PDFWAC 296-155-235
Working over or adjacent to water.
(1) When an employee is employed under conditions which expose them to a risk of drowning, they must wear a U.S. Coast Guard approved life saving device, unless it can be shown that conditions, such as shallow water, are such that flotation would not be achieved.
(2) Prior to and after each use, the buoyant life saving device must be inspected for defects which would alter their strength or buoyancy. Defective units must not be used.
(3) Ring buoys with at least 90 feet of line must be provided and readily available for emergency rescue operations. Distance between ring buoys must not exceed 200 feet.
(4) At least one lifesaving skiff must be immediately available at locations where employees are working over or adjacent to water. Each skiff, or skiffs, must:
(a) Be suitable for conditions where used.
(b) Be equipped with oar locks securely attached to gunwales, oars, one boat hook, and one cork ring buoy with 50 feet of suitable line attached.
(5) Whenever boats or skiffs cannot be used, due to swift currents, life lines close to the water surface must be provided and, wherever practicable, a line must be stretched across the stream with tag lines.
(6) Where workers are transported by boat or barge, only such number of persons must be carried that can be safely accommodated on fixed seats. Capacity showing number of persons must be plainly marked on vessel.
(7) All workers must be provided with a U.S. Coast Guard approved buoyant life saving device while transported in open boats and/or barges, and where deemed necessary by the department, workers must wear same while in transport.
[Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.010, 49.17.040, 49.17.050, 49.17.060. WSR 16-09-085, § 296-155-235, filed 4/19/16, effective 5/20/16. Statutory Authority: Chapter 49.17 RCW. WSR 94-15-096 (Order 94-07), § 296-155-235, filed 7/20/94, effective 9/20/94; Order 74-26, § 296-155-235, filed 5/7/74, effective 6/6/74.]