News & Data Center
Latest News
Get L&I news releases delivered to your inbox or subscribe to our RSS feed.
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July 22, 2019
A Spokane-area woman faces a felony theft charge for allegedly running a construction business while claiming she was too disabled to work.
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July 1, 2019
Workers' compensation benefits to increase by 5.5 percent
For most workers injured on or before July 1, 2018, time-loss and pension benefit payments will increase by 5.5 percent based on the change in the state's average wage as announced by the Washington State Employment Security Department on June 12. State law requires that benefits be recalculated each year to reflect the change in the state's average wage from the previous calendar year.
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June 14, 2019
Lifesaving awards honor workplace heroes -- nominations open now
The Governor's Industrial Safety and Health Advisory Board presents awards to workplace heroes each fall at its annual conference. Now's the time to nominate people for the 2019 Governor's Lifesaving Awards.
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June 5, 2019
The Washington State Department of Labor & Industries (L&I) has formally filed a proposed rule that would restore overtime protections for thousands of Washington workers. The proposed changes would significantly increase the minimum amount employees must earn before they can be exempt from receiving overtime pay.
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May 31, 2019
Double-dipping dishwasher in Seattle must repay state for workers' comp scam
A food-service employee who claimed she was too injured to work has been ordered to pay back more than $11,000 in disability payments after she was caught working at a nursing home and hotel.
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May 22, 2019
Young workers more likely to get hurt -- talk with teens about workplace safety
Summertime often means first jobs for teens and young adults. Unfortunately, it can also mean on-the-job injuries for these new workers. Younger workers are hurt in Washington at a rate that's significantly higher than older adults.
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May 16, 2019
Dollar Tree faces one of largest-ever L&I fines for repeated safety violations
Blocked emergency exit routes, unsafe ladder use and improper stacking of merchandise are among the numerous safety hazards that have the Dollar Tree company facing one of the largest Washington State Department of Labor & Industries (L&I) fines ever issued.
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May 2, 2019
"Safety Stand-Down" helps prevent construction falls and saves lives
Thirty-five Washington construction workers died from falls in the last four years. Falls are the leading cause of worker fatalities and work-related hospitalizations in our state, and every one of these deaths and injuries is preventable.
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April 23, 2019
Caught on video: Oyster harvester accused of faking injury to collect $70K in workers' comp benefits
A Shelton man faces a felony theft charge accusing him of commercially harvesting and delivering shellfish while claiming he was disabled from a back injury and couldn't work.
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April 22, 2019
Fallen workers to be honored at April 25 ceremony in Tumwater
Washington workers who died from workplace injuries and illnesses in 2018 will be honored at the state's upcoming Worker Memorial Day ceremony. This year 68 workers who died on the job will be remembered, along with 23 workers who passed away as a result of longer battles with occupational illnesses.
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April 9, 2019
Electrical companies facing large fines for unlicensed, unpermitted work
A Minnesota company and several of its subcontractors are facing fines of $273,000 from the Washington State Department of Labor & Industries (L&I) for nearly 600 instances of making illegal repairs at large retailers across Washington.
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March 6, 2019
Six months in jail for unregistered contractor who stole from two homeowners
An unregistered contractor who accepted thousands of dollars from two homeowners but never completed the work must serve six months behind bars.
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March 4, 2019
A man who managed bars at Seattle-area restaurants while claiming he was too injured to work has been ordered to pay the state nearly $113,000 for stealing workers' compensation disability benefits.
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February 26, 2019
Highway 99 tunnel subcontractor owes workers more than $370,000 in unpaid wages
A company hired to dispose of dirt from the Highway 99 tunnel project through Seattle has been cited by the state Department of Labor & Industries (L&I) for underpaying workers by more than $370,000.
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February 21, 2019
Free workplace safety seminar in March features leaders from business and industry
Several safety leaders will speak at a one-day seminar in Tumwater on March 19, hosted by the Washington State Department of Labor & Industries (L&I). It's an opportunity for employers to learn from companies that have been recognized for safety excellence.
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January 23, 2019
Multiple serious and willful asbestos violations result in nearly $800,000 in fines
James Thorpe, Northlake Capital & Development, 3917 Densmore LLC, and Chris Walters have each been cited for 11 willful and serious violations. In total, the fines for the four separate investigations add up to $789,200.
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January 15, 2019
Agriculture safety events planned for February in Eastern Washington -- register now
Agriculture is one of Washington's largest industries. Unfortunately, it continues to have one of the highest injury rates. The state is working to change that with upcoming workplace safety events geared specifically toward agricultural workers and management.
