Source: http://apps.leg.wa.gov/WAC/default.aspx?cite=296-860&full=true
Timestamp: 2014-08-20 06:57:10
Document Index: 88053103

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 296', '§ 296', '§ 296', '§ 296', '§ 296', '§ 296', '§ 296', 'arts 1', '§ 296', '§ 296', '§ 296', '§ 296', '§ 296', '§ 296', '§ 296', '§ 296']

Chapter 296-860 WAC: RAILROAD CLEARANCES AND WALKWAYS IN PRIVATE RAIL YARDS AND PLANTS
WAC Sections 296-860-100Scope. 296-860-200Maintain safe clearances and walkways. 296-860-20010Post warning signs and train employees about clearances approved before April 3, 1961. 296-860-20020Construct and maintain rail yard walkways for employee safety. 296-860-20030Install radiation detectors according to manufacturer's specifications. 296-860-20040Maintain overhead clearances. 296-860-20050Maintain side clearances. 296-860-20060Maintain clearances between tracks. 296-860-20070Move excessive height or width rail car loads with care. 296-860-20080Follow these requirements to conduct narrow gauge rail operations. 296-860-300Definitions.
296-860-100Scope.IMPORTANT:This chapter applies to all railroad clearances and walkways in rail yards and plants including logging railroad yards such as mill yards, maintenance yards and sorting yards.If you are uncertain about which WISHA requirements to follow, you must comply with those that best protect employees' safety and health. Contact your local L&I office if you need assistance in making this decision.Exemptions:• These exemptions apply to chapter 296-860 WAC, Railroad clearances and walkways in private rail yards and plants, and do not require a department variance:– You may move the following equipment, using less than the minimum standard clearances, if the situation is unavoidable and you have taken all reasonable steps to protect your employees:■ Track construction or maintenance materials■ Special work equipment used for railroad construction, maintenance or operations■ Any railroad equipment during emergencies.– You may have overhead or side clearances less than the minimum standard clearances required in this chapter if they were legally created before April 3, 1961.Note:If a building, structure, or facility constructed before April 3, 1961, is relocated or reconstructed, the clearance requirements in this chapter apply unless the department grants a variance.– Tracks built before April 3, 1961:■ May be extended according to the legal track clearance requirements in effect when they were originally constructed■ Are exempt from the track clearance requirements in WAC 296-860-20060, Table 5.– Chapter 296-54 WAC, Safety standards—Logging operations, regulates all logging railroads or any rail operations related to logging, except for yard clearances.Other rules that may apply to your workplaceThe WISHA Safety & Health Core Rules book, chapter 296-800 WAC, contains the basic requirements that apply to employers in Washington. It also contains:• An introduction that lists important information you should know, including a section on building, fire and electrical codes• A resource section that includes a complete list of all WISHA rulesOther WISHA rules may apply to you, depending upon the activities and operations of your workplace. Contact your local L&I office if you are uncertain about which WISHA requirements pertain to you.• To access the Safety & Health Core Rules book online: http://www.lni.wa.gov/wisha/corerules/default.htm• For a CD or paper copy contact us:Labor and IndustriesP.O. Box 44620Olympia, WA 98504-4620Telephone: 1-800-4be-safe (1-800-423-7233)[Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.010, 49.17.040, 49.17.050, 49.17.060. WSR 07-03-163, § 296-860-100, filed 1/24/07, effective 4/1/07. Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.010, [49.17].040, and [49.17].050. WSR 02-17-106, § 296-860-100, filed 8/21/02, effective 10/1/02.]
296-860-200Maintain safe clearances and walkways.SUMMARYYour responsibility:To prevent injuries and fatalities to employees by maintaining safe railroad clearances and walkways in your rail yards and plants.You must:Post warning signs and train employees about clearances approved before April 3, 1961WAC 296-860-20010Construct and maintain rail yard walkways for employee safetyWAC 296-860-20020Install radiation detectors according to manufacturer's specificationsWAC 296-860-20030Maintain overhead clearancesWAC 296-860-20040Maintain side clearancesWAC 296-860-20050Maintain clearances between tracksWAC 296-860-20060Move excessive height and/or width rail car loads with careWAC 296-860-20070Conduct narrow gauge rail operations according to the requirements of this sectionWAC 296-860-20080.[Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.010, [49.17].040, and [49.17].050. WSR 02-17-106, § 296-860-200, filed 8/21/02, effective 10/1/02.]
