Washington Administrative Code › Title 296 - Labor and Industries, Department of › Chapter 296-860 - Railroad clearances and walkways in private rail yards and plants › Section 296-860-20050 - Maintain side clearances

Current through Register Vol. 24-14, July 15, 2024
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 Center-line and a Platform Edge are:
Type 1
Platforms with heights of 8
						inches or less above the top of the rail.
4 feet 8 inches See Illustration 2.
Type 2
Platforms with heights of 4
						feet or less above the top of the rail.
7 feet 3 inches See Illustration 2.
Type 3
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.
8 feet See Illustration 2.
Type 4
Icing platforms and supports.
7 feet 3 inches See Illustration 2.
Type 5
Retractable platforms
						attached to permanent structures.
When not in use, use the clearance requirements
						for a platform of its height.
Type 6
Platforms 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
Click Here to
				View Image
EXEMPTION:
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.
Table 3 - Minimum Side Clearances for Bridges,
				Tunnels and Related Structures
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 rail; and
* 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
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				View Image
Illustration 3A - Minimum Side Clearance for
				Certain Structures in or on the Lower Sections of Bridges and
				Tunnels
Click Here to
				View Image
Note:
1. The department must approve all minimum
						clearances for car pulling units and related structures.
2. The requirements for filing a variance are
						located in the Safety and health core rules and chapter 296-900 WAC,
						Administrative rules.
Table 4 - Other Minimum Side Clearance
				Requirements*
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 Ty p e B a n d Ty p e 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 G
Space 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. 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. 02-17-106, § 296-860-20050, filed 8/21/02,
				  effective 10/1/02.