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January 10, 2019
Snohomish County real estate broker and housekeeper charged in separate workers' comp scams
A commercial real estate broker accused of faking injuries and a housekeeper accused of double-dipping workers' comp benefits each face criminal charges in unrelated cases in Snohomish County.
Media Contacts
Our communications staff are here to answer your questions about L&I's programs and services.
| If you have questions about ... | Contact |
|---|---|
| General agency information, legislative issues. | Tim Church Public Affairs Manager 360-902-5673 Tim.Church@Lni.wa.gov |
| Workers' compensation insurance – employer services | Tim Church Public Affairs Manager 360-902-5673 Tim.Church@Lni.wa.gov |
| Workers' compensation claims – medical providers | Barbara Davis 360-902-4216 Barbara.Davis@Lni.wa.gov |
| Workplace safety and health | Frank Ameduri 360-902-5413 Frank.Ameduri@Lni.wa.gov |
| Injured Young Workers Speakers Program | Xenofon Moniodis 360-902-6458 Xenofon.Moniodis@Lni.wa.gov |
| Contractor registration Fraud prevention and investigations Plumber certification Underground economy |
Debby Abe 360-902-6043 Debby.Abe@Lni.wa.gov |
| Apprenticeship and prevailing wage Boiler inspections Electrical inspections and licensing Elevators Manufactured home (factory-assembled structures) Prevailing wage Wage-and-hour topics: minimum wage, overtime, minor workers, and wage claims |
Matthew Erlich 360-902-6508 Matthew.Erlich@Lni.wa.gov |
| Small business outreach |
Celia Nightingale 360-902-4865 1-800-987-0145 SmallBusiness@Lni.wa.gov |
| Director of Community Relations | Uriel Iniguez 360-902-5411 Uriel.Iniguez@Lni.wa.gov |
Facts and Figures
L&I is a diverse state agency dedicated to the safety, health and security of Washington workers and protecting the public from unsafe work and economic hardship.
Facts
See the complete list of L&I facts and figures (2018) (246 KB PDF).
2018 figures
- Workers' compensation insurance provided for 179,000 employers and 3 million workers.
- Workplace safety and health inspections or consultations: 7,086.
- Unpaid wages collected: $5.5 million.
- Electrical wiring jobs inspected: 251,114.
- Boilers/pressure vessels inspected: 18,958.
- Elevators/escalators inspected: 8,766.
- New apprentice registrations: 5,519.
For information about workers' compensation figures, see Your Premium Dollars at Work (2018) (F200-029-000) for:
- An accounting of how State Fund premium dollars are spent.
- Workers' compensation statistics at a glance.
Public Data and Look-Up Tools
View and download public data
- Rates and rating
- Injury and fatality statistics
- Medical provider reports
- Self-insurance files
- Workers' comp files
| L&I Public Data | |
|---|---|
| Rates and Rating | |
| Description | Location |
| Experience rating parameters These files contain information on the various factors used in Calculating a Firm's Experience Modification Factor. |
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| Workers' comp insurance rates These files contain information on the base rates for workers' compensation. The base rates reflect rates prior to the application of experience factors. |
|
| Injury and Fatality Statistics | |
| Description | Location |
| BLS injury and fatality statistics. | |
| Data from the Federal Bureau of Labor Statistics Injuries, Illnesses, and Fatalities (IIF) program. |
|
| Medical Provider Reports | |
| Description | Location |
| Provider Network Status Report (PNSR)
Downloadable data set containing information about providers' L&I Medical Provider Network (MPN) status. |
|
| Self-Insurance Files | |
| Description | Location |
| Self-insured employers list An alphabetic list of self-insured employers with their contact phone numbers. |
|
| Third Party Administrators (TPA) contact information An alphabetic list of Third Party Administrators and their contact phone numbers. |
|
| Workers' Comp Files | |
| Description | Location |
| A list of active workers' compensation accounts and their premium range, retro status and contact information. | |
| A list of active workers' compensation accounts, their experience factor, and information on premium and employee range by risk class. | |
| Workers' comp injury data. | |
2019 News Archives
Get L&I news releases delivered to your inbox or subscribe to our RSS feed.
-
July 22, 2019
A Spokane-area woman faces a felony theft charge for allegedly running a construction business while claiming she was too disabled to work.
-
July 1, 2019
Workers' compensation benefits to increase by 5.5 percent
For most workers injured on or before July 1, 2018, time-loss and pension benefit payments will increase by 5.5 percent based on the change in the state's average wage as announced by the Washington State Employment Security Department on June 12. State law requires that benefits be recalculated each year to reflect the change in the state's average wage from the previous calendar year.
