Section 296-32-24018 - Emergency response/rescue requirements(1) Emergency response. The employer must establish and document site specific procedures for rescue of employees in the event of an emergency. The employer must designate its own employees to implement the rescue procedures. The documented procedures must be available for review by the director of the Washington state department of labor and industries, or his or her designee, upon request.(2) For elevated high angle rescue the following measures must be taken: (a) Ensure at least two competent rescue-trained climbing employees are on-site when employees are working at heights over four feet on the structure. When there are only three employees on-site and one of these employees has been employed for less than twelve months, then that new employee must minimally have documented rescue training which includes steps to be taken in an emergency.(b) Ensure that personal protective equipment (PPE) and high angle rescue equipment needed to conduct elevated rescues are provided, used, and maintained by the rescue-trained employees.(c) Train competent rescue employees so they are proficient in the use and maintenance of PPE and high angle rescue equipment needed to conduct elevated rescues.(d) Train competent rescue employees to perform assigned rescue duties to ensure that they maintain the ability to perform and demonstrate such duties by conducting and documenting simulated rescue operations at least once every twelve months.(e) The rescue equipment must be used only for rescue and must remain on-site anytime climbers are on towers or other elevated work locations.(f) The design of the control mechanism must prevent the user of the device from causing an uncontrolled descent.(g) The design of the manual descent device must permit operation only when rigged in the correct manner and have an automatic lock off.Wash. Admin. Code § 296-32-24018
Adopted by WSR 17-20-069, Filed 10/2/2017, effective 1/1/2018Amended by WSR 20-20-109, Filed 10/6/2020, effective 11/6/2020