateness of disciplines and expertise being used within the quality control and evaluation program;

     (g) Adequacy and appropriateness of the role of student evaluations to provide feedback for training program improvement.

     (4) Quality control and evaluation. Adequacy and appropriateness of quality control and evaluation plans for training programs should be considered, including:

     (a) A balanced advisory committee and/or competent outside reviewers to give overall policy guidance;

     (b) Clear and adequate definition of the composition and active programmatic role of the advisory committee or outside reviewers;

     (c) Adequacy of the minutes or reports of the advisory committee or outside reviewers' meetings or written communication;

     (d) Adequacy and appropriateness of the quality control and evaluations program to account for instructor performance;

     (e) Adequacy and appropriateness of the quality control and evaluation program to ensure appropriate course evaluation, feedback, updating, and corrective action;

     (f) Adequacy and appropriateness of disciplines and expertise being used within the quality control and evaluation program;

     (g) Adequacy and appropriateness of the role of student evaluations to provide feedback for training program improvement.

     (5) Students. Adequacy and appropriateness of the program for accepting students should be considered, including:

     (a) Assurance that the student already possess the necessary skills for their job, including necessary documentation;

     (b) Appropriateness of methods the program uses to ensure that recruits are capable of satisfactorily completing training;

     (c) Review and compliance with any medical clearance policy.

     (6) Institutional environment and administrative support. The adequacy and appropriateness of the institutional environment and administrative support system for the training program should be considered, including:

     (a) Adequacy of the institutional commitment to the employee training program;

     (b) Adequacy and appropriateness of the administrative structure and administrative support.

     (7) Summary of evaluation questions. Key questions for evaluating the quality and appropriateness of an overall training program should include the following:

     (a) Are the program objectives clearly stated?

     (b) Is the program accomplishing its objectives?

     (c) Are appropriate facilities and staff available?

     (d) Is there an appropriate mix of classroom, demonstration, and hands-on training?

     (e) Is the program providing quality employee health and safety training that fully meets the intent of regulatory requirements?

     (f) What are the program's main strengths?

     (g) What are the program's main weaknesses?

     (h) What is recommended to improve the program?

     (i) Are instructors instructing according to their training outlines?

     (j) Is the evaluation tool current and appropriate for the program content?

     (k) Is the course material current and relevant to the target group?

     Suggested Training Curriculum Guidelines:

     The following training curriculum guidelines are for those operations specifically identified in this Part P, as requiring training. Issues such as qualifications of instructors, training certification, and similar criteria appropriate to all categories of operations addressed in this Part P, have been covered in the preceding section and are not readdressed in each of the generic guidelines. Basic core requirements for training programs that are addressed include: (1) General hazardous waste operations; (2) RCRA operations--Treatment, storage, and disposal facilities.

     (1) General hazardous waste operations and site-specific training.

     (a) Off-site training. Training course content for hazardous waste operations, required by WAC 296-62-3040 through 296-62-30465, should include the following topics or procedures:

     (i) Regulatory knowledge.

     (A) A review of this Part P and the core elements of an occupational safety and health program.

     (B) The content of a medical surveillance program as outlined in WAC 296-62-3050 through 296-62-30535.

     (C) The content of an effective site safety and health plan consistent with the requirements of WAC 296-62-30135(2).

     (D) Emergency response plan and procedures as outlined in WAC 296-24-567 and 296-62-3110 through 296-62-31110.

     (E) Adequate illumination.

     (F) Sanitation recommendation and equipment.

     (G) Review and explanation of WISHA's hazard-communication standard WAC 296-800-170, and chapter 296-24 WAC, Part A-4, safety procedures for the control of hazardous energy (lockout/tagout).

     (H) Review of other applicable standards including but not limited to those in the construction standards, chapter 296-155 WAC.

     (I) Rights and responsibilities of employers and employees under applicable WISHA/OSHA and department of ecology (DOE)/Environmental Protection Association (EPA) regulations and laws.

     (ii) Technical knowledge.

     (A) Type of potential exposures to chemical, biological, and radiological hazards; types of human responses to these hazards and recognition of those responses; principles of toxicology and information about acute and chronic hazards; health and safety considerations of new technology.

     (B) Fundamentals of chemical hazards including but not limited to vapor pressure, boiling points, flash points, pH, other physical and chemical properties.

     (C) Fire and explosion hazards of chemicals.

     (D) General safety hazards such as but not limited to electrical hazards, powered equipment hazards, motor vehicle hazards, walking-working surface hazards, excavation hazards, and hazards associated with working in hot and cold temperature extremes.

     (E) Review and knowledge of confined space entry procedures in chapter 296-62 WAC, Part M.

     (F) Work practices to minimize employee risk from site hazards.

     (G) Safe use of engineering controls, equipment, and any new relevant safety technology or safety procedures.

     (H) Review and demonstration of competency with air sampling and monitoring equipment that may be used in a site monitoring program.

     (I) Container sampling procedures and safeguarding; general drum and container handling procedures including special requirement for laboratory waste packs, shock-sensitive wastes, and radioactive wastes.

     (J) The elements of a spill control program.

     (K) Proper use and limitations of material handling equipment.

     (L) Procedures for safe and healthful preparation of containers for shipping and transport.

     (M) Methods of communication including those used while wearing respiratory protection.

     (iii) Technical skills.

     (A) Selection, use maintenance, and limitations of personal protective equipment including the components and procedures for carrying out a respirator program to comply with chapter ((296-62)) 296-842 WAC ((Part E, Respiratory Protection)), Respirators.

     (B) Instruction in decontamination programs including personnel, equipment, and hardware; hands-on training including Levels A, B, and C ensembles and appropriate decontamination lines; field activities including the donning and doffing of protective equipment to a level commensurate with the employee's anticipated job function and responsibility and to the degree required by potential hazards.

     (C) Sources for additional hazard information; exercises using relevant manuals and hazard coding systems.

     (iv) Additional suggested items.

     (A) A laminated, dated card or certificate with photo, denoting limitations and level of protection for which the employee is trained should be issued to those students successfully completing a course.

     (B) Attendance should be required at all training modules, with successful completion of exercises and a final written or oral examination with at least fifty questions.

     (C) A minimum of one-third of the program should be devoted to hands-on exercises.

     (D) A curriculum should be established for the eight-hour refresher training required by WAC 296-62-30460, with delivery of such courses directed toward those areas of previous training that need improvement or reemphasis.

     (E) A curriculum should be established for the required eight-hour training for supervisors. Demonstrated competency in the skills and knowledge provided in forty-hour and eighty-hour courses should be prerequisites for supervisor training.

     (b) Refresher training. The eight-hour annual refresher training required in WAC 296-62-30460 should be conducted by qualified training providers. Refresher training should include at a minimum the following topics and procedures:

     (i) Review of and retraining on relevant topics covered in the forty-hour and eighty-hour programs, as appropriate, using reports by the students on their work experiences.

     (ii) Update on developments with respect to material covered in the forty-hour and eighty-hour courses.

     (iii) Review of changes to pertinent provisions of DOE/EPA or WISHA/OSHA standards or laws.

     (iv) Introduction of additional subject areas as appropriate.

     (v) Hands-on review of new or altered PPE or decontamination equipment or procedures. Review of new developments in personal protective equipment.

     (vi) Review of newly developed air and contaminant monitoring equipment.

     (c) On-site training. The employer should provide employees engaged in hazardous waste site activities with information and training prior to initial assignment into their work area, as follows:

     (i) The requirements of the hazard communication program including the location and availability of the written program, required lists of hazardous chemicals, and material safety data sheets.

     (ii) Activities and locations in their work area where hazardous substance may be present.

     (iii) Methods and observations that may be used to detect the presence or release of a hazardous chemical in the work area (such as monitoring conducted by the employer, continuous monitoring devices, visual appearances, or other evidence (sight, sound or smell)) of hazardous chemicals being released, and applicable alarms from monitoring devices that record chemical releases.

     (iv) The physical and health hazards of substances known or potentially present in the work area.

     (v) The measures employees can take to help protect themselves from worksite hazards, including specific procedures the employer has implemented.

     (vi) An explanation of the labeling system and material safety data sheets and how employees can obtain and use appropriate hazard information.

     (vii) The elements of the confined space program including special PPE, permits, monitoring requirements, communication procedures, emergency response, and applicable lockout procedures.

     (d) The employer should provide hazardous waste employees with information and training and should provide a review and access to the site safety and health plan as follows:

     (i) Names of personnel and alternate responsible for site safety and health.

     (ii) Safety and health hazards present on the site.

     (iii) Selection, use, maintenance, and limitations of personal protective equipment specific to the site.

     (iv) Work practices by which the employee can minimize risks from hazards.

     (v) Safe use of engineering controls and equipment available on site.

     (vi) Safe decontamination procedures established to minimize employee contact with hazardous substances, including:

     (A) Employee decontamination;

     (B) Clothing decontamination; and

     (C) Equipment decontamination.

     (vii) Elements of the site emergency response plan, including:

     (A) Preemergency planning.

     (B) Personnel roles and lines of authority and communication.

     (C) Emergency recognition and prevention.

     (D) Safe distances and places of refuge.

     (E) Site security and control.

     (F) Evacuation routes and procedures.

     (G) Decontamination procedures not covered by the site safety and health plan.

     (H) Emergency medical treatment and first aid.

     (I) Emergency equipment and procedures for handling emergency incidents.

     (e) The employer should provide hazardous waste employees with information and training on personal protective equipment used at the site, such as the following:

     (i) PPE to be used based upon known or anticipated site hazards.

     (ii) PPE limitations of materials and construction; limitations during temperature extremes, heat stress, and other appropriate medical considerations; use and limitations of respirator equipment as well as documentation procedures as outlined in chapter ((296-62)) 296-842 WAC, ((Part E, Respiratory Protection)) Respirators.

     (iii) PPE inspection procedures prior to, during, and after use.

     (iv) PPE donning and doffing procedures.

     (v) PPE decontamination and disposal procedures.

     (vi) PPE maintenance and storage.

     (vii) Task duration as related to PPE limitations.

     (f) The employer should instruct the employee about the site medical surveillance program relative to the particular site, including:

     (i) Specific medical surveillance programs that have been adapted for the site.

     (ii) Specific signs and symptoms related to exposure to hazardous materials on the site.

     (iii) The frequency and extent of periodic medical examinations that will be used on the site.

     (iv) Maintenance and availability of records.

     (v) Personnel to be contacted and procedures to be followed when signs and symptoms of exposures are recognized.

     (g) The employees will review and discuss the site safety and health plan as part of the training program. The location of the site safety and health plan and all written programs should be discussed with employees including a discussion of the mechanisms for access, review, and references described.

     (2) RCRA operations training for treatment, storage and disposal facilities.

     (a) As a minimum, the training course required in WAC 296-62-31435 through 296-62-31440 and 296-62-31465 should include the following topics:

     (i) Review of the applicable parts of this Part P and the elements of the employer's occupational safety and health plan.

     (ii) Review of relevant hazards such as, but not limited to, chemical, biological, and radiological exposures; fire and explosion hazards; thermal extremes; and physical hazards.

     (iii) General safety hazards including those associated with electrical hazards, powered equipment hazards, lockout/tagout procedures, motor vehicle hazards and walking-working surface hazards.

     (iv) Confined space hazards and procedures.

     (v) Work practices to minimize employee risk from workplace hazards.

     (vi) Emergency response plan and procedures including first aid meeting the requirements of WAC 296-62-31450.

     (vii) A review of procedures to minimize exposure to hazardous waste and various type of waste streams, including the materials handling program and spill containment program.

     (viii) A review of chemical hazard communication programs meeting the requirements of WAC 296-800-170.

     (ix) A review of medical surveillance programs meeting the requirements of WAC 296-62-3050 and 296-62-31415 including the recognition of signs and symptoms of overexposure to hazardous substance including known synergistic interactions.

     (x) A review of decontamination programs and procedures meeting the requirements of WAC 296-62-3100 and 296-62-31420.

     (xi) A review of an employer's requirements to implement a training program and its elements.

     (xii) A review of the criteria and programs for proper selection and use of personal protective equipment, including respirators.

     (xiii) A review of the applicable appendices to this Part P (Appendices A through E).

     (xiv) Principles of toxicology and biological monitoring as they pertain to occupational health.

     (xv) Rights and responsibilities of employees and employers under applicable WISHA/OSHA and DOE/EPA regulations and laws.

     (xvi) Hands-on exercises and demonstrations of competency with equipment to illustrate the basic equipment principles that may be used during the performance of work duties, including the donning and doffing of PPE.

     (xvii) Sources of reference, efficient use of relevant manuals, and knowledge of hazard coding systems to include information contained in hazardous waste manifests.

     (xviii) At least eight hours of hands-on training.

     (xix) Training in the job skills required for an employee's job function and responsibility before they are permitted to participate in or supervise field activities.

     (b) The individual employer should provide hazardous waste employees with information and training prior to an employee's initial assignment into a work area. The training and information should cover the following topics:

     (i) The emergency response plan and procedures including first aid.

     (ii) A review of the employer's hazardous waste handling procedures including the materials handling program and elements of the spill containment program, location of spill response kits or equipment, and the names of those trained to respond to releases.

     (iii) The hazardous communication program meeting the requirements of WAC 296-800-170.

     (iv) A review of the employer's medical surveillance program including the recognition of signs and symptoms of exposure to relevant hazardous substance including known synergistic interactions.

     (v) A review of the employer's decontamination program and procedures.

     (vi) A review of the employer's training program and the parties responsible for that program.

     (vii) A review of the employer's personal protective equipment program including the proper selection and use of PPE based upon specific site hazards.

     (viii) All relevant site-specific procedures addressing potential safety and health hazards. This may include, as appropriate, biological and radiological exposures, fire and explosion hazards, thermal hazards, and physical hazards such as electrical hazards, powered equipment hazards, lockout/tagout hazards, motor vehicle hazards, and walking-working surface hazards.

     (ix) Safe use of engineering controls and equipment on-site.

     (x) Names of personnel and alternates responsible for safety and health.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.010, [49.17].040, and [49.17].050. 01-11-038, § 296-62-3195, filed 5/9/01, effective 9/1/01. Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.040. 99-07-097, § 296-62-3195, filed 3/23/99, effective 6/23/99. Statutory Authority: Chapter 49.17 RCW. 95-04-006, § 296-62-3195, filed 1/18/95, effective 3/10/95.]


AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending Order 90-10, filed 8/13/90, effective 9/24/90)

WAC 296-62-40001   Scope and application.   (1) This section shall apply to all employers and employees engaged in the laboratory use of hazardous chemicals as follows:

     (a) Where this section applies, it shall supersede, for laboratories, the requirements of all other WISHA health standards in chapters 296-62 and 296-841 WAC, except for any WISHA health standard, only the requirement to limit employee exposure to the specific permissible exposure limit shall apply for laboratories, unless that particular standard states otherwise or unless the conditions of subdivision (c) of this section apply.

     (b) Prohibition of eye and skin contact where specified by any WISHA health standard shall be observed.

     (c) Where the action level (or in the absence of an action level, the permissible exposure limit) is routinely exceeded for a WISHA regulated substance with exposure monitoring and medical surveillance requirements, of WAC 296-62-40007.

     (2) This section shall not apply to:

     (a) Uses of hazardous chemicals which do not meet the definition of laboratory use, and in such cases, the employer shall comply with the relevant standard in WAC 296-62-075, even if such use occurs in a laboratory.

     (b) Laboratory uses of hazardous chemicals which provide no potential for employee exposure. Examples of such conditions might include:

     (i) Procedures using chemically-impregnated test media such as Dip-and-Read tests where a reagent strip is dipped into the specimen to be tested and the results are interpreted by comparing the color reaction to a color chart supplied by the manufacturer of the test strip; and

     (ii) Commercially prepared kits such as those used in performing pregnancy tests in which all of the reagents needed to conduct the test are contained in the kit.

[Statutory Authority: Chapter 49.17 RCW. 90-17-051 (Order 90-10), § 296-62-40001, filed 8/13/90, effective 9/24/90.]


AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending Order 90-10, filed 8/13/90, effective 9/24/90)

WAC 296-62-40007   Employee exposure determination.   (1) Initial monitoring. The employer shall measure the employee's exposure to any substance regulated by a standard which requires monitoring if there is reason to believe that exposure levels for that substance routinely exceed the action level (or in the absence of an action level, the PEL).

     (2) Periodic monitoring. If the initial monitoring prescribed by subsection (1) of this section discloses employee exposure over the action level (or in the absence of an action level, the PEL), the employer shall immediately comply with the exposure monitoring provisions of chapters 296-62 and 296-841 WAC.

     (3) Termination of monitoring. Monitoring may be terminated in accordance with chapters 296-62 and 296-841 WAC.

     (4) Employee notification of monitoring results. The employer shall, within 15 working days after the receipt of any monitoring results, notify the employee of these results in writing either individually or by posting results in an appropriate location that is accessible to employees.

[Statutory Authority: Chapter 49.17 RCW. 90-17-051 (Order 90-10), § 296-62-40007, filed 8/13/90, effective 9/24/90.]

OTS-7247.1


AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 99-10-071, filed 5/4/99, effective 9/1/99)

WAC 296-78-665   Sanding machines.   (1) Each belt sanding machine shall have both pulleys enclosed in such a manner as to guard the points where the belt runs onto the pulleys. The edges of the unused run of belt shall be enclosed or otherwise guarded from contact by employees.

     (2) Each drum sanding machine shall be provided with a guard so arranged as to completely enclose the revolving drum except such portion required for the application of the material to be finished. Guards with hinges to facilitate the insertion of sandpaper may be installed. The exhaust hood may form part or all of this guard. When so used, the hood shall conform to the specifications as given under exhaust systems in WAC 296-78-710.

     (3) All standard stationary sanding machines shall be provided with exhaust systems in conformity with the section of this code dealing with exhaust systems.

     (4) All portable sanding machines shall be provided with means of removing excessive dust, or employees using equipment shall be provided with such necessary respiratory protective equipment as will conform to the requirements of the general occupational health standards, chapter ((296-62)) 296-842 WAC((, Part E)).

     (5) The requirements of WAC 296-24-16533, general safety and health standards, shall be applicable to sanding machines.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.010, [49.17].040 and [49.17].050. 99-10-071, § 296-78-665, filed 5/4/99, effective 9/1/99. Statutory Authority: Chapter 49.17 RCW. 96-17-056, § 296-78-665, filed 8/20/96, effective 10/15/96. Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.040, 49.17.050 and 49.17.240. 81-18-029 (Order 81-21), § 296-78-665, filed 8/27/81.]


AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 02-15-102, filed 7/17/02, effective 10/1/02)

WAC 296-78-71015   Tanks and chemicals.   (1) All open vats and tanks into which workers may fall shall be guarded with standard railings or screen guards in all cases where such guarding is possible with regard to practical operation.

     (2) Foundations of elevated tanks shall be accessible for inspections. When the tank platform is more than five feet above the ground a stairway or ladder shall be permanently attached.

     (3) Every open tank over five feet in height shall be equipped with fixed standard ladders both inside and out, extending from the bottom to the rim of the tank arranged to be accessible to each other, so far as local conditions permit.

     (4) The use of chemicals for treating of lumber for prevention of sap stain or mold or as preservatives, shall conform to the requirements of chapter 296-835 WAC, Dipping and coating operations (dip tanks).

     (a) Storage, handling, and use of chemicals. Threshold limits. Employees shall not be exposed to airborne concentration of toxic dusts, vapors, mists or gases that exceed the threshold limit values set forth in chapter 296-62 WAC, Part H, and chapter 296-62 WAC, Part E, general occupational health standards.

     (b) Protective equipment. The use of chemicals shall be controlled so as to protect employees from harmful exposure to toxic materials. Where necessary, employees shall be provided with and required to wear such protective equipment as will afford adequate protection against harmful exposure as required by WAC 296-800-160, and chapter ((296-62)) 296-842 WAC, ((Part E,)) general occupational health standards.

     (5)(a) Means shall be provided and used to collect any excess of chemicals used in treating lumber so as to protect workers from accidental contact with harmful concentrations of toxic chemicals or fumes.

     (b) Dip tanks containing flammable or combustible liquids shall be constructed, maintained and used in accordance with chapter 296-835 WAC, Dipping and coating operations (dip tanks).

     (c) An evacuation plan shall be developed and implemented for all employees working in the vicinity of dip tanks using flammable and/or combustible liquids. A copy of the plan shall be available at the establishment for inspection at all times. Every employee shall be made aware of the evacuation plan and know what to do in the event of an emergency and be evacuated in accordance with the plan. The plan shall be reviewed with employees at least quarterly and documented.

     (d) When automatic foam, automatic carbon dioxide or automatic dry chemical extinguishing systems are used, an alarm device shall be activated to alert employees in the dip tank area before and during the activation of the system. The following combinations of extinguishment systems when used in conjunction with the evacuation plan as stated above will be acceptable in lieu of bottom drains:

     (i) A dip tank cover with an automatic foam extinguishing system under the cover, or an automatic carbon dioxide system, or an automatic dry chemical extinguishing system, or an automatic water spray extinguishing system;

     (ii) An automatic dry chemical extinguishing system with an automatic carbon dioxide system or a second automatic dry chemical extinguishing system or an automatic foam extinguishing system;

     (iii) An automatic carbon dioxide system with a second automatic carbon dioxide system or an automatic foam extinguishing system.

     (e) The automatic water spray extinguishing systems, automatic foam extinguishing systems, and dip tank covers shall conform with the requirements of chapter 296-835 WAC, Dipping and coating operations (dip tanks). The automatic carbon dioxide systems and dry chemical extinguishing system shall conform with the requirements of WAC 296-24-615 and 296-24-620.

     (6) Where workers are engaged in the treating of lumber with chemicals or are required to handle lumber or other materials so treated, the workers shall be provided with, at no cost to the worker, and required to use such protective equipment as will provide complete protection against contact with toxic chemicals or fumes therefrom.

     (7) Sanitation requirements. The requirements of WAC 296-800-220 and 296-800-230 (safety and health core rules), shall govern sanitation practices.

     (8) The sides of steam vats and soaking pits unless otherwise guarded shall extend forty-two inches above the floor level. The floor adjacent thereto shall be of nonslip construction.

     (9) Large steam vats or soaking pits, divided into sections, shall be provided with substantial walkways between each section, each walkway to be provided with standard railings which may be removable if necessary.

     (10) Covers shall be removed only from that portion of the steaming vats on which workers are working and a portable railing shall be placed at this point to protect the operators.

     (11) Workers shall not ride or step on logs in steam vats.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.010, [49.17].040, and [49.17].050. 02-15-102, § 296-78-71015, filed 7/17/02, effective 10/1/02; 01-11-038, § 296-78-71015, filed 5/9/01, effective 9/1/01. Statutory Authority: Chapter 49.17 RCW. 96-17-056, § 296-78-71015, filed 8/20/96, effective 10/15/96; 94-20-057 (Order 94-16), § 296-78-71015, filed 9/30/94, effective 11/20/94. Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.040, 49.17.050 and 49.17.240. 81-18-029 (Order 81-21), § 296-78-71015, filed 8/27/81.]


AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 01-11-038, filed 5/9/01, effective 9/1/01)

WAC 296-78-71019   Exhaust systems.   (1) Air requirements in buildings, where persons are habitually employed, shall meet the requirements of the general occupational health standard, WAC 296-62-100 through 296-62-11013.

     (2) Where the natural ventilation is not sufficient to remove dust, fumes or vapors that create or constitute a hazard, additional means of removal shall be provided.

     (3) All mills containing one or more machines whose operations create dust, shavings, chips or slivers during a period of time equal to or greater than one-fourth of the working day or shift, shall be equipped with a collecting system either continuous or automatic in action and of sufficient strength and capacity to thoroughly remove such refuse from the points of operation of the machines and the work areas.

     (4) Each woodworking machine that creates dust, shavings, chips, or slivers shall be equipped with an exhaust or conveyor system located and adjusted to remove the maximum amount of refuse from the point of operation and immediate vicinity.

     (5) Blower, collecting and exhaust systems shall be designed, constructed and maintained in accordance with American National Standards Z33.1 - 1961 (for the installation of blower and exhaust systems for dust, stock and vapor removal or conveying) and Z12.2 - 1962 (R1969) (code for the prevention of dust explosions in woodworking and wood flour manufacturing plants).

     (6) Fans used for ventilating shall be of ample capacity, as evidenced by the performance schedules of the manufacturers, and shall be guarded when exposed to contact. Hoods, dust conveyors, dust collectors and other accessary equipment shall be large enough to insure free intake and discharge.

     (7) The outlet or discharge of all ventilating equipment shall be so arranged that at no time will the dust, vapors, gases or other air borne impurities discharged, create or constitute a hazard.

     (8) Where a hood is used to form a part or all of the guard required on a given machine, it shall be constructed of not less than ten U.S. gauge sheet metal, or if of cast iron it shall be not less than three-sixteenths inches in thickness.

     (9) All exhaust pipes shall be of such construction and internal dimensions as to minimize the possibility of clogging. They shall be readily accessible for cleaning.

     (10) All exhaust pipes shall empty into settling or dust chambers which shall effectively prevent the dust or refuse from entering any work area. Such settling or dust chambers shall be so designed and operated as to reduce to a minimum the danger of fire or dust explosions.

     (11) In lieu of a general ventilating system, exhaust or blower units may be installed on the dust or fume producing machine, provided the required protection is secured thereby.

     (12) When proper ventilation is not provided, and temporary hazardous conditions are therefore encountered, the employer shall furnish approved respiratory and visual equipment: Provided, however, That the exposure to such hazard shall not be for more than two hours duration. Protective measures and equipment shall meet the requirements of the general occupational health standard, chapter ((296-62)) 296-842 WAC((, Part E)).

     (13) Provisions for the daily removal of refuse shall be made in all operations not required to have an exhaust system, or having refuse too heavy, or bulky, or otherwise unsuitable to be handled by an exhaust system.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.010, [49.17].040, and [49.17].050. 01-11-038, § 296-78-71019, filed 5/9/01, effective 9/1/01; 99-10-071, § 296-78-71019, filed 5/4/99, effective 9/1/99. Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.040, 49.17.050 and 49.17.240. 81-18-029 (Order 81-21), § 296-78-71019, filed 8/27/81.]


AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 01-11-038, filed 5/9/01, effective 9/1/01)

WAC 296-78-84005   Dry kilns.   (1) Transfer, kiln and dolly tracks shall be properly maintained at all times and shall have a grade of not more than one and one-fourth percent. Bumpers or stops shall be installed at the ends of all tracks capable of stopping a normal load for which the track is installed. A means shall be provided for chocking or blocking cars.

     (2) Doors.

     (a) Main kiln doors. Main kiln doors shall be provided with a method of holding them open while kiln is being loaded.

     (b) Counterweights on vertical lift doors shall be boxed or otherwise guarded.

     (c) Means shall be provided to firmly secure main doors, when they are disengaged from carriers and hangers, to prevent toppling.

     (3) Kilns whose operation requires inside inspection shall be maintained with not less than eighteen inches clearance between loaded cars and the walls of the kiln. The requirements for personal protective equipment specified in WAC 296-800-160, safety and health core rules, and chapter ((296-62)) 296-842 WAC, ((Part E,)) general occupational health standards, shall be complied with.

     (4) Kiln loads shall be equipped or arranged for easy attachment and detachment of transfer cables. Means for stopping kiln cars shall be available at all times.

     (5) Cars shall not be moved until tracks are clear and workers are out of the bight of transfer lines.

     (6) When kiln or dolly loads of lumber are permitted to coast through or adjacent to any work area, audible warning shall be given.

     (7) Stickers shall not be allowed to protrude more than two inches from the sides of kiln stacks.

     (8) Yards and storage areas shall be kept reasonably free of debris and unnecessary obstruction. Warning signs shall be conspicuously posted wherever there is danger from moving vehicles or equipment.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.010, [49.17].040, and [49.17].050. 01-11-038, § 296-78-84005, filed 5/9/01, effective 9/1/01. Statutory Authority: Chapter 49.17 RCW. 96-17-056, § 296-78-84005, filed 8/20/96, effective 10/15/96; 94-20-057 (Order 94-16), § 296-78-84005, filed 9/30/94, effective 11/20/94. Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.040, 49.17.050 and 49.17.240. 81-18-029 (Order 81-21), § 296-78-84005, filed 8/27/81.]

OTS-7248.1


AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 99-16-083, filed 8/3/99, effective 11/3/99)

WAC 296-79-29007   Bleach plant.   (1) Work areas used for preparation and processing of bleaching mixtures must be equipped with properly designed exhaust ventilation systems capable of clearing the area of toxic gases. See chapters 296-62 and 296-841 WAC, ((Part H and)) Part L.

     (2) Bleaching containers, such as cells, towers, etc., except the Bellmer type, must be completely covered on the top, with the exception of one small opening large enough to allow filling but too small to admit a person.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.010, [49.17].040 and [49.17].050. 99-16-083, § 296-79-29007, filed 8/3/99, effective 11/3/99; Order 74-24, § 296-79-29007, filed 5/6/74.]

OTS-7249.1


AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending Order 94-07, filed 7/20/94, effective 9/20/94)

WAC 296-155-160   Gases, vapors, fumes, dusts, and mists.   (1) Exposure of employees to inhalation, ingestion, skin absorption, or contact with any material or substance at a concentration above those specified in the general occupational health standards, WAC 296-62-07515 shall be avoided.

     (2) To achieve compliance with subsection (1) of this section, administrative or engineering controls must first be implemented whenever feasible. When such controls are not feasible to achieve full compliance, protective equipment or other protective measures shall be used to keep the exposure of employees to air contaminants within the limits prescribed in WAC 296-62-07515. Any equipment and technical measures used for this purpose must first be approved for each particular use by a competent industrial hygienist or other technically qualified person. Whenever respirators are used, their use shall comply with WAC 296-155-220.

     (3) Whenever internal combustion equipment exhausts in enclosed spaces, tests shall be made and recorded to ensure that employees are not exposed to unsafe concentrations of toxic gases or oxygen deficient atmospheres. See chapter 296-62 WAC, the general occupational health standards and chapter 296-841 WAC, identifying and controlling respiratory hazards.

     (4) Whenever any employee is exposed to asbestos, the provisions of the general occupational health standards, chapter 296-62 WAC shall apply.

     (5) Subsections (1) and (2) of this section do not apply to the exposure of employees to formaldehyde. Whenever any employee is exposed to formaldehyde, the requirements of WAC 296-62-07540 shall apply.

[Statutory Authority: Chapter 49.17 RCW. 94-15-096 (Order 94-07), § 296-155-160, filed 7/20/94, effective 9/20/94; 88-14-108 (Order 88-11), § 296-155-160, filed 7/6/88; 87-24-051 (Order 87-24), § 296-155-160, filed 11/30/87. Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.050(2) and 49.17.040. 87-10-008 (Order 87-06), § 296-155-160, filed 4/27/87. Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.040 and 49.17.050. 86-03-074 (Order 86-14), § 296-155-160, filed 1/21/86. Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.040 and 49.17.050. 83-24-013 (Order 83-34), § 296-155-160, filed 11/30/83; Order 74-26, § 296-155-160, filed 5/7/74, effective 6/6/74.]


AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 99-10-071, filed 5/4/99, effective 9/1/99)

WAC 296-155-17317   Respiratory protection.   (1) General. For employees who use respirators required by this section, the employer must provide respirators that comply with the requirements of this section. Respirators must be used during:

     (a) Periods necessary to install or implement feasible engineering and work-practice controls.

     (b) Work operations, such as maintenance and repair activities and spray application processes, for which engineering and work-practice controls are not feasible.

     (c) Work operations for which feasible engineering and work-practice controls are not yet sufficient to reduce employee exposure to or below the PELs.

     (d) Emergencies.

     (2) Respirator program. The employer must implement a respiratory protection program as required by chapter ((296-62 WAC, Part E (except WAC 296-62-07130(1) and 296-62-07150 through 296-62-07156))) 296-842 WAC, except WAC 296-842-13005 and 296-842-14005.

     (3) Respirator selection.

     (a) The employer must select the appropriate respirator from Table 1 of this section.


Table 1. -- Respiratory Protection for MDA
Airborne concentration of

MDA or condition of use

Respirator type
a. Less than or equal to 10xPEL (1) Half-mask respirator with HEPA1 cartridge.2
b. Less than or equal to 50xPEL (1) Full facepiece respirator with HEPA1 cartridge or canister.2
c. Less than or equal to 1000xPEL (1) Full facepiece powered air-purifying respirator with HEPA1 cartridges.2
d. Greater than 1000xPEL or

unknown

(1) Self-contained breathing concentration apparatus with full facepiece in positive pressure mode;
(2) Full facepiece positive-pressure demand supplied-air respirator with auxiliary self-contained air supply.
e. Escape (1) Any full facepiece air-purifying respirator with HEPA1 cartridges;2
(2) Any positive pressure or continuous flow self-contained breathing apparatus with full facepiece or hood.
f. Fire fighting (1) Full facepiece self-contained breathing apparatus in positive pressure mode.
Note: Respirators assigned for higher environmental concentration may be used at lower concentrations.
1High efficiency particulate in air filter (HEPA) means a filter that is at least 99.97 percent efficient against mono-dispersed particles of 0.3 micrometers or larger.
2Combination HEPA/organic vapor cartridges shall be used whenever MDA in liquid form or a process requiring heat is used.

     (b) An employee who cannot use a negative-pressure respirator must be given the option of using a positive-pressure respirator, or a supplied-air respirator operated in the continuous-flow or pressure-demand mode.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.010, [49.17].040 and [49.17].050. 99-10-071, § 296-155-17317, filed 5/4/99, effective 9/1/99. Statutory Authority: Chapter 49.17 RCW. 93-04-111 (Order 92-15), § 296-155-17317, filed 2/3/93, effective 3/15/93.]


AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 04-10-026, filed 4/27/04, effective 8/1/04)

WAC 296-155-174   Cadmium.   (1) Scope. This standard applies to all occupational exposures to cadmium and cadmium compounds, in all forms, in all construction work where an employee may potentially be exposed to cadmium. Construction work is defined as work involving construction, alteration, and/or repair, including but not limited to the following:

     (a) Wrecking, demolition, or salvage of structures where cadmium or materials containing cadmium are present;

     (b) Use of cadmium containing-paints and cutting, brazing, burning, grinding, or welding on surfaces that were painted with cadmium-containing paints;

     (c) Construction, alteration, repair, maintenance, or renovation of structures, substrates, or portions thereof, that contain cadmium, or materials containing cadmium;

     (d) Cadmium welding; cutting and welding cadmium-plated steel; brazing or welding with cadmium alloys;

     (e) Installation of products containing cadmium;

     (f) Electrical grounding with cadmium-welding, or electrical work using cadmium-coated conduit;

     (g) Maintaining or retrofitting cadmium-coated equipment;

     (h) Cadmium contamination/emergency cleanup; and

     (i) Transportation, disposal, storage, or containment of cadmium or materials containing cadmium on the site or location at which construction activities are performed.

     (2) Definitions.

     (a) Action level (AL) is defined as an airborne concentration of cadmium of 2.5 micrograms per cubic meter of air (2.5 ΅g/m3), calculated as an 8-hour time-weighted average (TWA).

     (b) Authorized person means any person authorized by the employer and required by work duties to be present in regulated areas or any person authorized by WISHA or regulations issued under it to be in regulated areas.

     (c) Competent person, in accordance with WAC 296-155-012(4), means a person designated by the employer to act on the employer's behalf who is capable of identifying existing and potential cadmium hazards in the workplace and the proper methods to control them in order to protect workers, and has the authority necessary to take prompt corrective measures to eliminate or control such hazards. The duties of a competent person include at least the following: Determining prior to the performance of work whether cadmium is present in the workplace; establishing, where necessary, regulated areas and assuring that access to and from those areas is limited to authorized employees; assuring the adequacy of any employee exposure monitoring required by this standard; assuring that all employees exposed to air cadmium levels above the PEL wear appropriate personal protective equipment and are trained in the use of appropriate methods of exposure control; assuring that proper hygiene facilities are provided and that workers are trained to use those facilities; and assuring that the engineering controls required by this standard are implemented, maintained in proper operating condition, and functioning properly.

     (d) Director means the director of the department of labor and industries or authorized representative.

     (e) Employee exposure and similar language referring to the air cadmium level to which an employee is exposed means the exposure to airborne cadmium that would occur if the employee were not using respiratory protective equipment.

     (f) Final medical determination is the written medical opinion of the employee's health status by the examining physician under subsection (12)(c) through (l) of this section or, if multiple physician review under subsection (12)(m) of this section or the alternative physician determination under subsection (12)(n) of this section is invoked, it is the final, written medical finding, recommendation or determination that emerges from that process.

     (g) High-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter means a filter capable of trapping and retaining at least 99.97 percent of mono-dispersed particles of 0.3 micrometers in diameter.

