Washington Administrative Code › Title 296 - Labor and Industries, Department of › Chapter 296-155 - Safety standards for construction work › Part M - MOTOR VEHICLES, MECHANIZED EQUIPMENT, AND MARINE OPERATIONS › Section 296-155-625 - Site clearing

Current through Register Vol. 24-14, July 15, 2024
(1)
General.
(a) The word "clearing"
				means the removal of trees, stumps, logs, brush, debris and rubbish from the
				surface of the ground in preparation of a site for construction work of any
				kind. The removal of trees and logs must be in accordance with the requirements
				of chapter 296-54 WAC.
(b) You must
				maintain all equipment and tools such as axes, sledges, wedges, saws,
				springboards, etc., in a safe condition and guard with standard
				safeguards.
(c) Fallers must give
				warning to brushing crews, buckers and other persons in the vicinity where a
				tree is being felled; taking notice that such persons are not only out of the
				reach of tree, but also out of danger of possible sidewinders, snags or other
				trees which may be knocked over by the tree being felled.
(d) Trees must not be felled toward and
				within range of a traveled road or operational railroad unless a flagger is
				used to stop all approaching persons, vehicles, or railroad equipment. Flaggers
				and flagging activities at the site must comply with the requirements of WAC
				296-155-305.
(e) You must not place clearing crews
				immediately below other crews working on hillsides where there is a possible
				danger of skidding or rolling trees, moving earth or rock.
(f) Pioneer roads on clearing operations must
				be constructed to safely accommodate all equipment moved over road.
(g) You must move hazardous standing and down
				timber, rocks, etc., from upper sides of cuts on side hill
				operations.
(h) You must exercise
				care in the use of oil for burning brush or timber.
(i) You must protect employees engaged in
				site clearing from hazards of irritant and toxic plants and suitably instructed
				in the first-aid treatment available.
(j) All equipment used in site clearing
				operations must be equipped with rollover guards meeting the requirements of
				this chapter. In addition, rider-operated equipment must be equipped with an
				overhead and rear canopy guard meeting the following requirements:
(i) The overhead covering on this canopy
				structure must be of not less than 1/8-inch steel plate or 1/4-inch woven wire
				mesh with openings no greater than one inch, or equivalent.
(ii) The opening in the rear of the canopy
				structure shall be covered with not less than 1/4-inch woven wire mesh with
				openings no greater than one inch.
(iii) Use of 1/2 inch thick plastic sheets or
				other thicknesses of plastic panels derived from polycarbonate, acrylic,
				cellulose acetate butyrate which provides equivalent or better protection
				against particular hazards involved is acceptable in lieu of 1 or 1 3/4 inch
				open mesh material.
(A) All panels must be
				installed in a manner which can withstand the initial impact, and maintain the
				protective barrier integrity; and
(B) All panels must be labeled or marked to
				distinguish between acceptable and inferior materials.
(k) In addition to observance of
				the general safety and health standards;
(i)
				You must assume the responsibility of work assignment so that no worker will be
				required to work in a position or location so isolated as to not be within
				ordinary calling distance of another person who can render assistance in case
				of emergency. In any operation where cutting, felling trees, loading, or a
				combination of these duties is carried on, there must be a minimum crew of two
				persons who must work as a team and must be in visual or voice contact with one
				another. If one worker at these operations is required to be left alone for a
				period of time, the worker must be contacted by another person at reasonable
				intervals not to exceed 15 minutes unless such practice can be established to
				be impractical.
(ii) This does not
				apply to operators of motor vehicles, watch persons or certain other jobs
				which, by their nature, are singular worker assignments. However, a definite
				procedure for checking the welfare of all workers during working hours must be
				instituted and all workers so advised.