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Washington state has adopted most OSHA standards and incorporates most by reference. The Washington Division of Occupational Safety and Health (DOSH) also has unique statewide standards for conveyors.
All conveyors must be constructed, operated, and maintained per American National Standards Institute (ANSI) B20.1-1957. Any conveyor constructed after January 1, 2005, must meet the requirements of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) B20.1-1996.
In addition, employers whose operations include conveyors must:
- Provide emergency stops;
- Label conveyor controls;
- Prohibit riding on conveyors;
- Provide safe access to conveyors;
- Provide backstop or anti-runaway devices to incline, decline, or vertical conveyors;
- Make only safe alterations to conveyors;
- Inspect and replace worn conveyor parts;
- Follow requirements for replacing conveyor parts;
- Follow requirements for spill guards;
- Provide pedestrian overpasses;
- Provide guard openings to hoppers and chutes;
- Install guideposts; and many more.
There are additional requirements depending on the type of conveyor, including for:
- Belt conveyors;
- Chain conveyors;
- Elevator conveyors;
- Inclined reciprocating conveyors (shakers);
- Mobile conveyors; and more.
If a specific conveyor is not listed in the standards, employers should follow the general “Requirements for all machines” found at WAC 296-806-200 and WAC 296-806-300.
The conveyors requirements may be found at WAC 296-806-420 through 296-806-42078, and are part of DOSH’s overall Machine Safety standard, WAC 296-806.
DOSH also has its own unique standards for Lockout/Tagout (Control of Hazardous Energy) at WAC 296-803. A summary of those requirements may be found at Lockout/tagout - Washington .
Related information
Citations
- WAC 296-806-420 – Conveyors
- WAC 296-803 – Lockout/Tagout (Control of Hazardous Energy)
- 1910.212 – Machine Guarding
- 1910.147 – Lockout/Tagout
Special industries
OSHA has incorporated by reference the 1910.6(e)(17) ANSI B20.1-1957 Safety Code for Conveyors, Cableways, and Related Equipment for certain standards within the following special industries:
- 1910.218 - Forging Machines
- 1910.261 - Pulp, Paper, and Paperboard Mills
- 1910.263 - Bakeries
- 1910.265 - Sawmills
- WAC 296-78-84003 – Conveyors in Sawmills and Woodworking Operations