The definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter unless the context clearly requires otherwise.

"Bunk or section house" means the portion of any building in which employees are provided sleeping or living accommodations, except family dwellings.

"Caboose" means any car or coach used on a train to carry the train crew.

"Commission" means the Washington utilities and transportation commission.

"Company" means a common carrier railroad company as employer.

"Employee" means any person employed by a company.

"Incinerator toilet" means a toilet containing a receptacle for toilet waste to which intense heat is applied.

"Number of employees" means the maximum number of employees going on or coming off shift within any single hour.

"Office work area" means a yard office, station, depot, terminal, or freight, baggage and express office located on railroad property which is the usual place of employment for the performance of clerical or other work identified with office functions of the company.

"Railroads" means common carrier railroads.

"Sanitary" means free from things injurious to health, or effective in preventing or checking the effects of those things.

"Station" means a location where freight or passengers are ordinarily received and delivered, including all freight and express offices.

"Terminal" means a location where train crews and other employees are regularly required to report for duty.

"Toilets" means fixtures such as flush toilets, chemical closets, or privies used for the purpose of defecation.

"Usual place of employment" means the place where an employee works with a reasonable measure of continuity throughout the major part of the employee's company service.

"Yards" means yards, section headquarters, and locomotive and car shops.

The rules in this chapter apply to all railroads operating within the state of Washington.

You may contact the commission in writing, in person, by telephone, by email, or by facsimile.

The commission's location, mailing address, email address, and telefax numbers are found in WAC 480-07-125. The commission's internet home page address is found in WAC 480-040-035 [ 480-04-035] .

The commission's rules governing administrative practices and procedures are in chapter 480-07 WAC. When a rule in this chapter conflicts with a rule in chapter 480-07 WAC, the rule in this chapter applies to railroad companies.

(1) The commission may grant an exemption of any rule in this chapter, if consistent with the public interest, the purposes underlying regulation, and applicable statutes.

(2) To request a rule exemption, a person must file with the commission a written request identifying the rule for which an exemption is sought, and giving a full explanation of the reason the exemption is requested.

(3) The commission will assign the request a docket number, if needed, and schedule the request for consideration at one of its regularly scheduled open meetings or, if appropriate under chapter 34.05 RCW, in an adjudication. The commission will notify the person requesting the exemption, and other interested persons, of the date the commission will consider the request.

(4) The commission will enter an order granting or denying the request, or setting it for hearing pursuant to chapter 480-07 WAC.

Any interested person who believes that available sanitary or shelter facilities are inadequate or unsatisfactory under the rules in this chapter may file an informal or formal complaint with the commission pursuant to WAC 480-07-910 and 480-07-370 requesting the responsible party or parties to correct the condition. Upon investigating the complaint, the commission may issue an order, with or without hearing, directing that the conditions complained of be corrected.

Railroads must report to the commission, upon request, concerning the company's sanitation and shelter facilities and servicing programs required by these rules.

(1) The company is responsible for providing employees with all items required by these rules.

(2) The company must, at all times, maintain all items required in these rules in proper working order and in a condition which is sanitary, free from vermin and rodents, and which is not offensive to a reasonable person, except when the items are taken out of service and are not accessible by employees.

(3) The company must establish a program to regularly review and service all items required in these rules to meet its obligations under subsections (1) and (2) of this section; however, implementing a program must not be a substitute for actual compliance with subsections (1) and (2) of this section.

(1) During use, locomotive cabs must be heated to a minimum of 50 degrees Fahrenheit.

(2) When required by the season of the year, doors and windows of all locomotives must be equipped with adequate protection to occupants from the elements by means of weather stripping, or other device sufficient to provide equally adequate protection.

(3) Cabooses must be maintained in a clean and sanitary condition.

(4) When required by the season of the year, doors, and windows of cabooses must be equipped with adequate weather stripping.

(5) Every caboose used in any train in this state, regardless of service, must be provided with a stove or other adequate means of heating. The company shall provide a sufficient supply of fuel for the trip or shift.

(1) Bed linen furnished by the railroad must be changed, and fresh, clean linen supplied at least once a week and for each new occupant.

