Section 296-155-55200. Employer responsibilities for lifting personnel.

(1) You must require that the provisions of this part are understood and applied at the operational levels and that the appropriate portions of this part are included in the prelift briefing information.

(2) You must:

(a) Assign an employee to function as the lift supervisor, see WAC 296-155-55205;

(b) Prepare a personnel lift plan containing at least the information shown in WAC 296-155-56410. You must retain this plan as part of the job site records;

(c) Verify the need for a personnel lift;

(d) Verify the crane/derrick to be used for the personnel lift;

(e) Authorize the personnel lift operation;

(f) Require the personnel lift be accomplished in accordance with the provisions of this part;

(g) Hold the prelift meeting prior to the trial lift at each new work location;

(h) Verify qualified persons are assigned to perform the functions of the personnel lift supervisor, operator, signal persons, riggers and tagline handlers, as applicable;

(i) Accomplish other tasks that may be needed to enhance the safety of the personnel lift;

(j) Require that all personnel associated with the lift receive the briefings and safety indoctrinations specified in this part. This prelift meeting must be attended by the crane/derrick operator, signal person (if used for the lift), employees to be hoisted, personnel lift supervisor and the person responsible for the task to be performed.

(3) The prelift meeting must cover, as a minimum:

(a) The requirements of the applicable portions of Part L in this chapter;

(b) Assignment and responsibilities of each person involved in the lift operation;

(c) The procedures to be followed;

(d) Guidance on general and specific safety precautions;

(e) Special signals for the operation;

(f) Unique considerations of the lift;

(g) Work to be accomplished during lift;

(h) If applicable, the responsibilities and assignments when lifting personnel near electrical power lines.

(4) If individuals are changed during a series of personnel lifts, you must appropriately brief each new person.

(5) You must not allow or require any operator to lift personnel under the following conditions:

(a) The operator does not feel physically or mentally fit to perform the operation;

(b) The operator has been working for more than 10 hours prior to the start of the lift, or the lift will not be completed before the operator has been working for 12 hours;

(c) The operator did not have at least 8 hours off, immediately prior to the work shift containing the personnel lift operation.

(6) You must verify there are no less hazardous alternatives to performing the work or providing access to the area. You must not authorize the personnel lift when less hazardous means are feasible.

(7) The employer can only authorize personnel lifting over, under, or in the vicinity of power lines in accordance with the requirements of Figures 9, 10 and 11 and Table 10 in WAC 296-155-55305.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.010, 49.17.040, 49.17.050, 49.17.060. WSR 16-09-085, § 296-155-55200, filed 4/19/16, effective 5/20/16. Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.010, 49.17.040, 49.17.050, 49.17.440, 49.17.060, and 29 C.F.R. 1926, Subpart CC. WSR 12-01-086, § 296-155-55200, filed 12/20/11, effective 2/1/12.]

RCW 49.17.010, 49.17.040, 49.17.050, 49.17.060. WSR 16-09-085, § 296-155-55200, filed 4/19/16, effective 5/20/16. Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.010, 49.17.040, 49.17.050, 49.17.440, 49.17.060, and 29 C.F.R. 1926, Subpart CC. WSR 12-01-086, § 296-155-55200, filed 12/20/11, effective 2/1/12.

Rules

296-155-55205,296-155-56410,296-155-55305,