Important:

You have two years from October 01, 2002, (the effective date of this rule), to comply with the construction requirements of this section, unless the department determines during an inspection that your walkways create a serious safety hazard. If you are not sure a serious safety hazard exists in your workplace, you can request a free consultation from the department by calling your local L&I office.

Construction of walkways

1. (1) You must build walkways in rail yard areas where employees regularly work on the ground.

2. (2) You must construct rail yard walkways that can be maintained in a safe condition:

   1. (a) With reasonably smooth walking surfaces.
   2. (b) That will not interfere with track drainage.

3. (3) You must use any of the following materials when constructing your walkway:

   1. (a) Crushed material that does not exceed 1 1/2 inches in size. For this rule, "1 1/2 inches in size" means one of the following (percentages refer to weight measurement and sieve size standard in the industry):

      Percentage of materialpassing througha sieve opening	Sieve opening size
      			100		1 1/2 inch square
      	90	-	100		1 inch square
      	40	-	80		3/4 inch square
      	15	-	60		1/2 inch square
      	0	-	30		3/8 inch square
      	0	-	10		#4
      	0	-	5		#8
      	0	-	0.5		#200

   2. (b) Smaller crushed material is preferred and should be used where drainage and durability is not an issue. Crushed material that is 3/4 inch or less in size is recommended for switching leads in yards.
   3. (c) Asphalt, concrete, planking, grating, or other similar material.
   4. (d) Natural materials such as gravel or dirt.
4. (4) You must construct walkways wide enough for employees to safely perform their duties.

5. (5) You must construct walkways with a grade or slope in any direction with not more than one inch of elevation for each eight inches of horizontal length, unless it is geographically impractical.

   Maintenance of walkways

6. (6) You must keep all walkways clear of vegetation, debris, mud, or other obstructions that create a potential hazard for employees.
7. (7) You must remove all standing water from all walkways as soon as reasonably possible.
8. (8) You must reopen walkways temporarily closed for a construction project within thirty days after the project is completed.
9. (9) You must repair walkways that have been damaged and temporarily closed because of an emergency within thirty days after the emergency ends.

10. (10) You must obtain a department variance before permanently removing any bridge or trestle walkway from use after October 1, 2002 (the effective date of this rule).

    Note:

    The requirements for filing a variance are located in the safety and health core rules and chapter 296-900 WAC, Administrative rules.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.010, 49.17.040, 49.17.050, 49.17.060. WSR 15-24-102, § 296-860-20020, filed 12/1/15, effective 1/5/16; WSR 07-03-163, § 296-860-20020, filed 1/24/07, effective 4/1/07. Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.010, [49.17].040, and [49.17].050. WSR 02-17-106, § 296-860-20020, filed 8/21/02, effective 10/1/02.]