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 296-155-610 - Motor vehicles on construction sites

Current through Register Vol. 24-14, July 15, 2024
(1)
Scope.
Motor vehicles
				covered by this section include any vehicles that operate on a construction
				site. The requirements of this section do not apply to the equipment regulated
				by WAC 296-155-615, Material handling
				equipment.
(2)
General
				requirements for motor vehicles.
(a)
				Braking systems.
* All vehicles must have:
- A service brake system;
- An emergency brake system;
AND
- A parking brake system.
* These systems must be maintained in operable
				  condition.
* These systems may use common components.
(b) Before leaving a motor vehicle
				unattended:
(i) The motor must be
				stopped.
(ii) The parking brake
				must be engaged and the wheels turned into curb or berm when parked on an
				incline.
(iii) If parking on an
				incline and there is no curb or berm, the wheels must be chocked or otherwise
				secured.
(c) Lighting
				systems. All vehicles, or combination of vehicles, must have brake lights in
				operable condition, regardless of light conditions.
* You must meet the requirements in Table 1 below.
Table 1
If:
Then:
Visibility conditions warrant additional light.
All vehicles, or combinations of vehicles, in use
							 must be equipped with:
* At least two headlights in operable condition;
AND
* At least two taillights in operable condition.
(d)
				All vehicles must be equipped with an operable audible warning device (horn) at
				the operator's station.
(e)
				Operating vehicles, other than passenger cars and pickups, with an obstructed
				view to the rear. You must prohibit the use of any motor vehicle equipment that
				has an obstructed view to the rear unless the vehicle meets one of the
				following:
* Has an operable automatic reverse signal alarm audible
				  above the surrounding noise level and audible no less than 15 feet from the
				  rear of the vehicle;
OR
* Is backed up when an observer signals that it is safe to do
				  so.
Reference:
For requirements on operating dump trucks
						  in reverse, see (f) of this subsection, Operating dump trucks in reverse.
Note:
* If the surrounding noise level is so loud
						  that reverse signal alarms are not effective, then an observer must be used.
* An observer can be any individual at the
						  construction site, except a person performing the duties of a flagger. The
						  observer must:
- Be in the direct line-of-sight or able to
						  communicate with the driver.
- Be able to see the entire backing zone.
- Continue to provide direction to the
						  driver until:
* The driver reaches the destination and stops;
OR
* There are no longer employees in the backing zone and it is
				  reasonable to expect that no employee(s) will enter the backing
				  zone.
(f) Operating dump
				trucks in reverse.
(i) You must make sure the
				dump truck has an operable automatic reverse signal alarm:
* Audible above the surrounding noise level;
AND
* Audible no less than 15 feet from the rear of the
				  vehicle.
(ii) Before backing
				a dump truck the driver must determine that no one is currently in the backing
				zone and it is reasonable to expect that no employee(s) will enter the backing
				zone while operating the dump truck in reverse.
If employee(s) are in the backing zone or it is reasonable to
				  expect that an employee(s) will enter the backing zone, you must make sure the
				  truck is backed up only when:
* An observer signals that it is safe to back;
OR
* An operable mechanical device that provides the driver a
				  full view behind the dump truck is used, such as a video camera.
Note:
The following diagram defines the backing
						  zone. Distances are reported in feet.
Click
				  here to view image
Exemption:
* Employees are considered protected when
						  they are on the opposite side of a fixed barrier such as:
- A jersey barrier;
- Heavy equipment (such as a paving
						  machine);
OR
- A 6-inch concrete curb.
Note:
The term
"dump trucks"
includes both belly and rear dump trucks with a minimum payload of 4 yards.
(g)
				Windshields.
* All vehicles with cabs must be equipped with:
-Windshields;
-Powered wipers; and
-Rear view mirrors.
* Cracked and broken glass must be replaced.
* Vehicles operating in areas or under conditions that cause
				  fogging or frosting of the windshields must be equipped with operable defogging
				  or defrosting devices.
(h)
				Haulage vehicles. You must meet the requirement in Table 2 below.
Table 2
If:
Then:
Any haulage vehicles pay-load is filled by:
You must have a cab shield
						  and/or canopy adequate to protect the operator from shifting or falling
						  materials.
* Cranes;
* Power shovels;
* Loaders;
OR
* Similar equipment.
(i)
				Securing material and employees.
* Tools and material must be secured to prevent movement when
				  transported in the same compartment as employees.
* Vehicles used to transport employees must have seats firmly
				  secured and adequate for the number of employees to be carried.
* Seat belts and anchorages meeting the requirements of 49
				  C.F.R. Part 571 (Department of Transportation, Federal Motor Vehicle Safety
				  Standards) must be installed in all motor vehicles and used by all occupants of
				  the vehicle.
(j) Trucks
				with dump bodies.
* Trucks with dump bodies or raisable platforms, beds, or
				  boxes must be equipped with positive means of support, permanently attached.
				  This positive means of support must be capable of being locked in position to
				  prevent accidental lowering of the body while maintenance or inspection work is
				  being done.
* Operating levers, controlling hoisting or dumping devices
				  on haulage bodies, must be equipped with a latch or other device, such as a
				  detent switch, which will prevent accidental starting or tripping of the
				  mechanism.
* Trip handles for tailgates of dump trucks must be so
				  arranged that, in dumping, the operator will be in the clear.
(k) Fenders on motor vehicle equipment.
* All rubber-tired motor vehicle equipment must be equipped
				  with fenders.
* Mud flaps may be used in lieu of fenders whenever motor
				  vehicle equipment is not designed for fenders.
(l) Vehicle safety inspections.
* You must check all vehicles in use at the beginning of each
				  shift to make sure that the following parts, equipment, and accessories are in
				  safe operating condition and free of apparent damage that could cause failure
				  while in use:
-Service brakes (including trailer brake connections);
-Parking system (hand brake);
-Emergency stopping system (brakes);
-Tires;
-Horn;
-Steering mechanism;
-Coupling devices;
-Seat belts;
-Operating controls;
AND
-Safety devices.
* These requirements also apply where such equipment is
				  necessary.
-Lights;
-Reflectors;
-Windshield wipers;
-Defrosters;
-Fire extinguishers;
-Steps and handholds for vehicle access;
AND
-Any other necessary equipment.
* All defects must be corrected before the vehicle is placed
				  in service.