(2) Adequate shelter must be furnished and maintained for watchmen. The shelter must be adequately heated, sealed and insulated against cold and inclement weather.

(3) Office work areas must be clearly lighted at all times during hours of use.

(4) Office work areas must be heated at all times during hours of use to a minimum of 65 degrees Fahrenheit.

(5) Office work areas must be provided with cross-ventilation when possible.

(6) Windows, ventilators and doors opening to the outside of office work areas must be properly screened during the seasons when insects are prevalent.

(1) Toilet rooms and washrooms must not be used for storage.

(2) Floors in all buildings and movable facilities must be maintained in a clean, and so far as reasonably possible, dry condition. Where wet processes are used, drainage must be maintained and false floors, platforms, mats or other dry standing places must be provided wherever reasonably possible.

(3) Screens required by these rules must be of 16 mesh or equal.

(4) Suitable receptacles for the storage of waste and refuse must be provided wherever needed. They must be maintained in a sanitary condition. Receptacles used for moist or liquid waste must be made of a smooth finished surface, impervious to moisture. They must be kept covered and must be washed out as often as necessary to keep them clean.

(5) All sweepings, waste and refuse must be removed in a manner which avoids raising dust, and as often as necessary to keep all rooms used by employees clean.

(6) Toilet waste must not be discharged onto the ground surface from railroad cars within servicing area of yards. Those areas must be kept free of refuse, litter, debris, vermin and rodents.

(7) Adequate drainage must be provided where work is performed in repair yards or on repair tracks in the open or in open sheds or pits. Waste must not drain into any water of the state, nor contaminate the ground surface, but must be disposed of in a manner approved by the Washington state department of health.

(1) An adequate supply of cool drinking water must be made available to all employees wherever they may be working.

(2) Drinking water must meet all standards of the Washington state department of health.

(3) Containers used to furnish drinking water must meet all specifications of the Washington state department of health and must be sterilized as often as necessary to assure a sanitary water supply.

(4) The common drinking cup is prohibited.

(5) Cross-connections between potable and nonpotable water supplies are prohibited. Nonpotable water supplies must be clearly labeled as not fit for drinking or washing.

(1) An adequate number of wash basins or lavatories for maintaining personal cleanliness must be provided within reasonable access for all employees normally assigned to office work areas, stations, yards, terminals, shops, engine houses, lunch rooms, bunk houses, and section houses. All other employees must be provided an adequate means to maintain personal cleanliness for eating purposes and after defecation or urination.

(2) The following table must be used to determine the adequacy of washing facilities (twenty-four inches of trough or circular wash basin is considered the equivalent of one wash basin):

(3) At least one wash basin must be located in or adjacent to each toilet room.

(4) Wash basins or lavatories must be made of smooth finished material, impervious to moisture.

(5) Supplies for wash basins or lavatories must include:

(a) Hot and cold running water to wash basins.

(b) Mechanical drying facilities or individual towels, either paper or cloth. The use of common towels is prohibited.

(c) Waste receptacles for used paper towels.

(d) Soap or other suitable cleansing agent at each wash basin.

Showers must be required when the commission determines that they are necessary at a specific location to protect employees whose work involves exposure to poisonous, infectious or irritating material or to excessive dirt, heat fumes, vapors, or other materials or substances injurious to health. Adequate locker and dressing room facilities will be provided with showers. Specifications for showers will be determined for each location when the need for showers is established.

(1) Separate dressing rooms must be provided for men and women in all places of employment where it is necessary for employees to change clothing. Dressing rooms must be separated from toilet rooms by solid partitions and doors. Dressing rooms must have at least eighty square feet of floor space. If more than ten employees, at least an additional four square feet must be provided for each additional employee. Benches must be provided. Dressing rooms must be properly lighted, heated to a minimum of 65 degrees Fahrenheit, and adequately ventilated. Where reasonably possible, cross-ventilation must be provided.

