Washington Administrative Code › Title 296 - Labor and Industries, Department of › Chapter 296-305 - Safety standards for firefighters › Section 296-305-01003 - Scope and application

Current through Register Vol. 24-14, July 15, 2024
(1) The
			 rules of this chapter apply with respect to any and all activities, operations
			 and equipment of employers and employees involved in providing fire protection
			 services which are subject to the provisions of the Washington Industrial
			 Safety and Health Act of 1973 (chapter 49.17 RCW).
(2) The provisions of this chapter apply to
			 all firefighters and their work places, including the fire combat scene.
			 Although enforcement of applicable standards will result from provable
			 violations of these standards at the fire combat scene, agents of the
			 department will not act in any manner that will reduce or interfere with the
			 effectiveness of the emergency response of a firefighting unit. Activities
			 directly related to the combating of a fire will not be subjected to the
			 immediate restraint provisions of
			 RCW
			 49.17.130.
(3) In the development of this document many
			 consensus standards of the industry were considered and evaluated as to
			 adaptability to the Washington state fire service industry. Where adaptable and
			 meaningful, the firefighter safety elements of these standards were
			 incorporated into this WAC. Chapter 296-305 WAC, must be considered as the
			 firefighter safety standards for the state of Washington.
(4) The provisions of this chapter cover
			 existing requirements that apply to all fire departments. All fire departments
			 must have in place their own policy statement and operating instructions that
			 meet or exceed these requirements. This chapter contains state and/or federal
			 performance criteria that fire departments must meet.
(5) Unless specifically stated otherwise by
			 rule, if a duplication of regulations, or a conflict exists between the rules
			 regulating wildland firefighting and other rules in the chapter, only the rules
			 regulating wildland firefighting will apply to wildland firefighting activities
			 and equipment.
(6) The provisions
			 of this chapter must be supplemented by the provisions of the general safety
			 and health standards of the department of labor and industries. In the event of
			 conflict between any provision(s) of this chapter and any provision(s) of the
			 general safety and health standards, the provision(s) of this chapter must
			 apply.
(7) Industrial fire brigades
			 are covered under the provisions of chapter 296-811 WAC, Fire
			 brigades.
Statutory Authority:
				  RCW
				  49.17.010,
				  49.17.040,
				  49.17.050,
				  49.17.060 and 29 C.F.R. 1910.156,
				  Fire brigades. 13-05-070, § 296-305-01003, filed 2/19/13, effective
				  1/1/14. Statutory Authority:
				  RCW
				  49.17.010,
				  49.17.040,
				  49.17.050,
				  49.17.060. 06-01-073, §
				  296-305-01003, filed 12/20/05, effective 3/1/06. Statutory Authority:
				  RCW
				  49.17.010, [49.17].040, and[49.17].050 .
				  01-11-038, § 296-305-01003, filed 5/9/01, effective 9/1/01. Statutory
				  Authority:
				  RCW
				  49.17.040. 99-05-080, § 296-305-01003,
				  filed 2/17/99, effective 6/1/99. Statutory Authority:
				  RCW
				  49.17.010, [49.17].050 and[49.17].060 .
				  96-11-067, § 296-305-01003, filed 5/10/96, effective
				  1/1/97.