Washington Administrative Code › Title 296 - Labor and Industries, Department of › Chapter 296-56 - Safety standards-Longshore, stevedore and waterfront related operations › Section 296-56-60122 - Access to vessels

Current through Register Vol. 24-14, July 15, 2024
(1) You must
			 not permit employees to board or leave any vessel, except a barge or river
			 tow-boat, until the following requirements have been met:
(a) Whenever practical a gangway of not less
			 than twenty inches wide walking surface of adequate strength, maintained and
			 secured must be used. If a gangway is not practical a substantial straight
			 ladder, extending at least thirty-six inches above the upper landing surface
			 and adequately secured against shifting or slipping must be provided. When
			 conditions are such that neither a gangway nor a straight ladder can be used, a
			 Jacob's ladder meeting the requirements of subsection (4) of this section may
			 be used.
(b) Each side of such
			 gangway, and the turn table if used, must have a railing with a minimum height
			 of thirty-three inches measured perpendicularly from rail to walking surface at
			 the stanchion and a mid rail. Rails must be of wood, pipe, chain, wire or rope
			 and must be kept taut at all times.
(c) Gangways on vessels inspected and
			 certified by the United States Coast Guard are deemed to meet the foregoing
			 requirements, except in cases where the vessel's regular gangway is not being
			 used.
(d) The gangway must be kept
			 properly trimmed at all times.
(e)
			 When a fixed tread accommodation ladder is used, and the angle is low enough to
			 require employees to walk on the edge of the treads, cleated duckboards must be
			 laid over and secured to the ladder.
(f) When the lower end of a gangway overhangs
			 the water between the ship and the dock in such a manner that there is danger
			 of employees falling between the ship and the dock, a net or other suitable
			 protection must be rigged at the foot of the gangway in such a manner as to
			 prevent employees from falling from the end of the gangway into the water or
			 into the surface.
(g) If the foot
			 of the gangway is more than one foot away from the edge of the apron, the space
			 between them must be bridged by a firm walkway equipped with railings, with a
			 minimum height of thirty-three inches with midrails on both sides.
(h) Supporting bridles must be kept clear so
			 as to permit unobstructed passage for employees using the gangway.
(i) When the upper end of the means of access
			 rests on or flush with the top of the bulwark, substantial steps properly
			 secured and equipped with at least one substantial handrail approximately
			 thirty-three inches in height must be provided between the top of the bulwark
			 and the deck.
(j) Obstructions must
			 not be laid on or across the gangway.
(k) The means of access must be illuminated
			 for its full length.
(1) Unless construction
			 of the vessel makes it impossible, the means of access must be so located that
			 drafts of cargo do not pass over it. Loads must not be passed over the means of
			 access while employees are on it.
(2) You must make sure gangways meeting the
			 requirements of subsection (1)(a), (b), (i), (j) and (k) of this section are
			 provided for access from wingwall to vessel or, when two or more vessels other
			 than barges or river towboats are lying abreast, from one vessel to
			 another.
(3) You must meet the
			 following requirements for access to barges and river towboats:
(a) Ramps for access of vehicles to or
			 between barges must be of adequate strength, provided with side boards, well
			 maintained and properly secured.
(b) Unless employees can step safely to or
			 from the wharf, float, barge, or river towboat, a ramp meeting the requirements
			 of subsection (1)(a) of this section must be provided. When a walkway is
			 impractical, a substantial straight ladder, extending at least thirty-six
			 inches above the upper landing surface and adequately secured against shifting
			 or slipping, must be provided. When conditions are such that neither a walkway
			 nor a straight ladder can be used, a Jacob's ladder meeting the requirements of
			 subsection (4) of this section may be used.
(c) The means of access must meet the
			 requirements of subsection (1)(i), (j), and (k) of this section.
(4) Jacob's ladders.
(a) Jacob's ladders must be of the double
			 rung or flat tread type. They must be well maintained and properly
			 secured.
(b) A Jacob's ladder must
			 either hang without slack from its lashings or be pulled up entirely.