-
June 14, 2019
Lifesaving awards honor workplace heroes -- nominations open now
The Governor's Industrial Safety and Health Advisory Board presents awards to workplace heroes each fall at its annual conference. Now's the time to nominate people for the 2019 Governor's Lifesaving Awards.
-
June 5, 2019
The Washington State Department of Labor & Industries (L&I) has formally filed a proposed rule that would restore overtime protections for thousands of Washington workers. The proposed changes would significantly increase the minimum amount employees must earn before they can be exempt from receiving overtime pay.
-
May 31, 2019
Double-dipping dishwasher in Seattle must repay state for workers' comp scam
A food-service employee who claimed she was too injured to work has been ordered to pay back more than $11,000 in disability payments after she was caught working at a nursing home and hotel.
-
May 22, 2019
Young workers more likely to get hurt -- talk with teens about workplace safety
Summertime often means first jobs for teens and young adults. Unfortunately, it can also mean on-the-job injuries for these new workers. Younger workers are hurt in Washington at a rate that's significantly higher than older adults.
-
May 16, 2019
Dollar Tree faces one of largest-ever L&I fines for repeated safety violations
Blocked emergency exit routes, unsafe ladder use and improper stacking of merchandise are among the numerous safety hazards that have the Dollar Tree company facing one of the largest Washington State Department of Labor & Industries (L&I) fines ever issued.
-
May 2, 2019
"Safety Stand-Down" helps prevent construction falls and saves lives
Thirty-five Washington construction workers died from falls in the last four years. Falls are the leading cause of worker fatalities and work-related hospitalizations in our state, and every one of these deaths and injuries is preventable.
-
April 23, 2019
Caught on video: Oyster harvester accused of faking injury to collect $70K in workers' comp benefits
A Shelton man faces a felony theft charge accusing him of commercially harvesting and delivering shellfish while claiming he was disabled from a back injury and couldn't work.
-
April 22, 2019
Fallen workers to be honored at April 25 ceremony in Tumwater
Washington workers who died from workplace injuries and illnesses in 2018 will be honored at the state's upcoming Worker Memorial Day ceremony. This year 68 workers who died on the job will be remembered, along with 23 workers who passed away as a result of longer battles with occupational illnesses.
-
April 9, 2019
Electrical companies facing large fines for unlicensed, unpermitted work
A Minnesota company and several of its subcontractors are facing fines of $273,000 from the Washington State Department of Labor & Industries (L&I) for nearly 600 instances of making illegal repairs at large retailers across Washington.
-
March 6, 2019
Six months in jail for unregistered contractor who stole from two homeowners
An unregistered contractor who accepted thousands of dollars from two homeowners but never completed the work must serve six months behind bars.
-
March 4, 2019
A man who managed bars at Seattle-area restaurants while claiming he was too injured to work has been ordered to pay the state nearly $113,000 for stealing workers' compensation disability benefits.
-
February 26, 2019
Highway 99 tunnel subcontractor owes workers more than $370,000 in unpaid wages
A company hired to dispose of dirt from the Highway 99 tunnel project through Seattle has been cited by the state Department of Labor & Industries (L&I) for underpaying workers by more than $370,000.
-
February 21, 2019
Free workplace safety seminar in March features leaders from business and industry
Several safety leaders will speak at a one-day seminar in Tumwater on March 19, hosted by the Washington State Department of Labor & Industries (L&I). It's an opportunity for employers to learn from companies that have been recognized for safety excellence.
-
January 23, 2019
Multiple serious and willful asbestos violations result in nearly $800,000 in fines
James Thorpe, Northlake Capital & Development, 3917 Densmore LLC, and Chris Walters have each been cited for 11 willful and serious violations. In total, the fines for the four separate investigations add up to $789,200.
-
January 15, 2019
Agriculture safety events planned for February in Eastern Washington -- register now
Agriculture is one of Washington's largest industries. Unfortunately, it continues to have one of the highest injury rates. The state is working to change that with upcoming workplace safety events geared specifically toward agricultural workers and management.
-
January 10, 2019
Snohomish County real estate broker and housekeeper charged in separate workers' comp scams
A commercial real estate broker accused of faking injuries and a housekeeper accused of double-dipping workers' comp benefits each face criminal charges in unrelated cases in Snohomish County.
Leadership Team
“Keep Washington safe and working”
L&I’s mission is to “keep Washington safe and working.” The agency administers a number of critical programs including the state’s workers’ compensation system and its occupational safety and health program.
L&I's various and diverse programs are led by a group of hard-working professionals and subject matter experts known as the department's Leadership Team. In addition to leading their own programs on a day-to-day basis, this group works together to determine future direction and policies for the entire organization. In essence, they are L&I's brain trust.
