Section 296-54-521. Motor vehicles.

(1) The seats of each vehicle must be securely fastened.

(2) Each school bus type vehicle that will transport nine or more passengers must have a substantial barricade behind the driver. The barricade must extend from the floor to at least a level even with the top of the driver's head.

(3) Adequate provision must be made for safe entrance and exits. Each vehicle must have mounting steps and handholds wherever it is necessary to prevent an employee injury when entering or leaving the vehicle.

(4) When equipment or tools are carried inside the vehicle, the employer must provide and use racks, boxes, holsters or other means to transport tools so that a hazard is not created for any vehicle operator or passenger.

(5) No one may enter or exit any vehicle until the vehicle is completely stopped.

(6) Employees must keep all parts of the body within the vehicle.

(7) Heat and light must be available in the passenger area of the vehicle. Use of stoves in vehicles is prohibited.

(8) Vehicles designed to transport nine or more passengers must have an emergency exit that:

(a) Is at least six and one-half square feet in area, with the smallest dimension being at least eighteen inches;

(b) Is placed at the back of the vehicle or near the back on the side opposite the regular entrance; and

(c) Has an unobstructed route to and from the exit.

(9) When no fuel is transported in the crew vehicle, a minimum rated 5/BC dry chemical fire extinguisher must be kept in the passenger compartment. When fuel is transported on the crew vehicle according to subsection (12) of this section, a minimum rated 10/BC dry chemical fire extinguisher must be kept in the passenger compartment. The extinguishing agent must be nontoxic and preferably noncorrosive.

Note:	For additional requirements relating to portable fire extinguishers see WAC 296-800-300.

(10) Exhaust systems must be designed and maintained to eliminate the exposure of passengers to toxic agents.

(11) Operating and maintenance instructions must be available in each vehicle. Each vehicle operator and maintenance employee must comply with the operating and maintenance instructions.

(12) Fuel must be transported or stored only in approved safety containers. Enclosed areas where fuels are carried or stored must be vented so that a hazardous concentration of fumes cannot accumulate. All containers or drums must be properly secured to the vehicle while being transported. Commercially built pick-up or flatbed trucks with a maximum seating capacity of six persons may be used to carry fuel in or on the bed of such vehicles, if the fuel is not carried in the crew compartment. Van-type vehicles may be used to carry fuel only when a vapor-proof bulkhead is installed between the passenger compartment and storage compartment. A maximum of forty-two gallons of gasoline may be carried or stored in the compartment and each container must have a maximum capacity seven gallons.

(13) Motor vehicles used regularly to transport employees must be covered against the weather and equipped and operated according to applicable state of Washington motor vehicle laws.

(14) All operators of crew vehicles must be experienced drivers and have a valid operator's license for the class of vehicle being operated.

(15) Dump trucks must only be used in an emergency to transport workers and have adequate safety chains or locking devices that eliminate the possibility of the body of the truck being raised while employees are riding in the truck. "Emergency" means any unforeseen circumstances that call for immediate action when danger to life or danger from fire exists.

(16) An effective means of signaling must be provided for communication between the driver and the passengers being transported when they are in separate compartments.

(17) The passenger load limit of a crew vehicle must not exceed the seating capacity of the vehicle.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.010, [49.17].040, and [49.17].050. WSR 01-17-033, § 296-54-521, filed 8/8/01, effective 9/1/01; WSR 99-17-117, amended and recodified as § 296-54-521, filed 8/18/99, effective 12/1/99. Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.040, [49.17].050 and [49.17].060. WSR 96-22-013, § 296-54-531, filed 10/28/96, effective 1/1/97. Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.040, 49.17.050, 49.17.240, chapters 43.22 and 42.30 RCW. WSR 80-11-057 (Order 80-15), § 296-54-531, filed 8/20/80. Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.040, 49.17.150 and 49.17.240. WSR 79-10-081 (Order 79-14), § 296-54-531, filed 9/21/79.]

RCW 49.17.010, [49.17].040, and [49.17].050. WSR 01-17-033, § 296-54-521, filed 8/8/01, effective 9/1/01; WSR 99-17-117, amended and recodified as § 296-54-521, filed 8/18/99, effective 12/1/99. Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.040, [49.17].050 and [49.17].060. WSR 96-22-013, § 296-54-531, filed 10/28/96, effective 1/1/97. Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.040, 49.17.050, 49.17.240, chapters 43.22 and 42.30 RCW. WSR 80-11-057 (Order 80-15), § 296-54-531, filed 8/20/80. Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.040, 49.17.150 and 49.17.240. WSR 79-10-081 (Order 79-14), § 296-54-531, filed 9/21/79.

Rules

296-800-300,