Overview of the Department of Labor & Industries Our Mission: Keep Washington Safe and Working Presented By: Doric Olson Senior Policy Advisor Labor &

Overview of the Department of

Labor & Industries

Our Mission: Keep Washington Safe and Working

Presented By: Doric OlsonSenior Policy AdvisorLabor & Industries(360) [email protected]

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Today’s Discussion L&I Overview (Who we are and what we do) L&I Principles and Priorities Resources Available Trends and Questions

Prevent Injuries and Control Your Costs

Preventing an injury or illness is the most effective way to protect your employees and limit the financial impacts of industrial insurance claims. You can also take other steps to manage a claim, if one occurs, to help reduce claims-related costs.

Focus on SafetyKnow the Safety and Health Rules for Your WorkplaceThe Washington Industrial Safety and Health Act (WISHA) gives the Department of Labor & Industries, Division of Occupational Safety and Health (DOSH), responsibility for developing and enforcing workplace safety and health rules. You can find these rules on L&I’s Web site at www.SafetyRules.Lni.wa.gov or you can contact the L&I office nearest you for more information. Your compliance with these rules helps you protect your employees from workplace hazards.

Who we are

2,800 employees with 19 field offices Biennial budget - $660 million Over 20 different programs with a mission to “Keep

Washington safe and working”

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Facts & Figures (2014)

2.58 million workers covered (State Fund) 169,000 employers insured 87,000 claims accepted in state fund 300,000 worksites under our jurisdiction (safety & health) 203,975 electrical inspections conducted $2.1million in unpaid wages returned to workers 11,775 construction compliance jobsite visits

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Who we are

Program examples:– Workers’ compensation

• Ensuring medical care and financial help for injured workers• Funded by premiums from employers and workers• Self-Insurance

– Crime victims compensation– Workplace safety

• Protecting the health and safety of workers• Safety inspections• On-site safety and health consultations• Research into workplace health and safety

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Who we are Program examples:

– Labor Standards• Protecting workers’ wages hours breaks and more

– Employment Standards– Prevailing wage– Apprenticeship

– Licensing, registration and certification of contractors• Protecting the public from unsafe work and economic hardship

– Contractor registration & compliance– Electrical inspections– Boiler inspections– Elevator inspections– Manufactured home inspections

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Who we are

Program examples:– Prevent and reduce fraud

• Ensuring fairness in the system– Employer audit– Claimant investigations– Provider fraud– Collections– Industrial insurance Discrimination – Detection & collaboration

• Escalation strategy

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Department Principles and Priorities

Make workplaces safe Help injured workers heal and return to work Make it easy to do business with L&I Help honest workers, businesses and

providers by cracking down on dishonest ones Ensure L&I is an employer of choice

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Make Workplaces Safe

Foster a culture of safety in workplaces On an average day in Washington, 250+

workers are injured We visit workplaces in effort to reduce injuries

at those locations (consultations and inspections)

For workplaces we don’t visit– Training, outreach and education, – Website: http://www.lni.wa.gov/safety/

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Help Injured Workers Heal and Return to Work Focus on return to work Reduce unnecessary disability Reduce system delays and improve our

customers’ experience

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Make It Easier to do Business with L&I

Provide information and materials that our customers can easily understand

Decrease time and costs for customers Improve specific processes based on

customer and stakeholder needs/expectations Gather stakeholder input

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Help Honest Workers, Businesses and Providers by Cracking Down on the Dishonest Ones Most people – employers, medical providers

and workers – want to do the right thing Distinguish between vast majority and bad

actors Take appropriate action, including an

escalation strategy when needed Tell our story

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Ensure L&I is an Employer of Choice

Create an organization where people want to work

Provide opportunities for people to learn and grow

Empower staff to make decisions and improvements with customer in mind

Encourage and promote safety and wellness

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More information

General information: www.lni.wa.gov or (360) 902-5800

Detailed fact sheets about L&I’s programs and activities: http://lni.wa.gov/Main/AboutLNI/Legislature/FactSheets.asp

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LNI.WA.GOVReporting Fraud

Click “Report Fraud”.

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Click Verify a Contractor.

Verifying a contractor is easy. Type “LNI.WA.Gov” into your Web BrowserHow to Verify a Contractor

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Check out our web sites:Workplace rights information: http://www.lni.wa.gov/workplacerights/

Report fraud: www.fraud.lni.wa.gov

Register or renew registration/license online: www.Licensing.LNI.wa.gov

Look up a contractor: www.Contractors.LNI.wa.gov

Pay quarterly premiums online: www.QuarterlyReports.LNI.wa.govCheck status of Worker’s Compensation account for a business: www.PremiumStatus.LNI.wa.govCheck WISHA safety rules and issues: www.SafetyRules.LNI.wa.gov

For unemployment tax questions visit www.ESD.wa.gov or call 360-902-9360

To check status of a Washington business license (UBI),visit: www.DOR.wa.gov/content/home

Visit your local L&I office. For maps and directions visit: www.Offices.LNI.gov

Resources Available

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Trends– Independent Contractors /

Misclassification–Rest breaks

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Questions?