296-860-20010Post warning signs and train employees about clearances approved before April 3, 1961.You must:(1) Post warning signs near tracks with clearances approved before April 3, 1961, so employees are aware of the minimal clearances and their potential hazards. The signs must:– Be highly visible– Be easy to read– Alert employees to the danger of railway equipment operating on your yard and plant tracks.(2) Include in your employee safety and health training information about:– Any minimal clearances and their location– Potential hazards associated with them– The location of any clearance warning signs.[Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.010, [49.17].040, and [49.17].050. WSR 02-17-106, § 296-860-20010, filed 8/21/02, effective 10/1/02.]
296-860-20020Construct and maintain rail yard walkways for employee safety.Important:• You have two years from October 01, 2002, (the effective date of this rule), to comply with the construction requirements of this section, unless the department determines during an inspection that your walkways create a serious safety hazard.• If you are not sure a serious safety hazard exists in your workplace, you can request a free consultation from the department by calling your local L&I office.Construction of walkwaysYou must:• Build walkways in rail yard areas where employees regularly work on the ground.• Construct rail yard walkways that can be maintained in a safe condition:– With reasonably smooth walking surfaces– That will not interfere with track drainage.• Use any of the following materials when constructing your walkway:– Crushed material that does not exceed 1 1/2 inches in size. For this rule, "1 1/2 inches in size" means one of the following (percentages refer to weight measurement and sieve size standard in the industry):Percentage of material passing through a sieve openingSieve opening size 100 1 1/2 inch square 90-100 1 inch square 40-80 3/4 inch square 15-60 1/2 inch square 0-30 3/8 inch square 0-10 #4 0-5 #8 0-0.5 #200Smaller crushed material is preferred and should be used where drainage and durability is not an issue. Crushed material that is 3/4 inch or less in size is recommended for switching leads in yards.• Asphalt, concrete, planking, grating, or other similar material.• Natural materials such as gravel or dirt.You must:• Construct walkways wide enough for employees to safely perform their duties• Construct walkways with a grade or slope in any direction with not more than one inch of elevation for each eight inches of horizontal length, unless it is geographically impractical.Maintenance of walkwaysYou must:• Keep all walkways clear of vegetation, debris, mud, or other obstructions that create a potential hazard for employees.• Remove all standing water from all walkways as soon as reasonably possible.• Reopen walkways temporarily closed for a construction project within thirty days after the project is completed.You must:• Repair walkways that have been damaged and temporarily closed because of an emergency within thirty days after the emergency ends.Definition:Emergency: Any unforeseen occurrence endangering life, limb, or property.• Obtain a department variance before permanently removing any bridge or trestle walkway from use after October 1, 2002 (the effective date of this rule).Note:The requirements for filing a variance are located in the Safety and health core rules and chapter 296-900 WAC, Administrative rules.[Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.010, 49.17.040, 49.17.050, 49.17.060. WSR 07-03-163, § 296-860-20020, filed 1/24/07, effective 4/1/07. Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.010, [49.17].040, and [49.17].050. WSR 02-17-106, § 296-860-20020, filed 8/21/02, effective 10/1/02.]
296-860-20030Install radiation detectors according to manufacturer's specifications.IMPORTANT.This section applies only to those private yards and plants where the installation of radiation detectors beside railroad tracks is required due to the nature of the business; for example, scrap metal yards.You must:• Install radiation detectors beside the railroad tracks in your yard and/or plant according to the manufacturer's specifications.• Post signs on each radiation detector installed less than eight feet six inches from the centerline of the track:– Warning employees that the side clearances between the detector and the track centerline are less than the required standard minimum side clearances found in this chapter– Prohibiting employees from riding on the side of any rail car passing through the detector.[Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.010, [49.17].040, and [49.17].050. WSR 02-17-106, § 296-860-20030, filed 8/21/02, effective 10/1/02.]
296-860-20040Maintain overhead clearances.Exemption:Engine houses and car shops are exempt from the overhead clearance requirements of this section.You must:• Make sure overhead railroad clearances are at least twenty-two feet six inches unless a clearance requirement found in Table 1 applies.Note:• Clearance requirements are based on the assumption that generally used rail equipment in private yards and plants is no more than ten feet ten inches wide by fifteen feet six inches high. • WAC 296-860-20070 regulates the use of any rail equipment that exceeds the above dimensions. • Minimum vertical clearances for all overhead wires are specified in Parts 1, 2, and 3 of the National Electrical Safety Code (NESC) as referenced in WAC 296-45-045, electrical workers safety rules, NESC applicable. See NESC 231 and 232.Table 1 - Minimum Overhead Clearances for Buildings, Structures, Tunnels, and Bridges If your overhead clearance involves: Then the minimum overhead clearance requirements are: An entirely enclosed building 18 feet when tracks end inside an entirely enclosed building. Also: • The department must approve any reduction from 22 feet 6 inches before the reduction takes place. • If an overhead clearance is less than 22 feet 6 inches, all cars, locomotives or other equipment must come to a full stop before entering the building. • See Illustration 1. All other structures Defined by the half-circumference of a circle whose: • Radius is 8 feet 6 inches and • Center is located on a line perpendicular to the track's centerline and 14 feet above the top of the highest rail. • See Illustration 1. Tunnels, over-crossings, and bridges Defined by the half-circumference of a circle whose: • Radius is 8 feet AND • Center is located on a line perpendicular to the track's centerline and 14 feet 6 inches above the top of the highest rail. • See Illustration 1. Illustration 1 - Minimum Overhead Clearances for Buildings, Structures, Tunnels, and Bridges [Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.010, 49.17.040, 49.17.050, 49.17.060. WSR 07-03-163, § 296-860-20040, filed 1/24/07, effective 4/1/07. Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.010, [49.17].040, and [49.17].050. WSR 02-17-106, § 296-860-20040, filed 8/21/02, effective 10/1/02.]