Biographies
Joel Sacks, Director
Joel Sacks was appointed Director of the Department of Labor & Industries (L&I) in January, 2013 by Governor Jay Inslee. L&I’s mission is to “keep Washington safe and working.” The agency administers many vital programs including the state’s workers’ compensation system and its occupational safety and health program.
In Joel’s time as L&I director, long-term disability rates for injured workers have been reduced more than 20 percent. L&I is a national leader in creating innovative programs and incentives that help injured workers heal and return to work. The agency also helped workers recover millions of dollars owed to them in wages through wage complaint investigations. Fewer on-the-job injuries and improvements in helping injured workers heal and return to work led to a 5 percent reduction in workers’ compensation rates for 2019 — the biggest drop in a decade.
Joel’s position at L&I makes him one of three ex-officio members serving on the Washington State Investment Board (WSIB). He is the Vice-Chair of the WSIB Committee and a member of the Private Markets, Audit and Administrative Committees.
Previously he worked at the state Employment Security Department for nearly eight years, serving as Deputy Commissioner and Assistant Commissioner for the Budget, Policy and Communication Division.
Prior to joining Employment Security, he was Deputy Director of Field Services at L&I. He also served four years at the Occupational Safety and Health Administration in the U.S. Department of Labor.
Joel holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from Haverford College and a master’s degree in public administration from Syracuse University’s Maxwell School of Public Affairs. He lives in Olympia with his wife and two daughters.
Elizabeth (Liz) Smith, Deputy Director
Elizabeth Smith was appointed as Deputy Director in March 2018. She previously served as Assistant Director for L&I’s Fraud Prevention & Labor Standards division. Liz’s other positions at L&I include program manager for the Worker’s Comp Fraud Prevention and Compliance program, the Employment Standards program, and the L&I Office of Apprenticeship.
Prior to joining L&I in 2004, Liz worked as legislative staff for the California State Senate. Liz graduated from Western Washington University, and completed a post-graduate Public Affairs Leadership Fellowship through the Coro Foundation.
Randi Warick, Deputy Director for Financial Management
Randi Warick was appointed the deputy director of Financial Management at L&I in 2013.
Prior to working for L&I, Randi served as the assistant commissioner for the Budget, Performance and Research Division at the Employment Security Department.
During her 28-year career of state service, Randi has held senior leadership roles for 6 other state agencies, including the Department of Corrections and the Office of Financial Management.
Randi and her husband enjoy spending time outdoors and have 2 children, both of whom are in college.
Assistant Directors
- Kim Contris, Assistant Director for Web & Communication Services
- Heather Normoyle, Assistant Director for Human Resources
- Tammy Fellin, Legislative Director for the Government Affairs & Policy Division
- Steve Reinmuth, Assistant Director for Administrative Services
- Jennifer Myers, Director of the Office of Internal Audit
- Vickie Kennedy, Assistant Director for Insurance Services
- David Marty, Assistant Director for Information Services
- Maggie Leland, Assistant Director for the Governmental Affairs & Policy Division
- Nathan Petty, Director of Lean for the Lean Transformation Office
- David Puente, Assistant Director for Field Services & Public Safety
- Annette Taylor, Assistant Director for Fraud Prevention & Labor Standards
- Anne Soiza, Assistant Director for the Division of Occupational Safety & Health
Stay Connected
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Main number:
360-902-5400
Fax:
360-902-5420
Administrative Assistant:
360-902-4226
Write to:
Washington State
Department of Labor & Industries
Public Affairs Office
PO Box 44050
Olympia WA 98504-4050
L&I offices
Public records
Archived News Releases
For older news releases, contact our Communications staff.
More About L&I
Contact Us About Public Data
If you need help, contact the appropriate L&I staff below:
- Public data (general questions):
- Contact Lisann Rolle.
- Rates and rating:
- Employers: Contact the Employer Services Help Line at 360‑902‑4817.
- Injury and fatality statistics:
- BLS labor statistics: Contact Tamra Johnson.
- For general information, such as the claims process or help getting info on your claim, call 1-800-LISTENS (1-800-547-8367).
- Medical provider reports:
- Provider Network Status Report: Contact Cheryl D'Angelo-Gary, 360-902-5052.
- Self-insurance files:
- For general information, call 360-902-6901.
See a printable phone list for the Self-Insurance Section (40 KB PDF).- Fax for claim units within Self-Insurance Section: 360-902-6900.
- Workers' comp files:
- Contact Lisann Rolle.
© Washington State Dept. of Labor & Industries. Use of this site is subject to the laws of the state of Washington.