Labor & Industries (L&I), Washington State

Powered Platforms Chapter 296-870, WAC

Effective Date: 01/01/07

WAC 296-870-200 Operations

For printing

Your Responsibility

To meet these requirements when using powered platforms

Building owner certification	WAC 296-870-20005
Personnel requirements	WAC 296-870-20010
Platform and hoist load limits	WAC 296-870-20015
Obstructions and slipping hazards	WAC 296-870-20020
Wind and adverse weather	WAC 296-870-20025
Corrosive substances	WAC 296-870-20030
Heat-producing processes	WAC 296-870-20035
Fall protection	WAC 296-870-20040
Communications	WAC 296-870-20045

 

WAC 296-870-20005

Building owner certifications

You must

Obtain in written certification from the building owner of any building with a powered platform installation that was completed or had major modification done after July 23, 1990, that the building and equipment meets the requirements of New Installations-Buildings, WAC 296-870-600 and New Installations-Equipment, WAC 296-870-700 of this chapter.

Note: The building owner needs to base the certification on: The field test of the installation done before it’s first placed into service or following any major modification to an existing installation and All other relevant available information, including but not limited to: - Test data - Equipment specifications - Verification by a registered professional engineer.

You must

• Obtain written certification from the building owner that the installation:

  - Has been inspected, tested, and maintained as required by Inspection, Testing, and Maintenance, WAC 296-870-300 of this chapter;
  and
  - All fall protection anchorages meet the requirements of Appendix C-Personal fall arrest system, WAC 296-24-88050, found in the General Safety and Health Standards, Chapter 296-24 WAC.

WAC 296-870-20010

Personnel requirements

You must

• Prohibit employees from using the installation until the building owner has provided the required written certifications.
• Make sure working platforms are operated only by persons proficient in the operation, safe use and inspection of the particular working platform.

Reference: Building owner certification requirements are found in Building owner certifications, WAC 296-870-20005. Training requirements for persons using platforms are found in Training, WAC 296-870-400.

WAC 296-870-20015

Platform and hoist load limits

You must

• Make sure the load on the working platform doesn’t exceed the rated load stated on the platform load rating plate.
• Make sure hoists aren’t subjected to a load greater than 125 percent of their rated load.

WAC 296-870-20020

Obstructions and slipping hazards

You must

• Prohibit the accumulation of tools, materials and debris on the platform that aren’t related to the work in progress.
• Make sure stabilizer ties are:

  - Located to allow movement along the full length of the platform without interference

  and

- Long enough not to become entangled in rollers, hoists, or other machinery.

• Prohibit employees from working on platforms covered with snow, ice, or other slippery material.

Exemption: Employees may be on platforms as necessary to remove the slipping hazard.

WAC 296-870-20025

Wind and adverse weather

You must

• Prohibit using powered platforms in:

  - Winds exceeding 25 miles per hour (40.2 km/hr)

  or

  - Any other severe adverse weather conditions.

Exemption: Employees may use the platform during severe adverse weather conditions only to move it from an operating to a storage position.

 

You must

• Have an anemometer mounted on the platform of an exterior installation to provide on-site wind velocities before and during use of the platform.

Note: The building owner needs to base the certification on: Determine wind speed using the best available information, including on-site anemometer readings and local weather forecasts. The anemometer may be a portable or hand held unit which is temporarily mounted during platform use.

WAC 296-870-20030

Corrosive substances

You must

• Protect the platform, wire ropes, and lifelines from damage due to acids or other corrosive substances by using the precautions recommended by any of the following:

  - Corrosive substance producer or supplier

  - Platform manufacturer

  - Other equivalent information source.

• Wash down platform members which have been exposed to acids or other corrosive substances with a neutralizing solution as recommended by the corrosive substance producer or supplier.

WAC 296-870-20035

Heat-producing processes

You must

• Protect the platform members, wire ropes, and lifelines when using a heat-producing process.
• Make sure wire ropes and lifelines which have been contacted by a heat-producing process are considered to be permanently damaged and not used.

WAC 296-870-20040

Fall protection

You must

• Protect employees on working platforms with a personal fall arrest system that meets the requirements of Appendix C-Personal fall arrest system, WAC 296-24-88050, found in the General Safety and Health Standards, Chapter 296-24 WAC.

WAC 296-870-20045

Communications

You must

• Make sure the voice communication system between the equipment operators and persons stationed within the building is operable and manned whenever the platform is being used.