     (h) Regulated area means an area demarcated by the employer where an employee's exposure to airborne concentrations of cadmium exceeds, or can reasonably be expected to exceed the permissible exposure limit (PEL).

     (i) This section means this cadmium standard.

     (3) Permissible exposure limit (PEL). The employer shall assure that no employee is exposed to an airborne concentration of cadmium in excess of five micrograms per cubic meter of air (5 ΅g/m3), calculated as an 8-hour time-weighted average exposure (TWA).

     (4) Exposure monitoring

     (a) General.

     (i) Prior to the performance of any construction work where employees may be potentially exposed to cadmium, the employer shall establish the applicability of this standard by determining whether cadmium is present in the workplace and whether there is the possibility that employee exposures will be at or above the action level. The employer shall designate a competent person who shall make this determination. Investigation and material testing techniques shall be used, as appropriate, in the determination. Investigation shall include a review of relevant plans, past reports, material safety data sheets, and other available records, and consultations with the property owner and discussions with appropriate individuals and agencies.

     (ii) Where cadmium has been determined to be present in the workplace, and it has been determined that there is a possibility the employee's exposure will be at or above the action level, the competent person shall identify employees potentially exposed to cadmium at or above the action level.

     (iii) Determinations of employee exposure shall be made from breathing-zone air samples that reflect the monitored employee's regular, daily 8-hour TWA exposure to cadmium.

     (iv) Eight-hour TWA exposures shall be determined for each employee on the basis of one or more personal breathing-zone air samples reflecting full shift exposure on each shift, for each job classification, in each work area. Where several employees perform the same job tasks, in the same job classification, on the same shift, in the same work area, and the length, duration, and level of cadmium exposures are similar, an employer may sample a representative fraction of the employees instead of all employees in order to meet this requirement. In representative sampling, the employer shall sample the employee(s) expected to have the highest cadmium exposures.

     (b) Specific.

     (i) Initial monitoring. Except as provided for in (b)(iii) of this subsection, where a determination conducted under (a)(i) of this subsection shows the possibility of employee exposure to cadmium at or above the action level, the employer shall conduct exposure monitoring as soon as practicable that is representative of the exposure for each employee in the workplace who is or may be exposed to cadmium at or above the action level.

     (ii) In addition, if the employee periodically performs tasks that may expose the employee to a higher concentration of airborne cadmium, the employee shall be monitored while performing those tasks.

     (iii) Where the employer has objective data, as defined in subsection (14)(b) of this section, demonstrating that employee exposure to cadmium will not exceed airborne concentrations at or above the action level under the expected conditions of processing, use, or handling, the employer may rely upon such data instead of implementing initial monitoring.

     (iv) Where a determination conducted under (a) or (b) of this subsection is made that a potentially exposed employee is not exposed to airborne concentrations of cadmium at or above the action level, the employer shall make a written record of such determination. The record shall include at least the monitoring data developed under (b)(i) through (iii) of this subsection, where applicable, and shall also include the date of determination, and the name and Social Security number of each employee.

     (c) Monitoring frequency (periodic monitoring).

     (i) If the initial monitoring or periodic monitoring reveals employee exposures to be at or above the action level, the employer shall monitor at a frequency and pattern needed to assure that the monitoring results reflect with reasonable accuracy the employee's typical exposure levels, given the variability in the tasks performed, work practices, and environmental conditions on the job site, and to assure the adequacy of respiratory selection and the effectiveness of engineering and work practice controls.

     (ii) If the initial monitoring or the periodic monitoring indicates that employee exposures are below the action level and that result is confirmed by the results of another monitoring taken at least seven days later, the employer may discontinue the monitoring for those employees whose exposures are represented by such monitoring.

     (d) Additional monitoring. The employer also shall institute the exposure monitoring required under (b)(i) and (c) of this subsection whenever there has been a change in the raw materials, equipment, personnel, work practices, or finished products that may result in additional employees being exposed to cadmium at or above the action level or in employees already exposed to cadmium at or above the action level being exposed above the PEL, or whenever the employer or competent person has any reason to suspect that any other change might result in such further exposure.

     (e) Employee notification of monitoring results.

     (i) No later than five working days after the receipt of the results of any monitoring performed under this section, the employer shall notify each affected employee individually in writing of the results. In addition, within the same time period, the employer shall post the results of the exposure monitoring in an appropriate location that is accessible to all affected employees.

     (ii) Wherever monitoring results indicate that employee exposure exceeds the PEL, the employer shall include in the written notice a statement that the PEL has been exceeded and a description of the corrective action being taken by the employer to reduce employee exposure to or below the PEL.

     (f) Accuracy of measurement. The employer shall use a method of monitoring and analysis that has an accuracy of not less than plus or minus 25 percent (± 25%), with a confidence level of 95 percent, for airborne concentrations of cadmium at or above the action level and the permissible exposure limit.

     (5) Regulated areas.

     (a) Establishment. The employer shall establish a regulated area wherever an employee's exposure to airborne concentrations of cadmium is, or can reasonably be expected to be in excess of the permissible exposure limit (PEL).

     (b) Demarcation. Regulated areas shall be demarcated from the rest of the workplace in any manner that adequately establishes and alerts employees of the boundaries of the regulated area, including employees who are or may be incidentally in the regulated areas, and that protects persons outside the area from exposure to airborne concentrations of cadmium in excess of the PEL.

     (c) Access. Access to regulated areas shall be limited to authorized persons.

     (d) Provision of respirators. Each person entering a regulated area shall be supplied with and required to use a respirator, selected in accordance with subsection (7)(b) of this section.

     (e) Prohibited activities. The employer shall assure that employees do not eat, drink, smoke, chew tobacco or gum, or apply cosmetics in regulated areas, or carry the products associated with any of these activities into regulated areas or store such products in those areas.

     (6) Methods of compliance.

     (a) Compliance hierarchy.

     (i) Except as specified in (a)(ii) of this subsection, the employer shall implement engineering and work practice controls to reduce and maintain employee exposure to cadmium at or below the PEL, except to the extent that the employer can demonstrate that such controls are not feasible.

     (ii) The requirement to implement engineering controls to achieve the PEL does not apply where the employer demonstrates the following:

     (A) The employee is only intermittently exposed; and

     (B) The employee is not exposed above the PEL on 30 or more days per year (12 consecutive months).

     (iii) Wherever engineering and work practice controls are not sufficient to reduce employee exposure to or below the PEL, the employer nonetheless shall implement such controls to reduce exposures to the lowest levels achievable. The employer shall supplement such controls with respiratory protection that complies with the requirements of subsection (7) of this section and the PEL.

     (iv) The employer shall not use employee rotation as a method of compliance.

     (b) Specific operations.

     (i) Abrasive blasting. Abrasive blasting on cadmium or cadmium-containing materials shall be conducted in a manner that will provide adequate protection.

     (ii) Heating cadmium and cadmium-containing materials. Welding, cutting, and other forms of heating of cadmium or cadmium-containing materials shall be conducted in accordance with the requirements of WAC 296-155-415 and 296-155-420, where applicable.

     (c) Prohibitions.

     (i) High speed abrasive disc saws and similar abrasive power equipment shall not be used for work on cadmium or cadmium-containing materials unless they are equipped with appropriate engineering controls to minimize emissions, if the exposure levels are above the PEL.

     (ii) Materials containing cadmium shall not be applied by spray methods, if exposures are above the PEL, unless employees are protected with supplied-air respirators with full facepiece, hood, helmet, suit, operated in positive pressure mode and measures are instituted to limit overspray and prevent contamination of adjacent areas.

     (d) Mechanical ventilation.

     (i) When ventilation is used to control exposure, measurements that demonstrate the effectiveness of the system in controlling exposure, such as capture velocity, duct velocity, or static pressure shall be made as necessary to maintain its effectiveness.

     (ii) Measurements of the system's effectiveness in controlling exposure shall be made as necessary within five working days of any change in production, process, or control that might result in a significant increase in employee exposure to cadmium.

     (iii) Recirculation of air. If air from exhaust ventilation is recirculated into the workplace, the system shall have a high efficiency filter and be monitored to assure effectiveness.

     (iv) Procedures shall be developed and implemented to minimize employee exposure to cadmium when maintenance of ventilation systems and changing of filters is being conducted.

     (e) Compliance program.

     (i) Where employee exposure to cadmium exceeds the PEL and the employer is required under (a) of this subsection to implement controls to comply with the PEL, prior to the commencement of the job the employer shall establish and implement a written compliance program to reduce employee exposure to or below the PEL. To the extent that engineering and work practice controls cannot reduce exposures to or below the PEL, the employer shall include in the written compliance program the use of appropriate respiratory protection to achieve compliance with the PEL.

     (ii) Written compliance programs shall be reviewed and updated as often and as promptly as necessary to reflect significant changes in the employer's compliance status or significant changes in the lowest air cadmium level that is technologically feasible.

     (iii) A competent person shall review the comprehensive compliance program initially and after each change.

     (iv) Written compliance programs shall be provided upon request for examination and copying to the director, or authorized representatives, affected employees, and designated employee representatives.

     (7) Respirator protection.

     (a) General. For employees who use respirators required by this section, the employer must provide respirators that comply with the requirements of this section. Respirators must be used during:

     (i) Periods necessary to install or implement feasible engineering and work-practice controls when employee exposures exceed the PEL.

     (ii) Maintenance and repair activities, and brief or intermittent operations, for which employee exposures exceed the PEL and engineering and work-practice controls are not feasible or are not required.

     (iii) Work operations in regulated areas specified in subsection (5) of this section.

     (iv) Work operations for which the employer has implemented all feasible engineering and work-practice controls, and such controls are not sufficient to reduce exposures to or below the PEL.

     (v) Emergencies.

     (vi) Work operations for which an employee, who is exposed to cadmium at or above the action level, requests a respirator.

     (vii) Work operations for which engineering controls are not required under (a)(ii) of this subsection to reduce employee exposures that exceed the PEL.

     (b) Respirator program.

     (i) The employer must implement a respiratory protection program as required by chapter ((296-62 WAC, Part E (except WAC 296-62-07130(1) and 296-62-07150 through 296-62-07156))) 296-842 WAC, except WAC 296-842-13005 and 296-842-14005.

     (ii) If an employee has breathing difficulty during fit testing or respirator use, the employer must provide the employee with a medical examination as required by subsection (12)(f)(ii) of this section to determine if the employee can use a respirator while performing the required duties.

     (iii) No employees must use a respirator when, based on their recent medical examination, the examining physician determines that the employee will be unable to continue to function normally while using a respirator. If the physician determines the employee must be limited in, or removed from, their current job because of the employee's inability to use a respirator, the job limitation or removal must be conducted as required by (k) and (l) of this subsection.

     (c) Respirator selection.

     (i) The employer must select the appropriate respirator from Table 1 of this section.


Table 1
Respiratory Protection for Cadmium

Airborne concentration or condition of use a Required respirator typeb
10 x or less A half-mask, air-purifying respirator equipped with a HEPAc filter.d
25 x or less A powered air-purifying respirator ("PAPR") with a loose-fitting hood or helmet equipped with a HEPA filter, or a supplied-air respirator with a loose-fitting hood or helmet facepiece operated in the continuous flow mode.
50 x or less A full facepiece air-purifying respirator equipped with a HEPA filter, or a powered air-purifying respirator with a tight-fitting half-mask equipped with a HEPA filter, or a supplied air respirator with a tight-fitting half-mask operated in the continuous flow mode.
250 x or less A powered air-purifying respirator with a tight-fitting full facepiece equipped with a HEPA filter, or a supplied-air respirator with a tight-fitting full facepiece operated in the continuous flow mode.
1000 x or less A supplied-air respirator with half-mask or full facepiece operated in the pressure demand or other positive pressure mode.
>1000 x or unknown

concentrations

A self-contained breathing apparatus with a full facepiece operated in the pressure demand or other positive pressure mode, or a supplied-air respirator with a full facepiece operated in the pressure demand or other positive pressure mode and equipped with an auxiliary escape type self-contained breathing apparatus operated in the pressure demand mode.
Fire fighting A self-contained breathing apparatus with full facepiece operated in the pressure demand or other positive pressure mode.

Note: aConcentrations expressed as multiple of the PEL.
b Respirators assigned for higher environmental concentrations may be used at lower exposure levels. Quantitative fit testing is required for all tight-fitting air purifying respirators where airborne concentration of cadmium exceeds 10 times the TWA PEL (10 x 5 ΅g/m3 = 50 ΅g/m3). A full facepiece respirator is required when eye irritation is experienced.
c HEPA means High Efficiency Particulate Air.
d Fit testing, qualitative or quantitative, is required.
Source: Respiratory Decision Logic, NIOSH, 1987.

     (ii) The employer shall provide a powered, air-purifying respirator (PAPR) instead of a negative-pressure respirator when an employee entitled to a respirator chooses to use this type of respirator and such a respirator will provide adequate protection to the employee.

     (8) Emergency situations. The employer shall develop and implement a written plan for dealing with emergency situations involving substantial releases of airborne cadmium. The plan shall include provisions for the use of appropriate respirators and personal protective equipment. In addition, employees not essential to correcting the emergency situation shall be restricted from the area and normal operations halted in that area until the emergency is abated.

     (9) Protective work clothing and equipment

     (a) Provision and use. If an employee is exposed to airborne cadmium above the PEL or where skin or eye irritation is associated with cadmium exposure at any level, the employer shall provide at no cost to the employee, and assure that the employee uses, appropriate protective work clothing and equipment that prevents contamination of the employee and the employee's garments. Protective work clothing and equipment includes, but is not limited to:

     (i) Coveralls or similar full-body work clothing;

     (ii) Gloves, head coverings, and boots or foot coverings; and

     (iii) Face shields, vented goggles, or other appropriate protective equipment that complies with WAC 296-155-215.

     (b) Removal and storage.

     (i) The employer shall assure that employees remove all protective clothing and equipment contaminated with cadmium at the completion of the work shift and do so only in change rooms provided in accordance with subsection (10)(a) of this section.

     (ii) The employer shall assure that no employee takes cadmium-contaminated protective clothing or equipment from the workplace, except for employees authorized to do so for purposes of laundering, cleaning, maintaining, or disposing of cadmium-contaminated protective clothing and equipment at an appropriate location or facility away from the workplace.

     (iii) The employer shall assure that contaminated protective clothing and equipment, when removed for laundering, cleaning, maintenance, or disposal, is placed and stored in sealed, impermeable bags or other closed, impermeable containers that are designed to prevent dispersion of cadmium dust.

     (iv) The employer shall assure that containers of contaminated protective clothing and equipment that are to be taken out of the change rooms or the workplace for laundering, cleaning, maintenance or disposal shall bear labels in accordance with subsection (13)(c) of this section.

     (c) Cleaning, replacement, and disposal.

     (i) The employer shall provide the protective clothing and equipment required by (a) of this subsection in a clean and dry condition as often as necessary to maintain its effectiveness, but in any event at least weekly. The employer is responsible for cleaning and laundering the protective clothing and equipment required by this subsection to maintain its effectiveness and is also responsible for disposing of such clothing and equipment.

     (ii) The employer also is responsible for repairing or replacing required protective clothing and equipment as needed to maintain its effectiveness. When rips or tears are detected while an employee is working they shall be immediately mended, or the worksuit shall be immediately replaced.

     (iii) The employer shall prohibit the removal of cadmium from protective clothing and equipment by blowing, shaking, or any other means that disperses cadmium into the air.

     (iv) The employer shall assure that any laundering of contaminated clothing or cleaning of contaminated equipment in the workplace is done in a manner that prevents the release of airborne cadmium in excess of the permissible exposure limit prescribed in subsection (3) of this section.

     (v) The employer shall inform any person who launders or cleans protective clothing or equipment contaminated with cadmium of the potentially harmful effects of exposure to cadmium, and that the clothing and equipment should be laundered or cleaned in a manner to effectively prevent the release of airborne cadmium in excess of the PEL.

     (10) Hygiene areas and practices.

     (a) General. For employees whose airborne exposure to cadmium is above the PEL, the employer shall provide clean change rooms, handwashing facilities, showers, and lunchroom facilities that comply with WAC 296-155-140.

     (b) Change rooms. The employer shall assure that change rooms are equipped with separate storage facilities for street clothes and for protective clothing and equipment, which are designed to prevent dispersion of cadmium and contamination of the employee's street clothes.

     (c) Showers and handwashing facilities.

     (i) The employer shall assure that employees whose airborne exposure to cadmium is above the PEL shower during the end of the work shift.

     (ii) The employer shall assure that employees who are exposed to cadmium above the PEL wash their hands and faces prior to eating, drinking, smoking, chewing tobacco or gum, or applying cosmetics.

     (d) Lunchroom facilities.

     (i) The employer shall assure that the lunchroom facilities are readily accessible to employees, that tables for eating are maintained free of cadmium, and that no employee in a lunchroom facility is exposed at any time to cadmium at or above a concentration of 2.5 ΅g/m3.

     (ii) The employer shall assure that employees do not enter lunchroom facilities with protective work clothing or equipment unless surface cadmium has been removed from the clothing and equipment by HEPA vacuuming or some other method that removes cadmium dust without dispersing it.

     (11) Housekeeping.

     (a) All surfaces shall be maintained as free as practicable of accumulations of cadmium.

     (b) All spills and sudden releases of material containing cadmium shall be cleaned up as soon as possible.

     (c) Surfaces contaminated with cadmium shall, wherever possible, be cleaned by vacuuming or other methods that minimize the likelihood of cadmium becoming airborne.

     (d) HEPA-filtered vacuuming equipment or equally effective filtration methods shall be used for vacuuming. The equipment shall be used and emptied in a manner that minimizes the reentry of cadmium into the workplace.

     (e) Shoveling, dry or wet sweeping, and brushing may be used only where vacuuming or other methods that minimize the likelihood of cadmium becoming airborne have been tried and found not to be effective.

     (f) Compressed air shall not be used to remove cadmium from any surface unless the compressed air is used in conjunction with a ventilation system designed to capture the dust cloud created by the compressed air.

     (g) Waste, scrap, debris, bags, containers, personal protective equipment, and clothing contaminated with cadmium and consigned for disposal shall be collected and disposed of in sealed impermeable bags or other closed, impermeable containers. These bags and containers shall be labeled in accordance with subsection (13)(b) of this section.

     (12) Medical surveillance.

     (a) General.

     (i) Scope.

     (A) Currently exposed -- The employer shall institute a medical surveillance program for all employees who are or may be exposed at or above the action level and all employees who perform the following tasks, operations, or jobs: Electrical grounding with cadmium-welding; cutting, brazing, burning, grinding, or welding on surfaces that were painted with cadmium-containing paints; electrical work using cadmium-coated conduit; use of cadmium containing paints; cutting and welding cadmium-plated steel; brazing or welding with cadmium alloys; fusing of reinforced steel by cadmium welding; maintaining or retrofitting cadmium-coated equipment; and, wrecking and demolition where cadmium is present. A medical surveillance program will not be required if the employer demonstrates that the employee:

     (I) Is not currently exposed by the employer to airborne concentrations of cadmium at or above the action level on 30 or more days per year (twelve consecutive months); and

     (II) Is not currently exposed by the employer in those tasks on 30 or more days per year (twelve consecutive months).

     (B) Previously exposed -- The employer shall also institute a medical surveillance program for all employees who might previously have been exposed to cadmium by the employer prior to the effective date of this section in tasks specified under (a)(i)(A) of this subsection, unless the employer demonstrates that the employee did not in the years prior to the effective date of this section work in those tasks for the employer with exposure to cadmium for an aggregated total of more than 12 months.

     (ii) To determine an employee's fitness for using a respirator, the employer shall provide the limited medical examination specified in (f) of this subsection.

     (iii) The employer shall assure that all medical examinations and procedures required by this section are performed by or under the supervision of a licensed physician, who has read and is familiar with the health effects WAC 296-62-07441, Appendix A, the regulatory text of this section, the protocol for sample handling and lab selection in WAC 296-62-07451, Appendix F, and the questionnaire of WAC 296-62-07447, Appendix D.

     (iv) The employer shall provide the medical surveillance required by this section, including multiple physician review under (m) of this subsection without cost to employees, and at a time and place that is reasonable and convenient to employees.

     (v) The employer shall assure that the collecting and handling of biological samples of cadmium in urine (CdU), cadmium in blood (CdB), and beta-2 microglobulin in urine (B2-M) taken from employees under this section is done in a manner that assures their reliability and that analysis of biological samples of cadmium in urine (CdU), cadmium in blood (CdB), and beta-2 microglobulin in urine (B2-M) taken from employees under this section is performed in laboratories with demonstrated proficiency to perform the particular analysis. (See WAC 296-62-07451, Appendix F.)

     (b) Initial examination.

     (i) For employees covered by medical surveillance under (a)(i) of this subsection, the employer shall provide an initial medical examination. The examination shall be provided to those employees within 30 days after initial assignment to a job with exposure to cadmium or no later than 90 days after the effective date of this section, whichever date is later.

     (ii) The initial medical examination shall include:

     (A) A detailed medical and work history, with emphasis on: Past, present, and anticipated future exposure to cadmium; any history of renal, cardiovascular, respiratory, hematopoietic, reproductive, and/or musculo-skeletal system dysfunction; current usage of medication with potential nephrotoxic side-effects; and smoking history and current status; and

     (B) Biological monitoring that includes the following tests:

     (I) Cadmium in urine (CdU), standardized to grams of creatinine (g/Cr);

     (II) Beta-2 microglobulin in urine (B2-M), standardized to grams of creatinine (g/Cr), with pH specified, as described in WAC 296-62-07451, Appendix F; and

     (III) Cadmium in blood (CdB), standardized to liters of whole blood (lwb).

     (iii) Recent examination: An initial examination is not required to be provided if adequate records show that the employee has been examined in accordance with the requirements of (b)(ii) of this subsection within the past 12 months. In that case, such records shall be maintained as part of the employee's medical record and the prior exam shall be treated as if it were an initial examination for the purposes of (c) and (d) of this subsection.

     (c) Actions triggered by initial biological monitoring.

     (i) If the results of the biological monitoring tests in the initial examination show the employee's CdU level to be at or below 3 ΅g/g Cr, B2-M level to be at or below 300 ΅g/g Cr and CdB level to be at or below 5 ΅g/lwb, then:

     (A) For employees who are subject to medical surveillance under (a)(i)(A) of this subsection because of current or anticipated exposure to cadmium, the employer shall provide the minimum level of periodic medical surveillance in accordance with the requirements in (d)(i) of this subsection; and

     (B) For employees who are subject to medical surveillance under (a)(i)(B) of this subsection because of prior but not current exposure, the employer shall provide biological monitoring for CdU, B2-M, and CdB one year after the initial biological monitoring and then the employer shall comply with the requirements of (d)(vi) of this subsection.

     (ii) For all employees who are subject to medical surveillance under (a)(i) of this subsection, if the results of the initial biological monitoring tests show the level of CdU to exceed 3 ΅g/g Cr, the level of B2-M to be in excess of 300 ΅g/g Cr, or the level of CdB to be in excess of 5 ΅g/lwb, the employer shall:

     (A) Within two weeks after receipt of biological monitoring results, reassess the employee's occupational exposure to cadmium as follows:

     (I) Reassess the employee's work practices and personal hygiene;

     (II) Reevaluate the employee's respirator use, if any, and the respirator program;

     (III) Review the hygiene facilities;

     (IV) Reevaluate the maintenance and effectiveness of the relevant engineering controls;

     (V) Assess the employee's smoking history and status;

     (B) Within 30 days after the exposure reassessment, specified in (c)(ii)(A) of this subsection, take reasonable steps to correct any deficiencies found in the reassessment that may be responsible for the employee's excess exposure to cadmium; and

     (C) Within 90 days after receipt of biological monitoring results, provide a full medical examination to the employee in accordance with the requirements of (d)(ii) of this subsection. After completing the medical examination, the examining physician shall determine in a written medical opinion whether to medically remove the employee. If the physician determines that medical removal is not necessary, then until the employee's CdU level falls to or below 3 ΅g/g Cr, B2-M level falls to or below 300 ΅g/g Cr and CdB level falls to or below 5 ΅g/lwb, the employer shall:

     (I) Provide biological monitoring in accordance with (b)(ii)(B) of this subsection on a semiannual basis; and

     (II) Provide annual medical examinations in accordance with (d)(ii) of this subsection.

     (iii) For all employees who are subject to medical surveillance under (a)(i) of this subsection, if the results of the initial biological monitoring tests show the level of CdU to be in excess of 15 ΅g/g Cr, or the level of CdB to be in excess of 15 ΅g/lwb, or the level of B2-M to be in excess of 1,500 ΅g/g Cr, the employer shall comply with the requirements of (c)(ii)(A) and (B) of this subsection. Within 90 days after receipt of biological monitoring results, the employer shall provide a full medical examination to the employee in accordance with the requirements of (d)(ii) of this subsection. After completing the medical examination, the examining physician shall determine in a written medical opinion whether to medically remove the employee. However, if the initial biological monitoring results and the biological monitoring results obtained during the medical examination both show that: CdU exceeds 15 ΅g/g Cr; or CdB exceeds 15 ΅g/lwb; or B2-M exceeds 1500 ΅/g Cr, and in addition CdU exceeds 3 ΅g/g Cr or CdB exceeds 5 ΅g/liter of whole blood, then the physician shall medically remove the employee from exposure to cadmium at or above the action level. If the second set of biological monitoring results obtained during the medical examination does not show that a mandatory removal trigger level has been exceeded, then the employee is not required to be removed by the mandatory provisions of this section. If the employee is not required to be removed by the mandatory provisions of this section or by the physician's determination, then until the employee's CdU level falls to or below 3 ΅g/g Cr, B2-M level falls to or below 300 ΅g/g Cr and CdB level falls to or below 5 ΅g/lwb, the employer shall:

     (A) Periodically reassess the employee's occupational exposure to cadmium;

     (B) Provide biological monitoring in accordance with (b)(ii)(B) of this subsection on a quarterly basis; and

     (C) Provide semiannual medical examinations in accordance with (d)(ii) of this subsection.

     (iv) For all employees to whom medical surveillance is provided, beginning on January 1, 1999, and in lieu of (c)(iii) of this subsection, whenever the results of initial biological monitoring tests show the employee's CdU level to be in excess of 7 ΅g/g Cr, or B2-M level to be in excess of 750 ΅g/g Cr, or CdB level to be in excess of 10 ΅g/lwb, the employer shall comply with the requirements of (c)(ii)(A) and (B) of this subsection. Within 90 days after receipt of biological monitoring results, the employer shall provide a full medical examination to the employee in accordance with the requirements of (d)(ii) of this subsection. After completing the medical examination, the examining physician shall determine in a written medical opinion whether to medically remove the employee. However, if the initial biological monitoring results and the biological monitoring results obtained during the medical examination both show that: CdU exceeds 7 ΅g/g Cr; or CdB exceeds 10 ΅g/lwb; or B2-M exceeds 750 ΅g/g Cr, and in addition CdU exceeds 3 ΅g/g Cr or CdB exceeds 5 ΅g/liter of whole blood, then the physician shall medically remove the employee from exposure to cadmium at or above the action level. If the second set of biological monitoring results obtained during the medical examination does not show that a mandatory removal trigger level has been exceeded, then the employee is not required to be removed by the mandatory provisions of this section. If the employee is not required to be removed by the mandatory provisions of this section or by the physician's determination, then until the employee's CdU level falls to or below 3 ΅g/g Cr, B2-M level falls to or below 300 ΅g/g Cr and CdB level falls to or below 5 ΅g/lwb, the employer shall:

     (A) Periodically reassess the employee's occupational exposure to cadmium;

     (B) Provide biological monitoring in accordance with (b)(ii)(B) of this subsection on a quarterly basis; and

     (C) Provide semiannual medical examinations in accordance with (d)(ii) of this subsection.

     (d) Periodic medical surveillance.

     (i) For each employee who is covered by medical surveillance under (a)(i)(A) of this subsection because of current or anticipated exposure to cadmium, the employer shall provide at least the minimum level of periodic medical surveillance, which consists of periodic medical examinations and periodic biological monitoring. A periodic medical examination shall be provided within one year after the initial examination required by (b) of this subsection and thereafter at least biennially. Biological sampling shall be provided at least annually either as part of a periodic medical examination or separately as periodic biological monitoring.

     (ii) The periodic medical examination shall include:

     (A) A detailed medical and work history, or update thereof, with emphasis on: Past, present, and anticipated future exposure to cadmium; smoking history and current status; reproductive history; current use of medications with potential nephrotoxic side-effects; any history of renal, cardiovascular, respiratory, hematopoietic, and/or musculo-skeletal system dysfunction; and as part of the medical and work history, for employees who wear respirators, questions 3 through 11 and 25 through 32 in WAC 296-62-07447, Appendix D;

     (B) A complete physical examination with emphasis on: Blood pressure, the respiratory system, and the urinary system;

     (C) A 14 inch by 17 inch, or a reasonably standard sized posterior-anterior chest X ray (after the initial X ray, the frequency of chest X rays is to be determined by the examining physician);

     (D) Pulmonary function tests, including forced vital capacity (FVC) and forced expiratory volume at 1 second (FEV1);

     (E) Biological monitoring, as required in (b)(ii)(B) of this subsection;

     (F) Blood analysis, in addition to the analysis required under (b)(ii)(B) of this subsection, including blood urea nitrogen, complete blood count, and serum creatinine;

     (G) Urinalysis, in addition to the analysis required under (b)(ii)(B) of this subsection, including the determination of albumin, glucose, and total and low molecular weight proteins;

     (H) For males over 40 years old, prostate palpation, or other at least as effective diagnostic test(s); and

     (I) Any additional tests or procedures deemed appropriate by the examining physician.

     (iii) Periodic biological monitoring shall be provided in accordance with (b)(ii)(B) of this subsection.

     (iv) If the results of periodic biological monitoring or the results of biological monitoring performed as part of the periodic medical examination show the level of the employee's CdU, B2-M, or CdB to be in excess of the levels specified in (c)(ii) and (iii) of this subsection; or, beginning on January 1, 1999, in excess of the levels specified in (c)(ii) or (iv) of this subsection, the employer shall take the appropriate actions specified in (c)(ii) through (iv) of this subsection, respectively.

     (v) For previously exposed employees under (a)(i)(B) of this subsection:

     (A) If the employee's levels of CdU did not exceed 3 ΅g/g Cr, CdB did not exceed 5 ΅g/lwb, and B2-M did not exceed 300 ΅g/g Cr in the initial biological monitoring tests, and if the results of the follow-up biological monitoring required by (c)(i)(B) of this subsection one year after the initial examination confirm the previous results, the employer may discontinue all periodic medical surveillance for that employee.

     (B) If the initial biological monitoring results for CdU, CdB, or B2-M were in excess of the levels specified in (c)(i) of this subsection, but subsequent biological monitoring results required by (c)(ii) through (iv) of this subsection show that the employee's CdU levels no longer exceed 3 ΅g/g Cr, CdB levels no longer exceed 5 ΅g/lwb, and B2-M levels no longer exceed 300 ΅g/g Cr, the employer shall provide biological monitoring for CdU, CdB, and B2-M one year after these most recent biological monitoring results. If the results of the follow-up biological monitoring specified in this section, confirm the previous results, the employer may discontinue all periodic medical surveillance for that employee.

     (C) However, if the results of the follow-up tests specified in (d)(v)(A) or (B) of this subsection indicate that the level of the employee's CdU, B2-M, or CdB exceeds these same levels, the employer is required to provide annual medical examinations in accordance with the provisions of (d)(ii) of this subsection until the results of biological monitoring are consistently below these levels or the examining physician determines in a written medical opinion that further medical surveillance is not required to protect the employee's health.

     (vi) A routine, biennial medical examination is not required to be provided in accordance with (c)(i) and (d) of this subsection if adequate medical records show that the employee has been examined in accordance with the requirements of (d)(ii) of this subsection within the past 12 months. In that case, such records shall be maintained by the employer as part of the employee's medical record, and the next routine, periodic medical examination shall be made available to the employee within two years of the previous examination.

     (e) Actions triggered by medical examinations. If the results of a medical examination carried out in accordance with this section indicate any laboratory or clinical finding consistent with cadmium toxicity that does not require employer action under (b), (c), or (d) of this subsection, the employer shall take the following steps and continue to take them until the physician determines that they are no longer necessary.

     (i) Periodically reassess: The employee's work practices and personal hygiene; the employee's respirator use, if any; the employee's smoking history and status; the respiratory protection program; the hygiene facilities; the maintenance and effectiveness of the relevant engineering controls; and take all reasonable steps to correct the deficiencies found in the reassessment that may be responsible for the employee's excess exposure to cadmium.

     (ii) Provide semiannual medical reexaminations to evaluate the abnormal clinical sign(s) of cadmium toxicity until the results are normal or the employee is medically removed; and

     (iii) Where the results of tests for total proteins in urine are abnormal, provide a more detailed medical evaluation of the toxic effects of cadmium on the employee's renal system.

     (f) Examination for respirator use.

     (i) To determine an employee's fitness for respirator use, the employer shall provide a medical examination that includes the elements specified in (f)(i)(A) through (D) of this subsection. This examination shall be provided prior to the employee's being assigned to a job that requires the use of a respirator or no later than 90 days after this section goes into effect, whichever date is later, to any employee without a medical examination within the preceding 12 months that satisfies the requirements of this section.

     (A) A detailed medical and work history, or update thereof, with emphasis on: Past exposure to cadmium; smoking history and current status; any history of renal, cardiovascular, respiratory, hematopoietic, and/or musculo-skeletal system dysfunction; a description of the job for which the respirator is required; and questions 3 through 11 and 25 through 32 in WAC 296-62-07447, Appendix D;

     (B) A blood pressure test;

     (C) Biological monitoring of the employee's levels of CdU, CdB and B2-M in accordance with the requirements of (b)(ii)(B) of this subsection, unless such results already have been obtained within the twelve months; and

     (D) Any other test or procedure that the examining physician deems appropriate.

     (ii) After reviewing all the information obtained from the medical examination required in (f)(i) of this subsection, the physician shall determine whether the employee is fit to wear a respirator.

     (iii) Whenever an employee has exhibited difficulty in breathing during a respirator fit test or during use of a respirator, the employer, as soon as possible, shall provide the employee with a periodic medical examination in accordance with (d)(ii) of this subsection to determine the employee's fitness to wear a respirator.

     (iv) Where the results of the examination required under (f)(i), (ii), or (iii) of this subsection are abnormal, medical limitation or prohibition of respirator use shall be considered. If the employee is allowed to wear a respirator, the employee's ability to continue to do so shall be periodically evaluated by a physician.

     (g) Emergency examinations.

     (i) In addition to the medical surveillance required in (b) through (f) of this subsection, the employer shall provide a medical examination as soon as possible to any employee who may have been acutely exposed to cadmium because of an emergency.

     (ii) The examination shall include the requirements of (d)(ii), of this subsection, with emphasis on the respiratory system, other organ systems considered appropriate by the examining physician, and symptoms of acute overexposure, as identified in Appendix A, WAC 296-62-07441 (2)(b)(i) and (ii) and (4).

     (h) Termination of employment examination.

     (i) At termination of employment, the employer shall provide a medical examination in accordance with (d)(ii) of this subsection, including a chest X ray where necessary, to any employee to whom at any prior time the employer was required to provide medical surveillance under (a)(i) or (g) of this subsection. However, if the last examination satisfied the requirements of (d)(ii) of this subsection and was less than six months prior to the date of termination, no further examination is required unless otherwise specified in (c) or (e) of this subsection;

     (ii) In addition, if the employer has discontinued all periodic medical surveillance under (d)(v) of this subsection, no termination of employment medical examination is required.

     (i) Information provided to the physician. The employer shall provide the following information to the examining physician:

     (i) A copy of this standard and appendices;

     (ii) A description of the affected employee's former, current, and anticipated duties as they relate to the employee's occupational exposure to cadmium;

     (iii) The employee's former, current, and anticipated future levels of occupational exposure to cadmium;

     (iv) A description of any personal protective equipment, including respirators, used or to be used by the employee, including when and for how long the employee has used that equipment; and

     (v) Relevant results of previous biological monitoring and medical examinations.

     (j) Physician's written medical opinion.

     (i) The employer shall promptly obtain a written, signed, medical opinion from the examining physician for each medical examination performed on each employee. This written opinion shall contain:

     (A) The physician's diagnosis for the employee;

     (B) The physician's opinion as to whether the employee has any detected medical condition(s) that would place the employee at increased risk of material impairment to health from further exposure to cadmium, including any indications of potential cadmium toxicity;

     (C) The results of any biological or other testing or related evaluations that directly assess the employee's absorption of cadmium;

     (D) Any recommended removal from, or limitation on the activities or duties of the employee or on the employee's use of personal protective equipment, such as respirators;

     (E) A statement that the physician has clearly and carefully explained to the employee the results of the medical examination, including all biological monitoring results and any medical conditions related to cadmium exposure that require further evaluation or treatment, and any limitation on the employee's diet or use of medications.

