Wash. Admin. Code § 296-71-030 - Training course approval

(1) High hazard facilities 20-hour training courses may be sponsored by any person, or other entity having department approval. An approved course must include 20 hours of in-person and laboratory instruction, and meet the minimum required elements for approved course in WAC 296-71-060, Appendix A, including topics and hours.

(2) Prior to receiving department approval, each course must be evaluated by the department for the breadth of knowledge and experience required to properly train workers. Course content must be carefully scrutinized for adequacy and accuracy. Training techniques will be evaluated by the department.

(3) Sponsors of training courses proposed for approval must submit:

(a) Background information about course sponsors;

(b) Course locations;

(c) Course fees;

(d) Copies of course handouts;

(e) A detailed description of course content and the amount of time allotted to each major topic. See WAC 296-71-060, Appendix A for a list of required training topics that must be included;

(f) A description of teaching methods to be utilized and a list of all audio-visual materials; the department may, in its discretion, request that copies of the materials be provided for review;

(g) A list of all personnel involved in course preparation and presentation and a description of the background, special training and qualifications of each. Training must be taught by competent instructors. The department may, in its discretion, require proposed instructors to pass an examination on subjects related to their respective topics of instruction;

(h) A description of student evaluation methods;

(i) A description of course evaluation methods;

(j) Any restrictions on attendance (language, class size, affiliation, etc.);

(k) A list of any other states that currently approve the training course; and

(l) The amount and type of hands-on training.

(4) Materials may be submitted electronically through the online portal or mailed to:

High Hazard Facilities Program

Department of Labor & Industries

P.O. Box 44615

Olympia, WA 98504-4615

(5) For timely approval, the initial application for training course approval and course materials must be submitted to the department at least 60 days prior to the requested approval date.

(6) The decision to grant or renew approval of a training course is the sole discretion of the department.

(a) Following approval of a training course, the department will issue the course sponsor an approval that is valid for three years from the date of issuance.

(b) Application for renewal must follow the procedures described in subsections (3) and (4) of this section.

(7) In recognition that the industry is evolving, the department reserves the right to require additional subjects to be taught and to specify the amount of time which must be allotted to adequately cover required subjects. To ensure adequate coverage of required material, each course sponsor must be provided and required to incorporate into their training course, a detailed outline of subject matter developed by the department.

(8) For timely approval, the training course approval renewal must be received by the department no later than 30 days before the approval expiration date.

(9) Any changes to a training course must be approved by the department in advance.

(10) The course sponsor must provide the department with a roster of all persons who have completed the training course. The list must be provided no later than 10 days after course completion and must include the:

(a) Training course provider name;

(b) Instructor name(s);

(c) Course name;

(d) Dates of class;

(e) Location of class;

(f) Student's name;

(g) Student's mailing address; and

(h) Certificate number (if applicable).

(11) The course sponsor must notify the department, in writing, at least 14 days before a training class is scheduled to begin. The notification must include the date, time, instructor, and address where the training will be conducted.

(12) A representative of the department may, at the department's discretion, attend a training course as an observer to verify that the training course is conducted in accordance with the program approved by the department.

(a) Course sponsors conducting training outside the state of Washington must reimburse the department for reasonable travel expenses associated with department audits of the training courses.

(b) Reasonable travel expenses are defined as current state of Washington per diem and travel allowance rates including airfare and/or surface transportation rates. Such reimbursement must be paid within 30 days of receipt of the billing notice.

(13) The training course sponsor must limit each class to a maximum of 50 participants.

(14) There must be at least one instructor for every 25 students.

(15) Denial, suspension, or revocation of approval will be done in accordance with WAC 296-71-050.

(16) Recordkeeping requirements for training providers: All approved providers of accredited training courses must comply with the following minimum recordkeeping requirements:

(a) Training course materials. A training provider must retain copies of all instructional materials used in delivery of the classroom training such as student manuals, instructor notebooks and handouts.

(b) Instructor qualifications. A training provider must retain copies of all instructors' resumes, and the documents approving each instructor issued by the department. Instructors must be approved by the department before teaching courses for accreditation purposes. A training provider must notify the department in advance whenever it changes course instructors. Records must accurately identify the instructors that taught each particular class for each date that a course is offered.

(c) Training records. The training providers must maintain records that document the names of all persons who have completed training, the disciplines for which training was provided, training dates and training locations.

(d) Record retention and access. The training provider must maintain the records in a manner that allows verification of the required information via telephone, or other communication.

(i) The training provider must maintain all required training course materials for a minimum of the duration of the course offering plus four years.

(ii) The training provider must maintain all required instructor qualification records for the duration of the instructor's employment plus four years.

(iii) The training provider must maintain all required training records for a minimum of four years. The training provider may find it advantageous to retain these records for a longer period.

(iv) The training provider must allow reasonable access to all of the records which may be required by the department for the approval of training providers or the accreditation of training courses, to the department, on request.

(v) If a training provider ceases to conduct training, the training provider must notify the department and give it the opportunity to take possession of that provider's training records.

Notes

Wash. Admin. Code § 296-71-030

Adopted by WSR 22-19-101, Filed 9/21/2022, effective 10/22/2022 Amended by WSR 24-12-069, Filed 6/4/2024, effective 7/5/2024