WAC 296-54-581   Helicopter logging -- General.  (1) Prior to daily logging operations, a briefing must be conducted. The briefing must set forth the plan of operation for the pilot(s) and ground personnel. Anytime a change in operating procedure is necessary, affected personnel must be notified.

     (2) Employees and equipment must remain in the clear and employees must never be under a suspended load.

     (3) Employees must not work under hovering craft except for that limited period of time necessary to guide, secure, hook/unhook loads, and perform maintenance/inspections or other related job duties.

     (4) The location of the drop zone, decking areas, loading areas, and designated safety zones must be established by a pilot and a responsible supervisor taking into consideration current operating conditions.

     (5) Personal protective equipment.

     (a) Employees must wear high visibility hard hats secured by a chinstrap.

     (b) Employees hooking and receiving the load must wear high visibility vests or outer garments.

     (6) Whenever approaching or leaving a support helicopter with blades rotating, employees must:

     (a) Remain in full view of the pilot and keep in a crouched position;

     (b) Obtain a visual or audible acknowledgment from the pilot before entering or exiting the helicopter;

     (c) Avoid the area from the cockpit or cabin rearward unless authorized by the helicopter company to work there; and

     (d) Exercise special caution to keep clear of rotors when visibility is reduced.

     (7) Before approaching or departing the service area for maintenance, visual and/or audible communication must be established.

     (8) There must be reliable communication available between the helicopter, woods crew, landing, and service areas. In the absence of radio communication there must be a designated signal person.

     (9) Developed hand signals must be clearly communicated and understood by all persons working in the area who may be affected by their use.

     (10) Riding the load or hook of a helicopter is prohibited except in an emergency rescue situation.

     (11) Unauthorized employees must not be allowed to approach within fifty feet of the helicopter when the rotor blades are turning.

     (12) Every practical precaution must be taken to provide for the protection of employees from flying objects in the rotor downwash.

     (13) Loads must be properly slung. Tag lines used by ground personnel to position loads must be of a length that will not permit their being drawn up into rotors. Pressed sleeve, swaged eyes, or equivalent means must be used for all freely suspended loads to prevent hand splices from spinning open or cable clamps from loosening.



[Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.010, 49.17.040, 49.17.050, 49.17.060. 06-07-142, § 296-54-581, filed 3/21/06, effective 5/1/06. Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.010, [49.17].040 and[49.17].050 . 99-17-117, § 296-54-581, filed 8/18/99, effective 12/1/99. Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.040, 49.17.150 and 49.17.240. 79-10-081 (Order 79-14), § 296-54-581, filed 9/21/79.]