     (ii) The employer shall promptly obtain a copy of the results of any biological monitoring provided by an employer to an employee independently of a medical examination under (b) and (d) of this subsection, and, in lieu of a written medical opinion, an explanation sheet explaining those results.

     (iii) The employer shall instruct the physician not to reveal orally or in the written medical opinion given to the employer specific findings or diagnoses unrelated to occupational exposure to cadmium.

     (k) Medical removal protection (MRP).

     (i) General.

     (A) The employer shall temporarily remove an employee from work where there is excess exposure to cadmium on each occasion that medical removal is required under (c), (d), or (f) of this subsection and on each occasion that a physician determines in a written medical opinion that the employee should be removed from such exposure. The physician's determination may be based on biological monitoring results, inability to wear a respirator, evidence of illness, other signs or symptoms of cadmium-related dysfunction or disease, or any other reason deemed medically sufficient by the physician.

     (B) The employer shall medically remove an employee in accordance with (k) of this subsection regardless of whether at the time of removal a job is available into which the removed employee may be transferred.

     (C) Whenever an employee is medically removed under (k) of this subsection, the employer shall transfer the removed employee to a job where the exposure to cadmium is within the permissible levels specified in subsection (12) of this section as soon as one becomes available.

     (D) For any employee who is medically removed under the provisions of (k)(i) of this subsection, the employer shall provide follow-up medical examinations semiannually until, in a written medical opinion, the examining physician determines that either the employee may be returned to his/her former job status or the employee must be permanently removed from excess cadmium exposure.

     (E) The employer may not return an employee who has been medically removed for any reason to his/her former job status until a physician determines in a written medical opinion that continued medical removal is no longer necessary to protect the employee's health.

     (ii) Where an employee is found unfit to wear a respirator under (f)(ii) of this subsection, the employer shall remove the employee from work where exposure to cadmium is above the PEL.

     (iii) Where removal is based upon any reason other than the employee's inability to wear a respirator, the employer shall remove the employee from work where exposure to cadmium is at or above the action level.

     (iv) Except as specified in (k)(v) of this subsection, no employee who was removed because his/her level of CdU, CdB and/or B2-M exceeded the trigger levels in (c) or (d) of this subsection may be returned to work with exposure to cadmium at or above the action level until the employee's levels of CdU fall to or below 3 ΅g/g Cr, CdB fall to or below 5 ΅g/lwb, and B2-M fall to or below 300 ΅g/g Cr.

     (v) However, when in the examining physician's opinion continued exposure to cadmium will not pose an increased risk to the employee's health and there are special circumstances that make continued medical removal an inappropriate remedy, the physician shall fully discuss these matters with the employee, and then in a written determination may return a worker to his/her former job status despite what would otherwise be unacceptably high biological monitoring results. Thereafter and until such time as the employee's biological monitoring results have decreased to levels where he/she could have been returned to his/her former job status, the returned employee shall continue medical surveillance as if he/she were still on medical removal. Until such time, the employee is no longer subject to mandatory medical removal. Subsequent questions regarding the employee's medical removal shall be decided solely by a final medical determination.

     (vi) Where an employer, although not required by this section to do so, removes an employee from exposure to cadmium or otherwise places limitations on an employee due to the effects of cadmium exposure on the employee's medical condition, the employer shall provide the same medical removal protection benefits to that employee under (l) of this subsection as would have been provided had the removal been required under (k) of this subsection.

     (l) Medical removal protection benefits.

     (i) The employer shall provide medical removal protection benefits to an employee for up to a maximum of 18 months each time, and while the employee is temporarily medically removed under (k) of this subsection.

     (ii) For purposes of this section, the requirement that the employer provide medical removal protection benefits means that the employer shall maintain the total normal earnings, seniority, and all other employee rights and benefits of the removed employee, including the employee's right to his/her former job status, as if the employee had not been removed from the employee's job or otherwise medically limited.

     (iii) Where, after 18 months on medical removal because of elevated biological monitoring results, the employee's monitoring results have not declined to a low enough level to permit the employee to be returned to his/her former job status:

     (A) The employer shall make available to the employee a medical examination pursuant to this section in order to obtain a final medical determination as to whether the employee may be returned to his/her former job status or must be permanently removed from excess cadmium exposure; and

     (B) The employer shall assure that the final medical determination indicates whether the employee may be returned to his/her former job status and what steps, if any, should be taken to protect the employee's health.

     (iv) The employer may condition the provision of medical removal protection benefits upon the employee's participation in medical surveillance provided in accordance with this section.

     (m) Multiple physician review.

     (i) If the employer selects the initial physician to conduct any medical examination or consultation provided to an employee under this section, the employee may designate a second physician to:

     (A) Review any findings, determinations, or recommendations of the initial physician; and

     (B) Conduct such examinations, consultations, and laboratory tests as the second physician deems necessary to facilitate this review.

     (ii) The employer shall promptly notify an employee of the right to seek a second medical opinion after each occasion that an initial physician provided by the employer conducts a medical examination or consultation pursuant to this section. The employer may condition its participation in, and payment for, multiple physician review upon the employee doing the following within fifteen (15) days after receipt of this notice, or receipt of the initial physician's written opinion, whichever is later:

     (A) Informing the employer that he or she intends to seek a medical opinion; and

     (B) Initiating steps to make an appointment with a second physician.

     (iii) If the findings, determinations, or recommendations of the second physician differ from those of the initial physician, then the employer and the employee shall assure that efforts are made for the two physicians to resolve any disagreement.

     (iv) If the two physicians have been unable to quickly resolve their disagreement, then the employer and the employee, through their respective physicians, shall designate a third physician to:

     (A) Review any findings, determinations, or recommendations of the other two physicians; and

     (B) Conduct such examinations, consultations, laboratory tests, and discussions with the other two physicians as the third physician deems necessary to resolve the disagreement among them.

     (v) The employer shall act consistently with the findings, determinations, and recommendations of the third physician, unless the employer and the employee reach an agreement that is consistent with the recommendations of at least one of the other two physicians.

     (n) Alternate physician determination. The employer and an employee or designated employee representative may agree upon the use of any alternate form of physician determination in lieu of the multiple physician review provided by (m) of this subsection, so long as the alternative is expeditious and at least as protective of the employee.

     (o) Information the employer must provide the employee.

     (i) The employer shall provide a copy of the physician's written medical opinion to the examined employee within five working days after receipt thereof.

     (ii) The employer shall provide the employee with a copy of the employee's biological monitoring results and an explanation sheet explaining the results within five working days after receipt thereof.

     (iii) Within 30 days after a request by an employee, the employer shall provide the employee with the information the employer is required to provide the examining physician under (i) of this subsection.

     (p) Reporting. In addition to other medical events that are required to be reported on the OSHA Form No. 200, the employer shall report any abnormal condition or disorder caused by occupational exposure to cadmium associated with employment as specified in Chapter (V)(E) of the Bureau of Labor Statistics Recordkeeping Guidelines for Occupational Injuries and Illnesses.

     (13) Communication of cadmium hazards to employees

     (a) General. In communications concerning cadmium hazards, employers shall comply with the requirements of WISHA's Hazard Communication Standard, chapter 296-62 WAC, Part C, including but not limited to the requirements concerning warning signs and labels, material safety data sheets (MSDS), and employee information and training. In addition, employers shall comply with the following requirements:

     (b) Warning signs.

     (i) Warning signs shall be provided and displayed in regulated areas. In addition, warning signs shall be posted at all approaches to regulated areas so that an employee may read the signs and take necessary protective steps before entering the area.

     (ii) Warning signs required by (b)(i) of this subsection shall bear the following information:

Danger, Cadmium, Cancer Hazard, Can Cause Lung and Kidney Disease, Authorized Personnel Only, Respirators Required in This Area


     (iii) The employer shall assure that signs required by this section are illuminated, cleaned, and maintained as necessary so that the legend is readily visible.

     (c) Warning labels.

     (i) Shipping and storage containers containing cadmium, cadmium compounds, or cadmium contaminated clothing, equipment, waste, scrap, or debris shall bear appropriate warning labels, as specified in (c)(ii) of this subsection.

     (ii) The warning labels shall include at least the following information:

Danger, Contains Cadmium, Cancer Hazard, Avoid Creating Dust, Can Cause Lung and Kidney Disease


     (iii) Where feasible, installed cadmium products shall have a visible label or other indication that cadmium is present.

     (d) Employee information and training.

     (i) The employer shall institute a training program for all employees who are potentially exposed to cadmium, assure employee participation in the program, and maintain a record of the contents of such program.

     (ii) Training shall be provided prior to or at the time of initial assignment to a job involving potential exposure to cadmium and at least annually thereafter.

     (iii) The employer shall make the training program understandable to the employee and shall assure that each employee is informed of the following:

     (A) The health hazards associated with cadmium exposure, with special attention to the information incorporated in WAC 296-62-07441, Appendix A;

     (B) The quantity, location, manner of use, release, and storage of cadmium in the workplace and the specific nature of operations that could result in exposure to cadmium, especially exposures above the PEL;

     (C) The engineering controls and work practices associated with the employee's job assignment;

     (D) The measures employees can take to protect themselves from exposure to cadmium, including modification of such habits as smoking and personal hygiene, and specific procedures the employer has implemented to protect employees from exposure to cadmium such as appropriate work practices, emergency procedures, and the provision of personal protective equipment;

     (E) The purpose, proper selection, fitting, proper use, and limitations of respirators and protective clothing;

     (F) The purpose and a description of the medical surveillance program required by subsection (12) of this section;

     (G) The contents of this section and its appendices; and

     (H) The employee's rights of access to records under chapter 296-62 WAC, Part B.

     (iv) Additional access to information and training program and materials.

     (A) The employer shall make a copy of this section and its appendices readily available to all affected employees and shall provide a copy without cost if requested.

     (B) Upon request, the employer shall provide to the director or authorized representative, all materials relating to the employee information and the training program.

     (e) Multiemployer workplace. In a multiemployer workplace, an employer who produces, uses, or stores cadmium in a manner that may expose employees of other employers to cadmium shall notify those employers of the potential hazard in accordance with WAC 296-800-170 of the chemical hazard communication program standard.

     (14) Recordkeeping.

     (a) Exposure monitoring.

     (i) The employer shall establish and keep an accurate record of all air monitoring for cadmium in the workplace.

     (ii) This record shall include at least the following information:

     (A) The monitoring date, shift, duration, air volume, and results in terms of an 8-hour TWA of each sample taken, and if cadmium is not detected, the detection level;

     (B) The name, Social Security number, and job classification of all employees monitored and of all other employees whose exposures the monitoring result is intended to represent, including, where applicable, a description of how it was determined that the employee's monitoring result could be taken to represent other employee's exposures;

     (C) A description of the sampling and analytical methods used and evidence of their accuracy;

     (D) The type of respiratory protective device, if any, worn by the monitored employee and by any other employee whose exposure the monitoring result is intended to represent;

     (E) A notation of any other conditions that might have affected the monitoring results;

     (F) Any exposure monitoring or objective data that were used and the levels.

     (iii) The employer shall maintain this record for at least thirty (30) years, in accordance with chapter 296-802 WAC.

     (iv) The employer shall also provide a copy of the results of an employee's air monitoring prescribed in subsection (4) of this section to an industry trade association and to the employee's union, if any, or, if either of such associations or unions do not exist, to another comparable organization that is competent to maintain such records and is reasonably accessible to employers and employees in the industry.

     (b) Objective data for exemption from requirement for initial monitoring.

     (i) For purposes of this section, objective data are information demonstrating that a particular product or material containing cadmium or a specific process, operation, or activity involving cadmium cannot release dust or fumes in concentrations at or above the action level even under the worst-case release conditions. Objective data can be obtained from an industry-wide study or from laboratory product test results from manufacturers of cadmium-containing products or materials. The data the employer uses from an industry-wide survey must be obtained under workplace conditions closely resembling the processes, types of material, control methods, work practices, and environmental conditions in the employer's current operations.

     (ii) The employer shall maintain the record for at least 30 years of the objective data relied upon.

     (c) Medical surveillance.

     (i) The employer shall establish and maintain an accurate record for each employee covered by medical surveillance under (a)(i) of this subsection.

     (ii) The record shall include at least the following information about the employee:

     (A) Name, Social Security number, and description of duties;

     (B) A copy of the physician's written opinions and of the explanation sheets for biological monitoring results;

     (C) A copy of the medical history, and the results of any physical examination and all test results that are required to be provided by this section, including biological tests, X rays, pulmonary function tests, etc., or that have been obtained to further evaluate any condition that might be related to cadmium exposure;

     (D) The employee's medical symptoms that might be related to exposure to cadmium; and

     (E) A copy of the information provided to the physician as required by subsection (12)(i) of this section.

     (iii) The employer shall assure that this record is maintained for the duration of employment plus thirty (30) years, in accordance with chapter 296-802 WAC.

     (iv) At the employee's request, the employer shall promptly provide a copy of the employee's medical record, or update as appropriate, to a medical doctor or a union specified by the employee.

     (d) Training. The employer shall certify that employees have been trained by preparing a certification record which includes the identity of the person trained, the signature of the employer or the person who conducted the training, and the date the training was completed. The certification records shall be prepared at the completion of training and shall be maintained on file for one (1) year beyond the date of training of that employee.

     (e) Availability.

     (i) Except as otherwise provided for in this section, access to all records required to be maintained by (a) through (d) of this subsection shall be in accordance with the provisions of chapter 296-802 WAC.

     (ii) Within 15 days after a request, the employer shall make an employee's medical records required to be kept by (c) of this subsection available for examination and copying to the subject employee, to designated representatives, to anyone having the specific written consent of the subject employee, and after the employee's death or incapacitation, to the employee's family members.

     (f) Transfer of records. Whenever an employer ceases to do business and there is no successor employer or designated organization to receive and retain records for the prescribed period, the employer shall comply with the requirements concerning transfer of records set forth in chapter 296-802 WAC.

     (15) Observation of monitoring.

     (a) Employee observation. The employer shall provide affected employees or their designated representatives an opportunity to observe any monitoring of employee exposure to cadmium.

     (b) Observation procedures. When observation of monitoring requires entry into an area where the use of protective clothing or equipment is required, the employer shall provide the observer with that clothing and equipment and shall assure that the observer uses such clothing and equipment and complies with all other applicable safety and health procedures.

     (16) Appendices.

     (a) Compliance with the fit testing requirements in WAC ((296-62-07201 through 296-62-07248, Appendices A-1, A-2 and A-3 of chapter 296-62 WAC, Part E,)) 296-842-15005 are mandatory.

     (b) Except where portions of WAC 296-62-07441, 296-62-07443, 296-62-07447, 296-62-07449, and 296-62-07451, Appendices A, B, D, E, and F, respectively, to this section are expressly incorporated in requirements of this section, these appendices are purely informational and are not intended to create any additional obligations not otherwise imposed or to detract from any existing obligations.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.010, 49.17.040, 49.17.050, and 49.17.060. 04-10-026, § 296-155-174, filed 4/27/04, effective 8/1/04. Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.010, [49.17].040, and [49.17].050. 01-11-038, § 296-155-174, filed 5/9/01, effective 9/1/01; 99-10-071, § 296-155-174, filed 5/4/99, effective 9/1/99. Statutory Authority: Chapter 49.17 RCW. 94-15-096 (Order 94-07), § 296-155-174, filed 7/20/94, effective 9/20/94; 93-21-075 (Order 93-06), § 296-155-174, filed 10/20/93, effective 12/1/93; 93-07-044 (Order 93-01), § 296-155-174, filed 3/13/93, effective 4/27/93.]


AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 99-10-071, filed 5/4/99, effective 9/1/99)

WAC 296-155-17613   Respiratory protection.   (1) General. For employees who use respirators required by WAC 296-155-176, the employer must provide respirators that comply with the requirements of this section. Respirators must be used during:

     (a) Periods when an employee's exposure to lead exceeds the PEL.

     (b) Work operations for which engineering controls and work-practices are not sufficient to reduce employee exposures to or below the PEL.

     (c) Periods when an employee requests a respirator.

     (d) Periods when respirators are required to provide interim protection of employees while they perform the operations as specified in WAC 296-155-17609(2).

     (2) Respirator program.

     (a) The employer must implement a respiratory protection program as required by chapter ((296-62 WAC, Part E (except WAC 296-62-07130(1) and 296-62-07150 through 296-62-07156))) 296-842 WAC, except WAC 296-842-13005 and 296-842-14005.

     (b) If an employee has breathing difficulty during fit testing or respirator use, the employer must provide the employee with a medical examination as required by WAC 296-155-17621 (3)(a)(ii) to determine whether or not the employee can use a respirator while performing the required duty.

     (3) Respirator selection.

     (a) The employer must select the appropriate respirator or combination of respirators from Table I of this section.

     (b) The employer must provide a powered air-purifying respirator when an employee chooses to use such a respirator and it will provide adequate protection to the employee.


Table I. -- Respiratory Protection for Lead Aerosols

Airborne concentration of lead or condition of use

Required respirator a

Not in excess of 500 ΅g/m3 1/2 mask air purifying respirator with high efficiency filters.b, c
1/2 mask supplied air respirator operated in demand (negative pressure) mode.
Not in excess of 1,250 ΅g/m3 Loose fitting hood or helmet powered air purifying respirator with high efficiency filters.c
Hood or helmet supplied air respirator operated in a continuous-flow mode -- e.g., type CE abrasive blasting respirators operated in a continuous-flow mode.
Not in excess of 2,500 ΅g/m3 Full facepiece air purifying respirator with high efficiency filters.c
Tight fitting powered air purifying respirator with high efficiency filters.c
Full facepiece supplied air respirator operated in demand mode.
1/2 mask or full facepiece supplied air respirator operated in a continuous-flow mode.
Full facepiece self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) operated in demand mode.
Not in excess of 50,000 ΅g/m3 1/2 mask supplied air respirator operated in pressure demand or other positive-pressure mode.
Not in excess of 100,000 ΅g/m Full facepiece supplied air respirator operated in pressure demand or other positive-pressure mode -- e.g., type CE abrasive blasting respirators operated in a positive-pressure mode.
Greater than 100,000 ΅g/m3 unknown concentration, or fire fighting Full facepiece SCBA operated in pressure demand or other positive pressure mode.
a Respirators specified for higher concentrations can be used at lower concentrations of lead.

b Full facepiece is required if the lead aerosols cause eye or skin irritation at the use concentrations.

c A high efficiency particulate filter (HEPA) means a filter that is 99.97 percent efficient against particles of 0.3 micron size or larger.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.010, [49.17].040 and [49.17].050. 99-10-071, § 296-155-17613, filed 5/4/99, effective 9/1/99. Statutory Authority: Chapter 49.17 RCW. 93-22-054 (Order 93-07), § 296-155-17613, filed 10/29/93, effective 12/10/93.]


AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 01-11-038, filed 5/9/01, effective 9/1/01)

WAC 296-155-17625   Employee information and training.   (1) General.

     (a) The employer shall communicate information concerning lead hazards according to the requirements of WISHA's Hazard Communication Standard for the construction industry, chapter 296-800 WAC, including but not limited to the requirements concerning warning signs and labels, material safety data sheets (MSDS), and employee information and training. In addition, employers shall comply with the following requirements:

     (b) For all employees who are subject to exposure to lead at or above the action level on any day or who are subject to exposure to lead compounds which may cause skin or eye irritation (e.g., lead arsenate, lead azide), the employer shall provide a training program in accordance with subsection (2) of this section and assure employee participation.

     (c) The employer shall provide the training program as initial training prior to the time of job assignment or prior to the start up date for this requirement, whichever comes last.

     (d) The employer shall also provide the training program at least annually for each employee who is subject to lead exposure at or above the action level on any day.

     (2) Training program. The employer shall assure that each employee is trained in the following:

     (a) The content of this standard and its appendices;

     (b) The specific nature of the operations which could result in exposure to lead above the action level;

     (c) The training requirements for respiratory protection as required by chapter 296-62 WAC, Part E (see WAC ((296-62-07117)) 296-842-110, ((296-62-07172)) 296-842-19005, and ((WAC 296-62-07186 through 296-62-07190)) 296-842-16005);

     (d) The purpose and a description of the medical surveillance program, and the medical removal protection program including information concerning the adverse health effects associated with excessive exposure to lead (with particular attention to the adverse reproductive effects on both males and females and hazards to the fetus and additional precautions for employees who are pregnant);

     (e) The engineering controls and work practices associated with the employee's job assignment including training of employees to follow relevant good work practices described in Appendix B, WAC 296-155-17652;

     (f) The contents of any compliance plan in effect;

     (g) Instructions to employees that chelating agents should not routinely be used to remove lead from their bodies and should not be used at all except under the direction of a licensed physician; and

     (h) The employee's right of access to records under Part B, chapter 296-62 WAC and chapter 296-800 WAC.

     (3) Access to information and training materials.

     (a) The employer shall make readily available to all affected employees a copy of this standard and its appendices.

     (b) The employer shall provide, upon request, all materials relating to the employee information and training program to affected employees and their designated representatives, and the director.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.010, [49.17].040, and [49.17].050. 01-11-038, § 296-155-17625, filed 5/9/01, effective 9/1/01; 99-10-071, § 296-155-17625, filed 5/4/99, effective 9/1/99. Statutory Authority: Chapter 49.17 RCW. 93-22-054 (Order 93-07), § 296-155-17625, filed 10/29/93, effective 12/10/93.]


AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 99-10-071, filed 5/4/99, effective 9/1/99)

WAC 296-155-17652   Appendix B to WAC 296-155-176 -- Employee standard summary.   This appendix summarizes key provisions of the standard for lead in construction that you as a worker should become familiar with.

     (1) Permissible exposure limit (PEL) -- WAC 296-62-17607.

     The standard sets a permissible exposure limit (PEL) of 50 micrograms of lead per cubic meter of air (50 ΅g/m3), averaged over an 8-hour workday which is referred to as a time-weighted average (TWA). This is the highest level of lead in air to which you may be permissibly exposed over an 8-hour workday. However, since this is an 8-hour average, short exposures above the PEL are permitted so long as for each 8-hour work day your average exposure does not exceed this level. This standard, however, takes into account the fact that your daily exposure to lead can extend beyond a typical 8-hour workday as the result of overtime or other alterations in your work schedule. To deal with this situation, the standard contains a formula which reduces your permissible exposure when you are exposed more than 8 hours. For example, if you are exposed to lead for 10 hours a day, the maximum permitted average exposure would be 40 ΅g/m3.

     (2) Exposure assessment -- WAC 296-155-17609.

     If lead is present in your workplace in any quantity, your employer is required to make an initial determination of whether any employee's exposure to lead exceeds the action level (30 ΅g/m3 averaged over an 8-hour day). Employee exposure is that exposure which would occur if the employee were not using a respirator. This initial determination requires your employer to monitor workers' exposures unless the employee has objective data which can demonstrate conclusively that no employee will be exposed to lead in excess of the action level. Where objective data is used in lieu of actual monitoring the employer must establish and maintain an accurate record, documenting its relevancy in assessing exposure levels for current job conditions. If such objective data is available, the employer need proceed no further on employee exposure assessment until such time that conditions have changed and the determination is no longer valid.

     Objective data may be compiled from various sources, e.g., insurance companies and trade associations and information from suppliers or exposure data collected from similar operations. Objective data may also comprise previously-collected sampling data including area monitoring. If it cannot be determined through using objective data that worker exposure is less than the action level, your employer must conduct monitoring or must rely on relevant previous personal sampling, if available. Where monitoring is required for the initial determination, it may be limited to a representative number of employees who are reasonably expected to have the highest exposure levels. If your employer has conducted appropriate air sampling for lead in the past 12 months, they may use these results, provided they are applicable to the same employee tasks and exposure conditions and meet the requirements for accuracy as specified in the standard. As with objective data, if such results are relied upon for the initial determination, your employer must establish and maintain a record as to the relevancy of such data to current job conditions.

     If there have been any employee complaints of symptoms which may be attributable to exposure to lead or if there is any other information or observations which would indicate employee exposure to lead, this must also be considered as part of the initial determination. If this initial determination shows that a reasonable possibility exists that any employee may be exposed, without regard to respirator, over the action level, your employer must set up an air monitoring program to determine the exposure level representative of each employee exposed to lead at your workplace. In carrying out this air monitoring program, your employer is not required to monitor the exposure of every employee, but they must monitor a representative number of employees and job types. Enough sampling must be done to enable each employee's exposure level to be reasonably represent full shift exposure. In addition, these air samples must be taken under conditions which represent each employee's regular, daily exposure to lead. Sampling performed in the past 12 months may be used to determine exposures above the action level if such sampling was conducted during work activities essentially similar to present work conditions.

     The standard lists certain tasks which may likely result in exposures to lead in excess of the PEL and, in some cases, exposures in excess of 50 times the PEL. If you are performing any of these tasks, your employer must provide you with appropriate respiratory protection, protective clothing and equipment, change areas, hand washing facilities, biological monitoring, and training until such time that an exposure assessment is conducted which demonstrates that your exposure level is below the PEL.

     If you are exposed to lead and air sampling is performed, your employer is required to notify you in writing within 5 working days of the air monitoring results which represent your exposure. If the results indicate that your exposure exceeds the PEL (without regard to your use of a respirator), then your employer must also notify you of this in writing, and provide you with a description of the corrective action that has been taken or will be taken to reduce your exposure.

     Your exposure must be rechecked by monitoring, at least every six months if your exposure is at or over the action level but below the PEL. Your employer may discontinue monitoring for you if 2 consecutive measurements, taken at least 7 days apart, are at or below the action level. Air monitoring must be repeated every 3 months if you are exposed over the PEL. Your employer must continue monitoring for you at this frequency until 2 consecutive measurements, taken at least 7 days apart, are below the PEL but above the action level, at which time your employer must repeat monitoring of your exposure every six months and may discontinue monitoring only after your exposure drops to or below the action level. However, whenever there is a change of equipment, process, control, or personnel or a new type of job is added at your workplace which may result in new or additional exposure to lead, your employer must perform additional monitoring.

     (3) Methods of compliance -- WAC 296-155-17611.

     Your employer is required to assure that no employee is exposed to lead in excess of the PEL as an 8-hour TWA. The standard for lead in construction requires employers to institute engineering and work practice controls including administrative controls to the extent feasible to reduce employee exposure to lead. Where such controls are feasible but not adequate to reduce exposures below the PEL they must be used nonetheless to reduce exposures to the lowest level that can be accomplished by these means and then supplemented with appropriate respiratory protection.

     Your employer is required to develop and implement a written compliance program prior to the commencement of any job where employee exposures may reach the PEL as an 8-hour TWA. The standard identifies the various elements that must be included in the plan. For example, employers are required to include a description of operations in which lead is emitted, detailing other relevant information about the operation such as the type of equipment used, the type of material involved, employee job responsibilities, operating procedures and maintenance practices. In addition, your employer's compliance plan must specify the means that will be used to achieve compliance and, where engineering controls are required, include any engineering plans or studies that have been used to select the control methods. If administrative controls involving job rotation are used to reduce employee exposure to lead, the job rotation schedule must be included in the compliance plan. The plan must also detail the type of protective clothing and equipment, including respirator, housekeeping and hygiene practices that will be used to protect you from the adverse effects of exposure to lead.

     The written compliance program must be made available, upon request, to affected employees and their designated representatives, and the director.

     Finally, the plan must be reviewed and updated at least every 6 months to assure it reflects the current status in exposure control.

     (4) Respiratory protection -- WAC 296-155-17613.

     Your employer is required to select respirator from the types listed in Table I of the Respiratory Protection section of the standard (see WAC 296-155-17613). Any respirator chosen must be certified by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) under the provisions of 42 CFR part 84. This respirator selection table will enable your employer to choose a type of respirator that will give you a proper amount of protection based on your airborne lead exposure. Your employer may select a type of respirator that provides greater protection than that required by the standard; that is, one recommended for a higher concentration of lead than is present in your workplace. For example, a powered air-purifying respirator (PAPR) is much more protective than a typical negative pressure respirator, and may also be more comfortable to wear. A PAPR has a filter, cartridge, or canister to clean the air, and a power source which continuously blows filtered air into your breathing zone. Your employer might make a PAPR available to you to ease the burden of having to wear a respirator for long periods of time. The standard provides that you can obtain a PAPR upon request.

     Your employer must also start a Respiratory Protection Program. This program must include written procedures for the proper selection, use, cleaning, storage, and maintenance of respirator.

     Your employer must ensure that your respirator facepiece fits properly. Proper fit of a respirator facepiece is critical to your protection from airborne lead. Obtaining a proper fit on each employee may require your employer to make available several different types of respirator masks. To ensure that your respirator fits properly and that facepiece leakage is minimal, your employer must give you either a qualitative or quantitative fit test as specified in WAC ((296-62-07201 through 296-62-07248, Appendices A-1, A-2 and A-3 of chapter 296-62 WAC, Part E)) 296-842-15005.

     (5) Protective work clothing and equipment -- WAC 296-155-17615.

     If you are exposed to lead above the PEL as an 8-hour TWA, without regard to your use of a respirator, or if you are exposed to lead compounds such as lead arsenate or lead azide which can cause skin and eye irritation, your employer must provide you with protective work clothing and equipment appropriate for the hazard. If work clothing is provided, it must be provided in a clean and dry condition at least weekly, and daily if your airborne exposure to lead is greater than 200 ΅g/m3. Appropriate protective work clothing and equipment can include coveralls or similar full-body work clothing, gloves, hats, shoes or disposable shoe coverlets, and face shields or vented goggles. Your employer is required to provide all such equipment at no cost to you. In addition, your employer is responsible for providing repairs and replacement as necessary, and also is responsible for the cleaning, laundering or disposal of protective clothing and equipment.

     The standard requires that your employer assure that you follow good work practices when you are working in areas where your exposure to lead may exceed the PEL. With respect to protective clothing and equipment, where appropriate, the following procedures should be observed prior to beginning work:

Change into work clothing and shoe covers in the clean section of the designated changing areas;
Use work garments of appropriate protective gear, including respirator before entering the work area; and
Store any clothing not worn under protective clothing in the designated changing area.
     Workers should follow these procedures upon leaving the work area:

HEPA vacuum heavily contaminated protective work clothing while it is still being worn. At no time may lead be removed from protective clothing by any means which result in uncontrolled dispersal of lead into the air;
Remove shoe covers and leave them in the work area;
Remove protective clothing and gear in the dirty area of the designated changing area. Remove protective coveralls by carefully rolling down the garment to reduce exposure to dust.
Remove respirator last; and
Wash hands and face.
     Workers should follow these procedures upon finishing work for the day (in addition to procedures described above):

Where applicable, place disposal coveralls and shoe covers with the abatement waste;
Contaminated clothing which is to be cleaned, laundered or disposed of must be placed in closed containers in the change room.
Clean protective gear, including respirator, according to standard procedures;
Wash hands and face again.
     If showers are available, take a shower and wash hair. If shower facilities are not available at the work site, shower immediately at home and wash hair.

     (6) Housekeeping -- WAC 296-155-17617.

     Your employer must establish a housekeeping program sufficient to maintain all surfaces as free as practicable of accumulations of lead dust. Vacuuming is the preferred method of meeting this requirement, and the use of compressed air to clean floors and other surfaces is generally prohibited unless removal with compressed air is done in conjunction with ventilation systems designed to contain dispersal of the lead dust. Dry or wet sweeping, shoveling, or brushing may not be used except where vacuuming or other equally effective methods have been tried and do not work. Vacuums must be used equipped with a special filter called a high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter and emptied in a manner which minimizes the reentry of lead into the workplace.

     (7) Hygiene facilities and practices -- WAC 296-155-17619.

     The standard requires that hand washing facilities be provided where occupational exposure to lead occurs. In addition, change areas, showers (where feasible), and lunchrooms or eating areas are to be made available to workers exposed to lead above the PEL. Your employer must assure that except in these facilities, food and beverage is not present or consumed, tobacco products are not present or used, and cosmetics are not applied, where airborne exposures are above the PEL. Change rooms provided by your employer must be equipped with separate storage facilities for your protective clothing and equipment and street clothes to avoid cross-contamination. After showering, no required protective clothing or equipment worn during the shift may be worn home. It is important that contaminated clothing or equipment be removed in change areas and not be worn home or you will extend your exposure and expose your family since lead from your clothing can accumulate in your house, car, etc.

     Lunchrooms or eating areas may not be entered with protective clothing or equipment unless surface dust has been removed by vacuuming, downdraft booth, or other cleaning method. Finally, workers exposed above the PEL must wash both their hands and faces prior to eating, drinking, smoking or applying cosmetics.

     All of the facilities and hygiene practices just discussed are essential to minimize additional sources of lead absorption from inhalation or ingestion of lead that may accumulate on you, your clothes, or your possessions. Strict compliance with these provisions can virtually eliminate several sources of lead exposure which significantly contribute to excessive lead absorption.

     (8) Medical surveillance -- WAC 296-155-17621.

     The medical surveillance program is part of the standard's comprehensive approach to the prevention of lead-related disease. Its purpose is to supplement the main thrust of the standard which is aimed at minimizing airborne concentrations of lead and sources of ingestion. Only medical surveillance can determine if the other provisions of the standard have affectively protected you as an individual. Compliance with the standard's provision will protect most workers from the adverse effects of lead exposure, but may not be satisfactory to protect individual workers:

Who have high body burdens of lead acquired over past years,
Who have additional uncontrolled sources of nonoccupational lead exposure,
Who exhibit unusual variations in lead absorption rates, or
Who have specific nonwork related medical conditions which could be aggravated by lead exposure (e.g., renal disease, anemia).
     In addition, control systems may fail, or hygiene and respirator programs may be inadequate. Periodic medical surveillance of individual workers will help detect those failures. Medical surveillance will also be important to protect your reproductive ability -- regardless of whether you are a man or woman.

     All medical surveillance required by the standard must be performed by or under the supervision of a licensed physician. The employer must provide required medical surveillance without cost to employees and at a reasonable time and place. The standard's medical surveillance program has two parts -- periodic biological monitoring and medical examinations. Your employer's obligation to offer you medical surveillance is triggered by the results of the air monitoring program. Full medical surveillance must be made available to all employees who are or may be exposed to lead in excess of the action level for more than 30 days a year and whose blood lead level exceeds 40 ΅g/dl. Initial medical surveillance consisting of blood sampling and analysis for lead and zinc protoporphyrin must be provided to all employees exposed at any time (1 day) above the action level.

     Biological monitoring under the standard must be provided at least every 2 months for the first 6 months and every 6 months thereafter until your blood lead level is below 40 ΅g/dl. A zinc protoporphyrin (ZPP) test is a very useful blood test which measures an adverse metabolic effect of lead on your body and is therefore an indicator of lead toxicity.

     If your BLL exceeds 40 ΅g/dl the monitoring frequency must be increased from every 6 months to at least every 2 months and not reduced until two consecutive BLLs indicate a blood lead level below 40 ΅g/dl. Each time your BLL is determined to be over 40 ΅g/dl, your employer must notify you of this in writing within five working days of their receipt of the test results. The employer must also inform you that the standard requires temporary medical removal with economic protection when your BLL exceeds 50 ΅g/dl. (See Discussion of medical removal protection -- WAC 296-155-17623.) Anytime your BLL exceeds 50 ΅g/dl your employer must make available to you within two weeks of receipt of these test results a second follow-up BLL test to confirm your BLL. If the two tests both exceed 50 ΅g/dl, and you are temporarily removed, then your employer must make successive BLL tests available to you on a monthly basis during the period of your removal.

     Medical examinations beyond the initial one must be made available on an annual basis if your blood lead level exceeds 40 ΅g/dl at any time during the preceding year and you are being exposed above the airborne action level of 30 ΅g/m3 for 30 or more days per year. The initial examination will provide information to establish a baseline to which subsequent data can be compared.

     An initial medical examination to consist of blood sampling and analysis for lead and zinc protoporphyrin must also be made available (prior to assignment) for each employee being assigned for the first time to an area where the airborne concentration of lead equals or exceeds the action level at any time. In addition, a medical examination or consultation must be made available as soon as possible if you notify your employer that you are experiencing signs or symptoms commonly associated with lead poisoning or that you have difficulty breathing while wearing a respirator or during a respirator fit test. You must also be provided a medical examination or consultation if you notify your employer that you desire medical advice concerning the effects of current or past exposure to lead on your ability to procreate a healthy child.

     Finally, appropriate follow-up medical examinations or consultations may also be provided for employees who have been temporarily removed from exposure under the medical removal protection provisions of the standard. (See subsection (9), below.)

