The Department of Labor & Industries (L&I) is a diverse state agency dedicated to the safety, health, and security of Washington’s 3.3 million workers. We help employers meet safety and health standards, and we inspect workplaces when alerted to hazards. Most employers in the state, including lodging establishments, are subject to enforcement by L&I and not by the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).
L&I’s Division of Safety and Health (DOSH) enforces safety and health rules by inspecting workplaces without advance notice including investigations of work- related deaths, injuries, and employees’ complaints. It is also responsible for consultation, technical assistance, training, education and grants.
When DOSH inspectors find a violation in a workplace, they issue a citation to the employer and a penalty may be attached. L&I also provides online resources to help employers find and fix hazards and no-cost, professional safety and health consultants.
All employers in Washington are required to provide a safe workplace for their employees. A safe working environment is not only good for employees, it can also be financially beneficial to business owners. This reduces the risk of injuries and illness, which in turn decreases direct and indirect costs to your business.
Finding and fixing hazards is also the foundation for your required safety programs, starting with a required Accident Prevention Program (APP).
No-Fee Safety & Health Consultation
L&I’s Consultation Program offers confidential, no-fee, professional advice and assistance to Washington businesses. These services can help you find and fix hazards in your workplace and strengthen your safety program.
Workers’ Compensation and Incentive Programs
Workers’ compensation insurance (also known as Industrial Insurance) provides wage replacement and medical benefits to workers injured on the job. Workers’ compensation is no-fault insurance, which means in most cases your business cannot be sued when a work-related injury or illness occurs.
Workers’ compensation claims pay for approved medical, hospital, and related services due to workplace injuries or occupational illnesses and partial wage replacement for those who are unable to work because of their injuries or occupational illnesses. You must get a workers’ compensation account by applying for or updating your state business license if you have employees.
L&I oversees workers’ compensation in our state. Washington does not allow private workers’ compensation coverage, and employers must purchase coverage from
L&I or be a certified self-insured employer. Employers submit quarterly reports and premium payments based on their industry and workers’ hours. Claims are paid for by premiums collected.
L&I offers a safety incentive program called Retrospective Rating or Retro. In Retro, you can potentially earn a partial refund of your workers’ compensation premiums if you reduce workplace injuries and lower associated claim losses. Essentially, retrospective rating is another way of calculating premium after the fact or “retroactively.” Group Retro programs are offered through sponsoring associations.
WorkSafe
WorkSafe is the Washington Hospitality Association’s safety and claims management program.
The best way to control claims costs is to not have any claims, so WorkSafe helps member participants find and prevent workplace hazards, thus reducing the risk of injury or illness. Participating members have access to tools to build and maintain a strong safety culture, including a template for an industry-specific required accident.
If an employee is injured and able to work in a modified capacity during their recovery, offering your employee light duty work could help you avoid a compensable claim and unnecessary work disability.
Washington Hospitality Association also helps members participating in WorkSafe create a return-to-work program, identify opportunities to offer light duty work, and develop modified job descriptions to meet medical restrictions for a claim.
The Washington Hospitality Association introduced its Retrospective Rating program (Retro) in 1986. Since then, Washington Hospitality’s Retro program has grown to be one of the largest Retro programs in the state, helping member participants realize savings on their workers’ compensation premiums.
Additional Resources
Washington Hospitality Association
