ENGROSSED SUBSTITUTE SENATE BILL 5694
State of Washington
69th Legislature
2025 Regular Session
By Senate Labor & Commerce (originally sponsored by Senator King)
READ FIRST TIME 02/21/25.
AN ACT Relating to a statewide boiler operator certification; amending RCW 70.79.030 , 70.79.040 , 70.79.090 , and 70.79.110 ; adding new sections to chapter 70.79 RCW; creating a new section; repealing RCW 70.79.050 ; and prescribing penalties.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:
NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. The legislature finds that there are only three jurisdictions that regulate the safe operation of boilers by certified boiler operators. The national board of boiler and pressure vessel inspectors has advised that trained boiler operators are essential to avoiding potential risks to personnel, the public, and property.
The national board stated that "The primary concern in the operation of boilers, regardless of pressure or type, is safety. Too often, automatic features lead owners and the general public to believe that the equipment will function without worker oversight, maintenance, operation, and repair. A boiler can fail regardless of its level of automation and a boiler failure can lead to catastrophic results. Even the automatic controls must be properly maintained and tested at specific intervals to keep them functioning properly."