     The standard specifies the minimum content of pre-assignment and annual medical examinations. The content of other types of medical examinations and consultations is left up to the sound discretion of the examining physician. Preassignment and annual medical examinations must include:

A detailed work history and medical history;
A thorough physical examination, including an evaluation of your pulmonary status if you will be required to use a respirator;
A blood pressure measurement; and
A series of laboratory tests designed to check your blood chemistry and your kidney function.
     In addition, at any time upon your request, a laboratory evaluation of male fertility will be made (microscopic examination of a sperm sample), or a pregnancy test will be given.

     The standard does not require that you participate in any of the medical procedures, tests, etc. which your employer is required to make available to you. Medical surveillance can, however, play a very important role in protecting your health. You are strongly encouraged, therefore, to participate in a meaningful fashion. The standard contains a multiple physician review mechanism which will give you a chance to have a physician of your choice directly participate in the medical surveillance program. If you are dissatisfied with an examination by a physician chosen by your employer, you can select a second physician to conduct an independent analysis. The two doctors would attempt to resolve any differences of opinion, and select a third physician to resolve any firm dispute. Generally your employer will choose the physician who conducts medical surveillance under the lead standard-unless you and your employer can agree on the choice of a physician or physicians. Some companies and unions have agreed in advance, for example, to use certain independent medical laboratories or panels of physicians. Any of these arrangements are acceptable so long as required medical surveillance is made available to workers.

     The standard requires your employer to provide certain information to a physician to aid in their examination of you. This information includes:

The standard and its appendices,
A description of your duties as they relate to occupational lead exposure,
Your exposure level or anticipated exposure level,
A description of any personal protective equipment you wear,
Prior blood lead level results, and
Prior written medical opinions concerning you that the employer has.
     After a medical examination or consultation the physician must prepare a written report which must contain:

The physician's opinion as to whether you have any medical condition which places you at increased risk of material impairment to health from exposure to lead,
Any recommended special protective measures to be provided to you,
Any blood lead level determinations, and
Any recommended limitation on your use of respirator.
     This last element must include a determination of whether you can wear a powered air purifying respirator (PAPR) if you are found unable to wear a negative pressure respirator.

     The medical surveillance program of the lead standard may at some point in time serve to notify certain workers that they have acquired a disease or other adverse medical condition as a result of occupational lead exposure. If this is true, these workers might have legal rights to compensation from public agencies, their employers, firms that supply hazardous products to their employers, or other persons. Some states have laws, including worker compensation laws, that disallow a worker who learns of a job-related health impairment to sue, unless the worker sues within a short period of time after learning of the impairment. (This period of time may be a matter of months or years.) An attorney can be consulted about these possibilities. It should be stressed that WISHA is in no way trying to either encourage or discourage claims or lawsuits. However, since results of the standard's medical surveillance program can significantly affect the legal remedies of a worker who has acquired a job-related disease or impairment, it is proper for WISHA to make you aware of this.

     The medical surveillance section of the standard also contains provisions dealing with chelation. Chelation is the use of certain drugs (administered in pill form or injected into the body) to reduce the amount of lead absorbed in body tissues. Experience accumulated by the medical and scientific communities has largely confirmed the effectiveness of this type of therapy for the treatment of very severe lead poisoning. On the other hand, it has also been established that there can be a long list of extremely harmful side effects associated with the use of chelating agents. The medical community has balanced the advantages and disadvantages resulting from the use of chelating agents in various circumstances and has established when the use of these agents is acceptable. The standard includes these accepted limitations due to a history of abuse of chelation therapy by some lead companies. The most widely used chelating agents are calcium disodium EDTA, (Ca Na2 EDTA), Calcium Disodium Versenate (Versenate), and d-penicillamine (penicillamine or Cupramine).

     The standard prohibits "prophylactic chelation" of any employee by any person the employer retains, supervises or controls. "Prophylactic chelation" is the routine use of chelating or similarly acting drugs to prevent elevated blood levels in workers who are occupationally exposed to lead, or the use of these drugs to routinely lower blood lead levels to predesignated concentrations believed to be "safe." It should be emphasized that where an employer takes a worker who has no symptoms of lead poisoning and has chelation carried out by a physician (either inside or outside of a hospital) solely to reduce the worker's blood lead level, that will generally be considered prophylactic chelation. The use of a hospital and a physician does not mean that prophylactic chelation is not being performed. Routine chelation to prevent increased or reduce current blood lead levels is unacceptable whatever the setting.

     The standard allows the use of "therapeutic" or "diagnostic" chelation if administered under the supervision of a licensed physician in a clinical setting with thorough and appropriate medical monitoring. Therapeutic chelation responds to severe lead poisoning where there are marked symptoms. Diagnostic chelation involved giving a patient a dose of the drug then collecting all urine excreted for some period of time as an aid to the diagnosis of lead poisoning.

     In cases where the examining physician determines that chelation is appropriate, you must be notified in writing of this fact before such treatment. This will inform you of a potentially harmful treatment, and allow you to obtain a second opinion.

     (9) Medical removal protection -- WAC 296-155-17623.

     Excessive lead absorption subjects you to increased risk of disease. Medical removal protection (MRP) is a means of protecting you when, for whatever reasons, other methods, such as engineering controls, work practices, and respirator, have failed to provide the protection you need. MRP involves the temporary removal of a worker from their regular job to a place of significantly lower exposure without any loss of earnings, seniority, or other employment rights or benefits. The purpose of this program is to cease further lead absorption and allow your body to naturally excrete lead which has previously been absorbed. Temporary medical removal can result from an elevated blood lead level, or a medical opinion. For up to 18 months, or for as long as the job the employee was removed from lasts, protection is provided as a result of either form of removal. The vast majority of removed workers, however, will return to their former jobs long before this eighteen month period expires.

     You may also be removed from exposure even if your blood lead level is below 50 ΅/dl if a final medical determination indicates that you temporarily need reduced lead exposure for medical reasons. If the physician who is implementing your employers medical program makes a final written opinion recommending your removal or other special protective measures, your employer must implement the physician's recommendation. If you are removed in this manner, you may only be returned when the doctor indicates that it is safe for you to do so.

     The standard does not give specific instructions dealing with what an employer must do with a removed worker. Your job assignment upon removal is a matter for you, your employer and your union (if any) to work out consistent with existing procedures for job assignments. Each removal must be accomplished in a manner consistent with existing collective bargaining relationships. Your employer is given broad discretion to implement temporary removals so long as no attempt is made to override existing agreements. Similarly, a removed worker is provided no right to veto an employer's choice which satisfies the standard.

     In most cases, employers will likely transfer removed employees to other jobs with sufficiently low lead exposure. Alternatively, a worker's hours may be reduced so that the time weighted average exposure is reduced, or they may be temporarily laid off if no other alternative is feasible.

     In all of these situation, MRP benefits must be provided during the period of removal -- i.e., you continue to receive the same earnings, seniority, and other rights and benefits you would have had if you had not been removed. Earnings includes more than just your base wage; it includes overtime, shift differentials, incentives, and other compensation you would have earned if you had not been removed. During the period of removal you must also be provided with appropriate follow-up medical surveillance. If you were removed because your blood lead level was too high, you must be provided with a monthly blood test. If a medical opinion caused your removal, you must be provided medical tests or examinations that the doctor believes to be appropriate. If you do not participate in this follow up medical surveillance, you may lose your eligibility for MRP benefits.

     When you are medically eligible to return to your former job, your employer must return you to your "former job status." This means that you are entitled to the position, wages, benefits, etc., you would have had if you had not been removed. If you would still be in your old job if no removal had occurred that is where you go back. If not, you are returned consistent with whatever job assignment discretion your employer would have had if no removal had occurred. MRP only seeks to maintain your rights, not expand them or diminish them.

     If you are removed under MRP and you are also eligible for worker compensation or other compensation for lost wages, your employer's MRP benefits obligation is reduced by the amount that you actually receive from these other sources. This is also true if you obtain other employment during the time you are laid off with MRP benefits.

     The standard also covers situations where an employer voluntarily removes a worker from exposure to lead due to the effects of lead on the employee's medical condition, even though the standard does not require removal. In these situations MRP benefits must still be provided as though the standard required removal. Finally, it is important to note that in all cases where removal is required, respirator cannot be used as a substitute. Respirator may be used before removal becomes necessary, but not as an alternative to a transfer to a low exposure job, or to a lay-off with MRP benefits.

     (10) Employee information and training -- WAC 296-155-17625.

     Your employer is required to provide an information and training program for all employees exposed to lead above the action level or who may suffer skin or eye irritation from lead compounds such as lead arsenate or lead azide. The program must train these employees regarding the specific hazards associated with their work environment, protective measures which can be taken, including the contents of any compliance plan in effect, the danger of lead to their bodies (including their reproductive systems), and their rights under the standard. All employees must be trained prior to initial assignment to areas where there is a possibility of exposure over the action level.

     This training program must also be provided at least annually thereafter unless further exposure above the action level will not occur.

     (11) Signs -- WAC 296-155-17627.

     The standard requires that the following warning sign be posted in work areas where the exposure to lead exceeds the PEL:


WARNING

LEAD WORK AREA

POISON

NO SMOKING OR EATING



     These signs are to be posted and maintained in a manner which assures that the legend is readily visible.

     (12) Recordkeeping -- WAC 296-155-17629.

     Your employer is required to keep all records of exposure monitoring for airborne lead. These records must include the name and job classification of employees measured, details of the sampling and analytical techniques, the results of this sampling, and the type of respiratory protection being worn by the person sampled. Such records are to be retained for at least 30 years. Your employer is also required to keep all records of biological monitoring and medical examination results. These records must include the names of the employees, the physician's written opinion, and a copy of the results of the examination. Medical records must be preserved and maintained for the duration of employment plus 30 years. However, if the employee's duration of employment is less than one year, the employer need not retain that employee's medical records beyond the period of employment if they are provided to the employee upon termination of employment.

     Recordkeeping is also required if you are temporarily removed from your job under the medical removal protection program. This record must include your name and Social Security number, the date of your removal and return, how the removal was or is being accomplished, and whether or not the reason for the removal was an elevated blood lead level. Your employer is required to keep each medical removal record only for as long as the duration of an employee's employment.

     The standard requires that if you request to see or copy environmental monitoring, blood lead level monitoring, or medical removal records, they must be made available to you or to a representative that you authorize. Your union also has access to these records. Medical records other than BLL's must also be provided upon request to you, to your physician or to any other person whom you may specifically designate. Your union does not have access to your personal medical records unless you authorize their access.

     (13) Observation of monitoring -- WAC 296-155-17631.

     When air monitoring for lead is performed at your workplace as required by this standard, your employer must allow you or someone you designate to act as an observer of the monitoring. Observers are entitled to an explanation of the measurement procedure, and to record the results obtained. Since results will not normally be available at the time of the monitoring, observers are entitled to record or receive the results of the monitoring when returned by the laboratory. Your employer is required to provide the observer with any personal protective devices required to be worn by employees working in the area that is being monitored. The employer must require the observer to wear all such equipment and to comply with all other applicable safety and health procedures.

     (14) Startup date -- WAC 296-155-17635.

     Employer obligations under the standard begin as of that date with full implementation of engineering controls as soon as possible but no later than within 4 months, and all other provisions completed as soon as possible, but no later than within 2 months from the effective date.

     (15) For additional information.

     (a) A copy of the standard for lead in construction can be obtained free of charge by calling or writing to the department of labor and industries, Post Office Box 44620, Mailstop 44620, Olympia, Washington 98504-4620: Telephone (360) 956-5527.

     (b) Additional information about the standard, its enforcement, and your employer's compliance can be obtained from the nearest office listed in your telephone directory under the state of Washington, department of labor and industries.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.010, [49.17].040 and [49.17].050. 99-10-071, § 296-155-17652, filed 5/4/99, effective 9/1/99. Statutory Authority: Chapter 49.17 RCW. 93-22-054 (Order 93-07), § 296-155-17652, filed 10/29/93, effective 12/10/93.]


AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 01-11-038, filed 5/9/01, effective 9/1/01)

WAC 296-155-20301   Definitions.   Confined space means a space that:

     (1) Is large enough and so configured that an employee can bodily enter and perform assigned work; and

     (2) Has limited or restricted means for entry or exit (for example, tanks, vessels, silos, storage bins, hoppers, vaults, and pits are spaces that may have limited means of entry); and

     (3) Is not designed for continuous employee occupancy.

     "Corrosives" means substances which in contact with living tissue cause destruction of the tissue by chemical action.

     "Hazardous atmosphere" means an atmosphere that may expose employees to the risk of death, incapacitation, impairment of ability to self-rescue (that is, escape unaided from a permit space), injury, or acute illness from one or more of the following causes:

     (1) Flammable gas, vapor, or mist in excess of ten percent of its lower flammable limit (LFL);

     (2) Airborne combustible dust at a concentration that meets or exceeds its LFL;


Note: This concentration may be approximated as a condition in which the dust obscures vision at a distance of five feet (1.52m) or less.


     (3) Atmospheric oxygen concentration below 19.5 percent or above 23.5 percent;

     (4) Atmospheric concentration of any substance for which a dose or a permissible exposure limit is published in chapter 296-62 WAC, general occupational health standards, or chapter 296-841 WAC, identifying and controlling respiratory hazards, and which could result in employee exposure in excess of its dose or permissible exposure limit;


Note: An atmospheric concentration of any substance that is not capable of causing death, incapacitation, impairment of ability to self-rescue, injury, or acute illness due to its health effects is not covered by this provision.


     (5) Any other atmospheric condition that is immediately dangerous to life or health.


Note: For air contaminants for which WISHA has not determined a dose or permissible exposure limit, other sources of information, such as material safety data sheets that comply with the Chemical Hazard Communication Standard, WAC 296-800-170, published information, and internal documents can provide guidance in establishing acceptable atmospheric conditions.


     "Irritants" means substances which on immediate, prolonged, or repeated contact with normal living tissue will induce a local inflammatory reaction.

     "Oxygen deficient atmospheres" means atmospheres at sea level having less than 19.5% oxygen by volume or having a partial pressure of 148 millimeters of mercury or less. This may deviate when working at higher altitudes and should be determined for an individual location. Factors such as acclimatization, physical condition of persons involved, etc., must be considered for such circumstances and conditions. (See chapter 296-62 WAC, Part M, permit-required confined spaces.)

     "Toxicants" means substances which have the inherent capacity to produce personal injury or illness to persons by absorption through any body surface.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.010, [49.17].040, and [49.17].050. 01-11-038, § 296-155-20301, filed 5/9/01, effective 9/1/01. Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.040, [49.17].050 and [49.17].060. 95-17-036, § 296-155-20301, filed 8/9/95, effective 9/25/95. Statutory Authority: Chapter 49.17 RCW. 95-04-007, § 296-155-20301, filed 1/18/95, effective 3/1/95; 91-24-017 (Order 91-07), § 296-155-20301, filed 11/22/91, effective 12/24/91. Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.040 and 49.17.050. 86-03-074 (Order 86-14), § 296-155-20301, filed 1/21/86.]


AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 99-10-071, filed 5/4/99, effective 9/1/99)

WAC 296-155-220   Respiratory protection.   The respiratory protection requirements applicable to construction work under this section are identical to those set forth in chapter ((296-62)) 296-842 WAC((, Part E)).

[Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.010, [49.17].040 and [49.17].050. 99-10-071, § 296-155-220, filed 5/4/99, effective 9/1/99. Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.040 and 49.17.050. 83-15-017 (Order 83-19), § 296-155-220, filed 7/13/83, effective 9/12/83; Order 74-26, § 296-155-220, filed 5/7/74, effective 6/6/74.]


AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 99-10-071, filed 5/4/99, effective 9/1/99)

WAC 296-155-367   Masonry saws.   (1) Guarding.

     (a) Masonry saws shall be guarded by semicircular enclosures over the blade.

     (b) A method for retaining blade fragments shall be incorporated into the design of the semicircular enclosure.

     (2) Safety latch. A safety latch shall be installed on notched saws to prevent the motor and cutting head assembly from lifting out of the notches.

     (3) Blade speed. Blade speed shall be maintained in accordance with the manufacturer's specifications.

     (4) Exhaust and eye protection.

     (a) All table mounted masonry saws shall be equipped with a mechanical means of exhausting dust into a covered receptacle or be provided with water on the saw blade for dust control. The operator and any nearby worker shall wear appropriate eye protection in accordance with WAC 296-155-215.

     (b) All portable hand-held masonry saw operators shall wear appropriate eye and respiratory protection in accordance with WAC 296-155-215 and chapter ((296-62)) 296-842 WAC((, Part E)).

     (5) Grounding. The motor frames of all stationary saws shall be grounded through conduit, water pipe, or a driven ground. Portable saws shall be grounded through three-pole cords attached to grounded electrical systems.

     (6) Inspection. Masonry saws shall be inspected at regular intervals and maintained in safe operating condition.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.010, [49.17].040 and [49.17].050. 99-10-071, § 296-155-367, filed 5/4/99, effective 9/1/99. Statutory Authority: Chapter 49.17 RCW. 90-17-051 (Order 90-10), § 296-155-367, filed 8/13/90, effective 9/24/90. Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.040 and 49.17.050. 86-03-074 (Order 86-14), § 296-155-367, filed 1/21/86.]


AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 02-12-098, filed 6/5/02, effective 8/1/02)

WAC 296-155-525   Cranes and derricks.   (1) Definitions applicable to this part:

     Accessory - a secondary part or assembly of parts which contributes to the overall function and usefulness of a machine.

     Administrative or regulatory authority - a governmental agency, or the employer in the absence of governmental jurisdiction.

     Angle indicator (boom) - an accessory which measures the angle of the boom to the horizontal.

     Appointed - assigned specific responsibilities by the employer or the employer's representative.

     Authorized person - means a person approved or assigned by the employer to perform a specific type of duty or duties or be at a specific location or locations at the workplace.

     Auxiliary hoist - a secondary hoist rope system used either in conjunction with, or independently of, the main hoist system.

     Axis of rotation - the vertical axis around which the crane superstructure rotates.

     Axle - the shaft or spindle with which or about which a wheel rotates. On wheel-mounted cranes it refers to a type of axle assembly including housings, gearing, differential, bearings, and mounting appurtenances.

     Axle (bogie) - two or more axles mounted in tandem in a frame so as to divide the load between the axles and permit vertical oscillation of the wheels.

     Ballast - weight used to supplement the weight of the machine in providing stability for lifting working loads (the term ballast is normally associated with locomotive cranes).

     Base, anchor bolt - a crane base that is bolted to a footing.

     Base, expendable - for static-mounting cranes, a style of bottom mast section or member that is cast into a concrete footing block; all or part of this component is lost to future installations.

     Base, fixed - a crane base that does not travel. It may be expendable, knee braced, or anchor bolted.

     Base (mounting) - the traveling base on which the rotating superstructure of a locomotive or crawler crane is mounted.

     Base, tower crane - the lowermost supporting component of the crane.

     Base, travel - a crane base that is a ballasted platform mounted on trucks that ride along rails.

     Boom (crane) - a member hinged at the rotating superstructure and used for supporting the existing tackle.

     Boom angle - the angle above or below horizontal of the longitudinal axis of the base boom section.

     Boom hoist mechanism - means for supporting the boom and controlling the boom angle.

     Boom point - the outer extremity of the crane boom, containing the hoist sheave assembly.

     Boom point sheave assembly - an assembly of sheaves and pin built as an integral part of the boom point.

     Boom stop - a device used to limit the angle of the boom at the highest recommended position.

     Brake - a device used for retarding or stopping motion.

     Brace, tower - a structural attachment placed between a crane tower and an adjacent structure to pass loads to the adjacent structure and permit the crane to be erected to greater than free standing height.

     Buffer - an energy absorbing device for reducing impact when a moving crane or trolley reaches the end of its permitted travel.

     Cab - a housing which covers the rotating superstructure machinery, or the operator's or driver's station.

     Climbing frame - a frame used with climbing cranes to transmit operational and climbing reactions to the host building frame.

     Climbing ladder - a steel member with crossbars (used in parts) suspended from a climbing frame and used as jacking support points when some cranes climb.

     Clutch - a means for engagement or disengagement of power.

     Commercial truck vehicle - a commercial motor vehicle designed primarily for the transportation of property in connection with business and industry.

     Counterweight - weight used to supplement the weight of the machine in providing stability for lifting working loads.

     Counterweight jib - a horizontal member of a crane on which the counterweights and usually the hoisting machinery are mounted.

     Crane carrier - the undercarriage of a wheel-mounted crane specifically designed for transporting the rotating crane superstructure. It may or may not provide its own travel mechanism. It is distinguished from a commercial truck vehicle in that it is not designed to transport personnel, materials, or equipment other than the crane-rotating superstructure.

     Cross-over points - in multiple layer spooling of rope on a drum, those points of rope contact where the rope crosses the preceding rope layer.

     Designated - selected or assigned by the employer or the employer's representative as being competent to perform specific duties.

     Drum - the cylindrical member around which a rope is wound for lifting and lowering the load or boom.

     Dynamic (loading) - loads introduced into the machine or its components due to accelerating or decelerating forces.

     Flange point - a point of contact between rope and drum flange where the rope changes layers.

     Free standing height - that height of a crane which is supported by the tower (mast) alone without assistance from braces, guys, or other means.

     Gage, track - the horizontal distance between two rails measured perpendicular to the direction of travel.

     Gantry (A-frame) - a structural frame, extending above the superstructure, to which the boom support ropes are reeved.

     High strength (traction) bolts - high strength tensile bolts used in the assembly of crane sections. The bolts are installed in tension by torquing or other means at a level greater than that produced by in- or out-of-service loads for the purpose of reducing the likelihood of bolt fatigue failure.

     Hoist mechanism - a hoist drum and rope reeving system used for lifting and lowering loads.

     Jib - an extension attached to the boom point to provide added boom length for lifting specified loads. The jib may be in line with the boom or offset to various angles in the vertical plane of the boom.

     Jib backstop - a device which will restrain the jib from turning over backward.

     Job site - work area defined by the construction contract.

     Limiting device - a mechanical device which is operated by some part of a power driven machine or equipment to control loads or motions of the machine or equipment.

     Load (working) - the external load in pounds (kilograms) applied to the crane, including the weight of load-attaching equipment such as lower load block, shackles, and slings.

     Load block, lower - the assembly of hook or shackle, swivel, sheaves, pins, and frame suspended by the hoisting ropes.

     Load block, upper - the assembly of shackle, swivel, sheaves, pins, and frame suspended from the boom point.

     Load ratings - crane ratings in pounds (kilograms) established by the manufacturer.

     Mast (boom) - a frame hinged at or near the boom hinge for use in connection with supporting a boom. The head of the mast is usually supported and raised or lowered by the boom hoist ropes.

     Mast (jib) - a frame hinged at or near the boom point for use in connection with supporting a jib.

     Normal operating conditions.

     Cab- or station-operated cranes - conditions during which a crane is performing functions within the manufacturer's operating recommendations. Under these conditions, the operator is at the operating control devices on the crane, and no other persons except those appointed are to be on the crane.

     Ground- or floor-operated cranes - conditions during which a crane is performing functions within the manufacturer's operating recommendations. Under these conditions, the operator is at the operating control devices that are mounted to the crane but operated with the operator off the crane, and no other persons except those appointed are to be on the crane.

     Remote-operated cranes - conditions during which a crane is performing functions within the manufacturer's operating recommendations. Under these conditions, the operator is at the operating control devices that are mounted to any part of the crane, and no other persons except those appointed are to be on the crane.

     Out-of-service - the condition of a crane when unloaded, without power and with the controls unattended and prepared to endure winds above the in-service level.

     Outriggers - extendable or fixed members attached to the mounting base, which rest on supports at the outer ends used to support the crane.

     Pawl (dog) - a device for positively holding a member against motion in one or more directions.

     Payload - that load or loads being transported by the commercial truck chassis from place to place.

     Pendant - a rope or strand of specified length with fixed end connections.

     Pitch diameter - the diameter of a sheave or rope drum measured at the center line of the rope.

     Power-controlled lowering - a system or device in the power train, other than the load hoist brake, which can control the lowering rate of speed of the load hoist mechanism.

     Qualified person - a person who, by possession of a recognized degree or certificate of professional standing, or who, by extensive knowledge, training, and experience, has successfully demonstrated the ability to solve or resolve problems relating to the subject matter and work.

     Radius (load) - the horizontal distance from a projection of the axis of rotation to the base of the crane, before loading, to the center of the vertical hoist line or tackle with load applied.

     Rail clamp - a tong-like metal device mounted on a locomotive crane car, which can be connected to the track.

     Reeving - a rope system in which the rope travels around drums and sheaves.

     Remote control station - a location, not on the crane, from which the operator can control all the crane movements.

     Repetitive pickup point - when operating on a short cycle operation, the rope being used on a single layer and being spooled repetitively over a short portion of the drum.

     Rope - refers to wire rope unless otherwise specified.

     Rotation resistant rope - a wire rope consisting of an inner layer of strand laid in one direction covered by a layer of strand laid in the opposite direction. This has the effect of counteracting torque by reducing the tendency of the finished rope to rotate.

     Running rope - a rope which travels around sheaves or drums.

     Shall - this word indicates that the rule is mandatory and must be followed.

     Service, light - service that involves irregular operation with loads generally about one-half or less of the rated load; a service crane at a storage yard or building site would be an example.

     Service, normal - service that involves operating occasionally at rated load but normally at less than eighty-five percent of the rated load and not more than ten lift cycles per hour except for isolated instances; a crane used for concrete placement at a building site would be an example.

     Service, heavy - service that involves operating at eighty-five percent to one hundred percent of the rated load or in excess of ten lift cycles per hour as a regular specified procedure; some cranes operating at material yards or in industrial applications may fall into this category.

     Sheave - a grooved wheel or pulley used with a rope to change the direction and point of application of a pulling force.

     Should - this word indicates that the rule is a recommendation, the advisability of which depends on the facts in each situation.

     Side loading - a load applied to an angle to the vertical plane of the boom.

     Stabilizer - stabilizers are extendable or fixed members attached to the mounting base to increase the stability of the crane, but which may not have the capability of relieving all of the weight from wheels or tracks.

     Standby crane - a crane which is not in regular service but which is used occasionally or intermittently as required.

     Standing (guy) rope - a supporting rope which maintains a constant distance between the points of attachment to the two components connected by the rope.

     Structural competence - the ability of the machine and its components to withstand the stresses imposed by applied loads.

     Superstructure - the rotating upper frame structure of the machine and the operating machinery mounted thereon.

     Swing - rotation of the superstructure for movement of loads in a horizontal direction about the axis of rotation.

     Swing mechanism - the machinery involved in providing rotation of the superstructure.

     Swivel - a load carrying member with thrust bearings to permit rotation under load in a plane perpendicular to the direction of the load.

     Swiveling - the rotation of the load attachment portion (hook or shackle) of a load block (lower) or hook assembly about its axis of suspension in relation to the load line(s).

     Tackle - an assembly of ropes and sheaves arranged for lifting, lowering, or pulling.

     Telescoping boom - consists of a base boom from which one or more boom sections are telescoped for additional length.

     Telescoping (tower crane) - a process whereby the height of a traveling or fixed base crane is increased typically by raising the inner tower and then adding sections at the top of the outer tower; there are also cranes that are telescoped by adding to the inner tower from below.

     Tower (mast) - a vertical structural frame consisting of columns and bracing capable of supporting an upperstructure with its working and dynamic loads and transmitting them to the supporting surface or structure.

     Traction (high strength) bolts - see high strength bolts.

     Transit - the moving or transporting of a crane from one job site to another.

     Travel - the function of the machine moving under its own power from one location to another on a job site.

     Trolley - the device that travels along the load jib and contains the upper load block.

     Two-blocking - the condition in which the lower load block or hook assembly comes in contact with the upper load block or boom point sheave assembly.

     Weathervaning - wind induced rotation of a crane upperstructure, when out-of-service, to expose minimal surface area to the wind.

     Wedge - a tapered wood or steel device used to provide stability to cranes during use as a climber. When the wedges are tightened against the four main legs of the tower, they convert overturning moments into horizontal forces to be resisted by the floor framing or slab.

     Wheel base - the distance between centers of front and rear axles. For a multiple axle assembly the axle center for wheel base measurement is taken as the midpoint of the assembly.

     Whipline (runner or auxiliary) - a secondary rope system usually of lighter load capacity than that provided by the main rope system.

     Winch head - a power driven spool for handling of loads by means of friction between fiber or wire rope and the spool.

     (2) General requirements.

     (a) The employer shall comply with the manufacturer's specifications and limitations applicable to the operation of any and all cranes and derricks. Where manufacturer's specifications are not available the limitations assigned to the equipment shall be based on the determinations of a qualified engineer, competent in this field and such determinations will be appropriately documented and recorded. Attachments used with cranes shall not exceed the capacity, rating, or scope recommended by the manufacturer.

     (b) Rated load capacities, and recommended operating speeds, and special hazard warnings, or instruction, shall be conspicuously posted on all equipment. Instructions or warnings shall be visible to the operator while at the control station.

     (c) Hand signals to crane and derrick operators shall be those prescribed by the applicable ANSI standard for the type of crane in use. An illustration of the signals shall be posted at the job site.

     (d) The employer shall designate a competent person who shall inspect all machinery and equipment prior to each use, and periodically during use to make sure it is in safe operating condition. Any deficiencies shall be repaired, or defective parts replaced, before continued use.

     (e) A thorough, annual inspection of the hoisting machinery shall be made by a competent person, or by a government or private agency recognized by the department. The employer shall maintain a permanent record of the dates and results of all inspections for each hoisting machine and piece of equipment.

     (f) A tag line or guide rope shall be used on all loads that swing freely. Guide ropes or tag lines shall be held by experienced persons.

     (g) Care shall be taken to guard against injury to workers, or damage to scaffolds or buildings, from swinging loads.

     (h) The operator shall avoid carrying loads over people.

     (i) When work is stopped or when the derrick is not in operation, the boom shall be lowered to a horizontal position or tied in place to prevent it whipping with the wind or other external force.

     (j) Only authorized personnel shall make sling hitches on loads.

     (k) Workers shall not be allowed to ride on loads handled by derricks.

     (l) Operators shall observe signals only from duly authorized persons. Under no circumstances shall a load be moved until the signal is received from authorized personnel.

     (m) Belts, gears, shafts, pulleys, sprockets, spindles, drums, fly wheels, chains, or other reciprocating, rotating, or other moving parts or equipment shall be guarded if such parts are exposed to contact by employees, or otherwise create a hazard. Guarding shall meet the requirements of chapter 296-24 WAC.

     (n) A minimum distance of thirty inches clearance shall be maintained between the swing radius of the greatest extension of the crane superstructure or counterweights and a stationary object, including the crane itself, while the crane is in operation. When this clearance cannot be maintained, suitable barricades or safeguards shall be used to isolate the pinch point hazard area.

     (o) All exhaust pipes shall be guarded or insulated where contact by employees, in the performance of normal duties, is possible.

     (3) Additional requirements.

     (a) Whenever internal combustion engine powered equipment exhausts in enclosed spaces, tests shall be made and recorded to see that employees are not exposed to unsafe concentrations of toxic gases or oxygen deficient atmospheres. (See chapter 296-62 WAC, the general occupational health standards and ((other applicable standards)) chapter 296-841 WAC, identifying and controlling respiratory hazards.)

     (b) All cab glazing shall be safety glazing material. Windows shall be provided in the front and on both sides of the cab or operator's compartment with visibility forward and to either side. Visibility forward shall include a vertical range adequate to cover the boom point at all times. The front window may have a section which can be readily removed or held open, if desired. If the section is of the type held in the open position, it shall be secured to prevent inadvertent closure. A windshield wiper should be provided on the front window.

     (c)(i) Where necessary for rigging or service requirements, a ladder or steps shall be provided to give access to a cab roof.

     (ii) On cranes, guardrails, handholds and steps shall be provided for easy access to the car and cab in accordance with chapter 296-155 WAC, Part C-1 and Part J.

     (iii) Platforms and walkways shall have anti-skid surfaces.

     (d) Fuel tank filler pipe shall be located in such a position, or protected in such manner, as to not allow spill or overflow to run onto the engine, exhaust, or electrical equipment of any machine being fueled.

     (i) An accessible fire extinguisher of 5BC rating, or higher, shall be available at all operator stations or cabs of equipment.

Note: For additional requirements relating to portable fire extinguishers see WAC 296-800-300.

     (ii) All fuels shall be transported, stored, and handled to meet the rules of Part D of this chapter. When fuel is transported by vehicles on public highways, department of transportation rules concerning such vehicular transportation are considered applicable.

     (e) Except where electrical distribution and transmission lines have been deenergized and visibly grounded at point of work or where insulating barriers, not a part of or an attachment to the equipment or machinery, have been erected to prevent physical contact with the lines, equipment or machines shall be operated proximate to power lines only in accordance with the following:

     (i) For lines rated 50 kV. or below, minimum clearance between the lines and any part of the crane or load shall be 10 feet;

     (ii) For lines rated over 50 kV., minimum clearance between the lines and any part of the crane or load shall be 10 feet plus 0.4 inch for each 1 kV. over 50 kV., or twice the length of the line insulator, but never less than 10 feet;

     (iii) In transit with no load and boom lowered, the equipment clearance shall be a minimum of 4 feet for voltages less than 50 kV., and 10 feet for voltages over 50 kV. up to and including 345 kV., and 16 feet for voltages up to and including 750 kV;

     (iv) A person shall be designated to observe clearance of the equipment and give timely warning to insure that the required separation is maintained for all operations where it is difficult for the operator to maintain the desired clearance by visual means;

     (v) Cage-type boom guards, insulating links, or proximity warning devices may be used on cranes, but the use of such devices shall not alter the requirements of any other regulation of this part even if such device is required by law or regulation;

     (vi) Any overhead wire shall be considered to be an energized line unless and until the person owning such line or the electrical utility authorities indicate that it is not an energized line and it has been visibly grounded;

     (vii) Prior to work near transmitter tower where an electrical charge can be induced in the equipment or materials being handled, the transmitter shall be deenergized or tests shall be made to determine if electrical charge is induced on the crane.

     (f) The following precautions shall be taken when necessary to dissipate induced voltage:

     (i) The equipment shall be provided with an electrical ground directly to the upper rotating structure supporting the boom; and

     (ii) Ground jumper cables shall be attached to materials being handled by boom equipment when electrical charge is induced while working near energized transmitters. Crews shall be provided with nonconductive poles having large alligator clips or other similar protection to attach the ground cable to the load.

     (iii) Combustible and flammable materials shall be removed from the immediate area prior to operations.

     (g) No modifications or additions which affect the capacity or safe operation of the equipment shall be made by the employer without the manufacturer's or a qualified engineer's written approval. If such modifications or changes are made, the capacity, operation, and maintenance instruction plates, tags, or decals, shall be changed accordingly. In no case shall the original safety factor of the equipment be reduced.

     (h) The employer shall comply with Power Crane and Shovel Association, Mobile Hydraulic Crane Standard No. 2.

     (i) Sideboom cranes mounted on wheel or crawler tractors shall meet the requirements of SAE J743a-1964.

     (4) Crawler, locomotive, and truck cranes.

     (a) All jibs shall have positive stops to prevent their movement of more than 5° above the straight line of the jib and boom on conventional type crane booms. The use of cable type belly slings does not constitute compliance with this standard.

     (b) All crawler, truck or locomotive cranes in use shall meet the applicable requirements for design, inspection, construction, testing, maintenance and operation as prescribed in the ANSI B30.5-1989, Safety Code for Crawler, Locomotive and Truck Cranes.

     (5) Tower cranes.

     (a) Tower cranes shall be erected, jumped and dismantled under the immediate supervision of a competent person, designated by the employer.

     (b) Tower cranes shall be erected, maintained and used in accordance with the manufacturer's specifications, recommendations and procedures. All modifications shall be approved by the manufacturer and engineered by a professional engineer. The safety factors shall not be reduced by any modifications. The crane plates and charts shall be changed to reflect any modifications made.

     (c) A professional engineer shall certify that the crane foundations and underlying soil are adequate support for the tower crane with its maximum overturning movement.

     (d) Tower cranes shall be positioned whereby they can swing 360° without either the counterweight or jib striking any building, structure or other object, except:

     (i) If the crane can strike an object or another crane, suitable limit switches shall be installed which will prohibit contact with such objects, or;

     (ii) Direct voice communications shall be established between any operator of the tower crane(s) involved and a signalperson so stationed where the boom and/or counterweight movement, and the object with which it may contact can be observed so that the operator(s) can be warned of imminent danger.

     (iii) A secondary means of positive communications shall be established as a back-up for possible direct voice communication failure.

     (iv) Radio communication systems without tone coded squelch are prohibited. Citizens band radios shall not be used as a means of communications for tower cranes.

