One of my favorite things about state plans… they often provide more insight into OSHA standards. Take for instance the state of WA OSHA’s, called Washington State Dept. of Labor & Industries, Safety Standards for Confined Spaces document. The state’s Construction standard on Confined Spaces closely mimics Federal OSHA’s requirements, but it is HOW the state’s standard is written that makes it a jewel. Following the State’s Governor executive order in 2005, the agency issued a new policy on “Plain Talk.” This meant the state’s OSHA standards are written in “plain talk,” and this is a MAJOR AID in helping understand the standard. So helpful, I often will read the state’s OSHA standard to get a better understanding of the Federal OSHA requirements; even when the state requirements may be more “comprehensive” than the federal standard(s). For example, here is part of the state’s Construction PRCS standard that came out in February 2018, explaining how to do the CS site evaluation…
