Wash. Admin. Code § 296-32-24005

Current through Register Vol. 24-23, December 1, 2024

Section 296-32-24005 - Wireless communications- General requirements

(1) In addition to the requirements of WAC 296-32-22515 the employer must ensure that at least two employees on-site are trained and hold current certifications in basic first aid and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) issued by the American Red Cross or any other organization whose standards are equivalent to the American Red Cross. Employees working alone must have basic first-aid training and hold a valid first-aid certificate.

(2) Training.

(a) In order for employees to work at heights above four feet, they must be authorized and approved for such work by the employer and/or a competent person.

(b) Training of employees must be performed by a qualified person able to perform such training.

(c) The employer's written work procedures must be provided to employees as part of their training.

(d) Pictures and symbols may be used as a means of instruction if employee understanding is improved using this method.

(e) The employer must ensure that each employee working at heights above four feet has been trained in all of the following areas:

(i) The nature of fall hazards in the work area;

(ii) The correct procedures for erecting, maintaining, disassembling, and inspecting the fall protection systems to be used;

(iii) The correct procedures for inspecting fall protection equipment for wear, damage, defect, or deterioration;

(iv) Climbing methods and safety procedures;

(v) The use and operation of the fall protection systems used by the employer, as described in WAC 296-32-22555;

(vi) Identify the duties and responsibilities of various roles, as documented in the fall protection work plans;

(vii) The compatibility of fall protection equipment and fall protection systems.

Note:

For establishing and maintaining a program for the control and monitoring of nonionizing radiation hazards (RFR), see WAC 296-32-22572 for additional requirements.

(3) Telecommunications work on high voltage transmission towers and power/utility poles.

(a) Only high voltage lineman or telecommunications/tower employees with equivalent training for working on transmission towers/utility/power poles as required in WAC 296-45-065 are allowed to work on such structures.

(b) Employees must have the skills and techniques necessary to distinguish exposed live parts from other parts of electric equipment.

(c) Employees must have the skills and techniques to determine the nominal voltage of exposed live parts.

(d) Employees must know the minimum approach distances to the voltages to which the employees will be exposed to and measures must be taken to ensure employees and conductive objects will not enter the minimum approach distance. See Table 6 in WAC 296-32-23518.

(e) Employees must be trained and address inductance hazards.

(4) Training program documentation and records to include in-house.

(a) The employer must document that each employee has been trained with a record that includes all of the following:

(i) The identity of the person trained;

(ii) The signature of the employer or the qualified person who conducted the training;

(iii) The date that training was completed;

(iv) A detailed description of the training.

(b) The employer must maintain a copy of the training lesson plan for each topic of instruction.

(c) The employer must prepare the record at the completion of the training required by these rules and must be maintained for five years.

(d) The most current record must be kept available for review by the director of the department of labor and industries or his or her designee, upon request.

(e) The employer may only accept training records for previous training by an accredited institute or school, or in-house training if:

(i) The employer verifies that all training and knowledge is up-to-date and applicable to the new employee's job duties; and

(ii) The employee must also demonstrate proficiency in the duties they are required to perform.

(f) In order to fulfill responsibilities under the provisions of the rules in this section, the employer must, upon request, provide the department of labor and industries or his or her designee access to the following records:

(i) Training records. All material related to the employer's training and education program, see WAC 296-32-22525;

(ii) Medical records and nonionizing radiation exposure records. All medical records and material related to each analysis using exposure or medical records must comply with chapter 296-802 WAC;

(iii) Equipment inspections and testing records. All material related to the modification, repair, test, calibration or maintenance service of all equipment.

(5) A site specific safety plan must be located on-site and include the following:

(a) The site address to include the coordinates and directions to the site, and local emergency response agency contact information.

(b) The hazard assessment as required in subsections (6) through (8) of this section.

(c) The fall protection work plan as required in WAC 296-32-24012(11).

(d) Emergency procedures including rescue procedures as required in WAC 296-32-24018.

(6) The employer must ensure that a structure hazard assessment is performed to identify, assess, and control employee exposure to hazards as required by these rules and any other applicable state or federal statutes, rules, or regulations. Hazard assessments required by this rule must be documented as follows:

(a) Initially and daily for each site by a competent person prior to permitting employees to climb the structure.

(b) When safety and health information or change in workplace conditions indicates that a new or increased hazard may be present.

(7) The hazard assessments required by this rule must do the following:

(a) Be performed by a competent person.

(b) Evaluate and approve new equipment, materials, and processes for hazards before they are introduced into the workplace.

(c) The contract employer must verify the structural analysis for construction, demolition, and modification of communication structures, antenna supporting structures, mounts, structural components, guy assemblies, insulators and foundations, when required. Refer to ANSI/TIA 222-G, 2014 and Telecommunication construction standards, ANSI/TIA - 322, 2016 and ANSI/ASSE A10.48, 2016.

(d) Identify meteorological conditions that could affect work at heights above four feet on a tower, such as high winds, heat, cold, lightning, rain, snow, or sleet.

(e) Working on towers shall be prohibited during adverse weather conditions.

Note:

Thunderstorms in the immediate vicinity, high winds, heat, cold, lightning, rain, snow, or sleet are examples of adverse weather conditions that are presumed to make this work too hazardous to perform, except under emergency conditions.

(8) If hazards are identified, the employer must assess the severity of identified hazards and implement means to control such hazards, including providing employees with personal protective equipment (PPE) designed to control the identified hazards and ensuring the proper training and use of the PPE by the employees.

(9) Climbing facilities.

(a) If climbing pegs are missing and/or the safety climb's condition is outside the manufacturer's specifications, an alternate means to access the structure must be used.

(b) Climbing space must be kept clear of obstructions or if the climbing space and facility are obstructed, approved climber attachments must be installed to maintain 100 percent fall protection.

(c) These rules must not require the retrofitting of communication climbing facilities provided that employees who are exposed to fall hazards above four feet while performing work on communication towers are protected from such hazards by means of a 100 percent fall protection system.

(d) If access to the tower is obstructed, the employer must notify the owner of the antenna/communication system and the tower owner and an alternate means must be utilized to access the tower.

(10) Communication tower/structure evaluation.

(a) The structural integrity, safety systems and loading capacities of the structure must be maintained per the engineered design.

(b) Maintenance and condition assessment must be conducted in accordance with ANSI/TIA 222-G, 2014:

(i) Three-year intervals for guyed towers, and five-year intervals for self-supporting structures and monopoles or in accordance with the schedule established by the engineer of record for the structure owner.

(ii) After severe wind and/or ice storms or other extreme conditions.

(iii) At shorter intervals when the structure has been exposed to corrosive environments or are in areas subject to vandalism.

Wash. Admin. Code § 296-32-24005

Adopted by WSR 17-20-069, Filed 10/2/2017, effective 1/1/2018

Amended by WSR 20-20-109, Filed 10/6/2020, effective 11/6/2020