296-860-20050Maintain side clearances.You must:• Make sure side clearances are at least eight feet six inches from the track centerline unless clearance requirements found in Tables 2, 3, or 4 apply.Note:All side clearances in Tables 2, 3, and 4 that reference "the track centerline" are based on the assumption that private rail operations generally use track that is standard gauge width (4 feet 8 1/2 inches).Table 2 - Minimum Side Clearance for Platforms If Your Platform Type is: Then the Minimum Clearance Requirements Between the Track Centerline and a Platform Edge are: Type 1 4 feet 8 inches Platforms with heights of 8 inches or less above the top of the rail. See Illustration 2. Type 2 7 feet 3 inches Platforms with heights of 4 feet or less above the top of the rail. See Illustration 2. Type 3 8 feet Platforms with heights of 4 feet 6 inches or less above the top of the rail and the platforms are used primarily for loading and/or unloading refrigerator cars. See Illustration 2. Type 4 7 feet 3 inches Icing platforms and supports. See Illustration 2. Type 5Retractable platforms attached to permanent structures. When not in use, use the clearance requirements for a platform of its height. Type 6Platforms that are a combination of Types 1 through 3. (Only Types 1 through 3 platforms can be combined.) Platforms may be combined if the Type 1 platform has a level surface no more than 4 feet 8 inches from the track centerline to the face of the platform wall with which it is combined. Illustration 2 - Minimum Side Clearances for Platforms Table 3 - Minimum Side Clearances for Bridges, Tunnels and Related StructuresExemption:• Except for handrail and water barrel clearances, the clearance requirements in Table 3 do not apply to bridge decks where railroad employees couple or uncouple cars on a switching lead unless the department approves them.Note:• The requirements for filing a variance are located in the Safety and health core rules and chapter 296-900 WAC, Administrative rules. If your side clearance requirement involves: Then the minimum side clearance requirements between the track centerline and the bridge, tunnel or related structure are: Bridge and tunnel sides - lower section 8 feet Bridge and tunnel sides - upper section Defined by the half-circumference of a circle whose: • Radius is 8 feet and • Center is located on a line perpendicular to the track's centerline and 14 feet 6 inches above the top of the highest rail. • See Illustration 3. Related structures on bridges and in tunnels - lower section structures (or portions of them) that are no more than 4 feet above the top of the rail. For example: Defined by lines extending: • Refuge platforms on bridges and trestles. • 5 feet laterally from the track centerline to a point level with the top of the rail and then diagonally upward to another point 4 feet above the top of the railAND • Water columns, oil columns, and block signals. • 8 feet laterally from the track centerline to a point 4 feet above the top of the rail. • Cattle chutes. • See Illustration 3A. The shaded portion of the illustration designates the area that must be free of refuge platforms, water columns, oil columns, block signals and cattle chutes. Hand rails and water barrels 7 feet 6 inches Fences of cattle guards 6 feet 9 inches Illustration 3 - Minimum Side Clearances for Bridges, Tunnels and Related structures Illustration 3A - Minimum Side Clearance for Certain Structures in or on the Lower Sections of Bridges and Tunnels Table 4 - Other Minimum Side Clearance Requirements*Note:• The department must approve all minimum clearances for car pulling units and related structures. • The requirements for filing a variance are located in the Safety and health core rules and chapter 296-900 WAC, Administrative rules. If your side clearance requirement involves: Then the minimum side clearance requirements from the track centerline are: Type A Engine house and car repair shop doors. 7 feet 6 inches Type B Interlocking mechanism, switch boxes, and other similar devices projecting no more than 4 feet above the top of the rail. 3 feet Type C Poles supporting trolley contact. 8 feet 3 inches Type D Signals and switch stands no more than 3 feet high and located between tracks where it is not possible to allow other clearances required in this chapter. 6 feet Type E Signals and switch stands other than those described in Type B and Type D. 8 feet Type F Material, merchandise, inventory, storage bins or equipment stacked or stored on ground or platforms adjacent to tracks. 8 feet 6 inches Note: This requirement does not apply to: • Railroad maintenance operations • Emergency situations • Local conditions that make compliance impossible. Type GSpace adjacent to curved track. Increased to equal tangent track clearances. As a general rule, side clearances on curved track should be increased 1-1/2" for each degree of curvature. *Table 4 does not have an accompanying illustration.[Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.010, 49.17.040, 49.17.050, 49.17.060. WSR 07-03-163, § 296-860-20050, filed 1/24/07, effective 4/1/07. Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.010, [49.17].040, and [49.17].050. WSR 02-17-106, § 296-860-20050, filed 8/21/02, effective 10/1/02.]
