Revised Code of Washington - RCW Title 49 Labor Regulations - Chapter 49.24 Health And Safety -- Underground Workers

49.24.010 Pressure defined
The term "pressure" means gauge air pressure in pounds per square inch.[1937 c 131 § 1; RRS § 7666-1.] ...

49.24.020 Compressed air safety requirements
Every employer of persons for work in compressed air shall: (1) Connect at least two air pipes with the working chamber and keep such pipes ...

49.24.030 Medical and nursing attendants
Every employer of persons for work in compressed air shall: (1) Keep at the place of work at all necessary times a duly qualified medical ...

49.24.040 Examination as to physical fitness
If an employee is a new employee, an absentee for ten or more successive days, an employee who has worked in compressed air continuously for ...

49.24.060 Penalty
Violation of or noncompliance with any provision of *this article by any employer, manager, superintendent, foreman or other person having direction or control of such ...

49.24.070 Enforcement
The director of labor and industries shall have the power and it shall be the director's duty to enforce the provisions of RCW 49.24.010 through ...

49.24.080 Requirements for underground labor
Every person, firm or corporation constructing, building or operating a tunnel, quarry, caisson or subway, excepting in connection with mines, with or without compressed air, ...

49.24.100 Lighting appliances
(1) All lighting in compressed air chambers shall be by electricity only. Wherever practicable there shall be two independent lighting systems with independent sources of ...

49.24.110 Exhaust valves
Exhaust valves shall be provided, having risers extending to the upper part of chamber, if necessary, and shall be operated at such times as may ...

49.24.120 Fire prevention
All reasonable precaution shall be taken against fire, and provisions shall be made so that water lines shall be available for use at all times. ...

49.24.130 Air chambers -- Hanging walks
(1) Whenever the air pressure in a tunnel heading exceeds twenty-one pounds per square inch above atmospheric pressure, two air chambers shall always be in ...

49.24.140 Locks
(1) Each bulkhead in tunnels of twelve feet or more in diameter or equivalent area, shall have at least two locks in perfect working condition, ...

49.24.150 Explosives and detonators
When locking explosives and detonators into the air chamber, they shall be kept at opposite ends of the lock. While explosives and detonators are being ...

49.24.160 Air plant -- Feed water
(1) A good and sufficient air plant for the compression of air shall be provided to meet not only ordinary conditions, but emergencies, and to ...

49.24.170 Electric power requirements
When electric power is used for running compressors supplying air for compressed air tunnel work and such power is purchased from a local central station ...

49.24.180 Inspection
While work is in progress, the employer shall employ a competent person who shall make a regular inspection at least once every working day of ...

49.24.190 Cars, cages, buckets -- Employees riding or walking
No employee shall ride on any loaded car, cage or bucket, nor walk up or down any incline or shaft while any car, cage or ...

49.24.200 Speed of vehicles
No vehicle shall be operated underground at a speed greater than five miles an hour, while construction work is going on.[1941 c 194 § 13; ...

49.24.210 Oil supply restricted
Oil for illumination or power shall not be taken into the underground workings of any tunnel or kept therein in greater quantities than one day's ...

49.24.220 Explosives, use of -- Blasting
(1) No greater quantity of explosives than that which is required for immediate use shall be taken into the working chamber. (2) Explosives shall be ...

49.24.230 Firing switch -- Warning by blaster
When firing by electricity from power or lighting wires, a proper switch shall be furnished with lever down when "off". The switch shall be fixed ...

49.24.240 Inspection after blast
(1) After a blast is fired, loosened pieces of rock shall be scaled from the sides of the excavation and after the blasting is completed, ...

49.24.250 Code of signals
Any code of signals used shall be printed and copies thereof, in such languages as may be necessary to be understood by all persons affected ...

49.24.260 Requirements as to caissons
All shafting used in pneumatic caissons shall be provided with ladders, which are to be kept clear and in good condition at all times. The ...

49.24.270 Shields to be provided
Wherever, in the prosecution of caisson work in which compressed air is employed, the working chamber is less than twelve feet in length, and when ...

49.24.280 Caissons to be braced
All caissons shall be properly and adequately braced before loading with concrete or other weight.[1941 c 194 § 21; Rem. Supp. 1941 § 7666-29.] ...

49.24.290 Cages -- Hoisting apparatus
In all shafts where men are hoisted or lowered, an iron-bonneted cage shall be used for the conveyance of men, but this provision shall not ...

49.24.300 Buckets in vertical shafts
In all vertical shafts in which hoisting is done by means of a bucket, suitable guides shall be provided when the depth exceeds ten times ...

49.24.310 Telephone system for tunnels
Where tunnels are driven from shafts more than two hundred and fifty feet deep, a telephone system shall be established and maintained, communicating with the ...

49.24.320 Location of lights
(1) While work is in progress, tunnels, stairways, ladderways and all places on the surface where work is being conducted, shall be properly lighted. In ...

49.24.330 Generators, transformers, etc., to be grounded
The frames and bed plates of generators, transformers, compensators, rheostats and motors installed underground shall be effectively grounded. All metallic coverings, armoring of cables, other ...

49.24.340 Electrical voltage
In electrical systems installed, no higher voltage than low voltage shall be used underground, except for transmission or other application to transformers, motors, generators or ...

49.24.350 Lamps to be held in reserve
Lamps or other proper lights shall be kept ready for use in all underground stations where a failure of electric light is likely to cause ...

49.24.360 Insulators required
(1) All underground cables and wires, unless provided with grounded metallic covering, shall be supported by efficient insulators. The conductors connecting lamps to the power ...

49.24.370 Director to make rules and regulations
The director of labor and industries shall establish such rules and regulations as he deems primarily necessary for the safety of the employees employed in ...

49.24.380 Penalty
Every person violating any of the provisions of RCW 49.24.080 through 49.24.380 shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.[1941 c 194 § 31; Rem. Supp. 1941 ...