Washington Administrative Code › Title 296 - Labor and Industries, Department of › Chapter 296-824 - Emergency response › Section 296-824-099 - Definitions

Current through Register Vol. 24-14, July 15, 2024
The following definitions are specific to this chapter:
Annually.
Any twelve-month cycle.
Buddy system.
A system of organizing employees
				(who enter or stand by danger areas) into work groups, so each employee can be
				observed by at least one other member of the group. The purpose of this system
				is to provide rapid assistance to employees in an emergency.
Clean-up operation(s).
An operation where
				hazardous substances are removed, contained, incinerated, neutralized,
				stabilized, cleared up or, in any other manner, processed or handled with the
				goal of making the site safer for people or the environment.
Danger area.
Areas where conditions pose a serious
				danger to employees, such as areas where:
(a) Immediately dangerous to life or health (IDLH) conditions
				could exist;
(b) High levels of exposure to toxic substances could exist;
				or
(c) There is a potential for exceeding the lower explosive
				limit (LEL), also known as the lower flammability limit (LFL), of a
				substance.
Decontamination.
Removing hazardous substances
				from employees and their equipment so potential adverse health effects will not
				occur.
Emergency response.
An organized response to an
				anticipated release of a hazardous substance that is, or could become an
				uncontrolled release.
Emergency response plan.
A written plan that
				requires coordination between emergency response participants, and contains
				procedures, criteria, and other information that will be applied to emergency
				response operations. Each employer's plan should be compatible with local and
				state plans.
Engineering controls.
Methods of controlling
				employee exposures by modifying the source or reducing the quantity of
				contaminants.
Hazardous materials team (HAZMAT team).
A group of
				employees who are expected to perform responses to releases, or possible
				releases, of hazardous substances for the purpose of control and stabilization.
				As a result of their duties, HAZMAT team members may have close contact with
				hazardous substances.
Note:
A HAZMAT team may be a separate component of a fire
						  brigade or fire department.
Hazardous substance.
Any of the following
				substances that could adversely affect an exposed employee's health or
				safety:
(a) Substances defined under section 101(14) of the
				Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act of 1980
				(CERCLA) or "Superfund" Act (visit:
http://www.epa.gov
);
(b) Biological or other disease-causing agents released that
				could reasonably be expected to cause death, disease, behavioral abnormalities,
				cancer, genetic mutation, physiological malfunctions (including malfunctions in
				reproduction) or physical deformations in a person or their offspring when the
				person:
(i) Is directly exposed to the agent in the environment; (ii)
				Directly ingests, inhales, or assimilates the agent from the
				environment;
(iii) Indirectly ingests the agent through a food chain.
(c) Substances listed by the United States Department of
				Transportation as hazardous materials under Title 49 (Transportation) in the
				Code of Federal Regulations (C.F.R.), Part 172, section 101 and appendices
				(visit:http://www.nara.gov and search for "List of C.F.R. subjects");
				and
(d) Hazardous wastes as defined in this chapter.
Hazardous waste.
A substance designated by chapter 173-303 WAC,
				Dangerous waste regulations, department of ecology, as a dangerous waste or an
				extremely hazardous waste and any waste fitting the definition of "health
				hazard" in this chapter.
Note:
For department of ecology regulations, visit:
http://www.ecy.wa.gov
.
Health hazard.
A chemical that is classified as
				posing one of the following hazardous effects: Acute toxicity (any route of
				exposure); skin corrosion or irritation; serious eye damage or eye irritation;
				respiratory or skin sensitization; germ cell mutagenicity; carcinogenity;
				reproductive toxicity; specific target organ toxicity (single or repeated
				exposure); aspiration hazard. The criteria for determining whether a chemical
				is classified as a health hazard are detailed in Appendix A of the Hazard
				Communication Standard WAC
				296-901-140 and
				296-901-14006 (definition of
				"simple asphyxiant").
Immediately dangerous to life or health (IDLH).
Any atmospheric condition that would:
(a) Cause an immediate threat to life;
(b) Cause permanent or delayed adverse health effects;
(c) Interfere with an employee's ability to escape.
