Section 296-843-15010. Provide showers and changing rooms.  


Latest version.
  • You must:
    • Provide changing areas and showers outside a contaminated area, when needed for worker decontamination, that include at least the following:
    – Separate changing areas:
    ■ One to provide a clean area where employees can remove, store, and put on street clothing with an exit leading off the work site.
    ■ Another where employees can put on, remove, store, and dispose of work clothing and PPE with an exit leading to the work site.
    – A shower area separating the changing areas.
    • Prevent clean areas from being contaminated by hazardous substances.
    • Provide and use other effective means for worker cleansing, if temperature conditions prevent the effective use of water.
    • Locate showers and change rooms where worker exposures are below permissible exposure limits (PELs) or other published exposure levels.
    – If this cannot be accomplished, use a ventilation system to supply air that is below the PELs or published exposure levels.
    • Make sure all workers shower at the end of their work shift or before they leave the site, when needed for worker decontamination.
    Illustration 3 is a sample diagram of a change room layout.
    Change Room Layout
    Illustration 3
    [Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.010, 49.17.040, 49.17.050, and 49.17.060. WSR 04-02-053, § 296-843-15010, filed 1/5/04, effective 5/1/04.]
RCW 49.17.010, 49.17.040, 49.17.050, and 49.17.060. WSR 04-02-053, § 296-843-15010, filed 1/5/04, effective 5/1/04.