Washington Administrative Code › Title 296 - Labor and Industries, Department of › Chapter 296-17A - Classifications for Washington workers' compensation insurance › Section 296-17A-3511 - Classification 3511

Current through Register Vol. 24-14, July 15, 2024
3511-02 Fiberglass goods: Manufacturing,
				N.O.C.
Applies to establishments engaged in the manufacture of a wide
				variety of fiberglass goods not covered by another classification (N.O.C.)
				including, but not limited to, hot tubs, swimming or wading pools, boat hulls,
				chair frames, doors, fish tanks, satellite dishes, tanks, display carts, signs,
				industrial equipment, pick up canopies, and auto body parts such as fenders,
				hoods, or visors. "Fiberglass" is a composite material consisting of glass
				fibers in resin; it is applied over or into molds by spraying, brushing, or
				spreading. Materials include, but are not limited to, resin (usually received
				in barrels), liquid hardeners, fiberglass ribbon, and molds. Before a mold is
				used it is sprayed with a release agent so the item is more easily removed. In
				the spraying technique, resin is sprayed with compressed air gun through a
				"chopper gun" into the mold, while a "ribbon" of fiberglass is simultaneously
				fed through a razor cutter which chops it into short lengths and blows it into
				the mold. Because the hardeners cause the material to "set" in a short period
				of time, the spraying is done rapidly. Once the desired thickness is attained,
				the material is left in the mold until completely set and cured, then removed.
				Spraying and chopping the fiberglass in this method causes a substantial amount
				of debris in the air, so workers usually wear respirator masks. There are many
				finishing techniques, such as smoothing the sprayed fiberglass with a hand-held
				rubber roller, applying various materials such as "gel" or "vinyl" to produce a
				glossy surface, joining parts to make very large items, attaching hardware, all
				of which are included within the scope of this classification when done by
				employees of an employer having operations subject to this
				classification.
This classification excludes establishments engaged in the
				manufacture of plastic items by blow molding or extrusion, vacuum forming,
				foam, rotary, or liquid molding, or injection molding, and establishments
				engaged in the manufacture of artificial marble items or graphite composite
				goods, which are to be reported separately in classification 3510;
				establishments engaged in the cutting, milling, bending, heating and shaping of
				hard plastic goods which are to be reported separately in classification 3512;
				and establishments engaged in the manufacture of auto body parts from materials
				other than fiberglass which are to be reported separately in the classification
				applicable to the materials and the processes being used.
Special note
:
Mold making for
				their own production is included within the scope of this classification when
				done by employees of an employer subject to this classification. Molds are
				usually made of wood; they are smoothed and shaped with a filler, like auto
				body putty, then coated with fiberglass.
07-01-014, recodified as § 296-17A-3511, filed 12/8/06,
				  effective 12/8/06. Statutory Authority:
				  RCW
				   51.16.035. 98-18-042, § 296-17-59203,
				  filed 8/28/98, effective 10/1/98. Statutory Authority:
				  RCW
				   51.04.020(1) and
				  51.16.035. 91-12-014, §
				  296-17-59203, filed 5/31/91, effective
				  7/1/91.