Section 296-32-270. Personal climbing equipment.

(1) General. Safety belts and straps shall be provided and the employer shall ensure their use when work is performed at positions more than 4 feet above ground, on poles, and on towers, except as provided in WAC 296-32-340 (7)(8) of this chapter. No safety belts, safety straps or lanyards acquired after January 1, 1976, may be used unless they meet the tests set forth in chapter 296-45 WAC. The employer shall ensure that all safety belts and straps are inspected by a competent person prior to each day's use to determine that they are in safe working condition.

(2) Telecommunication lineman's body belts, safety straps and lanyards, general requirements. Hardware for lineman's body belts, safety straps and lanyards shall be drop forged or pressed steel and shall have a corrosion resistant finish tested to meet the requirements of the American Society for Testing and Materials B117-64 (50-hour test).

Exception:	Lineman's body belts shall be at least four inches in width.

(3) Pole climbers.

(a) Pole climbers may not be used if the gaffs are less than 1-1/4 inches in length as measured on the underside of the gaff.

(b) The gaffs of pole climbers shall be covered with safety caps when not being used for their intended use.

(c) The employer shall ensure that pole climbers are inspected by a competent person for the following conditions: Fractured or cracked gaffs or leg irons, loose or dull gaffs, broken straps or buckles. If any of these conditions exist, the defect shall be corrected before the climbers are used.

(d) Pole climbers shall be inspected as required in this subsection before each day's use and a gaff cut-out test performed at least weekly when in use.

(e) Pole climbers shall not be worn when:

(i) Working in trees (specifically designed tree climbers shall be used for tree climbing),

(ii) Working on ladders,

(iii) Working in an aerial lift,

(iv) Driving a vehicle,

(v) Walking on rocky, hard, frozen, brushy or hilly terrain.

[Statutory Authority: Chapter 49.17 RCW. WSR 94-15-096 (Order 94-07), § 296-32-270, filed 7/20/94, effective 9/20/94; Order 76-38, § 296-32-270, filed 12/30/76; Order 75-41, § 296-32-270, filed 12/19/75.]

Chapter 49.17 RCW. WSR 94-15-096 (Order 94-07), § 296-32-270, filed 7/20/94, effective 9/20/94; Order 76-38, § 296-32-270, filed 12/30/76; Order 75-41, § 296-32-270, filed 12/19/75.

Rules

296-32-340,296-45,