Incident command system (ICS).
An organized
				approach to control and manage operations at an emergency response
				incident.
Incidental release.
A release that can be safely
				controlled at the time of the release and does not have the potential to become
				an uncontrolled release.
Note:
Example of a situation that results in an incidental
						  release: A tanker truck is receiving a load of hazardous liquid when a leak
						  occurs. The driver knows the only hazard from the liquid is minor skin
						  irritation. The employer has trained the driver on procedures and provided
						  equipment to use for a release of this quantity. The driver puts on skin
						  protection and stops the leak. A spill kit is used to contain, absorb, and pick
						  up the spilled material for disposal.
Limited action.
Action necessary to:
(a) Secure an operation during emergency responses; or
(b) Prevent an incident from increasing in severity.
Examples include shutting down processes and closing emergency
				valves.
Lines of authority.
A preestablished ranking of
				individuals, qualified to assume a commanding role during an emergency
				response, noted in an emergency response plan and implemented during a
				response. This is most important when responders from multiple employers could
				participate in an emergency response.
Lower explosive limit (LEL).
See lower flammable
				limit (LFL).
Lower flammable limit (LFL).
The lowest
				concentration of a material that will propagate a flame. The LFL is usually
				expressed as a percent (by volume) of the material in air (or other
				oxidant).
Must.
Must means mandatory.
Permissible exposure limit (PEL).
The established
				time-weighted-average (TWA) concentration or ceiling concentration of a
				contaminant that must not be exceeded. The exposure, inhalation, or dermal
				permissible limit specified in chapter 296-841 WAC, Airborne
				contaminants.
Personal protective equipment (PPE).
Protective
				items designed to be worn by the user to protect them against airborne, skin
				contact and other hazards. This includes items such as respiratory protection,
				protective suits, gloves, eye protection, etc.
Postemergency response.
The stage of the emergency
				response where the immediate threat from the release has been stabilized or
				eliminated, and cleanup of the site has started.
Published exposure level.
Exposure limits
				published in "
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
				(NIOSH) Recommendations for Occupational Safety and Health
" (DHHS
				publication #92-100, 1992).
If an exposure limit is not published by NIOSH, then "published
				exposure level" means the exposure limits published by the American Conference
				of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH) in "
TLVs and
				BEIs-Threshold Limit Values for Chemical Substances and Physical
				Agents
" (1999 edition).
Note:
Additional exposure levels published by recognized
						  organizations such as the American Industrial Hygiene Association are not
						  required to be observed by this rule; however, they may be a useful resource
						  when a hazardous substance is not covered by NIOSH and ACGIH
						  publications.
Release.
A spill, leak, or other type of hazardous
				substance discharge.
Uncontrolled release.
A release where significant
				safety and health risks could be created. Releases of hazardous substances that
				are either incidental or could not create a safety or health hazard (i.e.,
				fire, explosion or chemical exposure) are not considered to be uncontrolled
				releases.
Examples of conditions that could create a significant safety
				and health risk:
(a) Large-quantity releases;
(b) Small releases that could be highly toxic;
(c) Potentially contaminated individuals arriving at hospitals;
				and
(d) Airborne exposures that could exceed a WISHA permissible
				exposure limit or a published exposure limit and employees are not adequately
				trained or equipped to control the release.
Example of an uncontrolled release:
A forklift driver knocks over a container of a solvent-based
				liquid, releasing the contents onto the warehouse floor. The driver has been
				trained to recognize the vapor is flammable and moderately toxic when inhaled.
				The driver has not been trained or provided appropriate equipment to address
				this type of spill. In this situation, it is not safe for the driver to attempt
				a response. The driver needs to notify someone of the release so an emergency
				response can be initiated.
Workplace.
(a) A fixed facility;
(b) A temporary location (such as a traffic corridor);
				or
(c) Locations where employees respond to emergencies.
You.
The employer. For a complete definition of "employer" see
				Safety and health core rules, chapter 296-800 WAC.