296-860-20060Maintain clearances between tracks.You must:• Comply with the track clearance requirements in Table 5.Table 5 - Minimum Standard Gauge Track Clearances If your track clearance involves: Then the minimum clearance requirements between centerlines of standard gauge parallel tracks are: Main or passing tracks used for transporting cars, locomotives, motors, or like equipment 14 feet Any tracks adjacent to main or passing tracks 15 feet Team, house, or industry tracks 13 feet Yard tracks 14 feet Ladder and other tracks 20 feet Note:The following illustration will help you understand the track clearance requirements discussed in this section and WAC 296-860-20080 regulating narrow gauge rail operations.standard gauge track clearances [Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.010, [49.17].040, and [49.17].050. WSR 02-17-106, § 296-860-20060, filed 8/21/02, effective 10/1/02.]
296-860-20070Move excessive height or width rail car loads with care.Note:This section regulates rail cars whose dimensions exceed ten feet ten inches wide by fifteen feet six inches high.You must:• Make sure your yard supervisor is given advanced notice regarding the arrival of any excess height or width cars so they can safeguard any employees working in the yard.• Make sure no one is allowed to ride on the:– Roof of any excessive height car– Side of any excessive width car– Side of any car with a load extending more than five feet five inches from the car's centerline.[Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.010, [49.17].040, and [49.17].050. WSR 02-17-106, § 296-860-20070, filed 8/21/02, effective 10/1/02.]
296-860-20080Follow these requirements to conduct narrow gauge rail operations.You must:• Base your clearance measurements upon your widest narrow gauge cars.• Make sure the distance between the cars and objects on narrow gauge track is equal to or greater than the distance required between ten foot ten inch wide cars and other cars or objects on standard gauge track.• Comply with all other applicable requirements in this chapter.[Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.010, [49.17].040, and [49.17].050. WSR 02-17-106, § 296-860-20080, filed 8/21/02, effective 10/1/02.]
296-860-300Definitions.The following definitions apply to this chapter.Car width - Twice the distance from the centerline of a railroad car to its extreme outside part.Common carrier - All railroads, railroad companies, street railroads, street railroad companies, corporations, partnerships, persons, cities or towns that own, operate, manage, or control any public use enterprise within Washington state that transports people or property for hire.Department - The Washington state department of labor and industries.Emergency - Any unforeseen occurrence that endangers life, limb, or property.Icing platforms - Structures used to ice, precool, heat, ventilate or service private railroad cars that handle commodities requiring these services.Over-crossing - Any point or place where a highway, road, or ramp carrying vehicular traffic crosses a private rail yard or track by passing above it.Overhead clearance - The perpendicular distance between the top of the highest rail and the lowest point of an overhead structure or obstruction.Private rail operation - A nonrailroad company operating railroad facilities, structures, tracks and equipment in the company's yard or plant. Chapter 296-860 WAC applies to:• Any equipment, facility or structure owned or operated by the companyAND• The construction and reconstruction of tracks or structures adjacent to any facility or structure owned or operated by the company.Railroad - Every public use railroad, other than street railroads, operated to transport people or property for hire. This definition also includes all bridges, ferries, tunnels, equipment, switches, spurs, tracks, stations, and terminal facilities of every kind that are used, operated, controlled, or owned by or in connection with any such public use railroad.Side clearance - The shortest distance between the centerline of a track and a structure or other track side obstructions such as downspouts, ladders, equipment, piles of material or inventory, etc.Track clearance - The shortest distance between the centerlines of adjacent railroad tracks.Walkways - Pathways located alongside or in the vicinity of a railroad track, or on a trestle or bridge, providing space so a private railroad employee can perform duties associated with the track, trestle, or bridge.[Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.010, [49.17].040, and [49.17].050. WSR 02-17-106, § 296-860-300, filed 8/21/02, effective 10/1/02.]