     (e) Prior to installing a climbing tower crane within an existing building or new construction, a structural engineer shall certify that the building is designed to withstand the torque and floor loading created by the crane to be installed.

     (f) Tower cranes erected on a new foundation shall be tested in accordance with ANSI B30.3-1990 Chapter 3-1.

     (i) The test shall consist of suspending a load of not less than 110% of the rated capacity for 15 minutes. The load shall be suspended from the furthest point of the length of boom (jib) to be used. The results of this test shall be within the manufacturer's recommendations and/or specifications.

     (ii) A record of each test shall be made and signed by the person responsible for conducting the test. Such records shall be maintained on the construction site for the duration of the construction work for which it was erected and subsequently made a part of the firm's permanent equipment records. Records shall be made available to authorized representatives of the department, upon request.

     (g) A capacity chart shall be furnished by each crane manufacturer which shall include a full and complete range of crane load ratings at all stated operating radii for each allowable speed and each recommended counterweight load.

     (i) Such chart shall be posted in the operator's cab or at the remote control stand in use. In lieu of the chart at the remote control stand, a minimum of two weight capacity signs shall be affixed to the jib or boom.

     (ii) The chart shall be visible and readable to the operator while at the normal operating position.

     (h) Operating controls shall be properly marked to indicate the function of the controls in each position.

     (i) An operating and maintenance manual written in the English language shall be provided with each tower crane.

     (j) Limit switches shall be installed and shall be kept properly adjusted. They shall be protected or isolated in a manner which will prevent unauthorized tampering. Limit switches shall provide the following functions:

     (i) Safely limit the travel of the trolley to prevent it from hitting the outer end of the jib.

     (ii) Limit the upward travel of the load block to prevent two-blocking.

     (iii) Lower over travel limiting devices shall be provided for all load hoists where the hook area is not visible to the operator.

     (iv) Limit the load being lifted in a manner whereby no more than 110% of the maximum rated load can be lifted or moved.

     (k) The crane shall not be used to pull vehicles of any type, remove piling, loosen form work, pull away loads which are attached to the ground or walls, or for any operation other than the proper handling of freely suspended loads.

     (l) When the operator may be exposed to the hazard of falling objects, the tower crane cab and/or remote control station shall have adequate overhead protection.

     (m) The operator shall be protected from the weather. If enclosed cabs are provided they shall provide clear visibility in all directions and glass shall be approved safety glass or the equivalent.

     (n) An approved and safe means shall be provided for access to operator's cab and machinery platform.

     (o) When necessary for inspection or maintenance purposes, ladders, walkways with railing or other devices shall be provided.

     (p) Each tower crane shall be provided with a slewing brake capable of preventing the jib or boom from rotating in either direction and stopping the rotation of the jib or boom while loaded, when desired. Such brake shall have a holding device which, when set, will hold the jib or boom in a fixed location without additional attention of the operator. When the crane is out of operation, the jib or boom shall be pointed downwind and the slewing brake shall be released so as to permit the jib or boom to weathervane, providing the jib or boom has a clear 360 degree rotation. Where a 360 degree rotation is not provided, the jib or boom shall be pointed downwind from the prevailing wind and the slewing brake set.

     (q) Each tower crane shall be provided with a braking system on the trolley capable of stopping and holding the trolley in any desired position while carrying a maximum load. This brake shall be capable of being locked in a fixed location without additional attention of the operator. An automatic brake or device shall be installed which will immediately stop and lock the trolley in position in the event of a breakage of the trolley rope.

     (r) All electrical equipment shall be properly grounded and protection shall be provided against lightning.

     (s) When the operator is actually operating the crane, the operator shall remain in a stationary position.

     (t) All crane brakes shall automatically set in event of power failure. Swing brakes shall also function in this manner or be capable of being set manually.

     (u) Climbing jack systems used for raising a tower crane shall be equipped with over-pressure relief valves, direct-reading pressure gauges, and pilot-operated hydraulic check valves installed in a manner which will prevent jack from retracting should a hydraulic line or fitting rupture or fail.

     (v) During periods of high winds or weather affecting visibility, i.e., fog, etc., only loads shall be handled that are consistent with good safety practices. Good safety practices shall be mutually agreed upon by the operator and the person in charge of the construction job, with due consideration given to manufacturer's specifications and recommendations.

     (w) Counterweights shall be securely fastened in place and shall not exceed the weight as recommended by the manufacturer for the length of jib being used. However, an amount of counterweight as recommended by the manufacturer shall be used.

     (x) Tower cranes shall be inspected and maintained in accordance with the manufacturer's recommendations or more frequently if there is reason to suspect a possible defect or weakening of any portion of the structure or equipment.

     (y) Guy wires, wedges, braces or other supports shall be inspected at the beginning and at midpoint of each working shift to ascertain that they are functioning as intended.

     (6) Additional tower crane requirements.

     (a) An approved method must be instituted for transmitting signals to the operator. Standard hand signals for crane operations must be used, whenever possible; however, if conditions are such that hand signals are ineffective, radio-controlled or electric-whistle signal or two-way voice communication must be used. (See WAC 296-155-525 (5)(d).)

     (b) Tower cranes shall not be erected or raised when the wind velocity at the worksite exceeds 20 m.p.h. or that specified by the manufacturer.

     (c) Tower crane operators shall be trained and experienced in tower crane operations; however, for gaining experience, persons may operate the tower crane if under the immediate supervision of an experienced operator.

     (d) Adequate clearance shall be maintained between moving and rotating structures of the crane and fixed objects to allow the passage of employees without harm.

     (e) Employees required to perform duties on the horizontal boom of hammerhead tower cranes shall be protected against falling by guardrails or by a full body harness and lanyards attached to crane or to lifelines in conformance with Part C-1 of this chapter.

     (f) Buffers shall be provided at both ends of travel of the trolley.

     (g) Cranes mounted on rail tracks shall be equipped with limit switches limiting the travel of the crane on the track and stops or buffers at each end of the tracks.

     (h) All hammerhead tower cranes in use shall meet the applicable requirements for design, construction, installation, testing, maintenance, inspection, and operation as prescribed by the manufacturer.

     (i) Access ladders inside the telescoping sections of tower cranes are exempt from those sections of the safety standards pertaining to cleat length and cleat spacing, but shall conform to manufacturer's recommendations and specifications.

     (7) Overhead and gantry cranes.

     (a) The rated load of the crane shall be plainly marked on each side of the crane, and if the crane has more than one hoisting unit, each hoist shall have its rated load marked on it or its load block, and this marking shall be clearly legible from the ground or floor.

     (b) Bridge trucks shall be equipped with sweeps which extend below the top of the rail and project in front of the truck wheels.

     (c) Except for floor-operated cranes, a gong or other effective audible warning signal shall be provided for each crane equipped with a power traveling mechanism.

     (d) All overhead and gantry cranes in use shall meet the applicable requirements for design, construction, installation, testing, maintenance, inspection, and operation as prescribed in ANSI B30.2.0-1990, Safety Code for Overhead and Gantry Cranes.

     (8) Derricks. All derricks in use shall meet the applicable requirements for design, construction, installation, inspection, testing, maintenance, and operation as prescribed in American National Standard Institute B30.6-1990, Safety Code for Derricks.

     (9) Floating cranes and derricks.

     (a) Mobile cranes mounted on barges.

     (i) When a mobile crane is mounted on a barge, the rated load of the crane shall not exceed the original capacity specified by the manufacturer.

     (ii) A load rating chart, with clearly legible letters and figures, shall be provided with each crane, and securely fixed at a location easily visible to the operator.

     (iii) When load ratings are reduced to stay within the limits for list of the barge with a crane mounted on it, a new load rating chart shall be provided.

     (iv) Mobile cranes on barges shall be positively secured.

     (b) Permanently mounted floating cranes and derricks.

     (i) When cranes and derricks are permanently installed on a barge, the capacity and limitations of use shall be based on competent design criteria.

     (ii) A load rating chart with clearly legible letters and figures shall be provided and securely fixed at a location easily visible to the operator.

     (iii) Floating cranes and floating derricks in use shall meet the applicable requirements for design, construction, installation, testing, maintenance, and operation as prescribed by the manufacturer.

     (c) Protection of employees working on barges. The employer shall comply with the applicable requirements for protection of employees as specified in WAC 296-155-630.

     (10) Mobile cranes and excavation machines.

     (a) In all power driven shovel operations the person in charge shall issue instructions necessary to prevent accidents, to detect and correct unsafe acts and dangerous conditions, and to enforce all safety rules and regulations.

     The person in charge shall also issue instructions on the proper method of using tools and handling material.

     (b) Where the ground is soft or uneven, timbering and planking shall be used to provide firm foundation and distribute the load.

     (c) In case of a breakdown, the shovel shall be moved away from the foot of the slope before repairs are made.

     (d) All persons shall keep away from the range of the shovel's swing and shall not be permitted to stand back of the shovel or in line with the swing of the dipper during operation or moving of shovel.

     (e) Unauthorized persons shall not be allowed on the shovel during operations, and the operator shall not converse with other persons while operating machine.

     (f) The shovel dipper shall rest on the ground or on blocking during shut down periods.

     (g) Shovels shall be inspected daily and all defects promptly repaired.

     (h) All rubber tired mobile cranes shall be equipped with outriggers and sufficient blocking to properly stabilize crane while operating.

     (i) Rubber tired mobile cranes shall be equipped with rear view mirrors.

     (j) Positive boom stops shall be provided on all mobile cranes of the wheel and crawler type.

     (k) Length of a crane boom and amount of counterweight shall not exceed manufacturer's rated capacity for equipment involved; except on isolated cases where permission is granted by the department.

     (l) On all cranes where wedge brackets are used as terminal connections, the proper size wedge shall be used.

     (m) On all mobile cranes, the hoist and boom drums shall be provided with a positive operated pawl or dog which shall be used in addition to the brake to hold the load and boom when they are suspended. Counterweight operated dogs are prohibited.

     (n) Oiling and greasing shall be done under safe conditions with machine at rest, except when motion of machine is necessary.

     (o) All steps, running boards, and boom ladder shall be of substantial construction and in good repair at all times.

     (p) Operators shall not leave the cab while master clutch is engaged.

     (q) Fire extinguishers shall be readily accessible and within reach of operator at all times.

     (r) All shovel and crane cabs shall be kept clean and free of excess oil and grease on floor and machinery. Oily and greasy rags shall be disposed of immediately after use and not allowed to accumulate.

     (s) Tools shall not be left on the cab floor. Spare cans of oil or fuel, and spare parts, shall not be stored in cabs, except in approved racks provided for that purpose.

     (t) Mats or planking shall be used in moving shovels or cranes over soft or uneven ground.

     (u) Cranes or shovels setting on steep grades shall be securely blocked or secured with a tail hold.

     (v) Smoking shall be prohibited while fueling or oiling machines.

     (w) Gasoline powered motors shall be stopped during refueling.

     (x) Handling of movable feed line (bologna) shall be accomplished with insulated hooks and lineman's rubber gloves.

     (y) Where cables cross roads they shall be elevated or placed in a trench.

     (z) On all power shovels, including back-hoe types, of one-half cubic yard capacity or over, and on all dragline cranes or all-purpose cranes of the crawler or wheel type, two persons shall constitute the minimum working crew. It is mandatory that one be a qualified operator of the equipment in use. The job title of the other crew member may be oiler, rigger, signal person, or a laborer. The primary purpose of the second crew member is to signal the operator when the operator's vision is impaired or obscured and to be on-hand in case of emergency.

     (i) Second-crew persons shall be properly trained in their second-person required skills.

     (ii) The second crew member shall be close enough to the machine in operation to be aware of any emergency, if one arises, and to assure the machine is operated with necessary and appropriate signals to the operator.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.010, [49.17].040, [49.17].050. 02-12-098, § 296-155-525, filed 6/5/02, effective 8/1/02; 01-17-033, § 296-155-525, filed 8/8/01, effective 9/1/01. Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.040, [49.17].050 and [49.17].060. 95-17-036, § 296-155-525, filed 8/9/95, effective 9/25/95. Statutory Authority: Chapter 49.17 RCW. 91-03-044 (Order 90-18), § 296-155-525, filed 1/10/91, effective 2/12/91; Order 76-29, § 296-155-525, filed 9/30/76; Order 74-26, § 296-155-525, filed 5/7/74, effective 6/6/74.]


AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 99-17-094, filed 8/17/99, effective 12/1/99)

WAC 296-155-655   General protection requirements.   (1) Surface encumbrances. All surface encumbrances that are located so as to create a hazard to employees shall be removed or supported, as necessary, to safeguard employees.

     (2) Underground installations.

     (a) The location of utility installations, such as sewer, telephone, fuel, electric, water lines, or any other underground installations that reasonably may be expected to be encountered during excavation work, shall be located prior to opening an excavation.

     (b) Utility companies or owners shall be contacted within established or customary local response times, advised of the proposed work, and asked to locate the underground utility installation prior to the start of actual excavation.

     (c) When excavation operations approach the location of underground installations, the exact location of the installations shall be determined by safe and acceptable means.

     (d) While the excavation is open, underground installations shall be protected, supported, or removed as necessary to safeguard employees.

     (3) Access and egress.

     (a) Structural ramps.

     (i) Structural ramps that are used solely by employees as a means of access or egress from excavations shall be designed by a competent person. Structural ramps used for access or egress of equipment shall be designed by a competent person qualified in structural design, and shall be constructed in accordance with the design.

     (ii) Ramps and runways constructed of two or more structural members shall have the structural members connected together to prevent displacement.

     (iii) Structural members used for ramps and runways shall be of uniform thickness.

     (iv) Cleats or other appropriate means used to connect runway structural members shall be attached to the bottom of the runway or shall be attached in a manner to prevent tripping.

     (v) Structural ramps used in lieu of steps shall be provided with cleats or other surface treatments on the top surface to prevent slipping.

     (b) Means of egress from trench excavations. A stairway, ladder, ramp or other safe means of egress shall be located in trench excavations that are 4 feet (1.22 m) or more in depth so as to require no more than 25 feet (7.62 m) of lateral travel for employees.

     (4) Exposure to vehicular traffic. Employees exposed to public vehicular traffic shall be provided with, and shall wear, warning vests or other suitable garments marked with or made of reflectorized or high-visibility material.

     (5) Exposure to falling loads. No employee shall be permitted underneath loads handled by lifting or digging equipment. Employees shall be required to stand away from any vehicle being loaded or unloaded to avoid being struck by any spillage or falling materials. Operators may remain in the cabs of vehicles being loaded or unloaded when the vehicles are equipped, in accordance with WAC 296-155-610 (2)(g), to provide adequate protection for the operator during loading and unloading operations.

     (6) Warning system for mobile equipment. When mobile equipment is operated adjacent to an excavation, or when such equipment is required to approach the edge of an excavation, and the operator does not have a clear and direct view of the edge of the excavation, a warning system shall be utilized such as barricades, hand or mechanical signals, or stop logs. If possible, the grade should be away from the excavation.

     (7) Hazardous atmospheres.

     (a) Testing and controls. In addition to the requirements set forth in parts B-1, C, and C-1 of this chapter (296-155 WAC) to prevent exposure to harmful levels of atmospheric contaminants and to assure acceptable atmospheric conditions, the following requirements shall apply:

     (i) Where oxygen deficiency (atmospheres containing less than 19.5 percent oxygen) or a hazardous atmosphere exists or could reasonably be expected to exist, such as in excavations in landfill areas or excavations in areas where hazardous substances are stored nearby, the atmospheres in the excavation shall be tested before employees enter excavations greater than 4 feet (1.22 m) in depth.

     (ii) Adequate precautions shall be taken to prevent employee exposure to atmospheres containing less than 19.5 percent oxygen and other hazardous atmospheres. These precautions include providing proper respiratory protection or ventilation (([in accordance with parts] [as required by chapter 296-62 WAC, part E and by part] B-1 [and C] of this chapter [respectively])) in accordance with chapter 296-842 WAC.

     (iii) Adequate precaution shall be taken such as providing ventilation, to prevent employee exposure to an atmosphere containing a concentration of a flammable gas in excess of 10 percent of the lower flammable limit of the gas.

     (iv) When controls are used that are intended to reduce the level of atmospheric contaminants to acceptable levels, testing shall be conducted as often as necessary to ensure that the atmosphere remains safe.

     (b) Emergency rescue equipment.

     (i) Emergency rescue equipment, such as breathing apparatus, a safety harness and line, or a basket stretcher, shall be readily available where hazardous atmospheric conditions exist or may reasonably be expected to develop during work in an excavation. This equipment shall be attended when in use.

     (ii) Employees entering bell-bottom pier holes, or other similar deep and confined footing excavations, shall wear a harness with a lifeline securely attached to it. The lifeline shall be separate from any line used to handle materials, and shall be individually attended at all times while the employee wearing the lifeline is in the excavation.


Note: See chapter 296-62 WAC, Part M for additional requirements applicable to confined space operations.


     (8) Protection from hazards associated with water accumulation.

     (a) Employees shall not work in excavations in which there is accumulated water, or in excavations in which water is accumulating, unless adequate precautions have been taken to protect employees against the hazards posed by water accumulation. The precautions necessary to protect employees adequately vary with each situation, but could include special support or shield systems to protect from cave-ins, water removal to control the level of accumulating water, or use of a safety harness and lifeline.

     (b) If water is controlled or prevented from accumulating by the use of water removal equipment, the water removal equipment and operations shall be monitored by a competent person to ensure proper operation.

     (c) If excavation work interrupts the natural drainage of surface water (such as streams), diversion ditches, dikes, or other suitable means shall be used to prevent surface water from entering the excavation and to provide adequate drainage of the area adjacent to the excavation. Excavations subject to runoff from heavy rains will require an inspection by a competent person and compliance with subdivisions (a) and (b) of this subsection.

     (9) Stability of adjacent structures.

     (a) Where the stability of adjoining buildings, walls, or other structures is endangered by excavation operations, support systems such as shoring, bracing, or underpinning shall be provided to ensure the stability of such structures for the protection of employees.

     (b) Excavation below the level of the base or footing of any foundation or retaining wall that could be reasonably expected to pose a hazard to employees shall not be permitted except when:

     (i) A support system, such as underpinning, is provided to ensure the safety of employees and the stability of the structure; or

     (ii) The excavation is in stable rock; or

     (iii) A registered professional engineer has approved the determination that the structure is sufficiently removed from the excavation so as to be unaffected by the excavation activity; or

     (iv) A registered professional engineer has approved the determination that such excavation work will not pose a hazard to employees.

     (c) Sidewalks, pavements, and appurtenant structure shall not be undermined unless a support system or another method of protection is provided to protect employees from the possible collapse of such structures.

     (10) Protection of employees from loose rock or soil.

     (a) Adequate protection shall be provided to protect employees from loose rock or soil that could pose a hazard by falling or rolling from an excavation face. Such protection shall consist of scaling to remove loose material; installation of protective barricades at intervals as necessary on the face to stop and contain falling material; or other means that provide equivalent protection.

     (b) Employees shall be protected from excavated or other materials or equipment that could pose a hazard by falling or rolling into excavations. Protection shall be provided by placing and keeping such materials or equipment at least 2 feet (.61 m) from the edge of excavations, or by the use of retaining devices that are sufficient to prevent materials or equipment from falling or rolling into excavations, or by a combination of both if necessary.

     (11) Inspections.

     (a) Daily inspections of excavations, the adjacent areas, and protective systems shall be made by a competent person for evidence of a situation that could result in possible cave-ins, indications of failure of protective systems, hazardous atmospheres, or other hazardous conditions. An inspection shall be conducted by the competent person prior to the start of work and as needed throughout the shift. Inspections shall also be made after every rainstorm or other hazard increasing occurrence. These inspections are only required when employee exposure can be reasonably anticipated.

     (b) Where the competent person finds evidence of a situation that could result in a possible cave-in, indications of failure of protective systems, hazardous atmospheres, or other hazardous conditions, exposed employees shall be removed from the hazardous area until the necessary precautions have been taken to ensure their safety.

     (12) Fall protection.

     (a) Walkways shall be provided where employees or equipment are required or permitted to cross over excavations. Guardrails which comply with chapter 296-155 WAC, Part K shall be provided where walkways are 4 feet or more above lower levels.

     (b) Adequate barrier physical protection shall be provided at all remotely located excavations. All wells, pits, shafts, etc., shall be barricaded or covered. Upon completion of exploration and similar operations, temporary wells, pits, shafts, etc., shall be backfilled.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.010, [49.17].040 and [49.17].050. 99-17-094, § 296-155-655, filed 8/17/99, effective 12/1/99; 99-10-071, § 296-155-655, filed 5/4/99, effective 9/1/99. Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.040, [49.17].050 and [49.17].060. 96-24-051, § 296-155-655, filed 11/27/96, effective 2/1/97. Statutory Authority: Chapter 49.17 RCW. 95-10-016, § 296-155-655, filed 4/25/95, effective 10/1/95. Statutory Authority: Chapter 49.17 RCW and RCW 49.17.040, [49.17].050 and [49.17].060. 92-22-067 (Order 92-06), § 296-155-655, filed 10/30/92, effective 12/8/92. Statutory Authority: Chapter 49.17 RCW. 91-03-044 (Order 90-18), § 296-155-655, filed 1/10/91, effective 2/12/91. Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.040 and 49.17.050. 86-03-074 (Order 86-14), § 296-155-655, filed 1/21/86. Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.040, 49.17.050 and 49.17.240. 81-13-053 (Order 81-9), § 296-155-655, filed 6/17/81; Order 76-29, § 296-155-655, filed 9/30/76; Order 74-26, § 296-155-655, filed 5/7/74, effective 6/6/74.]


AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 01-17-033, filed 8/8/01, effective 9/1/01)

WAC 296-155-730   Tunnels and shafts.   (1) Scope and application.

     (a) This section applies to the construction of underground tunnels, shafts, chambers, and passageways. This section also applies to cut-and-cover excavations which are both physically connected to ongoing underground construction operations within the scope of this section, and covered in such a manner as to create conditions characteristic of underground construction.

     (b) This section does not apply to excavation and trenching operations covered by Part N of this chapter, such as foundation operations for above-ground structures that are not physically connected to underground construction operations, and surface excavation.

     (c) The employer shall comply with the requirements of this part and chapter in addition to applicable requirements of chapter 296-36 WAC, Safety standards -- Compressed air work.

     (2) Access and egress.

     (a) Each operation shall have a check-in/check-out system that will provide positive identification of every employee underground. An accurate record of identification and location of the employees shall be kept on the surface. This procedure is not required when the construction of underground facilities designed for human occupancy has been sufficiently completed so that the permanent environmental controls are effective, and when the remaining construction activity will not cause any environmental hazard, or structural failure within the facilities.

     (b) The employer shall provide and maintain safe means of access and egress to all work stations.

     (c) The employer shall provide access and egress in such a manner that employees are protected from being struck by excavators, haulage machines, trains, and other mobile equipment.

     (d) The employer shall control access to all openings to prevent unauthorized entry underground. Unused chutes, manways, or other openings shall be tightly covered, bulkheaded, or fenced off, and shall be posted with warning signs indicating "keep out" or similar language. Completed or unused sections of the underground facility shall be barricaded.

     (3) Safety instruction. All employees shall be instructed in the recognition and avoidance of hazards associated with underground construction activities including, where appropriate, the following subjects:

     (a) Air monitoring;

     (b) Ventilation;

     (c) Confined space entry procedures;

     (d) Permit-required confined space entry procedures;

     (e) Illumination;

     (f) Communications;

     (g) Flood control;

     (h) Mechanical equipment;

     (i) Personal protective equipment;

     (j) Explosives;

     (k) Fire prevention and protection; and

     (l) Emergency procedures, including evacuation plans and check-in/check-out systems.

     (4) Notification.

     (a) Oncoming shifts shall be informed of any hazardous occurrences or conditions that have affected, or might affect employee safety, including liberation of gas, equipment failures, earth or rock slides, cave-ins, floodings, fire(s), or explosions.

     (b) Information specified in (a) of this subsection shall be recorded in a shift journal which shall be current prior to the end of each shift, and shall be located aboveground.

     (c) Oncoming supervisory personnel shall read the notification prior to going underground, and shall signify their understanding of the contents by affixing their respective initials to the log.

     (d) The hazard notification log shall be retained on the site until the completion of the project.

     (e) The employer shall establish and maintain direct communications for coordination of activities with other employers whose operations at the jobsite affect or may affect the safety of employees underground.

     (5) Communications.

     (a) When natural unassisted voice communication is ineffective, a power-assisted means of voice communication shall be used to provide communication between the work face, the bottom of the shaft, and the surface.

     (b) Two effective means of communication, at least one of which shall be voice communication, shall be provided in all shafts which are being developed or used either for personnel access or for hoisting. Additional requirements for hoist operator communication are contained in subsection (22)(c)(xv) of this section.

     (c) Powered communication systems shall operate on an independent power supply, and shall be installed so that the use of or disruption of any one phone or signal location will not disrupt the operation of the system from any other location.

     (d) Communication systems shall be tested upon initial entry of each shift to the underground, and as often as necessary at later times, to ensure that they are in working order.

     (e) Any employee working alone underground in a hazardous location, who is both out of the range of natural unassisted voice communication and not under observation by other persons, shall be provided with an effective means of obtaining assistance in an emergency.

     (6) Emergency provisions. Hoisting capability. When a shaft is used as a means of egress, the employer shall make advance arrangements for power-assisted hoisting capability to be readily available in an emergency, unless the regular hoisting means can continue to function in the event of an electrical power failure at the jobsite. Such hoisting means shall be designed so that the load hoist drum is powered in both directions of rotation and so that the brake is automatically applied upon power release or failure.

     (7) Self-rescuers. The employer must provide self-rescuers certified by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health under 42 CFR part 84. The respirators must be immediately available to all employees at work stations in underground areas where employees might be trapped by smoke or gas. The selection, issuance, use, and care of respirators must be in accordance with the requirements of chapter ((296-62)) 296-842 WAC((, Part E)).

     (8) Designated person. At least one designated person shall be on duty aboveground whenever any employee is working underground. This designated person shall be responsible for securing immediate aid and keeping an accurate record of the number, identification, and location of employees who are underground in case of emergency. The designated person must not be so busy with other responsibilities that the personnel counting and identification function is encumbered.

     (9) Emergency lighting. Each employee underground shall have an acceptable portable hand lamp or cap lamp in his or her work area for emergency use, unless natural light or an emergency lighting system provides adequate illumination for escape.

     (10) Rescue teams.

     (a) On jobsites where 25 or more employees work underground at one time, the employer shall provide (or make arrangements in advance with locally available rescue services to provide) at least two 5-person rescue teams, one on the jobsite or within one-half hour travel time from the entry point, and the other within 2 hours travel time.

     (b) On jobsites where less than 25 employees work underground at one time, the employer shall provide (or make arrangements in advance with locally available rescue services to provide) at least one 5-person rescue team to be either on the jobsite or within one-half hour travel time from the entry point.

     (c) Rescue team members shall be qualified in rescue procedures, the use and limitations of breathing apparatus, and the use of fire fighting equipment. Qualifications shall be reviewed not less than annually.

     (d) On jobsites where flammable or noxious gases are encountered or anticipated in hazardous quantities, rescue team members shall practice donning and using pressure demand mode, self-contained breathing apparatuses monthly.

     (e) The employer shall ensure that rescue teams are familiar with conditions at the jobsite.

     (11) Hazardous classifications.

     (a) Potentially gassy operations. Underground construction operations shall be classified as potentially gassy if either:

     (i) Air monitoring discloses 10 percent or more of the lower explosive limit for methane or other flammable gases measured at 12 inches (304.8 mm)+/-0.25 inch (6.35 mm) from the roof, face, floor, or walls in any underground work area for more than a 24-hour period; or

     (ii) The history of the geographical area or geological formation indicates that 10 percent or more of the lower explosive limit for methane or other flammable gases is likely to be encountered in such underground operations.

     (b) Gassy operations. Underground construction operations shall be classified as gassy if:

     (i) Air monitoring discloses 10 percent or more of the lower explosive limit for methane or other flammable gases measured at 12 inches (304.8 mm)+/-0.25 inch (6.35 mm) from the roof, face, floor, or walls in any underground work area for three consecutive days; or

     (ii) There has been an ignition of methane or of other flammable gases emanating from the strata that indicates the presence of such gases; or

     (iii) The underground construction operation is both connected to an underground work area which is currently classified as gassy and is also subject to a continuous course of air containing the flammable gas concentration.

     (c) Declassification to potentially gassy operations. Underground construction gassy operations may be declassified to potentially gassy when air monitoring results remain under 10 percent of the lower explosive limit for methane or other flammable gases for three consecutive days.

     (12) Gassy operations -- Additional requirements. Only acceptable equipment, maintained in suitable condition, shall be used in gassy operations.

     (a) Mobile diesel-powered equipment used in gassy operations shall be either approved in accordance with the requirements of 30 CFR Part 36 (formerly Schedule 31) by MSHA, or shall be demonstrated by the employer to be fully equivalent to such MSHA-approved equipment, and shall be operated in accordance with that part.

     (b) Each entrance to a gassy operation shall be prominently posted with signs notifying all entrants of the gassy classification.

     (c) Smoking shall be prohibited in all gassy operations and the employer shall be responsible for collecting all personal sources of ignition, such as matches and lighters, from all persons entering a gassy operation.

     (d) A fire watch as described in chapter 296-155 WAC, Part H, shall be maintained when hot work is performed.

     (e) Once an operation has met the criteria in subsection (11)(a)(i) of this section, warranting classification as gassy, all operations in the affected area, except the following, shall be discontinued until the operation either is in compliance with all of the gassy operation requirements or has been declassified in accordance with (c) of this subsection:

     (i) Operations related to the control of the gas concentration;

     (ii) Installation of new equipment, or conversion of existing equipment, to comply with this subsection; and

     (iii) Installation of above-ground controls for reversing the air flow.

     (13) Air quality and monitoring.

     (a) General. Air quality limits and control requirements specified in chapter ((296-62)) 296-841 WAC((, Part H,)) shall apply except as modified by this subsection.

     (b) The employer shall assign a competent person who shall perform all air monitoring required by this section.

     (c) Where this section requires monitoring of airborne contaminants "as often as necessary," the competent person shall make a reasonable determination as to which substances to monitor and how frequently to monitor, considering at least the following factors:

     (i) Location of jobsite: Proximity to fuel tanks, sewers, gas lines, old landfills, coal deposits, and swamps;

     (ii) Geology: Geological studies of the jobsite, particularly involving the soil type and its permeability;

     (iii) History: Presence of air contaminants in nearby jobsites, changes in levels of substances monitored on the prior shift; and

     (iv) Work practices and jobsite conditions: The use of diesel engines, use of explosives, use of fuel gas, volume and flow of ventilation, visible atmospheric conditions, decompression of the atmosphere, welding, cutting and hot work, and employees' physical reactions to working underground.

     (d) The employer shall provide testing and monitoring instruments which are capable of achieving compliance with the provisions of this subsection, and:

     (i) Shall maintain the testing and monitoring instruments in good condition;

     (ii) Shall calibrate the instruments on a frequency not to exceed 6 months.

     (e) Exposure to airborne contaminants shall not exceed the levels established by chapter ((296-62)) 296-841 WAC((, Part H)).

     (f) Respirators shall not be substituted for environmental control measures. However, where environmental controls have not yet been developed, or when necessary by the nature of the work involved (for example, welding, sand blasting, lead burning), an employee may work for short periods of time in concentrations of airborne contaminants which exceed the limit of permissible exposure referred to in (d) of this subsection, if the employee wears a respiratory protective device certified by MSHA-NIOSH for protection against the particular hazards involved, and the selection and use of respirators complies with the provisions of chapter ((296-62)) 296-842 WAC((, Part E)).

     (g) Employees shall be withdrawn from areas in which there is a concentration of an airborne contaminant which exceeds the permissible exposure limit listed for that contaminant, except as modified in (t)(i) and (ii) of this subsection.

     (h) The atmosphere in all underground work areas shall be tested as often as necessary to assure that the atmosphere at normal atmospheric pressure contains at least 19.5 percent oxygen and no more than 22 percent oxygen.

     (i) Tests for oxygen content shall be made before tests for air contaminants.

     (j) Field-type oxygen analyzers, or other suitable devices, shall be used to test for oxygen deficiency.

     (k) The atmosphere in all underground work areas shall be tested quantitatively for carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, hydrogen sulfide, and other toxic gases, dust, vapors, mists, and fumes as often as necessary to ensure that the permissible exposure limits prescribed in chapter 296-62 WAC, Part H, are not exceeded.

     (l) The atmosphere in all underground work areas shall be tested quantitatively for methane and other flammable gases as often as necessary to determine:

     (i) Whether action is to be taken under (q), (r), and (s) of this subsection; and

     (ii) Whether an operation is to be classified potentially gassy or gassy under subsection (11) of this section.

     (m) If diesel-engine or gasoline-engine driven ventilating fans or compressors are used, an initial test shall be made of the inlet air of the fan or compressor, with the engines operating, to ensure that the air supply is not contaminated by engine exhaust.

     (n) Testing shall be performed as often as necessary to ensure that the ventilation requirements of subsection (15) of this section are met.

     (o) When rapid excavation machines are used, a continuous flammable gas monitor shall be operated at the face with the sensor(s) placed as high and close to the front of the machine's cutter head as practicable.

     (p) Whenever air monitoring indicates the presence of 5 ppm or more of hydrogen sulfide, a test shall be conducted in the affected underground work area(s), at least at the beginning and midpoint of each shift, until the concentration of hydrogen sulfide has been less than 5 ppm for 3 consecutive days.

     (i) Whenever hydrogen sulfide is detected in an amount exceeding 10 ppm, a continuous sampling and indicating hydrogen sulfide monitor shall be used to monitor the affected work area.

     (ii) Employees shall be informed when a concentration of 10 ppm hydrogen sulfide is exceeded.

     (iii) The continuous sampling and indicating hydrogen sulfide monitor shall be designed, installed, and maintained to provide a visual and aural alarm when the hydrogen sulfide concentration reaches 15 ppm to signal that additional measures, such as respirator use, increased ventilation, or evacuation, might be necessary to maintain hydrogen sulfide exposure below the permissible exposure limit.

     (q) When the competent person determines, on the basis of air monitoring results or other information, that air contaminants may be present in sufficient quantity to be dangerous to life, the employer shall:

     (i) Prominently post a notice at all entrances to the underground jobsite to inform all entrants of the hazardous condition; and

     (ii) Immediately increase sampling frequency levels to insure workers are not exposed to identified contaminants in excess of the permissible exposure limit(s); and

     (iii) Ensure that all necessary precautions are taken to comply with pertinent requirements of this section, and chapter 296-62 WAC.

     (r) Whenever five percent or more of the lower explosive limit for methane or other flammable gases is detected in any underground work area(s) or in the air return, steps shall be taken to increase ventilation air volume or otherwise control the gas concentration, unless the employer is operating in accordance with the potentially gassy or gassy operation requirements. Such additional ventilation controls may be discontinued when gas concentrations are reduced below five percent of the lower explosive limit, but shall be reinstituted whenever the five percent level is exceeded.

     (s) Whenever 10 percent or more of the lower explosive limit for methane or other flammable gases is detected in the vicinity of welding, cutting, or other hot work, such work shall be suspended until the concentration of such flammable gas is reduced to less than 10 percent of the lower explosive limit.

     (t) Whenever 20 percent or more of the lower explosive limit for methane or other flammable gases is detected in any underground work area(s) or in the air return:

     (i) All employees, except those necessary to eliminate the hazard, shall be immediately withdrawn to a safe location above ground; and

     (ii) Employees who remain underground to correct or eliminate the hazard described in (t) above shall be equipped with approved, pressure demand mode, self-contained breathing apparatus, and shall have received adequate training in the proper use of that equipment.

     (iii) Electrical power, except for acceptable pumping and ventilation equipment, shall be cut off to the area endangered by the flammable gas until the concentration of such gas is reduced to less than 20 percent of the lower explosive limit.

     (14) Additional monitoring for potentially gassy and gassy operations. Operations which meet the criteria for potentially gassy and gassy operations set forth in subsection (13) of this section shall be subject to the additional monitoring requirements of this subsection.

     (a) A test for oxygen content shall be conducted in the affected underground work areas and work areas immediately adjacent to such areas at least at the beginning and midpoint of each shift.

     (b) When using rapid excavation machines, continuous automatic flammable gas monitoring equipment shall be used to monitor the air at the heading, on the rib, and in the return air duct. The continuous monitor shall signal the heading, and shut down electric power in the affected underground work area, except for acceptable pumping and ventilation equipment, when 20 percent or more of the lower explosive limit for methane or other flammable gases is encountered.

     (i) A manual flammable gas monitor shall be used as needed, but at least at the beginning and midpoint of each shift, to ensure that the limits prescribed in subsections (11) and (13) of this section are not exceeded. In addition, a manual electrical shut down control shall be provided near the heading.

