49.17.041 - Agricultural safety standards -- Limitation on adopting or establishing between January 1, 1995, through January 15, 1996 -- Requirements. - Washington Statutes

Agricultural safety standards — Limitation on adopting or establishing between January 1, 1995, through January 15, 1996 — Requirements.

(1)(a) Except as provided in (b) of this subsection, no rules adopted under this chapter amending or establishing agricultural safety standards shall take effect during the period beginning January 1, 1995, and ending January 15, 1996. This subsection applies, but is not limited to applying, to a rule adopted before January 1, 1995, but with an effective date which is during the period beginning January 1, 1995, and ending January 15, 1996, and to provisions of rules adopted prior to January 1, 1995, which provisions are to become effective during the period beginning January 1, 1995, and ending January 15, 1996.

     (b) Subsection (1)(a) of this section does not apply to: Provisions of rules that were in effect before January 1, 1995; emergency rules adopted under RCW 34.05.350; or revisions to chapter 296-306 WAC regarding rollover protective structures that were adopted in 1994 and effective March 1, 1995, and that are additionally revised to refer to the variance process available under this chapter.

     (2) The rules for agricultural safety adopted under this chapter must:

     (a) Establish, for agricultural employers, an agriculture safety standard that includes agriculture-specific rules and specific references to the general industry safety standard adopted under chapter 49.17 RCW; and

     (b) Exempt agricultural employers from the general industry safety standard adopted under chapter 49.17 RCW for all rules not specifically referenced in the agriculture safety standard.

     (3) The department shall publish in one volume all of the occupational safety rules that apply to agricultural employers and shall make this volume available to all agricultural employers before January 15, 1996. This volume must be available in both English and Spanish.

     (4) The department shall provide training, education, and enhanced consultation services concerning its agricultural safety rules to agricultural employers before the rules' effective dates. The training, education, and consultation must continue throughout the winter of 1995-1996. Training and education programs must be provided throughout the state and must be coordinated with agricultural associations in order to meet their members' needs.

     (5) The department shall provide, for informational purposes, a list of commercially available rollover protective structures for tractors used in agricultural operations manufactured before October 25, 1976. The list must include the name and address of the manufacturer and the approximate price of the structure. Included with the list shall be a statement indicating that an employer may apply for a variance from the rules requiring rollover protective structures under this chapter and that variances may be granted in appropriate circumstances on a case-by-case basis. The statement shall also provide examples of circumstances under which a variance may be granted. The list and statement shall be generally available to the agricultural community before the department may take any action to enforce rules requiring rollover protective structures for tractors used in agricultural operations manufactured before October 25, 1976.

[1995 c 371 § 2.]

Notes: Finding -- 1995 c 371: "The legislature finds that:

     (1) The state's highly productive and efficient agricultural sector is composed predominately of family-owned and managed farms and an industrious and efficient workforce;

     (2) A reasonable level of safety regulations is needed to protect workers;

     (3) The smaller but highly efficient farming operations would benefit from safety rules that are easily referenced and agriculture-specific to the extent possible; and

     (4) There should be lead time between the adoption of agriculture safety rules and their effective date in order to allow the department of labor and industries to provide training, education, and enhanced consultation services to family-owned and managed farms." [1995 c 371 § 1.]

Application -- 1995 c 371 § 2: "Section 2(1) of this act is remedial in nature and applies to rules and provisions of rules regarding agricultural safety that would take effect after December 31, 1994." [1995 c 371 § 4.]