Fall protection general industry - Washington

Most of Washington’s requirements for fall protection are identical to the federal requirements; however, the state adds further requirements. A summary of the additional requirements includes the following:

• Make sure that structures are designed, constructed, and maintained to provide a safety factor of 4 times the imposed maximum strain.
• Post approved load limits (weight limits) for floors used for mercantile, business, industrial or storage purposes in an obvious place.
• Do not accumulate materials in storage areas such that they create tripping, fire, or explosion hazards.
• If a structure bows, cracks, or otherwise indicates excessive strain, take action to ensure it is safe.
• Ensure that building, ramp, dock, trestle, and other structure flooring that supports moving or vibrating equipment is not less than 2 1/2 inch material. However, you may use 2-inch material where flooring is covered by steel floor plates.

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• Walking-Working Surfaces state comparison

Citations

• Washington:
  • WAC 296-800-270 Workplace structural integrity
  • WAC 296-876 Ladders, portable and fixed
  • WAC 296-880 Unified safety standards for fall protection
• Federal: 29 CFR 1910.21, .22, .23, .24, .25, .26, .27, .28, .29, and .30