     (ii) Local gas tests shall be made prior to and continuously during any welding, cutting, or other hot work.

     (iii) In underground operations driven by drill-and-blast methods, the air in the affected area shall be tested for flammable gas prior to re-entry after blasting, and continuously when employees are working underground.

     (c) Recordkeeping. A record of all air quality tests shall be maintained above ground at the worksite and be made available to the director or his/her representatives upon request. The record shall include the location, date, time, substance and amount monitored. Records of exposures to toxic substances shall be retained in accordance with Part B, chapter 296-62 WAC. All other air quality test records shall be retained until completion of the project.

     (15) Ventilation.

     (a)(i) Fresh air shall be supplied to all underground work areas in sufficient quantities to prevent dangerous or harmful accumulation of dust, fumes, mists, vapors, or gases.

     (ii) Mechanical ventilation shall be provided in all underground work areas except when the employer can demonstrate that natural ventilation provides the necessary air quality through sufficient air volume and air flow.

     (b) A minimum of 200 cubic feet (5.7 m3) of fresh air per minute shall be supplied for each employee underground.

     (c) The linear velocity of air flow in the tunnel bore, in shafts, and in all other underground work areas shall be at least 30 feet (9.15 m) per minute where blasting or rock drilling is conducted, or where other conditions likely to produce dust, fumes, mists, vapors, or gases in harmful or explosive quantities are present.

     (d) The direction of mechanical air flow shall be reversible.

     (e) Air that has passed through underground oil or fuel-storage areas shall not be used to ventilate working areas.

     (f) Following blasting, ventilation systems shall exhaust smoke and fumes to the outside atmosphere before work is resumed in affected areas.

     (g) Ventilation doors shall be designed and installed so that they remain closed when in use, regardless of the direction of the air flow.

     (h) When ventilation has been reduced to the extent that hazardous levels of methane or flammable gas may have accumulated, a competent person shall test all affected areas after ventilation has been restored and shall determine whether the atmosphere is within flammable limits before any power, other than for acceptable equipment, is restored or work is resumed.

     (i) Whenever the ventilation system has been shut down with all employees out of the underground area, only competent persons authorized to test for air contaminants shall be allowed underground until the ventilation has been restored and all affected areas have been tested for air contaminants and declared safe.

     (j) When drilling rock or concrete, appropriate dust control measures shall be taken to maintain dust levels within limits set in chapter 296-155 WAC, Part B-1. Such measures may include, but are not limited to, wet drilling, the use of vacuum collectors, and water mix spray systems.

     (k)(i) Internal combustion engines, except diesel-powered engines on mobile equipment, are prohibited underground.

     (ii) Mobile diesel-powered equipment used underground in atmospheres other than gassy operations shall be either approved by MSHA in accordance with the provisions of 30 CFR Part 32 (formerly Schedule 24), or shall be demonstrated by the employer to be fully equivalent to such MSHA-approved equipment, and shall be operated in accordance with that Part. (Each brake horsepower of a diesel engine requires at least 100 cubic feet (28.32 m3) of air per minute for suitable operation in addition to the air requirements for personnel. Some engines may require a greater amount of air to ensure that the allowable levels of carbon monoxide, nitric oxide, and nitrogen dioxide are not exceeded.)

     (iii) Application shall be made to the mining/explosives section, department of labor and industries, for permission to use specified diesel equipment in a specified underground area and shall include the following:

     (A) The type of construction and complete identification data and specifications including analysis of the undiluted exhaust gases of the diesel equipment.

     (B) The location where the diesel equipment is to be used.

     (C) Before the diesel equipment is taken underground, written permission shall be obtained from the department of labor and industries or its duly authorized representative. A satisfactory test on surface, to show that the exhaust gases do not exceed the maximum percentage of carbon monoxide permitted, shall be required.

     (D) Diesel equipment shall only be used underground where the ventilation is controlled by mechanical means and shall not be operated if the ventilating current is less than 100 CFM per horsepower based on the maximum brake horsepower of the engines.

     (E) Air measurements shall be made at least once daily in the diesel engine working area and the measurements entered in the Underground Diesel Engine Record Book. Permissible maximum amounts of noxious gases are as follows:


At engine exhaust ports Carbon Monoxide .10% 1,000 ppm3
Next to equipment Carbon Monoxide .0035% 35 ppm
General atmosphere Carbon Monoxide .0035% 35 ppm
General atmosphere Nitrogen Dioxide .0001% 1 ppm
General atmosphere Aldehydes .0002% 2 ppm

3 Parts of vapor or gas per million parts of contaminated air by volume at 25°C and 760 mm Hg. pressure.

     (l) Potentially gassy or gassy operations shall have ventilation systems installed which shall:

     (i) Be constructed of fire-resistant materials; and

     (ii) Have acceptable electrical systems, including fan motors.

     (m) Gassy operations shall be provided with controls located aboveground for reversing the air flow of ventilation systems.

     (n) In potentially gassy or gassy operations, wherever mine-type ventilation systems using an offset main fan installed on the surface are used, they shall be equipped with explosion-doors or a weak-wall having an area at least equivalent to the cross-sectional area of the airway.

     (16) Illumination.

     (a) Sufficient lighting shall be provided, in accordance with the requirements of chapter 296-155 WAC, Part B-1, to permit safe operations at the face as well as in the general tunnel or shaft area and at the employees' workplace.

     (b) Only acceptable portable lighting shall be used within 50 feet (15.24 m) of any underground heading during explosive handling.

     (17) Fire prevention and control. Fire prevention and protection requirements applicable to underground construction operations are found in Part D of this chapter except as modified by the following additional standards.

     (a) Open flames and fires are prohibited in all underground construction operations except as permitted for welding, cutting, and other hot work operations.

     (i) Smoking may be allowed only in areas free of fire and explosion hazards.

     (ii) Readily visible signs prohibiting smoking and open flames shall be posted in areas having fire or explosion hazards.

     (iii) The carrying of matches, lighters, or other flame-producing smoking materials shall be prohibited in all underground operations where fire or explosion hazards exist.

     (b) The employer may store underground no more than a 24-hour supply of diesel fuel for the underground equipment used at the worksite.

     (c) The piping of diesel fuel from the surface to an underground location is permitted only if:

     (i) Diesel fuel is contained at the surface in a tank whose maximum capacity is no more than the amount of fuel required to supply for a 24-hour period the equipment serviced by the underground fueling station; and

     (ii) The surface tank is connected to the underground fueling station by an acceptable pipe or hose system that is controlled at the surface by a valve, and at the shaft bottom by a hose nozzle; and

     (iii) The pipe is empty at all times except when transferring diesel fuel from the surface tank to a piece of equipment in use underground; and

     (iv) Hoisting operations in the shaft are suspended during refueling operations if the supply piping in the shaft is not protected from damage.

     (d)(i) Gasoline shall not be carried, stored, or used underground.

     (ii) Acetylene, liquefied petroleum gas, and methylacetylene propadiene stabilized gas may be used underground only for welding, cutting and other hot work, and only in accordance with Part H of this chapter and subsections (13), (15), (17), and (18) of this section.

     (e) Oil, grease, and diesel fuel stored underground shall be kept in tightly sealed containers in fire-resistant areas at least 300 feet (91.44 m) from underground explosive magazines, and at least 100 feet (30.48 m) from shaft stations and steeply inclined passageways. Storage areas shall be positioned or diked so that the contents of ruptured or overturned containers will not flow from the storage area.

     (f) Flammable or combustible materials shall not be stored above ground within 100 feet (30.48 m) of any access opening to any underground operation. Where this is not feasible because of space limitations at the jobsite, such materials may be located within the 100-foot limit, provided that:

     (i) They are located as far as practicable from the opening; and

     (ii) Either a fire-resistant barrier of not less than one-hour rating is placed between the stored material and the opening, or additional precautions are taken which will protect the materials from ignition sources.

     (g) Fire-resistant hydraulic fluids shall be used in hydraulically-actuated underground machinery and equipment unless such equipment is protected by a fire suppression system or by multipurpose fire extinguisher(s) rated at a sufficient capacity for the type and size of hydraulic equipment involved, but rated at least 4A:4OB:C.

     (h)(i) Electrical installations in underground areas where oil, grease, or diesel fuel are stored shall be used only for lighting fixtures.

     (ii) Lighting fixtures in storage areas, or within 25 feet (7.62 m) of underground areas where oil, grease, or diesel fuel are stored, shall be approved for Class I, Division 2 locations, in accordance with Part I of this chapter.

     (i) Leaks and spills of flammable or combustible fluids shall be cleaned up immediately.

     (j) A fire extinguisher of at least 4A:4OB:C rating or other equivalent extinguishing means shall be provided at the head pulley and at the tail pulley of underground belt conveyors, and at 300-foot intervals along the belt.

     (k) Any structure located underground or within 100 feet (30.48 m) of an opening to the underground shall be constructed of material having a fire-resistance rating of at least one hour.

     (18) Welding, cutting, and other hot work. In addition to the requirements of Part H of this chapter, the following requirements shall apply to underground welding, cutting, and other hot work.

     (a) No more than the amount of fuel gas and oxygen cylinders necessary to perform welding, cutting, or other hot work during the next 24-hour period shall be permitted underground.

     (b) Noncombustible barriers shall be installed below welding, cutting, or other hot work being done in or over a shaft or raise.

     (19) Ground support.

     (a) In tunnels (other than hard rock) timber sets, steel rings, steel frames, concrete liners, or other engineered tunnel support systems shall be used. Every tunnel support system shall be designed by a licensed professional engineer. Design specifications shall be available at the worksite.

     (b) Portal areas. Portal openings and access areas shall be guarded by shoring, fencing, head walls, shotcreting, or other equivalent protection to ensure safe access of employees and equipment. Adjacent areas shall be scaled or otherwise secured to prevent loose soil, rock, or fractured materials from endangering the portal and access area.

     (c) Subsidence areas. The employer shall ensure ground stability in hazardous subsidence areas by shoring, by filling in, or by erecting barricades and posting warning signs to prevent entry.

     (d) Underground areas.

     (i)(A) A competent person shall inspect the roof, face, and walls of the work area at the start of each shift and as often as necessary to determine ground stability.

     (B) Competent persons conducting such inspections shall be protected from loose ground by location, ground support, or equivalent means.

     (ii) Ground conditions along haulageways and travelways shall be inspected as frequently as necessary to ensure safe passage.

     (iii) Loose ground that might be hazardous to employees shall be taken down, scaled, or supported.

     (iv) Torque wrenches shall be used wherever bolts that depend on torsionally applied force are used for ground support.

     (v) A competent person shall determine whether rock bolts meet the necessary torque, and shall determine the testing frequency in light of the bolt system, ground conditions, and the distance from vibration sources.

     (vi) Suitable protection shall be provided for employees exposed to the hazard of loose ground while installing ground support systems.

     (vii) Support sets shall be installed so that the bottoms have sufficient anchorage to prevent ground pressures from dislodging the support base of the sets. Lateral bracing (collar bracing, tie rods, or spreaders) shall be provided between immediately adjacent sets to ensure added stability.

     (viii) Damaged or dislodged ground supports that create a hazardous condition shall be promptly repaired or replaced. When replacing supports, the new supports shall be installed before the damaged supports are removed.

     (ix) A shield or other type of support shall be used to maintain a safe travelway for employees working in dead-end areas ahead of any support replacement operation.

     (e) Shafts.

     (i) Shafts and wells over 4 feet (1.219 m) in depth that employees must enter shall be supported by a steel casing, concrete pipe, timber, solid rock, or other suitable material.

     (ii)(A) The full depth of the shaft shall be supported by casing or bracing except where the shaft penetrates into solid rock having characteristics that will not change as a result of exposure. Where the shaft passes through earth into solid rock, or through solid rock into earth, and where there is potential for shear, the casing or bracing shall extend at least 5 feet (1.53 m) into the solid rock. When the shaft terminates in solid rock, the casing or bracing shall extend to the end of the shaft or 5 feet (1.53 m) into the solid rock, whichever is less.

     (B) The casing or bracing shall extend 42 inches (1.07 m) plus or minus 3 inches (8 cm) above ground level, except that the minimum casing height may be reduced to 12 inches (0.3 m), provided that a standard railing is installed; that the ground adjacent to the top of the shaft is sloped away from the shaft collar to prevent entry of liquids; and that effective barriers are used to prevent mobile equipment operating near the shaft from jumping over the 12-inch (0.3 m) barrier.

     (iii) After blasting operations in shafts, a competent person shall determine if the walls, ladders, timbers, blocking, or wedges have loosened. If so, necessary repairs shall be made before employees other than those assigned to make the repairs are allowed in or below the affected areas.

     (f) Blasting. This subsection applies in addition to the requirements for blasting and explosives operations, including handling of misfires, which are found in chapter 296-52 WAC.

     (i) Blasting wires shall be kept clear of electrical lines, pipes, rails, and other conductive material, excluding earth, to prevent explosives initiation or employee exposure to electric current.

     (ii) Following blasting, an employee shall not enter a work area until the air quality meets the requirements of subsection (13) of this section.

     (g) Drilling.

     (i) A competent person shall inspect all drilling and associated equipment prior to each use. Equipment defects affecting safety shall be corrected before the equipment is used.

     (ii) The drilling area shall be inspected for hazards before the drilling operation is started.

     (iii) Employees shall not be allowed on a drill mast while the drill bit is in operation or the drill machine is being moved.

     (iv) When a drill machine is being moved from one drilling area to another, drill steel, tools, and other equipment shall be secured and the mast shall be placed in a safe position.

     (v) Receptacles or racks shall be provided for storing drill steel located on jumbos.

     (vi) Employees working below jumbo decks shall be warned whenever drilling is about to begin.

     (vii) Drills on columns shall be anchored firmly before starting drilling, and shall be retightened as necessary thereafter.

     (viii) The employer shall provide mechanical means on the top deck of a jumbo for lifting unwieldy or heavy material.

     (ix) When jumbo decks are over 10 feet (3.05 m) in height, the employer shall install stairs wide enough for two persons.

     (x) Jumbo decks more than 10 feet (3.05 m) in height shall be equipped with guardrails on all open sides, excluding access openings of platforms, unless an adjacent surface provides equivalent fall protection.

     (xi) Only employees assisting the operator shall be allowed to ride on jumbos, unless the jumbo meets the requirements of subsection (20)(e) of this section.


Note: For additional requirements relating to portable fire extinguishers see WAC 296-800-300.

     (xii) Jumbos shall be chocked to prevent movement while employees are working on them.

     (xiii) Walking and working surfaces of jumbos shall be maintained to prevent the hazards of slipping, tripping, and falling.

     (xiv) Jumbo decks and stair treads shall be designed to be slip-resistant and secured to prevent accidental displacement.

     (xv) Scaling bars shall be available at scaling operations and shall be maintained in good condition at all times. Blunted or severely worn bars shall not be used.

     (xvi) Before commencing the drill cycle, the face and lifters shall be examined for misfires (residual explosives) and, if found, they shall be removed before drilling commences at the face. Blasting holes shall not be drilled through blasted rock (muck) or water.

     (xvii) Employees in a shaft shall be protected either by location or by suitable barrier(s) if powered mechanical loading equipment is used to remove muck containing unfired explosives.

     (xviii) A caution sign reading "buried line," or similar wording shall be posted where air lines are buried or otherwise hidden by water or debris.

     (20) Haulage.

     (a) A competent person shall inspect haulage equipment before each shift.

     (i) Equipment defects affecting safety and health shall be corrected before the equipment is used.

     (ii) Powered mobile haulage equipment shall be provided with adequate brakes.

     (iii) Power mobile haulage equipment, including trains, shall have audible warning devices to warn employees to stay clear. The operator shall sound the warning device before moving the equipment and whenever necessary during travel.

     (iv) The operator shall assure that lights which are visible to employees at both ends of any mobile equipment, including a train, are turned on whenever the equipment is operating.

     (v) In those cabs where glazing is used, the glass shall be safety glass, or its equivalent, and shall be maintained and cleaned so that vision is not obstructed.

     (b) Antirollback devices or brakes shall be installed on inclined conveyor drive units to prevent conveyors from inadvertently running in reverse. Employees shall not be permitted to ride a power-driven chain, belt, or bucket conveyor unless the conveyor is specifically designed for the transportation of persons.

     (c) Endless belt-type manlifts are prohibited in underground construction.

     (d) General requirements also applicable to underground construction for use of conveyors in construction are found in chapter 296-155 WAC, Part L.

     (e) No employee shall ride haulage equipment unless it is equipped with seating for each passenger and protects passengers from being struck, crushed, or caught between other equipment or surfaces. Members of train crews may ride on a locomotive if it is equipped with handholds and nonslip steps or footboards. Requirements applicable to underground construction for motor vehicle transportation of employees are found in chapter 296-155 WAC, Part M.

     (f) Conveyor lockout.

     (i) Conveyors shall be de-energized and locked out with a padlock, and tagged out with a "Do Not Operate" tag at any time repair, maintenance, or clean-up work is being performed on the conveyor.

     (ii) Tags or push button stops are not acceptable.

     (iii) Persons shall not be allowed to walk on conveyors except for emergency purposes and then only after the conveyor has been deenergized and locked out in accordance with (f) above, and persons can do so safely.

     (g) Powered mobile haulage equipment, including trains, shall not be left unattended unless the master switch or motor is turned off; operating controls are in neutral or park position; and the brakes are set, or equivalent precautions are taken to prevent rolling.

     (h) Whenever rails serve as a return for a trolley circuit, both rails shall be bonded at every joint and crossbonded every 200 feet (60.96 m).

     (i) When dumping cars by hand, the car dumps shall have tiedown chains, bumper blocks, or other locking or holding devices to prevent the cars from overturning.

     (j) Rocker-bottom or bottom-dump cars shall be equipped with positive locking devices to prevent unintended dumping.

     (k) Equipment to be hauled shall be loaded and secured to prevent sliding or dislodgement.

     (l)(i) Mobile equipment, including rail-mounted equipment, shall be stopped for manual connecting or service work, and;

     (ii) Employees shall not reach between moving cars during coupling operations.

     (iii) Couplings shall not be aligned, shifted, or cleaned on moving cars or locomotives.

     (iv) Safety chains or other connections shall be used in addition to couplers to connect person cars or powder cars whenever the locomotive is uphill of the cars.

     (v) When the grade exceeds one percent and there is a potential for runaway cars, safety chains or other connections shall be used in addition to couplers to connect haulage cars or, as an alternative, the locomotive must be downhill of the train.

     (vi) Such safety chains or other connections shall be capable of maintaining connection between cars in the event of either coupler disconnect, failure or breakage.

     (m) Parked rail equipment shall be chocked, blocked, or have brakes set to prevent inadvertent movement.

     (n) Berms, bumper blocks, safety hooks, or equivalent means shall be provided to prevent overtravel and overturning of haulage equipment at dumping locations.

     (o) Bumper blocks or equivalent stopping devices shall be provided at all track dead ends.

     (p)(i) Only small handtools, lunch pails, or similar small items may be transported with employees in person cars, or on top of a locomotive.

     (ii) When small hand tools or other small items are carried on top of a locomotive, the top shall be designed or modified to retain them while traveling.

     (q)(i) Where switching facilities are available, occupied personnel cars shall be pulled, not pushed. If personnel cars must be pushed and visibility of the track ahead is hampered, then a qualified person shall be stationed in the lead car to give signals to the locomotive operator.

     (ii) Crew trips shall consist of personnel loads only.

     (21) Electrical safety. This subsection applies in addition to the general requirements for electrical safety which are found in Part I of this chapter.

     (a) Electric power lines shall be insulated or located away from water lines, telephone lines, air lines, or other conductive materials so that a damaged circuit will not energize the other systems.

     (b) Lighting circuits shall be located so that movement of personnel or equipment will not damage the circuits or disrupt service.

     (c) Oil-filled transformers shall not be used underground unless they are located in a fire-resistant enclosure suitably vented to the outside and surrounded by a dike to retain the contents of the transformers in the event of rupture.

     (22) Hoisting unique to underground construction except as modified by this section, the following provisions of chapter 296-155 WAC, Part L apply: Requirements for cranes are found in WAC 296-155-525. WAC 296-155-528 contains rules applicable to crane hoisting of personnel, except, that the limitations imposed by WAC 296-155-528(2) do not apply to the routine access of employees to the underground via a shaft. Requirements for personnel hoists, material hoists, and elevators are found in WAC 296-155-530 and in this subsection.

     (a) General requirements for cranes and hoists.

     (i) Materials, tools, and supplies being raised or lowered, whether within a cage or otherwise, shall be secured or stacked in a manner to prevent the load from shifting, snagging, or falling into the shaft.

     (ii) A warning light suitably located to warn employees at the shaft bottom and subsurface shaft entrances shall flash whenever a load is above the shaft bottom or subsurface entrances, or the load is being moved in the shaft. This subsection does not apply to fully enclosed hoistways.

     (iii) Whenever a hoistway is not fully enclosed and employees are at the shaft bottom, conveyances or equipment shall be stopped at least 15 feet (4.57 m) above the bottom of the shaft and held there until the signalperson at the bottom of the shaft directs the operator to continue lowering the load, except that the load may be lowered without stopping if the load or conveyance is within full view of a bottom signalperson who is in constant voice communication with the operator.

     (iv)(A) Before maintenance, repairs, or other work is commenced in the shaft served by a cage, skip, or bucket, the operator and other employees in the area shall be informed and given suitable instructions.

     (B) A sign warning that work is being done in the shaft shall be installed at the shaft collar, at the operator's station, and at each underground landing.

     (v) Any connection between the hoisting rope and the cage or skip shall be compatible with the type of wire rope used for hoisting.

     (vi) Spin-type connections, where used, shall be maintained in a clean condition and protected from foreign matter that could affect their operation.

     (vii) Cage, skip, and load connections to the hoist rope shall be made so that the force of the hoist pull, vibration, misalignment, release of lift force, or impact will not disengage the connection. Only closed shackles shall be used for cage and skip rigging.

     (viii) When using wire rope wedge sockets, means shall be provided to prevent wedge escapement and to ensure that the wedge is properly seated.

     (b) Additional requirements for cranes. Cranes shall be equipped with a limit switch to prevent overtravel at the boom tip. Limit switches are to be used only to limit travel of loads when operational controls malfunction and shall not be used as a substitute for other operational controls.

     (c) Additional requirements for hoists.

     (i) Hoists shall be designed so that the load hoist drum is powered in both directions of rotation, and so that brakes are automatically applied upon power release or failure.

     (ii) Control levers shall be of the "deadman type" which return automatically to their center (neutral) position upon release.

     (iii) When a hoist is used for both personnel hoisting and material hoisting, load and speed ratings for personnel and for materials shall be assigned to the equipment.

     (iv) Hoist machines with cast metal parts shall not be used.

     (v) Material hoisting may be performed at speeds higher than the rated speed for personnel hoisting if the hoist and components have been designed for such higher speeds and if shaft conditions permit.

     (vi) Employees shall not ride on top of any cage, skip, or bucket except when necessary to perform inspection or maintenance of the hoisting system, in which case they shall be protected by a body belt/harness system to prevent falling.

     (vii) Personnel and materials (other than small tools and supplies secured in a manner that will not create a hazard to employees) shall not be hoisted together in the same conveyance. However, if the operator is protected from the shifting of materials, then the operator may ride with materials in cages or skips which are designed to be controlled by an operator within the cage or skip.

     (viii) Line speed shall not exceed the design limitations of the systems.

     (ix) Hoists shall be equipped with landing level indicators at the operator's station. Marking of the hoist rope does not satisfy this requirement.

     (x) Whenever glazing is used in the hoist house, it shall be safety glass, or its equivalent, and be free of distortions and obstructions.

     (xi) A fire extinguisher that is rated at least 2A:10B:C (multipurpose, dry chemical) shall be mounted in each hoist house.

     (xii) Hoist controls shall be arranged so that the operator can perform all operating cycle functions and reach the emergency power cutoff without having to reach beyond the operator's normal operating position.

     (xiii) Hoists shall be equipped with limit switches to prevent overtravel at the top and bottom of the hoistway.

     (xiv) Limit switches are to be used only to limit travel of loads when operational controls malfunction and shall not be used as a substitute for other operational controls.

     (xv) Hoist operators shall be provided with a closed-circuit voice communication system to each landing station, with speaker-microphones so located that the operator can communicate with individual landing stations during hoist use.

     (xvi) When sinking shafts 75 feet (22.86 m) or less in depth, cages, skips, and buckets that may swing, bump, or snag against shaft sides or other structural protrusions shall be guided by fenders, rails, ropes, or a combination of those means.

     (xvii) When sinking shafts more than 75 feet (22.86 m) in depth, all cages, skips, and buckets shall be rope or rail-guided to within a rail length from the sinking operation.

     (xviii) Cages, skips, and buckets in all completed shafts, or in all shafts being used as completed shafts, shall be rope or rail-guided for the full length of their travel.

     (xix) Wire rope used in load lines of material hoists shall be capable of supporting, without failure, at least five times the maximum intended load or the factor recommended by the rope manufacturer, whichever is greater. Refer to chapter 296-155 WAC, Part L, for design factors for wire rope used in personnel hoists. The design factors shall be calculated by dividing the breaking strength of wire rope, as reported in the manufacturer's rating tables, by the total static load, including the weight of the wire rope in the shaft when fully extended.

     (xx) A competent person shall visually check all hoisting machinery, equipment, anchorages, and hoisting rope at the beginning of each shift and during hoist use, as necessary.

     (xxi) Each safety device shall be checked by a competent person at least weekly during hoist use to ensure suitable operation and safe condition.

     (xxii) In order to ensure suitable operation and safe condition of all functions and safety devices, each hoist assembly shall be inspected and load-tested to 100 percent of its rated capacity: At the time of installation; after any repairs or alterations affecting its structural integrity; after the operation of any safety device; and annually when in use. The employer shall prepare a certification record which includes the date each inspection and load-test was performed; the signature of the person who performed the inspection and test; and a serial number or other identifier for the hoist that was inspected and tested. The most recent certification record shall be maintained on file until completion of the project.

     (xxiii) Before hoisting personnel or material, the operator shall perform a test run of any cage or skip whenever it has been out of service for one complete shift, and whenever the assembly or components have been repaired or adjusted.

     (xiv) Unsafe conditions shall be corrected before using the equipment.

     (d) Additional requirements for personnel hoists.

     (i) Hoist drum systems shall be equipped with at least two means of stopping the load, each of which shall be capable of stopping and holding 150 percent of the hoist's rated line pull. A broken-rope safety, safety catch, or arrestment device is not a permissible means of stopping under this subsection.

     (ii) The operator shall remain within sight and sound of the signals at the operator's station.

     (iii) All sides of personnel cages shall be enclosed by one-half inch (12.70 mm) wire mesh (not less than No. 14 gauge or equivalent) to a height of not less than 6 feet (1.83 m). However, when the cage or skip is being used as a work platform, its sides may be reduced in height to 42 inches (1.07 m) when the conveyance is not in motion.

     (iv) All personnel cages shall be provided with a positive locking door that does not open outward.

     (v) All personnel cages shall be provided with a protective canopy. The canopy shall be made of steel plate, at least 3/16 -inch (4.763 mm) in thickness, or material of equivalent strength and impact resistance. The canopy shall be sloped to the outside, and so designed that a section may be readily pushed upward to afford emergency egress. The canopy shall cover the top in such a manner as to protect those inside from objects falling in the shaft.

     (vi) Personnel platforms operating on guide rails or guide ropes shall be equipped with broken-rope safety devices, safety catches, or arrestment devices that will stop and hold 150 percent of the weight of the personnel platform and its maximum rated load.

     (vii) During sinking operations in shafts where guides and safeties are not yet used, the travel speed of the personnel platform shall not exceed 200 feet (60.96 m) per minute. Governor controls set for 200 feet (60.96 m) per minute shall be installed in the control system and shall be used during personnel hoisting.

     (viii) The personnel platform may travel over the controlled length of the hoistway at rated speeds up to 600 feet (182.88 m) per minute during sinking operations in shafts where guides and safeties are used.

     (ix) The personnel platform may travel at rated speeds greater than 600 feet (182.88 m) per minute in complete shafts.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.010, [49.17].040, and [49.17].050. 01-17-033, § 296-155-730, filed 8/8/01, effective 9/1/01; 99-10-071, § 296-155-730, filed 5/4/99, effective 9/1/99. Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.010, [49.17].040, [49.17].050 and [49.17].060. 98-05-046, § 296-155-730, filed 2/13/98, effective 4/15/98. Statutory Authority: Chapter 49.17 RCW. 95-04-007, § 296-155-730, filed 1/18/95, effective 3/1/95; 94-15-096 (Order 94-07), § 296-155-730, filed 7/20/94, effective 9/20/94; 91-11-070 (Order 91-01), § 296-155-730, filed 5/20/91, effective 6/20/91; 90-03-029 (Order 89-20), § 296-155-730, filed 1/11/90, effective 2/26/90. Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.040 and 49.17.050. 86-03-074 (Order 86-14), § 296-155-730, filed 1/21/86; Order 76-29, § 296-155-730, filed 9/30/76; Order 74-26, § 296-155-730, filed 5/7/74, effective 6/6/74.]

OTS-7250.1


AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 01-11-038, filed 5/9/01, effective 9/1/01)

WAC 296-301-220   Personal protective equipment.   (1) Personal protective equipment. Workers engaged in handling acids or caustics in bulk, repairing pipe lines containing acids or caustics, etc., shall be provided with personal protective equipment to conform to the requirements of WAC 296-800-160.

     (2) Respiratory protection. Employers must provide respiratory protection as required in chapter ((296-62)) 296-842 WAC((, Part E)).

[Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.010, [49.17].040, and [49.17].050. 01-11-038, § 296-301-220, filed 5/9/01, effective 9/1/01; 99-17-094, § 296-301-220, filed 8/17/99, effective 12/1/99; Order 74-19, § 296-301-220, filed 5/6/74.]

OTS-7251.1


AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 95-22-015, filed 10/20/95, effective 1/16/96)

WAC 296-304-02003   Precautions and the order of testing before entering confined and enclosed spaces and other dangerous atmospheres.   The employer shall ensure that atmospheric testing is performed in the following sequence: Oxygen content, flammability, toxicity.

     (1) Oxygen content.

     (a) The employer shall ensure that the following spaces are visually inspected and tested by a competent person to determine the atmosphere's oxygen content prior to initial entry into the space by an employee:

     (i) Spaces that have been sealed, such as, but not limited to, spaces that have been coated and closed up, and nonventilated spaces that have been freshly painted;

     (ii) Spaces and adjacent spaces that contain or have contained combustible or flammable liquids or gases;

     (iii) Spaces and adjacent spaces that contain or have contained liquids, gases, or solids that are toxic, corrosive, or irritant;

     (iv) Spaces and adjacent spaces that have been fumigated; and

     (v) Spaces containing materials or residues of materials that create an oxygen-deficient atmosphere.

     (b) If the space to be entered contains an oxygen deficient atmosphere, the space shall be labeled "not safe for workers" or, if oxygen-enriched, "not safe for workers--not safe for hot work." If an oxygen-deficient or oxygen-enriched atmosphere is found, ventilation shall be provided at volumes and flow rates sufficient to ensure that the oxygen content is maintained at or above 19.5 percent and below 22.0 percent by volume. The warning label may be removed when the oxygen content is equal to or greater than 19.5 and less than 22.0 percent by volume.

     (c) An employee may not enter a space where the oxygen content, by volume, is below 19.5 percent or above 22.0 percent.

     Exception: An employee may enter for emergency rescue or for a short duration for installation of ventilation equipment necessary to start work in the space provided:

     (i) The atmosphere in the space is monitored for oxygen content, by volume, continuously; and

     (ii) Respiratory protection and other appropriate personal protective equipment and clothing are provided in accordance with WAC 296-304-090 through 296-304-09007.


Note to (a): Other provisions for work in IDLH atmospheres are located in WAC 296-304-090 through 296-304-09007.

     (2) Flammable atmospheres.

     (a) The employer shall ensure that spaces and adjacent spaces that contain or have contained combustible or flammable liquids or gases are:

     (i) Inspected visually by the competent person to determine the presence of combustible or flammable liquids; and

     (ii) Tested by a competent person prior to entry by an employee to determine the concentration of flammable vapors and gases within the space.

     (b) If the concentration of flammable vapors or gases in the space to be entered is equal to or greater than 10 percent of the lower explosive limit, the space shall be labeled "not safe for workers" and "not safe for hot work." Ventilation shall be provided at volumes and flow rates sufficient to ensure that the concentration of flammable vapors is maintained below 10 percent of the lower explosive limit. The warning labels may be removed when the concentration of flammable vapors is below 10 percent of the lower explosive limit.

     (c) An employee may not enter a space where the concentration of flammable vapors or gases is equal to or greater than 10 percent of the lower explosive limit. Exception: An employee may enter for emergency rescue or for a short duration for installation of ventilation equipment necessary to start work in the space, provided:

     (i) No ignition sources are present;

     (ii) The atmosphere in the space is monitored continuously;

     (iii) Atmospheres at or above the upper explosive limit are maintained; and

     (iv) Respiratory protection and other appropriate personal protective equipment and clothing are provided in accordance with WAC 296-304-090 through 296-304-09007.


Note 1 to (2): Additional provisions for work in IDLH atmospheres are located in WAC 296-304-090 through 296-304-09007.
Note 2 to (2): Additional provisions for work in spaces containing a flammable substance which also has a permissible exposure limit, are located in subsection (3) of this section and chapter ((296-62)) 296-841 WAC((, Part H)).

     (3) Toxic, corrosive, irritant or fumigated atmospheres and residues.

     (a) The employer shall ensure that spaces or adjacent spaces that contain or have contained liquids, gases, or solids that are toxic, corrosive or irritant are:

     (i) Inspected visually by the competent person to determine the presence of toxic, corrosive, or irritant residue contaminants; and

     (ii) Tested by a competent person prior to initial entry by an employee to determine the air concentration of toxics, corrosives, or irritants within the space.

     (b) If a space contains an air concentration of a material which exceeds a chapter ((296-62)) 296-841 WAC, ((Part H,)) permissible exposure limit (PEL) or is IDLH, the space shall be labeled "not safe for workers." Ventilation shall be provided at volumes and flow rates which will ensure that air concentrations are maintained within the PEL or, in the case of contaminants for which there is no established PEL, below the IDLH. The warning label may be removed when the concentration of contaminants is maintained within the PEL or below IDLH level.

     (c) If a space cannot be ventilated to within the PELs or is IDLH, a marine chemist or CIH must re-test until the space can be certified "enter with restrictions" or "safe for workers."

     (d) An employee may not enter a space whose atmosphere exceeds a PEL or is IDLH.

     Exception: An employee may enter for emergency rescue, or for a short duration for installation of ventilation equipment provided:

     (i) The atmosphere in the space is monitored continuously;

     (ii) Respiratory protection and other necessary and appropriate personal protective equipment and clothing are provided in accordance with WAC 296-304-090 through 296-304-09007.


Note to (3): Other provisions for work in IDLH atmospheres are located in WAC 296-304-090 through 296-304-9007.

     (4) Training of employees entering confined and enclosed spaces or other dangerous atmospheres.

     (a) The employer shall ensure that each employee that enters a confined or enclosed space and other areas with dangerous atmospheres is trained to perform all required duties safely.

     (b) The employer shall ensure that each employee who enters a confined space, enclosed space, or other areas with dangerous atmospheres is trained to:

     (i) Recognize the characteristics of the confined space;

     (ii) Anticipate and be aware of the hazards that may be faced during entry;

     (iii) Recognize the adverse health effects that may be caused by the exposure to a hazard;

     (iv) Understand the physical signs and reactions related to exposures to such hazards;

     (v) Know what personal protective equipment is needed for safe entry into and exit from the space;

     (vi) Use personal protective equipment; and

     (vii) Where necessary, be aware of the presence and proper use of barriers that may be needed to protect an entrant from hazards.

     (c) The employer shall ensure that each entrant into confined or enclosed spaces or other dangerous atmospheres is trained to exit the space or dangerous atmosphere whenever:

     (i) The employer or his or her representative orders evacuation;

     (ii) An evacuation signal such as an alarm is activated; or

     (iii) The entrant perceives that he or she is in danger.

     (d) The employer shall provide each employee with training:

     (i) Before the entrant begins work addressed by this chapter; and

     (ii) Whenever there is a change in operations or in an employee's duties that presents a hazard about which the employee has not previously been trained.

     (e) The employer shall certify that the training required by (a) through (d) of this subsection has been accomplished.

     (i) The certification shall contain the employee's name, the name of the certifier, and the date(s) of the certification.

     (ii) The certification shall be available for inspection by the director, employees, and their representatives.