(2) Individual metal lockers must be provided where dressing rooms are required. Lockers must also be provided for each employee who must store work-related items at any time. Lockers must be convenient for employee access and must be provided where needed, even if one locker must be provided to an employee at each end of a run. Lockers must be at least twelve inches wide, eighteen inches deep and seventy-two inches high, exclusive of legs or other base. The lockers must be equipped with a shelf and with at least one clothes hook for each side or equivalent hanger bar, and also with sufficient openings in the door for purposes of ventilation.

(1) Where running water and sewer or septic tank connections are reasonably available, flush-type toilets and urinals must be maintained.

(2) Chemical toilets or privies may only be used where it is impractical to install inside toilet and urinal facilities.

(3) No privy, urinal, cesspool, septic tank or other receptacle for human excrement must be used which directly or indirectly drains or discharges over, into or upon the surface of the ground or into the waters of the state.

(1) Every flush toilet must have a rim flush bowl or be so constructed as to prevent the accumulation of fecal matter on the bowl. The bowl must be constructed of a smooth finished material impervious to moisture.

(2) Every bowl must be installed in a manner which allows surroundings and floor space to be easily cleaned.

(3) No pan, plunger or wash-out water closets are permitted except that pan or double-pan types are permitted for movable facilities.

(4) Every flush toilet must have a separate hinged seat made of a smooth finished material, other than metal, impervious to moisture.

(1) Every urinal must be made of a smooth finished material impervious to moisture.

(2) Every urinal must be located within a toilet room.

(3) Twenty-four inches of trough urinal is equivalent to an individual urinal.

(4) Wherever a slab urinal is installed, the floor must be sloped toward the urinal drain for a distance of at least twenty-four inches in front of the urinal. Adequate splash guards must be installed.

(5) Every urinal must be flushed from a water-supplied tank or through valve, and flush valves must be installed with an approved back-flow preventer. Every tank must furnish an adequate quantity of water for each discharge for every fixture. In place of discharge from a tank or flush valve, water may be allowed to run continuously over slab or trough urinals.

(6) Clear floor space for each urinal or its equivalent must be at least two feet in width.

All chemical toilets installed must be of a type approved by the commission. Containers must be charged with chemical solution of proper strength and their contents must be agitated daily with proper devices provided for that purpose. When containers are more than two-thirds full the contents must be disposed of in an approved manner. The stacks connecting the seats with the containers must be cleaned as often as is necessary to keep them in a clean and sanitary condition.

(1) All incinerator toilets used on railroad equipment in the state of Washington must be of a type approved by the commission.

(2) The installation and method of venting must be approved by the commission.

(3) Clear and concise instructions must be provided by the railroad company to insure that the units are operated correctly.

(1) All privies must be located, constructed, and maintained to avoid contaminating any water of the state.

(2) A suitable approach, such as concrete, gravel or cinder walk must be provided.

(3) Privies must be constructed and maintained to be insect and rodent proof.

(4) Every privy must be provided with a door that is self-closing.

(5) The lids over the seats must be constructed to fall into a closed position when the seat is not occupied.

(6) The pit, or vault must be ventilated to the outside air by means of a stack protected at its outlet by screens.

(1) Separation.

(a) No toilet room must have direct communication with any room in which unwrapped food products are prepared, stored, handled, or sold, unless separated by a self-closing door maintained in operating condition.

(b) Separate toilet facilities must be provided for men and women, and each toilet room must be plainly marked by a sign reading "men" or "women." However, where toilet rooms will be occupied by no more than one person at a time, can be locked from the inside, and contain at least one water closet, separate toilet rooms for each sex need not be provided. Where a single occupancy room has more than one toilet, only one of them may be counted for the purpose of the table in WAC 480-66-470.

(c) There must be no direct connection between toilet rooms for men and women. Each must have a separate entrance, and each entrance door must have an automatic closing device maintained in operating condition.

(2) In toilet rooms containing more than one water closet, each water closet must be in an individual compartment.

(3) Every toilet room must be adequately ventilated.

(4) All toilet facilities must be clearly lighted at all times during working hours.

(5) Every toilet room other than privies must be kept adequately heated.

(6) All windows, ventilators, and other openings, must be screened to prevent the entrance of insects. Toilet rooms must be kept free of insects and vermin.

