Washington Administrative Code › Title 296 - Labor and Industries, Department of › Chapter 296-54 - Safety standards-Logging operations › Section 296-54-59340 - Log unloading, booms, and rafting grounds-Dry land sorting and storage

Current through Register Vol. 24-14, July 15, 2024
(1)
			 Unauthorized foot and vehicle traffic is prohibited in the sorting or storage
			 area.
(2) Logs must be stored in a
			 safe and orderly manner. Roadways and traffic lanes must be kept clear of
			 protruding ends of logs and debris.
(3) Dry deck log storage areas must be kept
			 orderly and maintained in a condition conducive to safe operation of mobile
			 equipment. Roadways and walkways must have a smooth hard-packed surface wide
			 enough to permit a safe operation. Bark, mud, and other debris must not be
			 allowed to accumulate to the extent they constitute a hazard to the
			 operation.
(4) You must implement
			 an effective method to control dust at log dumps and in sorting and storage
			 areas.
(5) Only an authorized
			 person will operate or ride any lift truck, log stacker, or log
			 unloader.
(6) Signaling log
			 unloader operators at dry deck areas by throwing bark or chips in the air is
			 prohibited. Hand, horn signals or other safe, effective means must be used at
			 all times.
(7) Unnecessary talking
			 to the operator while operating controls of a log stacker or log unloader is
			 prohibited.
(8) Lift forks and arms
			 of unloading machines must be lowered to their lowest position, and all
			 equipment brakes set before the operator leaves the machine
			 unattended.
(9) Log unloaders or
			 stackers must not be moved about the premises for distances greater than
			 absolutely necessary with the lift extended above the driver's head or with
			 loads lifted higher than is necessary for vision.
(10) When truck drivers are out of the cab,
			 they must be in the clear, and in view of the log unloader before the lift
			 forks are moved under the load and the lift is made.
(11) Where logs are offloaded onto a dry deck
			 by unloading lines, a self-releasing mechanism must be used. Employees are
			 prohibited from climbing dry decks to release unloading lines.
(12) Employees must not enter the hazardous
			 area near or under loads of logs being lifted, moved, or suspended.
(13) When log unloaders and log stackers are
			 designed so that logs being handled may jeopardize the safety of the operator,
			 you must provide overhead protection and any other necessary
			 safeguards.
(14) Log unloaders and
			 log stackers must be equipped with a horn or other audible warning device. If
			 vision is impaired or restricted to the rear, the warning device must be
			 sounded before operating the vehicle in reverse gear and periodically while
			 backing. The warning device must be operative at all times.
(15) A limit stop, which will prevent the
			 lift arms from over-traveling, must be installed on electric powered log
			 unloaders.
(16) Shear guards must
			 be installed on unloading machines and similar equipment on which the arms
			 pivot and move alongside the operator creating a pinch point at that
			 location.
(17) All forklift log
			 handling machines must be equipped with a grapple arms and the arms must be
			 used whenever logs are being carried.
(18) When log trucks are loaded by a log
			 stacker and the lay of any log is higher than the stakes, the log stacker must
			 remain against the completed load, or other suitable protection provided, to
			 prevent the logs from falling until at least two wrappers and binders have been
			 applied.
(19) All binders and
			 wrappers must remain on the load until an approved safeguard has been provided
			 to prevent logs from rolling off the side of the truck or trailer when binders
			 are released. A shear log, or equivalent means, must be provided to ensure the
			 log truck will be stationed close enough to the wrapper rack so that a log
			 cannot fall between the log truck and the wrapper rack when removing binders
			 and wrappers. At least one binder must remain secured while relocating or
			 tightening other binders. Crotch lines, forklifts, log stackers, log unloaders,
			 or other effective means must be used for this purpose.
(20) An extra wrapper or metal band of equal
			 strength must be placed to hold the logs when it is necessary to remove a
			 wrapper to prevent it from being fouled by the unloading machine.
(21) Machines with arms that block the
			 regular exit when in the up position must have an emergency exit
			 installed.
(22) Riding on any part
			 of a log handling machine except under the canopy guard is
			 prohibited.
(23) Identification
			 tags must not be applied or pulled unless logs are resting in a stationary
			 place, such as bunks, cradles, skids, or sorting tables.
(24) Employees must not approach the
			 immediate vicinity of a forklift-type log handling machine without first
			 notifying the operator of the person's intention and receiving an
			 acknowledgement from the operator.
(25) When dry land log dumps use unloading
			 methods similar to those of water dumps, the safety standards for water dumps
			 apply.
(26) When logs are handled
			 between sunset and sunrise or other periods of poor visibility, you must
			 provide illumination that meets the requirements of WAC
			 296-800-210 relating to
			 illumination.
(27) Air operated
			 stake releases must meet the following requirements:
(a) The air supply must be taken from the
			 "wet" air reservoir or from the accessory air line to a spring loaded, normally
			 closed control valve;
(b) The
			 control valve must be located in the cab, positioned so that it is accessible
			 only from the operator's position;
(c) The control valve must be fitted with a
			 spring-loaded cover or otherwise guarded against inadvertent operation;
			 and
(d) A separate air line must
			 extend from the control valve to the tractor and trailer stake release
			 chambers. The air line must be clearly identified or installed so that it
			 cannot be mistaken for the service or emergency air line.