     (5) Rescue teams. The employer shall either establish a shipyard rescue team or arrange for an outside rescue team which will respond promptly to a request for rescue service.

     (a) Shipyard rescue teams shall meet the following criteria:

     (i) Each employee assigned to the shipyard team shall be provided with and trained to use the personal protective equipment he or she will need, including respirators and any rescue equipment necessary for making rescues from confined and enclosed spaces and other dangerous atmospheres.

     (ii) Each employee assigned to the shipyard rescue team shall be trained to perform his or her rescue functions including confined and enclosed and other dangerous atmosphere entry.

     (iii) Shipyard rescue teams shall practice their skills at least once every 12 months. Practice drills shall include the use of mannequins and rescue equipment during simulated rescue operations involving physical facilities that approximate closely those facilities from which rescue may be needed.


Note to (5)(a)(iii): If the team performs an actual rescue during the 12 month period, an additional practice drill for that type of rescue is not required.

     (iv) At least one person on each rescue team shall maintain current certification in basic first aid which includes maintenance of an airway, control of bleeding, maintenance of circulation and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) skills.

     (b) The employer shall inform outside rescue teams of the hazards that the team may encounter when called to perform confined and enclosed space or other dangerous atmosphere rescue at the employer's facility so that the rescue team can be trained and equipped.


Note to (5): The criteria for in-house rescue, listed in (5)(a) can be used by the employer in evaluating outside rescue services.

     (6) Exchanging hazard information between employers. Each employer whose employees work in confined and enclosed spaces or other dangerous atmospheres shall ensure that all available information on the hazards, safety rules, and emergency procedures concerning those spaces and atmospheres is exchanged with any other employer whose employees may enter the same spaces.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.010, [49.17].050 and [49.17].060. 95-22-015, § 296-304-02003, filed 10/20/95, effective 1/16/96. Statutory Authority: Chapter 49.17 RCW. 95-04-006, § 296-304-02003, filed 1/18/95, effective 3/10/95; 93-19-142 (Order 93-04), § 296-304-02003, filed 9/22/93, effective 11/1/93; Order 76-7, § 296-304-02003, filed 3/1/76; Order 74-25, § 296-304-02003, filed 5/7/74.]


AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 98-02-006, filed 12/26/97, effective 3/1/98)

WAC 296-304-03001   Toxic cleaning solvents.   (1) When toxic solvents are used, the employer shall employ one or more of the following measures to safeguard the health of employees exposed to these solvents.

     (a) The cleaning operation shall be completely enclosed to prevent the escape of vapor into the working space.

     (b) Either natural ventilation or mechanical exhaust ventilation shall be used to remove the vapor at the source and to dilute the concentration of vapors in the working space to a concentration which is safe for the entire work period.

     (c) The employer must ensure that employees are protected against:

     • Toxic vapors by suitable respiratory protective equipment that meets the requirements of chapter ((296-62)) 296-842 WAC((, Part E)); and

     • Exposure of skin and eyes to contact with toxic solvents and their vapors by suitable clothing and equipment.

     (2) The principles in the threshold limit values to which attention is directed in WAC 296-304-02005 and applicable sections in chapters 296-62 and 296-841 WAC will be used by the department of labor and industries in enforcement proceedings in defining a safe concentration of air contaminants.

     (3) When flammable solvents are used, precautions shall be taken in accordance with the requirements of WAC 296-304-03009.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.040, [49.17].050 and [49.17].060. 98-02-006, § 296-304-03001, filed 12/26/97, effective 3/1/98. Statutory Authority: Chapter 49.17 RCW. 95-04-006, § 296-304-03001, filed 1/18/95, effective 3/10/95; 93-19-142 (Order 93-04), § 296-304-03001, filed 9/22/93, effective 11/1/93; Order 76-7, § 296-304-03001, filed 3/1/76; Order 74-25, § 296-304-03001, filed 5/7/74.]


AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 99-10-071, filed 5/4/99, effective 9/1/99)

WAC 296-304-03005   Mechanical paint removers.   (1) Power tools.

     (a) The employer must ensure that employees engaged in the removal of paints, preservatives, rusts or other coatings by means of power tools are protected against eye injury by goggles or face shields that meets the requirements of WAC 296-304-09005 (1) and (2).

     (b) All portable rotating tools used for the removal of paints, preservatives, rusts or other coatings shall be adequately guarded to protect both the operator and nearby workers from flying missiles.

     (c) Portable electric tools shall be grounded in accordance with the requirements of WAC 296-304-08003 (1) and (2).

     (d) In a confined space, the employer must provide mechanical exhaust ventilation sufficient to keep the dust concentration to a minimum, or must protect employees by respiratory protective equipment that meets the requirements of chapter ((296-62)) 296-842 WAC((, Part E)).

     (2) Flame removal.

     (a) The employer must ensure that when hardened preservative coatings are removed by flame in enclosed spaces, the employees exposed to fumes are protected by air line respirators that meet the requirements of chapter ((296-62)) 296-842 WAC((, Part E)). Employees performing this operation in the open air, and those exposed to the resulting fumes, must be protected by a fume filter respirator that meets the requirements of WAC 296-62-071.

     (b) Flame or heat shall not be used to remove soft and greasy preservative coatings.

     (3) Abrasive blasting.

     (a) Equipment. Hoses and fittings used for abrasive blasting shall meet the following requirements:

     (i) Hoses. Hose of a type to prevent shocks from static electricity shall be used.

     (ii) Hose couplings. Hose lengths shall be joined by metal couplings secured to the outside of the hose to avoid erosion and weakening of the couplings.

     (iii) Nozzles. Nozzles shall be attached to the hose by fittings that will prevent the nozzle from unintentionally becoming disengaged. Nozzle attachments shall be of metal and shall fit onto the hose externally.

     (iv) Dead man control. A dead man control device shall be provided at the nozzle end of the blasting hose either to provide direct cutoff or to signal the pot tender by means of a visual and audible signal to cut off the flow, in the event the blaster loses control of the hose. The pot tender shall be available at all times to respond immediately to the signal.

     (b) Replacement. Hoses and all fittings used for abrasive blasting shall be inspected frequently to insure timely replacement before an unsafe amount of wear has occurred.

     (c) Personal protective equipment.

     (i) The employer must ensure that abrasive blasters working in enclosed spaces are protected by abrasive blasting respirators that meet the requirements of WAC 296-24-675 and chapter ((296-62)) 296-842 WAC((, Part E)).

     (ii) The employer must ensure that abrasive blasters working in the open are protected as required in subsection (1) of this section.


Exception: When synthetic abrasives containing less than one percent free silica are used, the employer may substitute particulate or dust filter respirators that are approved by the National Institute of Safety and Health (NIOSH) and used according to ((WAC 296-62-071)) chapter 296-842 WAC.

     (iii) The employer must ensure that employees, including machine tenders and abrasive recovery workers, working in areas where unsafe concentrations of abrasive materials and dusts are present are protected by eye and respiratory protective equipment that meets the requirements of WAC 296-304-09005 (1) and (2) and chapter ((296-62)) 296-842 WAC((, Part E)).


Exception: This requirement does not apply to blasters.

     (iv) The employer must ensure that a blaster is protected against injury from exposure to the blast by appropriate protective clothing, including gloves that meet the requirements of WAC 296-304-09015(1).

     (v) A surge from a drop in pressure in the hose line can throw a blaster off the staging. To protect against this hazard, the employer must ensure that a blaster is protected by a personal fall arrest system, that meets the requirements of WAC 296-304-09021. The personal fall arrest system must be tied off to the ship or other structure during blasting from elevations where adequate fall protection cannot be provided by railings.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.010, [49.17].040 and [49.17].050. 99-10-071, § 296-304-03005, filed 5/4/99, effective 9/1/99. Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.040, [49.17].050 and [49.17].060. 98-02-006, § 296-304-03005, filed 12/26/97, effective 3/1/98. Statutory Authority: Chapter 49.17 RCW. 95-04-006, § 296-304-03005, filed 1/18/95, effective 3/10/95; 93-19-142 (Order 93-04), § 296-304-03005, filed 9/22/93, effective 11/1/93; Order 76-7, § 296-304-03005, filed 3/1/76; Order 74-25, § 296-304-03005, filed 5/7/74.]


AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 03-04-099, filed 2/4/03, effective 8/1/03)

WAC 296-304-03007   Painting.   All respirators required by this section must meet the requirements of chapter ((296-62)) 296-842 WAC((, Part E)).

     (1) Paints mixed with toxic vehicles or solvents.

     (a) When employees spray paints mixed with toxic vehicles or solvents, the employer must ensure that the following conditions are met:

     (i) In confined spaces, employees continuously exposed to spraying are protected by air line respirators.

     (ii) In tanks or compartments, employees continuously exposed to spraying are protected by air line respirators. Where mechanical ventilation is provided, employees are protected by respirators.

     (iii) In large and well ventilated areas, employees exposed to spraying are protected by respirators.

     (b) The employer must ensure that where employees apply by brush paints with toxic solvents in confined spaces or other areas where lack of ventilation creates a hazard, the employees are protected by filter respirators.

     (c) When flammable paints or vehicles are used, precautions shall be taken in accordance with the requirements of WAC 296-304-03009.

     (d) The metallic parts of air moving devices, including fans, blowers, and jet-type air movers, and all duct work shall be electrically bonded to the vessel's structure.

     (2) Paints and tank coatings dissolved in highly volatile, toxic and flammable solvents. Several organic coatings, adhesives and resins are dissolved in highly toxic, flammable and explosive solvents with flash points below 80°F. Work involving such materials shall be done only when all of the following special precautions have been taken:

     (a) Sufficient exhaust ventilation shall be provided to keep the concentration of solvent vapors below ten percent of the lower explosive limit. Frequent tests shall be made by a competent person to ascertain the concentration.

     (b) If the ventilation fails or if the concentration of solvent vapors reaches or exceeds ten percent of the lower explosive limit, painting shall be stopped and the compartment shall be evacuated until the concentration again falls below ten percent of the lower explosive limit. If the concentration does not fall when painting is stopped, additional ventilation to bring the concentration down to ten percent of the lower explosive limit shall be provided.

     (c) Ventilation shall be continued after the completion of painting until the space or compartment is gas free. The final determination as to whether the space or compartment is gas free shall be made after the ventilating equipment has been shut off for a least ten minutes.

     (d) Exhaust ducts shall discharge clear of working areas and away from sources of possible ignition. Periodic tests shall be made to ensure that the exhausted vapors are not accumulating in other areas within or around the vessel or dry dock.

     (e) All motors and control equipment shall be of the explosion-proof type. Fans shall have nonferrous blades. Portable air ducts shall also be of nonferrous materials. All motors and associated control equipment shall be properly maintained and grounded.

     (f) Only nonsparking paint buckets, spray guns and tools shall be used. Metal parts of paint brushes and rollers shall be insulated. Staging shall be erected in a manner which ensures that it is nonsparking.

     (g) Only explosion proof lights, approved by the Underwriters' Laboratories for use in Class I, Group D atmospheres, or approved as permissible by the U.S. Bureau of Mines or the U.S. Coast Guard, shall be used.

     (h) A competent person shall inspect all power and lighting cables to ensure that the insulation is in excellent condition, free of all cracks and worn spots, that there are no connections within fifty feet of the operation, that lines are not overloaded, and that they are suspended with sufficient slack to prevent undue stress or chafing.

     (i) The face, eyes, head, hands and all other exposed parts of the bodies of employees handling highly volatile paints must be protected according to WAC 296-304-090. All footwear must be nonsparking, such as rubbers, rubber boots or rubber soled shoes without nails. Coveralls or other outer clothing must be made of cotton. Rubber gloves, instead of plastic gloves, must be used to protect against the danger of static sparks.

     (j) No matches, lighted cigarettes, cigars, or pipes, and no cigarette lighters or ferrous articles shall be taken into the area where work is being done.

     (k) All solvent drums taken into the compartment shall be placed on nonferrous surfaces and shall be grounded to the vessel. Metallic contact shall be maintained between containers and drums when materials are being transferred from one to another.

     (l) Spray guns, paint pots, and metallic parts of connecting tubing shall be electrically bonded, and the bonded assembly shall be grounded to the vessel.

     (m) The employer must ensure that all employees continuously in a compartment in which such painting is performed, are protected by air line respirators and by suitable protective clothing. Employees entering such compartments for a limited time must be protected by filter cartridge type respirators.

     (n) The employer must ensure that all employees doing exterior paint spraying with such paints are protected by suitable filter cartridge type respirators and by suitable protective clothing.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.010, 49.17.040, 49.17.050, and 49.17.060. 03-04-099, § 296-304-03007, filed 2/4/03, effective 8/1/03. Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.040, [49.17].050 and [49.17].060. 98-02-006, § 296-304-03007, filed 12/26/97, effective 3/1/98. Statutory Authority: Chapter 49.17 RCW. 95-04-006, § 296-304-03007, filed 1/18/95, effective 3/10/95; 93-19-142 (Order 93-04), § 296-304-03007, filed 9/22/93, effective 11/1/93; Order 76-7, § 296-304-03007, filed 3/1/76; Order 74-25, § 296-304-03007, filed 5/7/74.]


AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 03-04-099, filed 2/4/03, effective 8/1/03)

WAC 296-304-04001   Ventilation and protection in welding, cutting and heating.   (1) Mechanical ventilation requirements.

     (a) For the purposes of this section, mechanical ventilation shall meet the following requirements:

     (i) Mechanical ventilation shall consist of either general mechanical ventilation systems or local exhaust systems.

     (ii) General mechanical ventilation shall be of sufficient capacity and so arranged as to produce the number of air changes necessary to maintain welding fumes and smoke within safe limits.

     (iii) Local exhaust ventilation shall consist of freely movable hoods intended to be placed by the welder or burner as close as practicable to the work. This system shall be of sufficient capacity and so arranged as to remove fumes and smoke at the source and keep the concentration of them in the breathing zone within safe limits.

     (iv) Contaminated air exhausted from a working space shall be discharged into the open air or otherwise clear of the source of intake air.

     (v) All air replacing that withdrawn shall be clean and respirable.

     (vi) Oxygen shall not be used for ventilation purposes, comfort cooling, blowing dust or dirt from clothing, or for cleaning the work area.

     (2) Welding, cutting and heating in confined spaces.

     (a) Except as provided in WAC 296-304-04001 (2)(c) and (3)(b), either general mechanical or local exhaust ventilation meeting the requirements of (1) of this section shall be provided whenever welding, cutting or heating is performed in a confined space.

     (b) The means of access shall be provided to a confined space and ventilation ducts to this space shall be arranged in accordance with WAC 296-304-05011 (2)(a) and (b).

     (c) When sufficient ventilation cannot be obtained without blocking the means of access, employees in the confined space shall be protected by air line respirators in accordance with the requirements of chapter ((296-62)) 296-842 WAC, ((Part E,)) and an employee on the outside of such a confined space shall be assigned to maintain communication with those working within it and to aid them in an emergency.

     (3) Welding, cutting or heating of metals of toxic significance.

     (a) Welding, cutting or heating in any enclosed spaces aboard the vessel involving the metals specified in this subsection shall be performed with either general mechanical or local exhaust ventilation meeting the requirements of (1) of this section.

     (i) Zinc-bearing base or filler metals or metals coated with zinc-bearing materials.

     (ii) Lead base metals.

     (iii) Cadmium-bearing filler materials.

     (iv) Chromium-bearing metals or metals coated with chromium-bearing materials.

     (b) Welding, cutting, or heating in any enclosed spaces aboard the vessel involving the metals specified in this subsection shall be performed with local exhaust ventilation in accordance with the requirements of (1) of this section or employees shall be protected by air line respirators in accordance with the requirements of chapter ((296-62)) 296-842 WAC((, Part E)).

     (i) Metals containing lead, other than as an impurity, or metals coated with lead-bearing materials.

     (ii) Cadmium-bearing or cadmium coated base metals.

     (iii) Metals coated with mercury-bearing metals.

     (iv) Beryllium-containing base or filler metals. Because of its high toxicity, work involving beryllium shall be done with both local exhaust ventilation and air line respirators.

     (c) Employees performing such operations in the open air shall be protected by filter type respirators in accordance with the requirements of WAC 296-304-09003, except that employees performing such operations on beryllium-containing base or filler metals shall be protected by air line respirators in accordance with the requirements of chapter ((296-62)) 296-842 WAC((, Part E)).

     (d) Other employees exposed to the same atmosphere as the welders or burners shall be protected in the same manner as the welder or burner.

     (4) Inert-gas metal-arc welding.

     (a) Since the inert-gas metal-arc welding process involves the production of ultraviolet radiation of intensities of 5 to 30 times that produced during shielded metal-arc welding, the decomposition of chlorinated solvents by ultraviolet rays, and the liberation of toxic fumes and gases, employees shall not be permitted to engage in, or be exposed to the process until the following special precautions have been taken:

     (i) The use of chlorinated solvents shall be kept at least two hundred feet from the exposed arc, and surfaces prepared with chlorinated solvents shall be thoroughly dry before welding is permitted on such surfaces.

     (ii) Helpers and other employees in the area not protected from the arc by screening as provided in WAC 206-304-04011(5) shall be protected by filter lenses meeting the requirements of Tables I-1A and B (see below). When two or more welders are exposed to each other's arc, filter lens goggles of a suitable type meeting the requirements of WAC 296-304-09001 (1) and (3) shall be worn under welding helmets or hand shields to protect the welder against flashes and radiant energy when either the helmet is lifted or the shield is removed.

     (iii) Welders and other employees who are exposed to radiation shall be suitably protected so that the skin is covered completely to prevent burns and other damage by ultraviolet rays. Welding helmets and hand shields shall be free of leaks and openings, and free of highly reflective surfaces.

     (iv) When inert-gas metal-arc welding is being performed on stainless steel, the requirements of (3)(b) of this section shall be met to protect against dangerous concentrations of nitrogen dioxide.

     (5) General welding, cutting and heating.

     (a) Welding, cutting and heating not involving conditions or materials described in (2), (3) or (4) of this section may normally be done without mechanical ventilation or respiratory protective equipment, but where, because of unusual physical or atmospheric conditions, an unsafe accumulation of contaminants exists, suitable mechanical ventilation or respiratory protective equipment shall be provided.

     (b) Employees performing any type of welding, cutting or heating shall be protected by suitable eye protective equipment in accordance with the requirements of Tables I-1A and B (see below).

     (6) Residues and cargos of metallic ores.

     Residues and cargos of metallic ores of toxic significance shall be removed from the area or protected from the heat before welding, cutting or heating is begun.


TABLE I-1A


FILTER LENSES FOR PROTECTION AGAINST

RADIANT ENERGY



OPERATIONS

ELECTRODE

SIZE 1/32 IN

ARC

CURRENT

MINIMUM

PROTECTIVE

SHADE

Shielded metal arc welding Less than 3

3-5

5-8

More than 8

Less than 60

60-160

160-250

250-550

7

8

10

11

Gas metal arc welding and flux cored arc welding Less than 60

60-160

160-250

250-550

7

10

10

10

Gas Tungsten arc welding Less than 50

50-150

150-500

8

8

10

Air carbon arc cutting (Light)

(Heavy)

Less than 500

500-1000

10

11

Plasma arc welding Less than 20

20-100

100-400

400-800

6

8

10

11

Plasma arc cutting (Light)**

(Medium)**

(Heavy)**

Less than 300

300-400

400-800

8

9

10

Torch brazing -- -- 3
Torch soldering -- -- 2
Carbon Arc welding -- -- 14
** These values apply where the actual arc is clearly seen. Lighter filters may be used when the arc is hidden by the workplace.

TABLE I-1B

FILTER LENSES FOR PROTECTION AGAINST
RADIANT ENERGY


OPERATIONS

PLATE

THICKNESS...

INCHES

PLATE

THICKNESS...

MM

MINIMUM*

PROTECTIVE

SHADE

Gas welding
Light

Medium

Heavy

Under 1/8

1/8 - 1/2

Over 1/2

Under 3.2

3.2 - 12.7

Over 12.7

4

5

6

Oxygen cutting
Light

Medium

Heavy

Under 1

1 - 6

Over 6

Under 25

25 - 100

Over 150

3

4

5

* As rule of thumb, start with a shade that is too dark to see the weld zone. Then go to a lighter shade which gives sufficient view of the weld zone without going below the minimum. In oxyfuel gas welding or cutting where the torch produces a high yellow light, it is desirable to use a filter lens that absorbs the yellow or sodium line in the viable light of the (spectrum) operation.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.010, 49.17.040, 49.17.050, and 49.17.060. 03-04-099, § 296-304-04001, filed 2/4/03, effective 8/1/03. Statutory Authority: Chapter 49.17 RCW. 95-04-006, § 296-304-04001, filed 1/18/95, effective 3/10/95; 93-19-142 (Order 93-04), § 296-304-04001, filed 9/22/93, effective 11/1/93; Order 74-25, § 296-304-04001, filed 5/7/74.]


AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 98-02-006, filed 12/26/97, effective 3/1/98)

WAC 296-304-09007   Respiratory protection.   The employer must provide respiratory protection that meets the requirements of the general occupational health standards, chapter ((296-62)) 296-842 WAC((, Part E)).

[Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.040, [49.17].050 and [49.17].060. 98-02-006, § 296-304-09007, filed 12/26/97, effective 3/1/98; Order 76-7, § 296-304-09007, filed 3/1/76; Order 74-25, § 296-304-09007, filed 5/7/74.]

OTS-7252.1


AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 04-10-026, filed 4/27/04, effective 8/1/04)

WAC 296-305-02501   Emergency medical protection.   (1) Fire fighters who perform emergency medical care or otherwise may be exposed to blood or other body fluids shall be provided with emergency medical face protection devices, and emergency medical garments that meet the applicable requirements of NAPA, Standard on Protective Clothing for Emergency Medical Operations 1999, 1992 edition.

Note: Prior to purchase, fire departments should request the technical data package required in NAPA 1999, 1992 edition, in order to compare glove and garment performance data. Departments reviewing these packages should ensure a relative ranking of the performance data before they purchase in order to provide the best performance of the EMS personal protective clothing.


     (2) Fire fighters shall don emergency medical gloves prior to initiating any emergency patient care.

     (3) Fire fighters shall don emergency medical garments and emergency medical face protection devises prior to any patient care during which splashes of body fluids can occur such as situations involving spurting blood or childbirth.


Note: Fire fighter turnout gear and gloves with vapor barriers may be used in lieu of emergency medical gloves and garments.


     (4) Contaminated emergency medical garments, emergency medical face protection, gloves, devices, and emergency medical gloves shall be cleaned and disinfected, or disposed of, in accordance with chapter 296-823 WAC, Occupational exposure to bloodborne pathogens.

     (5) Fire departments shall establish a designated infection (exposure) control officer who shall ensure that an adequate infection control plan is developed and all personnel are trained and supervised on the plan.

     (6) The infection control officer shall be responsible for establishing personnel exposure protocols so that a process for dealing with exposures is in writing and available to all personnel.

     (7) The infection control officer or his/her designee will function as a liaison between area hospitals and fire department members to provide notification that a communicable disease exposure is suspected or has been determined by hospital medical personnel. The department infection control officer will institute the established exposure protocols immediately after report of an exposure. The infection control officer shall follow the confidentiality requirements of chapter 246-100 WAC and the medical protocol requirements of chapter 296-802 WAC.

     (8) Fire departments shall have a written infection (exposure) control plan which clearly explains the intent, benefits, and purpose of the plan. The written document must cover the standards of exposure control such as establishing the infection control officer and all members affected; education and training; HB. vaccination requirements; documentation and record keeping; cleaning/disinfection of personnel and equipment; and exposure protocols.

     (9) Policy statements and standard operating procedure guidelines shall provide general guidance and specific regulation of daily activities. Procedures shall include delegation of specific roles and responsibilities, such as regulation of infection control, as well as procedural guidelines for all required tasks and functions.

     (10) Fire departments shall establish a records system for members health and training.

     (11) Fire fighters shall be trained in the proper use of P.E., exposure protection, post exposure protocols, disease modes of transmission as it related to infectious diseases.

     (12) Infectious disease programs shall have a process for monitoring fire fighters compliance with established guidelines and a means for correcting noncompliance.

     (13) Fire department members shall be required to annually review the infectious disease plan, updates, protocols, and equipment used in the program.

     (14) Fire departments shall comply with chapter 296-823 WAC, Occupational exposure to bloodborne pathogens, in its entirety.

     (15) Tuberculosis (TB) exposure and respiratory protection requirements.

     (a) Fire fighters shall wear a particulate respirator (PR) when entering areas occupied by individuals with suspected or confirmed TB, when performing high risk procedures on such individuals or when transporting individuals with suspected or confirmed TB in a closed vehicle.

     (b) A NOSH-approved, 95% efficient particulate air respirator is the minimum acceptable level of respiratory protection.

     (i) Fit tests are required.

     (ii) Fit tests shall be done in accordance with chapter ((296-62)) 296-842 WAC((, Part E)).


Note 1: Emergency-response personnel should be routinely screened for tuberculosis at regular intervals. The tuberculin skin test is the only method currently available that demonstrates infection with Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M. tuberculosis) in the absence of active tuberculosis.
Note 2: If possible, the rear windows of a vehicle transporting patients with confirmed, suspected, or active tuberculosis should be kept open, and the heater or air conditioner set on a noncirculating cycle.

     Additional References:

     Chapter 296-823 WAC, Occupational exposure to bloodborne pathogens.

     WAC 296-62-08001(3), Exposure Control.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.010, 49.17.040, 49.17.050, and 49.17.060. 04-10-026, § 296-305-02501, filed 4/27/04, effective 8/1/04; 03-09-110, § 296-305-02501, filed 4/22/03, effective 8/1/03. Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.010, [49.17].040 and [49.17].050. 99-10-071, § 296-305-02501, filed 5/4/99, effective 9/1/99. Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.010, [49.17].050 and [49.17].060. 96-11-067, § 296-305-02501, filed 5/10/96, effective 1/1/97.]


AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 02-12-098, filed 6/5/02, effective 8/1/02)

WAC 296-305-04001   Respiratory equipment protection.   (1) Fire fighter's self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) shall:

     (a) Be pressure demand type (positive pressure);

     (b) Operate in the positive pressure mode only;

     (c) Have a minimum of thirty minutes service duration;

     (d) Be NIOSH certified; and

     (e) Meet the requirements of the 1992 or 1997 edition of NFPA, Standard on Open Circuit Self Contained Breathing Apparatus for Fire Fighters 1981.

     (2) Closed circuit SCBA shall:

     (a) Be positive pressure;

     (b) Be NIOSH certified; and

     (c) Have a minimum thirty-minute service duration.

     (3) Members using SCBA's shall operate in teams of two or more.

     (4) Except as otherwise provided in this chapter, fire departments shall adopt, maintain and implement a written respiratory protection program that addresses the requirements of chapter ((296-62)) 296-842 WAC, ((Part E,)) Respiratory protection and Part I-1, Asbestos, Tremolite, Anthophyllite, and Actinolite. This includes program administration, medical limitations, equipment limitations, equipment selection, inspection, use, maintenance, training, fit testing procedures, air quality, and program evaluation.


Note: Additional information on respirators and respirator usage can be found in ANSI Z88.2 - American National Standard for Respiratory Protection; ANSI Z88.5 - Practices for Respiratory Protection for Fire Service; various NFPA publications (1981, 1404, 1500, etc.), and the Washington State Fire Service Training Program for respiratory training and usage.


     (5) When fire departments purchase compressed breathing air from a vendor, the fire department shall require the vendor to provide certification and documentation of breathing air quality as specified in subsection (21) of this section and in chapter ((296-62)) 296-842 WAC((, Part E)).

     (6) When the fire department makes its own breathing air or uses vendor purchased breathing air, the air quality from compressors, cascade systems cylinders, shall be tested at least quarterly as specified in subsection (21) of this section.

     (7) Fit testing shall be conducted in accordance with this section and chapter ((296-62)) 296-842 WAC, ((Part E,)) Respiratory protection.

     (a) Each new member shall be tested before being permitted to use SCBA's in a hazardous atmosphere.

     (b) Only fire fighters with a properly fitting facepiece shall be permitted by the fire department to function in a hazardous atmosphere with SCBA. (Reference WAC ((296-62-07170 Respiratory Sealing Problems)) 296-842-18005.)

     (c) Fit testing shall be repeated:

     (i) At least once every twelve months.

     (ii) Whenever there are changes in the type of SCBA or facepiece used.

     (iii) Whenever there are significant physical changes in the user. Example: Weight change of ten percent or more, scarring of face seal area, dental changes, cosmetic surgery, or any other condition that may affect the fit of the facepiece seal.

     (d) The fit testing is done only in a negative-pressure mode. If the facepiece is modified for fit testing, the modification shall not affect the normal fit of the device. Such modified devices shall only be used for fit testing.

     (e) The fit test procedures and test exercises described in WAC 296-62-07162, Asbestos, Appendix C, shall be followed unless stated otherwise in this chapter.

     (f) Respirator fit test records shall include:

     (i) Written guidelines for the respirator fit testing program including pass/fail criteria;

     (ii) Type of respirator tested including manufacturer, model, and size;

     (iii) Type of fit test and instrumentation or equipment used;

     (iv) Name or identification of test operator;

     (v) Name of person tested;

     (vi) Date of test; and

     (vii) Results of test.


Note: Fire fighters should be issued individual facepieces.


     (8) Facial hair, contact lenses, and eye and face protective devices.

     (a) A negative pressure respirator, any self-contained breathing apparatus, or any respirator which is used in an atmosphere immediately dangerous to life or health (IDLH) equipped with a facepiece shall not be worn if facial hair comes between the sealing periphery of the facepiece and the face or if facial hair interferes with the valve function.

     (b) The wearer of a respirator shall not be allowed to wear contact lenses if the risk of eye damage is increased by their use.

     (c) If a spectacle, goggle, or face shield must be worn with a facepiece, it shall be worn so as to not adversely affect the seal of the facepiece to the face. See WAC 296-62-07170(2).

     (d) Straps or temple bars shall not pass between the seal or surface of the respirator and the user's face.

     (9) At the end of suppression activities (to include fire overhaul) and before returning to quarters:

     (a) Fire fighters shall be decontaminated prior to removal of respirators whenever fire fighting activities resulted in exposure to a hazardous substance.

     (b) When exchanging air supply bottles during suppression or overhaul activities, reasonable precautions shall be taken to maintain uncontaminated atmosphere to the breathing zone and facepiece supply hose.

     (10) Self-contained respiratory equipment shall be available and used by all fire fighters who enter into hazardous atmospheres during structural fire fighting activities.

     (11) Positive pressure air line respirators may be used only for atmospheres other than IDLH and must be equipped with a five minute minimum capacity positive pressure escape bottle.

     (a) If the service life of the auxiliary air supply is fifteen minutes or less it shall not be used for entry into an IDLH atmosphere but it may be used for escape purposes. The auxiliary air supply may be used for entry into an IDLH atmosphere only when the service life of the unit exceeds fifteen minutes and when not more than twenty percent of the noted air supply will be used during entry.

     (b) The maximum length of hose for supplied air respirators is 300 feet (91 meters). Such hose shall be heavy duty nonkinking and NIOSH approved.

     (12) Respirators shall be provided for, and shall be used by, all personnel working in areas where:

     (a) The atmosphere is hazardous;

     (b) The atmosphere is suspected of being hazardous; or

     (c) The atmosphere may rapidly become hazardous;

     (13) Anytime fire fighters are working inside a confined space, such persons shall be provided with SCBA or air line respirator with escape bottle, and shall use the equipment unless the safety of the atmosphere can be established by testing and continuous monitoring.

     (14) Fire fighters using a properly functioning SCBA shall not compromise the protective integrity of the SCBA by removing the facepiece for any reason in hazardous atmospheres or in atmospheres where the quality of air is unknown.

     (15) Fire fighters shall receive training for each type and manufacturer of respiratory equipment available for their use, the step-by-step procedure for donning the respirator and checking it for proper function. Required training shall include:

     (a) Recognizing hazards that may be encountered;

     (b) Understanding the components of the respirator;

     (c) Understanding the safety features and limitations of the respirator; and

     (d) Donning and doffing the respirator.

     (16) After completing such training, each fire fighter shall practice at least quarterly, for each type and manufacture of respirator available for use, the step-by-step procedure for donning the respirator and checking it for proper function.

     (17) Members shall be tested at least annually on the knowledge of respiratory protection equipment operation, safety, organizational policies and procedures, and facepiece seals, to the fire department's standard. Such records shall remain part of the member training file.

     (18) Members shall be allowed to use only the make, model, and size respirator for which they have passed a fit test within the last twelve months.

     (19) In cases where there is a reported failure of a respirator, it shall be removed from service, tagged and recorded as such, and tested before being returned to service.

     (20) Fire fighters shall be thoroughly trained in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions on emergency procedures such as use of regulator bypass valve, corrective action for facepiece and breathing tube damage, and breathing directly from the regulator (where applicable).

     (21) Compressed gaseous breathing air in the SCBA cylinder shall meet the requirements of ANSI/CGA G7.1 - Commodity Specification for Air, with a minimum air quality of grade D, as well as meeting a water vapor level of 24 ppm or less.

     (22) SCBA cylinders shall be hydrostatically tested within the periods specified by the manufacturer and the applicable governmental agencies.

     Additional reference: Chapter ((296-62)) 296-842 WAC((, Part E)).

[Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.010, [49.17].040, [49.17].050. 02-12-098, § 296-305-04001, filed 6/5/02, effective 8/1/02. Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.040. 99-05-080, § 296-305-04001, filed 2/17/99, effective 6/1/99. Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.010, [49.17].050 and [49.17].060. 96-11-067, § 296-305-04001, filed 5/10/96, effective 1/1/97.]


AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 03-11-060, filed 5/19/03, effective 8/1/03)

WAC 296-305-05503   Summary of training requirements.   (1) Training on noise must conform to chapter 296-817 WAC, Hearing loss prevention (noise), and WAC 296-305-02005.

     (2) Training on medical procedures shall conform to WAC 296-305-02501.

     (3) Training on respiratory equipment shall conform to chapter ((296-62)) 296-842 WAC, ((Part E,)) Respiratory protection, and WAC 296-305-04001.

     (4) Training on employee right-to-know procedures shall conform to WAC 296-800-170, chemical hazard communication program.

     (5) Training on overhaul procedures and operations shall conform to WAC 296-305-05001.

     (6) Training on wildland fires shall conform to WAC 296-305-07001 through 296-305-07019.

     (7) Training on confined space entry and/or rescue shall conform to chapter 296-62 WAC, Part M, Permit-required confined spaces and WAC 296-305-05003.

     (8) Live fire training in structures shall conform to NFPA 1403 and this section.

     (9) The employer shall provide training and education for all members commensurate with those duties and functions that members are expected to perform. Such training and education shall be provided to members before they perform emergency activities. Fire service leaders and training instructors shall be provided with training and education which is more comprehensive than that provided to the general membership of the fire department.

     (10) The employer shall assure that training and education is conducted frequently enough to assure that each member is able to perform the member's assigned duties and functions satisfactorily and in a safe manner so as not to endanger members or other employees. All members shall be provided with training at least annually. In addition, members who are expected to perform interior structural fire fighting shall be provided with an education session or training at least quarterly.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.010, 49.17.040, 49.17.050, and 49.17.060. 03-11-060, § 296-305-05503, filed 5/19/03, effective 8/1/03. Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.010, [49.17].040, and [49.17].050. 01-11-038, § 296-305-05503, filed 5/9/01, effective 9/1/01. Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.010, [49.17].050 and [49.17].060. 96-11-067, § 296-305-05503, filed 5/10/96, effective 1/1/97.]

OTS-7253.1


AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 01-23-060, filed 11/20/01, effective 12/1/01)

WAC 296-800-160   Summary.   Your responsibility: To make sure that your employees have, use, and care for the appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE).

     PPE is an item or items used to protect the eyes, face, head, body, arms, hands, legs, and feet such as goggles, helmets, head covers, gloves, rubber slickers, disposable coveralls, safety shoes, protective shields, and barriers.

     You must:

     Do a hazard assessment for PPE.

     WAC 296-800-16005.

     Document your hazard assessment for PPE.

     WAC 296-800-16010.

     Select appropriate PPE for your employees.         

     WAC 296-800-16015.

     Provide PPE to your employees.

     WAC 296-800-16020.

     Train your employees to use PPE.    

     WAC 296-800-16025.

     Retrain employees to use PPE, if necessary.

     WAC 296-800-16030.

     Document PPE training.

     WAC 296-800-16035.

     Require your employees to use necessary PPE on the job.     WAC 296-800-16040.

     Keep your PPE safe and in good condition.

     WAC 296-800-16045.

     Make sure your employees use appropriate face and eye      protection.

     WAC 296-800-16050.

     Make sure your employees use appropriate head protection.

     WAC 296-800-16055.