General.

(1) Adequate toilet facilities must be provided for all employees, and for each sex. Facilities must be conveniently located and accessible, and must be maintained at all times in a usable and sanitary condition and in a condition which is not offensive to a reasonable person.

(2) The following table must be used as a guide in determining the adequacy of toilet facilities.

(3) Whenever urinals are provided, one urinal may be substituted for one toilet, provided the number of toilets must not be reduced to less than two-thirds of the number shown in the foregoing table.

(1) An adequate supply of toilet paper with holder must be maintained.

(2) In all toilet rooms used by women dispensing machines for sanitary napkins must be provided if requested.

(1) Movable facilities. Flush, chemical, or incinerator type toilets must be provided on the following movable facilities:

(a) The lead locomotive of all trains except when used in yard service.

(b) Baggage and express cars where employees are required to work en route.

(c) Cabooses.

(2) Stationary facilities. Appropriate toilets, as required by these rules, must be provided and made accessible to all employees at all terminals, yards, stations, depots, office work areas, engine houses and shops, bunk or section houses, section headquarters, lunch rooms, and maintenance of way camps.

(1) At all permanent and semi-permanent installations, an acceptable place with adequate space for eating meals must be provided for employees who bring their meals to their place of employment, or eat meals prepared at the camp facilities. An acceptable place with adequate space for eating meals must be provided at all other places whenever reasonably possible.

(2) Eating places must be constructed to permit them to be readily cleaned. At all times, they must be kept clean and sanitary, in good repair, and free of rodents, insects and vermin.

(3) Kitchen cars or other camp facilities must have adequate equipment for the sanitary preparation, cooking and refrigeration of food.

(4) If employees are allowed or required to eat in a locomotive, the eating area must be kept clean and sanitary at all times.

(1) In lunch rooms where food is served for employees, the food, equipment, and facilities are subject to the rules and regulations of the state department of health pertaining to public food establishments.

(2) Employees and workers handling and serving food are subject to those rules and regulations of the state department of health which are necessary to the sanitary handling of food.

(3) Concessionaire facilities provided by the company in lieu of direct company operations must comply with the regulations in these rules with respect to adequate space, adequate food handling facilities, sanitation and cleanliness.

(4) Adequate table and seating facilities must be provided for the maximum number of employees using the room at any one time.

(1) General. The minimum area of lunch rooms, or the amount of space to be added to that required for a locker room where a lunch room is not provided, must be based upon the maximum number of employees using the room or added space at any one time, in accordance with the following table:

(2) Every eating place and lunch room must be adequately ventilated. Where reasonably possible cross-ventilation must be provided.

(3) All lunch rooms must be clearly lighted at all times during hours of use.

(4) Every lunch room must be kept reasonably heated at all times.

(5) The windows, ventilators and doors opening to the outside of all lunch rooms must be properly screened during the season when insects are prevalent.

(6) One or more covered receptacles, as needed, must be furnished in lunch room and eating places for the disposal of waste food and other waste matter. The containers must be emptied regularly and cleaned as often as needed. The area where the receptacles are kept must be maintained free of litter overflowing the receptacles.

(1) Walls, floors and ceilings must be constructed to permit them to be readily cleaned.

(2) Exterior windows and doors must be weather stripped during cold weather.

(3) Screens must be provided for outer doors and windows during any season when insects are prevalent.

(4) Heating facilities and adequate fuel must be provided with which employees may maintain a comfortable temperature as weather conditions may require.

(5) Lighting, by windows and/or acceptable artificial illumination, must be provided.

(6) Ventilation must be provided by windows opening directly to the outside air.

(7) Beds, bunks or cots with proper mattresses must be provided. The beds, bunks or cots must be raised at least twelve inches above the floor and be located two feet or more from the side of any other bed, bunk or cot located in the same room, and have at least twenty-seven inches of clear space above it.

Dormitories or bunk rooms must be large enough to provide at least fifty square feet of floor area for each person. However, where double bunks are used at least thirty square feet of floor space must be provided for each person using a double bunk. The headroom of dormitories or bunk rooms must be at least seven feet.