PERMANENT RULES
LABOR AND INDUSTRIES
Effective Date of Rule: June 1, 2010.
Purpose: In 2002, the department rewrote the window cleaning rules for clarity. As part of that process, an allowance from ANSI/IWCA 1-14.1-2001, Window Cleaning Safety, Section 5.7.12 was omitted from the final rule language. This language would allow employers to use a rope descent system above three hundred feet in height if the windows cannot be safely and practicably accessed by other work practices. The purpose of this rule making is to add this allowance to WAC 296-878-20010 Safely use rope descent systems.
Citation of Existing Rules Affected by this Order: Amending chapter 296-878 WAC, Safety standards for window cleaning, WAC 296-878-20010 Safely use rope descent systems.
• Updated language to allow employers to use a rope descent system above three hundred feet in height if the windows cannot be safely and practicably accessed by other work practices.
Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 49.17.010, 49.17.040, 49.17.050, 49.17.060.
Adopted under notice filed as WSR 10-01-168 on December 22, 2009.
Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 0, Amended 1, Repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted at Request of a Nongovernmental Entity: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's Own Initiative: New 0, Amended 1, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Clarify, Streamline, or Reform Agency Procedures: New 0, Amended 1, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted Using Negotiated Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Pilot Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Other Alternative Rule Making: New 0, Amended 1, Repealed 0.
Date Adopted: April 6, 2010.
Judy Schurke
Director
OTS-2758.1
AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 02-22-027, filed 10/28/02,
effective 1/1/03)
WAC 296-878-20010
Safely use rope descent systems.
You must:
(1) Make sure workers use extreme care when using rope descent equipment around electrical service, heat sources, and turbulent areas, such as air vents.
(2) Connect the seatboard or boatswain's chair to the descent device with a manual or auto locking carabiner.
(3) Make sure workers are positioned in the seatboard or boatswain's chair before being suspended.
(4) Make sure workers do not reach more than six feet in any direction as measured from a centerline straight down from where the suspension rope bears on the building.
(5) Make sure workers do not descend rapidly, swing excessively, or stop suddenly.
(6) Make sure that, in addition to the suspended worker, there is one other person at the jobsite who is skilled in using the rope descent system and rescue procedures.
(7) Make sure you do not exceed a three hundred-foot height of descent as measured from grade or building setback unless the windows cannot be safely and practicably accessed by other means.
(8) Make sure your site-specific service plan addresses the following hazards for descents over one hundred thirty feet as measured from grade or building setback:
• Sudden weather changes, such as wind gusts, micro bursts, or tunneling wind currents
• Inability of the rope descent system to function without using excessive force
• Workers suspended for long periods of time
• Rerigging and movement of main suspension and safety lines.
(9) Stabilize workers suspended from a rope descent system whenever the descent is higher than one hundred thirty feet, as measured from grade or building setback.
(10) Prohibit workers from working when wind speed makes any stabilization equipment ineffective.
| Note: | Provisions for stabilizing workers may include: |
| • Continuous stabilization, such as mullion tracks | |
| • Intermittent stabilization, such as detent pins/buttons | |
| • Work station stabilization, such as suction cups. |
[Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.010, 49.17.040, 49.17.050, and 49.17.060. 02-22-027, § 296-878-20010, filed 10/28/02, effective 1/1/03.]