     Make sure your employees use appropriate foot protection.

     WAC 296-800-16060.

     Make sure your employees use appropriate hand protection.

     WAC 296-800-16065.

     Make sure your employees are protected from drowning.

     WAC 296-800-16070.

Exemption: • WAC 296-800-16015, 296-800-16025, 296-800-16030, and 296-800-16035 do not apply to electrical protective equipment or respiratory protection. See chapters 296-24 WAC, Part L and chapter ((296-62)) 296-842 WAC, ((Part E,)) for rules about these types of protective equipment.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.010, [49.17].040, and [49.17].050. 01-23-060, § 296-800-160, filed 11/20/01, effective 12/1/01; 01-11-038, § 296-800-160, filed 5/9/01, effective 9/1/01.]

OTS-7254.1


AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 02-20-034, filed 9/24/02, effective 10/1/02)

WAC 296-824-20005   Develop an emergency response plan.  

Note: • You may already have an emergency response plan, such as required by chapter 296-62 WAC, Part P, Hazardous waste operations and treatment, storage and disposal facilities or by state and locally coordinated response efforts (Section 303 of Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act (SARA), Title III). You may use those plans to comply with this section, if they include the items listed below.
• Before a written emergency response plan can be developed, you will need to anticipate the types of uncontrolled releases that employees could encounter in your workplace(s).

     You must:

     (1) Make sure your plan is written and adequately addresses, as a minimum, all of the following:

     • Preemergency planning and coordination with additional responders (including personnel from other employers such as: Fire departments, law enforcement agencies, emergency medical services, and state or federal agencies).

     • Personnel roles, (See Table 1) and lines of authority and communications for all affected parties including responders

     • Employee training (see WAC 296-824-30005 for more detail):

Note: • Responders' level of training depends on the duties or roles the employer assigns.
• Training for the employees' role should address the competencies specified in Tables 3 through 6.
• Training on specific substances may be appropriate depending on the number and characteristics of hazardous substances expected to be encountered. For example, if employees may only respond to one substance, you could provide training (covering the knowledge and skills specified in Tables 3 through 6) on that single substance. If employees might respond to a range of hazardous substances, training may be required to cover categories of hazardous substances.
• Videos and automated training methods (for example: Interactive computer-based programs) may be used in training; however, instructors must be readily available to:
– Encourage and provide responses to questions for the benefit of the group.
– Evaluate employee understanding of the material.
– Provide other instructional interaction to the group.

     • Emergency recognition

     • Immediate emergency procedures including:

     – Methods of alerting employees (see WAC 296-800-310, exit routes and employee alarm systems) and outside responders

     – Procedures for limited action (emergency prevention)

Note: Limited action includes shutting down processes, closing emergency valves and other critical actions to secure the operation, or prevent the incident from increasing in severity.

Limited Action and Employee Roles
If. . . Then employees involved would be:
Limited action could be conducted in the danger area Considered emergency responders
Limited action will not be conducted in the danger area Considered evacuees, not emergency responders

     – Details of who will evacuate immediately and who will remain behind for limited action

     – Evacuation routes and procedures

     – How to establish safe distances and places of refuge (for example, during emergency response the incident commander (IC) decides to make changes based on new developments, i.e., changes in the wind direction).

     • Methods of securing and controlling access to the site

     • Emergency medical treatment and first aid

     • A complete personal protective equipment (PPE) program that addresses:

     – Selection of PPE including selection criteria to be used and the identification, specified use and limitations of the PPE selected.

     – Training on proper use of PPE (including maintenance).

     – Hazards created by wearing PPE including heat stress during temperature extremes, and/or other appropriate medical considerations.

     – Criteria used for determining the proper fit of PPE.

     – Procedures covering proper use of PPE including procedures for inspection, putting it on (donning) and removing it (doffing).

     – Maintenance of PPE including procedures for decontamination, disposal and storage.

     – Methods used to evaluate the effectiveness of your PPE program.

Note: • If a manufacturer's printed information or WISHA rule adequately addresses procedural requirements (such as donning or doffing for PPE), it is not necessary to rewrite this into your program; simply attach the printed information.
• You may use written procedures provided by the equipment manufacturer when they meet the requirements of other chapters, including chapter ((296-62)) 296-842 WAC, ((Part E, Respiratory protection)) Respirators.

     • Emergency equipment

     • Emergency response procedures

     • Decontamination procedures determined by a hazardous materials specialist or other qualified individual

     • Methods to critically assess the response and conduct appropriate follow-up

     You must:

     (2) Make your written emergency response plan available to employees, their representatives, and WISHA personnel for inspecting or copying.

Note: In situations where multiple employers could respond to an incident, all plans should consistently address:
• Who will be designated as the incident commander (IC)
AND
• If, when, and how transfer of the incident commander (IC) position will take place.

Table 1

Roles and Duties of Emergency Responders

If the employee's role is: Then all of the following apply. They:
First responder at the awareness level • Are likely to witness or discover a hazardous substance release
• Are trained to initiate an emergency response by notifying the proper authorities of the release
• Take no further action beyond notifying the authorities
First responder at the operations level • Respond to actual or potential releases in order to protect nearby persons, property, and/or the environment from the effects of the release
• Are trained to respond defensively, without trying to stop the release
• May try to:
- Confine the release from a safe distance
- Keep it from spreading
- Protect others from hazardous exposures
Hazardous materials technician • Respond to releases or potential releases, with the intent of stopping the release
• Are trained to approach the point of release offensively in order to, either:
- Plug
- Patch
- Stop the release using other methods
Hazardous materials specialist • Respond along with, and provide support to, hazardous materials technicians
• Are required to have more specific knowledge of hazardous substances than a hazardous materials technician
• Act as the site activity liaison when federal, state, local, and other government authorities participate
Incident commander • Have ultimate responsibility for:
- Direction
- Control
- Coordination of the response effort
- Will assume control of the incident beyond the first responder awareness level
Specialist employee • Are a technical, medical, environmental, or other type of expert
• May represent a hazardous substance manufacturer, shipper, or a government agency
• May be present at the scene or may assist from an off-site location
• Regularly work with specific hazardous substances
• Are trained in the hazards of specific substances
• Are expected to give technical advice or assistance to the incident commander or incident safety officer, when requested
Skilled support personnel • Are needed to perform an immediate, specific emergency support task at the site
• Are skilled in the operation of equipment including:
–     Earth moving equipment
–     Cranes
–     Hoisting equipment
Incident safety officer • Are designated by the incident commander
• Are knowledgeable in operations being implemented at the site
• Have specific responsibility to:
–     Identify and evaluate hazards
–     Provide direction on employee safety matters

[Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.010, [49.17].040, [49.17].050, and [49.17].060. 02-20-034, § 296-824-20005, filed 9/24/02, effective 10/1/02.]


AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 02-20-034, filed 9/24/02, effective 10/1/02)

WAC 296-824-40005   Provide medical surveillance to employees.  

     You must:

     (1) Provide medical surveillance for employees to comply with Tables 7 and 8, and the following:

     • Make medical surveillance available at:

     – Reasonable times and places.

     – No cost to employees, including travel associated costs such as mileage, gas or bus fare if the employee is required to travel off site

     AND

     – Wages for additional time spent outside of employees normal work hours.

     • Make sure a licensed physician performs or supervises exams and procedures.

     • Give complete information to the examining physician including:

     – A copy of this chapter.

     – A description of the employee's duties that relate to hazardous substance exposure.

     – The hazardous substance exposure levels anticipated for the employee.

     – A description of the personal protective equipment (PPE) the employee could use.

     – Information available from previous medical examinations.

     – The medical evaluation information required by chapter ((296-62)) 296-842 WAC, ((Part E, Respiratory protection)) Respirators.

     • Medical exams must include, at a minimum:

     – A medical history

     – A work history (or updated history if on file)

     – A special emphasis on:

     &sqbul; Assessment of symptoms related to handling hazardous substances

     &sqbul; Health hazards

     &sqbul; Evaluation of fitness for duty (including the ability to wear any personal protective equipment (PPE) or other conditions that may be expected at the workplace)

     – Other content as determined by the examining physician.

Note: The physician should consult the Occupational Safety and Health Guidance Manual for Hazardous Waste Site Activities and the Medical Management Guidelines for Acute Chemical Exposure (search OSHA website: http://www.osha.gov).

     (2) Obtain the physician's written opinion and give a copy to the employee that includes:

     • A statement of whether or not medical conditions were found which would increase the employee's risk for impairment during emergency response work or respirator use.

     – Do not include specific findings or diagnoses unrelated to occupational exposures.

     • Limitations recommended to the employee's assigned work, if any.

     • Exam and test results if the employee requests this information.

     • A statement that affirms the employee has been confidentially informed of medical exam results (including medical conditions requiring follow-up).

Table 7

Medical Surveillance for Employee Categories

If the employee is covered by this chapter and is: Then you must:
• Exposed for at least 30 days a year to health hazards or hazardous substances at or above the permissible exposure limit or published exposure levels (even when respirators are used),

OR

• Required to wear a respirator for at least 30 days a year.*

• Offer standard medical surveillance as specified in Table 8.*
• A hazardous materials (HAZMAT) team member

• A hazardous materials specialist

• Provide standard medical surveillance as specified in Table 8.
• An emergency responder who shows immediate or delayed signs or symptoms possibly resulting from exposure to hazardous substances during an incident. • Provide incident-specific medical surveillance as specified in Table 8.
• Not an emergency responder and:

     – May be injured

     – Shows immediate or delayed signs or symptoms possibly resulting from exposure to hazardous substances

     – May have been exposed to hazardous substances at concentrations above the permissible exposure limits (PELs) or the published exposure levels without appropriate PPE.

• Offer incident-specific medical surveillance as specified in Table 8.

*Note: A medical evaluation for respirator use is required by chapter ((296-62)) 296-842 WAC, ((Part E, Respiratory protection)) Respirators, for those employees who have not been cleared for respirator use during medical surveillance activities.

Table 8

Frequency of Exams and Consultations

If the employee is covered by: Then medical surveillance must include:
• Standard medical surveillance • Exams and consultations:

     – Before assignment.

Note: If the employee is a hazardous materials (HAZMAT) team member or a hazardous materials specialist, the employee must receive a baseline physical examination.
     – At least once every 12 months after their initial assignment unless the physician believes a shorter, or longer interval (but no more than 24 months) is appropriate.

     – Whenever employees are reassigned to an area where they will no longer be covered by medical surveillance and they have not been examined within the past 6 months.

     – As soon as possible after an employee reports:

     ♦ Signs or symptoms of possible overexposure to hazardous substances or health hazards

     ♦ Injury

     ♦ Exposure above the permissible exposure limits or published exposure levels

     – At the termination of their employment unless they were examined within the past 6 months.

• Incident-specific medical surveillance • Medical consultations and exams:

     – As soon as possible following the incident or development of signs or symptoms.

     – At additional times, if the physician determines follow-up is medically necessary.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.010, [49.17].040, [49.17].050, and [49.17].060. 02-20-034, § 296-824-40005, filed 9/24/02, effective 10/1/02.]


AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 02-20-034, filed 9/24/02, effective 10/1/02)

WAC 296-824-60005   Personal protective equipment.   Use appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE).

Note: • Only properly trained employees should select PPE. Hazardous materials technicians and hazardous materials specialists can select PPE within the competencies specified in Table 4.
• Selection requirements in other PPE rules also apply, including:
– WAC 296-800-160, Personal protective equipment.
– Chapter ((296-62)) 296-842 WAC, ((Part E, Respiratory protection)) Respirators.
– WAC 296-24-58505, Fire brigades.
– Chapter 296-305 WAC, Safety standards for fire fighting.

     You must:

     • Provide employees with appropriate PPE and make sure it is used if hazards could be present.

     – Select PPE (such as respirators, gloves, protective suits and other PPE) based on:

     ♦ An evaluation of the performance characteristics (such as breakthrough time and hazardous substance-specificity of the material or item) relevant to the requirements and limitations of the site.

     ♦ Task-specific conditions and durations.

     ♦ The hazards and potential hazards of the site (see Table 9, Selecting PPE for Specific Hazards).

     – Select totally encapsulating chemical protective (TECP) suits, as specified in Table 9, that:

     ♦ Maintain positive air pressure.

     ♦ Prevent inward test gas leakage of more than 0.5 percent.

Note: Follow the manufacturer's recommended procedure for testing a TECP suit's ability to maintain positive air pressure and prevent inward gas leakage. Other established test protocols for these suits, for example NFPA 1991 and ASTM F1052-97, may also be used.

Table 9

Selecting PPE for Specific Hazards

If: Then:
• Inhalation hazards could be present. • Positive-pressure (pressure-demand) self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA)

OR

• A decreased level of respiratory protection only when the incident commander determines, from air monitoring results, that employees will be adequately protected.

Chemical exposure levels will create a substantial possibility of:

     • Immediate death.

     • Immediate serious illness or injury.

     • Reduced ability to escape.

Either positive-pressure (pressure-demand):

     • SCBA

     • Air-line respirators equipped with an escape air supply.

Skin absorption of a hazardous substance may result in a substantial possibility of:

     • Immediate death.

     • Immediate serious illness or injury.

     • Reduced ability to escape.

Protection equivalent to Level A including a totally encapsulating chemical protective (TECP) suit.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.010, [49.17].040, [49.17].050, and [49.17].060. 02-20-034, § 296-824-60005, filed 9/24/02, effective 10/1/02.]


AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 02-20-034, filed 9/24/02, effective 10/1/02)

WAC 296-824-70005   Follow the appropriate postemergency response requirements.  

     Important:

     • Postemergency response is the stage of the emergency response where the immediate threat from the release has been stabilized or eliminated, and cleanup of the site has started.

     • When cleanup is done by the employees who were part of the initial emergency response, the employees are not covered by this section (however, training, PPE and other requirements in WAC 296-824-20005 through 296-824-60015 apply to these employees).

     You must:

     (1) Follow Table 10 to determine which requirements apply to your postemergency response activities.

     (2) Maintain clean-up equipment as specified in Table 10.

Table 10

Rules that Apply to Postemergency Response Activities

When postemergency response cleanup is performed by employees who were not part of the initial emergency response and: The following rules or requirements apply:
It is necessary to remove hazardous substances, health hazards and contaminated materials (example: Soil) from the site Chapter 296-62 WAC, Part P, Hazardous waste operations and treatment, storage and disposal facilities.
Cleanup is done on plant property using plant or workplace employees

AND

It is not necessary to remove hazardous substances, health hazards and contaminated materials from the site.

For training:

     • WAC 296-24-567(1), Employee emergency action plans

     • Chapter ((296-62)) 296-842 WAC, ((Part E, Respiratory protection)) Respirators

     • WAC 296-800-170, Employer chemical hazard communication

     • Other appropriate training requirements relevant to personal protective equipment (PPE) and decontamination

For equipment:

     • Make sure that all equipment used for clean-up work is serviced and inspected before use.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.010, [49.17].040, [49.17].050, and [49.17].060. 02-20-034, § 296-824-70005, filed 9/24/02, effective 10/1/02.]


AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 02-20-034, filed 9/24/02, effective 10/1/02)

WAC 296-824-800   Definitions.   The following definitions are specific to this chapter:

     Annually

     Any twelve-month cycle.

     Buddy system

     A system of organizing employees (who enter or stand by danger areas) into work groups, so each employee can be observed by at least one other member of the group. The purpose of this system is to provide rapid assistance to employees in an emergency.

     Clean-up operation(s)

     An operation where hazardous substances are removed, contained, incinerated, neutralized, stabilized, cleared up or, in any other manner, processed or handled with the goal of making the site safer for people or the environment.

     Danger area

     Areas where conditions pose a serious danger to employees, such as areas where:

     • Immediately dangerous to life or health (IDLH) conditions could exist

     OR

     • High levels of exposure to toxic substances could exist

     OR

     • There is a potential for exceeding the lower explosive limit (LEL), also known as the lower flammability limit (LFL), of a substance.

     Decontamination

     Removing hazardous substances from employees and their equipment so potential adverse health effects will not occur.

     Emergency response

     An organized response to an anticipated release of a hazardous substance that is, or could become an uncontrolled release.

     Emergency response plan

     A written plan that requires coordination between emergency response participants, and contains procedures, criteria, and other information that will be applied to emergency response operations. Each employer's plan should be compatible with local and state plans.

     Engineering controls

     Methods of controlling employee exposures by modifying the source or reducing the quantity of contaminants.

     Hazardous materials team (HAZMAT team)

     A group of employees who are expected to perform responses to releases, or possible releases, of hazardous substances for the purpose of control and stabilization. As a result of their duties, HAZMAT team members may have close contact with hazardous substances.

Note: A HAZMAT team may be a separate component of a fire brigade or fire department.

     Hazardous substance

     Any of the following substances that could adversely affect an exposed employee's health or safety:

     • Substances defined under section 101(14) of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act of 1980 (CERCLA) or "Superfund" Act (visit: http://www.epa.gov)

     • Biological or other disease-causing agents released that could reasonably be expected to cause death, disease, behavioral abnormalities, cancer, genetic mutation, physiological malfunctions (including malfunctions in reproduction) or physical deformations in a person or their offspring when the person:

     – Is directly exposed to the agent in the environment

     – Directly ingests, inhales, or assimilates the agent from the environment

     – Indirectly ingests the agent through a food chain

     • Substances listed by the United States Department of Transportation as hazardous materials under Title 49 (Transportation) in the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), Part 172, section 101 and appendices (visit: http://www.nara.gov and search for "List of CFR subjects")

     • Hazardous wastes as defined in this chapter.

     Hazardous waste

     A substance designated by chapter 173-303 WAC, Dangerous waste regulations, department of ecology, as a dangerous waste or an extremely hazardous waste and any waste fitting the definition of "health hazard" in this chapter.

Note: For department of ecology regulations, visit: http://www.ecy.wa.gov

     Health hazard

     A chemical, a mixture of chemicals, or a pathogen for which there is statistically significant evidence, based on at least one study conducted according to established scientific principles, that acute or chronic health effects may occur in exposed employees.

     The term "health hazard" includes stress due to temperature extremes and chemicals that are:

     • Carcinogens

     • Toxic or highly toxic agents

     • Reproductive toxins, irritants, corrosives, sensitizers, hepatotoxins, nephrotoxins, or neurotoxins

     • Agents acting on the hematopoietic system agents that damage lungs, skin, eyes, or mucous membranes. (Detailed definitions of these chemical terms can be found in the Safety and health core rules, WAC 296-800-170, chemical hazard communication.)

     Incident command system (ICS)

     An organized approach to control and manage operations at an emergency response incident.

     Incidental release

     A release that can be safely controlled at the time of the release and does not have the potential to become an uncontrolled release.

     Note:

Example of a situation that results in an incidental release:

A tanker truck is receiving a load of hazardous liquid when a leak occurs. The driver knows the only hazard from the liquid is minor skin irritation. The employer has trained the driver on procedures and provided equipment to use for a release of this quantity. The driver puts on skin protection and stops the leak. A spill kit is used to contain, absorb, and pick up the spilled material for disposal.
    

     Immediately dangerous to life or health (IDLH)

     Any atmospheric condition that would:

     • Cause an immediate threat to life

     OR

     • Cause permanent or delayed adverse health effects

     OR

     • Interfere with an employee's ability to escape

     Limited action

     Action necessary to:

     • Secure an operation during emergency responses,

     OR

     • Prevent an incident from increasing in severity.

     Examples include shutting down processes and closing emergency valves.

     Lines of authority

     A preestablished ranking of individuals, qualified to assume a commanding role during an emergency response, noted in an emergency response plan and implemented during a response. This is most important when responders from multiple employers could participate in an emergency response.

     Lower explosive limit (LEL)

     See lower flammable limit (LFL).

     Lower Flammable limit (LFL)

     The lowest concentration of a material that will propagate a flame. The LFL is usually expressed as a percent (by volume) of the material in air (or other oxidant).

     Must

     Must means mandatory.

     Permissible exposure limit (PEL)

     Means the established time-weighted-average (TWA) concentration or ceiling concentration of a contaminant that must not be exceeded. The exposure, inhalation, or dermal permissible limit specified in chapter ((296-62 WAC, Part H, Air contaminants)) 296-841 WAC, identifying and controlling respiratory hazards.

     Personal protective equipment (PPE)

     Protective items designed to be worn by the user to protect them against airborne, skin contact and other hazards. This includes items such as respiratory protection, protective suits, gloves, eye protection, etc.

     Postemergency response

     The stage of the emergency response where the immediate threat from the release has been stabilized or eliminated, and cleanup of the site has started.

     Published exposure level

     Exposure limits published in "National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Recommendations for Occupational Safety and Health" (DHHS publication #92-100, 1992).

     If an exposure limit is not published by NIOSH, then "published exposure level" means the exposure limits published by the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH) in "TLVs and BEIs-Threshold Limit Values for Chemical Substances and Physical Agents" (1999 edition).

Note: Additional exposure levels published by recognized organizations such as the American Industrial Hygiene Association are not required to be observed by this rule; however, they may be a useful resource when a hazardous substance is not covered by NIOSH and ACGIH publications.

     Release

     A spill, leak, or other type of hazardous substance discharge.

     Uncontrolled release

     A release where significant safety and health risks could be created. Releases of hazardous substances that are either incidental or could not create a safety or health hazard (i.e., fire, explosion or chemical exposure) are not considered to be uncontrolled releases.


Examples of conditions that could create a significant safety and health risk:

• Large-quantity releases

• Small releases that could be highly toxic

• Potentially contaminated individuals arriving at hospitals

• Airborne exposures that could exceed a WISHA permissible exposure limit or a published exposure limit and employees are not adequately trained or equipped to control the release.


Example of an uncontrolled release:

A forklift driver knocks over a container of a solvent-based liquid, releasing the contents onto the warehouse floor. The driver has been trained to recognize the vapor is flammable and moderately toxic when inhaled. The driver has not been trained or provided appropriate equipment to address this type of spill. In this situation, it is not safe for the driver to attempt a response. The driver needs to notify someone of the release so an emergency response can be initiated.

     Workplace

     • A fixed facility

     OR

     • A temporary location (such as a traffic corridor)

     OR

     • Locations where employees respond to emergencies.

     You

     The employer. For a complete definition of "employer" see Safety and health core rules, chapter 296-800 WAC.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.010, [49.17].040, [49.17].050, and [49.17].060. 02-20-034, § 296-824-800, filed 9/24/02, effective 10/1/02.]

OTS-7255.1


AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 02-15-102, filed 7/17/02, effective 10/1/02)

WAC 296-835-11045   Protect employees during welding, burning, or other work using open flames.  

     You must:

     • Make sure the dip tank and the area around it are thoroughly cleaned of solvents and vapors before performing work involving:

     – Welding

     – Burning

     OR

     – Open flames

     Reference: There are additional requirements for this type of work. See Welding, cutting and brazing, chapter 296-24 WAC, Part I, and Respiratory protection, chapter ((296-62)) 296-842 WAC((, Part E)).

[Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.010, [49.17].040, and [49.17].050. 02-15-102, § 296-835-11045, filed 7/17/02, effective 10/1/02.]

OTS-7256.1


AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 03-01-096, filed 12/17/02, effective 6/1/03)

WAC 296-839-30005   Develop or obtain material safety data sheets (MSDSs).  

     You must:

     • Develop or obtain a complete and accurate material safety data sheet (MSDS) for each hazardous chemical or mixture according to ALL of the following:

     – ALL information in Table 8 must be completed. If there is no relevant information for a required item, this must be noted. Blank spaces are not permitted.


Note: • No specific format is required for MSDSs; however, an example format (OSHA form 174) can be found online at: http://www.osha.gov
• One MSDS can be developed for a group of complex mixtures (for example, jet fuels or crude oil) IF the health and physical hazards of the mixtures are similar (the amounts of chemicals in the mixture may vary).

     – Content of MSDSs must accurately represent the available scientific evidence.


Note: You may report results of scientifically valid studies that tend to refute findings of hazards.

     – MSDSs must be in English.


Note: You may develop copies of MSDSs in other languages.

     You must:

     • Revise an MSDS when you become aware of new and significant information regarding the hazards of a chemical, or how to protect against the hazards

     – Within three months after you first become aware of the information

     OR

     – Before the chemical is reintroduced into the workplace if the chemical is no longer being used, produced or imported.

Table 8

Information Required on MSDSs

• The chemical's identity as it appears on the label
• The date the MSDS was prepared or updated
• A contact for additional information about the hazardous chemical and appropriate emergency procedures Include all of the following:

     – Name

     – Address

     – Telephone number of the responsible party preparing or distributing the MSDS

• The chemical's hazardous ingredients1 as determined by your hazard evaluation

     – For a single substance chemical, include the chemical and common name(s) of the substance

     – For mixtures tested as a whole

          &sqbul; Include the common name(s) of the mixture

          AND

          &sqbul; List the chemical and common name(s) of ingredients that contribute to the known hazards

     – For mixtures NOT tested as a whole, list the chemical and common name(s) of hazardous ingredients

          &sqbul; That make up 1% or more of the mixture, by weight or volume, including carcinogens (if 0.1% concentration or more, by weight or volume)

     – If ingredients are less than the above concentrations but may present a health risk to employees (for example, allergic reaction or exposure could exceed the permissible exposure limits, or PEL) they must be listed here

• Exposure limits for airborne concentrations. Include ALL of the following, when they exist:

     – WISHA or OSHA PELs2

          &sqbul; The 8-hour time weighted average (TWA)

          &sqbul; The short-term exposure limit (STEL), if available

          &sqbul; Ceiling values, if available

     – Threshold limit values (TLVs) including 8-hour TWAs, STELs, and ceiling values

     – Other exposure limits used or recommended by the employer preparing the MSDS

• Physical and chemical characteristics

     – For example, boiling point, vapor pressure, and odor

• Fire, explosion data, and related information

     – For example, flashpoint, flammable and explosion limits, extinguishing media, and unusual fire or explosion hazards

• Physical hazards of the chemical including reactivity information

     – For example, incompatibilities, decomposition products, by-products, and conditions to avoid

• Health hazard information including ALL of the following:

     – Primary routes of exposure

          &sqbul; For example, inhalation, ingestion, and skin absorption or other contact3

     – Health effects (or hazards) associated with:

          &sqbul; Short-term exposure4

          AND

          &sqbul; Long-term exposure4

     – Whether the chemical is listed or described as a carcinogen or potential carcinogen in the latest editions of each of the following:

          &sqbul; The National Toxicology Program (NTP) Annual Report on Carcinogens

          OR

          &sqbul; The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) Monographs as a potential carcinogen

          OR

          &sqbul; WISHA or OSHA rules

     – Signs and symptoms of exposure5

     – Medical conditions generally recognized as being aggravated by exposure

• Emergency and first-aid procedures
• Generally applicable precautions for safe handling and use known to the employer preparing the MSDS

     – For example, appropriate procedures for clean-up of spills and leaks, waste disposal method, precautions during handling and storing

• Generally applicable and appropriate control measures known to the employer preparing the MSDS, including ALL of the following:

     – Engineering controls (for example, general or local exhaust ventilation)

     – Work practices

     – Personal protective equipment (PPE)

     – Personal hygiene practices

     – Protective measures during repair and maintenance of contaminated equipment


1The identities of some chemicals may be protected as trade secret information (see chapter 296-62 WAC, Part B-1, Trade secrets).
2 WISHA PEL categories are defined, and values are provided, in chapter ((296-62 WAC, Part H)) 296-841 WAC, identifying and controlling respiratory hazards.
3 A "skin notation" listed with either an ACGIH TLV or WISHA/OSHA PEL indicates that skin absorption is a primary route of exposure.
4Examples of:
• Short-term health effects (or hazards) include eye irritation, skin damage caused by contact with corrosives, narcosis, sensitization, and lethal dose.
• Long-term health effects (or hazards) include cancer, liver degeneration, and silicosis.
5Signs and symptoms of exposure to hazardous substances include those that:
• Can be measured such as decreased pulmonary function
AND
• Are subjective such as feeling short of breath.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.010, 49.17.040, 49.17.050, and 49.17.060. 03-01-096, § 296-839-30005, filed 12/17/02, effective 6/1/03.]


AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 03-01-096, filed 12/17/02, effective 6/1/03)

WAC 296-839-500   Definitions.   The following definitions apply to this chapter:

     Article (manufactured item)

     A manufactured item that

     • Is not a fluid or particle

     AND

     • Is formed to a specific shape or design during manufacture for a particular end use function

     AND

     • Releases only trace amounts of a hazardous chemical during normal use and does not pose a physical or health risk to employees.

     Chemical

     • An element or mixture of elements

     OR

     • A compound or mixture of compounds

     OR

     • A mixture of elements and compounds

     Included are manufactured items (such as bricks, welding rods and sheet metal) that are not exempt as an article.

     Chemical name

     • The scientific designation of a chemical developed by the

     – International union of pure and applied chemistry (IUPAC)

     OR

     – Chemical abstracts service (CAS) rules of nomenclature

     OR

     • A name that clearly identifies the chemical for the purpose of conducting a hazard evaluation.

     Combustible liquid

     Liquids with a flashpoint of at least 100°F (37.8°C) and below 200°F (93.3°C). A mixture with at least 99% of its components having flashpoints of 200°F (93.3°C), or higher, is not considered a combustible liquid.

     Commercial account

     An arrangement where a retailer is selling hazardous chemicals to an employer

     • Generally in large quantities over time

     OR

     • At costs below regular retail price.

     Common name

     Any designation or identification used to identify a chemical other than the chemical name, such as a

     • Code name or number

     OR

     • Trade or brand name

     OR

     • Generic name.

     Compressed gas

     • A contained gas or mixture of gases with an absolute pressure greater than:

     – 40 psi at 70°F (21.1°C)

     OR

     – 104 psi at 130°F (54.4°C) regardless of the pressure at 70°F (21.1°C)

     OR

     • A liquid with a vapor pressure greater than 40 psi at 100°F (37.8°C), as determined by ASTM D323-72.

     Container

     A vessel, other than a pipe or piping system, that holds a hazardous chemical. Examples include:

     • Bags

     • Barrels

     • Bottles

     • Boxes

     • Cans

     • Cylinders

     • Drums

     • Reaction vessels

     • Storage tanks

     • Rail cars.

     Designated representative

     • An individual or organization with written authorization from an employee

     OR

     • A recognized or certified collective bargaining agent (not necessarily authorized by an employee)

     OR

     • A legal representative of a deceased or legally incapacitated employee.

     Distributor

     A business that supplies hazardous chemicals to other employers. Included are employers who conduct retail and wholesale transactions.

     Explosive

     A chemical that causes a sudden, almost instant release of pressure, gas, and heat when exposed to a sudden shock, pressure, or high temperature.

     Flammable

     A chemical in one of the following categories:

     • Aerosols that, when tested using a method described in 16 CFR 1500.45, yield either a:

     – Flame projection of more than eighteen inches at full valve opening

     OR

     – A flashback (a flame extending back to the valve) at any degree of valve opening

     • Gases that, at the temperature and pressure of the surrounding area, form a:

     – Flammable mixture with air at a concentration of thirteen percent, by volume, or less

     OR

     – Range of flammable mixtures with air wider than twelve percent, by volume, regardless of the lower limit

     • Liquids with a flashpoint below 100°F (37.8°C). A mixture with at least ninety-nine percent of its components having flashpoints of 100°F (37.8°C), or higher, is not considered a flammable liquid

     • Solids, other than blasting agents or explosives, as defined in WAC 296-52-417 or 29 CFR 1910.109(a), that:

     – Is likely to cause fire through friction, moisture, absorption, spontaneous chemical change or retained heat from manufacturing or processing

     OR

     – That can be readily ignited (and when ignited burns so vigorously and persistently that it creates a serious hazard)

     OR

     – When tested by the method described in 16 CFR 1500.44, ignite and burn with a self-sustained flame at a rate greater than 1/10th of an inch per second along its major axis.

     Flashpoint

     The minimum temperature at which a liquid gives off an ignitable concentration of vapor, when tested by any of the following measurement methods:

     • Tagliabue closed tester. Use this for liquids with a viscosity less than, 45 Saybolt Universal Seconds (SUS) at 100°F (37.8°C), that do not contain suspended solids and do not tend to form a surface film under test. See American National Standard Method of Test for Flashpoint by Tag Closed Tester, Z11.24-1979 (ASTM D 56-79)

     • Pensky-Martens closed tester. Use this for liquids with a viscosity equal to, or greater than, 45 SUS at 100°F (37.8°C) or for liquids that contain suspended solids or have a tendency to form a surface film under test. See American National Standard Method of Test for Flashpoint by Pensky-Martens Closed Tester, Z11.7-1979 (ASTM D 93-79)

     • Setaflash closed tester. See American National Standard Method of Test for Flashpoint by Setaflash Closed Tester (ASTM D 3278-78)

     Organic peroxides, which undergo auto accelerating thermal decomposition, are excluded from any of the flashpoint measurement methods specified above.

     Hazardous chemical

     A chemical, which is a physical or health hazard.

     Hazard warning

     Words, pictures or symbols (alone or in combination) that appear on labels (or other forms of warning such as placards or tags) that communicate specific physical and health hazards (including target organ effects) associated with chemicals in a container.

     Health hazard

     A chemical that may cause health effects in short or long-term exposed employees based on statistically significant evidence from a single study conducted by using established scientific principles.

     Health hazards include, but are not limited to, any of the following:

     • Carcinogens

     • Toxic or highly toxic substances

     • Reproductive toxins

     • Irritants

     • Corrosives

     • Sensitizers

     • Hepatotoxins (liver toxins)

     • Nephrotoxins (kidney toxins)

     • Neurotoxins (nervous system toxins)

     • Substances that act on the hematopoietic system (blood or blood forming system)

     • Substances that can damage the lungs, skin, eyes, or mucous membranes.

     Identity

     A chemical or common name listed on the material safety data sheet (MSDS) and label.

     Importer

     The first business, within the Customs Territory of the United States, that receives hazardous chemicals produced in other countries and supplies them to manufacturers, distributors or employers within the United States.

     Label

     Written, printed, or graphic material displayed on, or attached to, a container of hazardous chemicals.

     Manufacturer

     An employer with a workplace where one or more chemicals (including items not exempt as "articles," see Table 1 in this chapter) are produced for use or distribution.

     Material safety data sheet (MSDS)

     Written, printed or electronic information (on paper, microfiche, or on-screen) that informs manufacturers, distributors or employers about the chemical, its hazards and protective measures as required by this rule.

     Mixture

     A combination of two or more chemicals that retain their chemical identify after being combined.

     Organic peroxide

     An organic compound containing the bivalent-O-O-structure. It may be considered a structural derivative of hydrogen peroxide if one or both of the hydrogen atoms has been replaced by an organic radical.

     Oxidizer

     A chemical, other than a blasting agent or explosive as defined in WAC 296-52-417 or 29 CFR 1910.109(a), that starts or promotes combustion in other materials, causing fire either of itself or through the release of oxygen or other gases.

     Permissible exposure limits

     See chapter ((296-62)) 296-841 WAC ((part H)), for definition of this term.

     Physical hazards

     A chemical that has scientifically valid evidence to show it is one of the following:

     • A combustible liquid

     • A compressed gas

     • Explosive

     • Flammable

     • An organic peroxide

     • An oxidizer

     • Pyrophoric

     • Unstable (reactive)

     • Water-reactive.

     Produce

     To do one or more of the following:

     • Manufacture

     • Process

     • Formulate

     • Blend

     • Extract

     • Generate

     • Emit

     • Repackage.

     Pyrophoric

     Chemicals that ignite spontaneously in the air at a temperature of 130°F (54.4°C) or below.

     Responsible party

     Someone who can provide more information about the hazardous chemical and appropriate emergency procedures.

     Retailer

     See "distributor."

     Threshold limit values (TLVs)

     Airborne concentrations of substances established by the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH), and represent conditions under which it is believed that nearly all workers may be repeatedly exposed day after day without adverse health effects.

     TLVs are specified in the most recent edition of the Threshold Limit Values for Chemical Substances and Physical Agents and Biological Exposure Indices and include the following categories:

     • Threshold limit value-time-weighted average (TLV-TWA)

     • Threshold limit value-short-term exposure limit (TLV-STEL)

     • Threshold limit value-ceiling (TLV-C).

     Unstable (reactive)

     A chemical in its pure state, or as produced or transported, that will vigorously polymerize, decompose, condense, or become self-reactive under conditions of shocks, pressure or temperature.

     Use

     To do one or more of the following:

     • Package

     • Handle

     • React

     • Emit

     • Extract

     • Generate as a by-product

     • Transfer.

     Water-reactive

     A chemical that reacts with water to release a gas that is either flammable or presents a heath hazard.

     Wholesaler

     See "distributor."

[Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.010, 49.17.040, 49.17.050, and 49.17.060. 03-01-096, § 296-839-500, filed 12/17/02, effective 6/1/03.]

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