(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.
