L&I provides free, professional ergonomics consultation to any employer in Washington state. Contact us to request a consultation or ask a question.
Remote services are available. We may not be in the office, but we're still here to help you. Learn more about our remote services here.
Problems We Solve
- We are your trusted source for information to prevent sprains and strains.
- We can help you to reduce injuries and their costs in your workplace.
- We use objective methods to identify problem areas so you can focus your prevention efforts where they’ll do the most good.
- We can educate your workers so they can take part in the process.
- We can help you develop your own prevention skills and self-reliance.
- We stay current on the most effective solutions to help you save time and money when fixing hazards.
- We customize our services to your needs.
Our Expertise
Experience that matters
Our consultants have more than 100 years of combined experience working with employers to prevent injuries.
Industry knowledge
We’ve worked with employers of all sizes in a variety of industries. Take a look at some of our case studies to see how we’ve helped our customers solve problems.
Clear communication
We understand that busy people need straightforward, practical recommendations, so we won’t leave you with a report full of complex technical jargon.
These self-help courses can solve common problems in the office:
Sit-Stand Workstations, Help for Workers
Sit-Stand Workstations, Help for Employers
Working from home? Here's some information to help you stay comfortable and productive:
Don't bend, don't break: Setting up a safe and healthy workspace for teleworking (F417-289-000)
You can also use the contact information below to get help.
These case studies highlight our work with employers and their employees to find and fix hazards, reduce injuries, save on workers’ compensation premiums, and increase productivity.
Educational School District 113
An L&I Ergonomist measured the effort that school custodians used to fold up cafeteria tables, which was high enough to cause injuries. The school district worked with the custodians to adapt a mobile lift device to make the job safer.
University of Washington Scientific Instruments Department
Technicians were repetitively lifting heavy weights used to calibrate clinic scales. Based on the Ergonomist’s recommendations, they switched to a single heavy weight and adapted a lift device to move it.
ServiceMaster of Seattle
The company asked for input for redesigning workstations where they clean and restore objects damaged in disasters. Combining Lean and ergonomics principles, the new workstations improved work postures, and increased productivity and employee morale.
Washington State Department of Corrections
The Shelton Correction Center asked an L&I Ergonomist to measure the forces required to push food carts and offer recommendations. Simply changing out the wheels on the food carts reduced the forces to safer levels.
Mount Vernon Library
Working with library staff, the L&I Ergonomist identified several issues that were leading to sprains and strains when bringing materials in from the outside book drops. Simple changes to the book drops and the doorway threshold made it easier to move carts.
Seattle Mariners Ticket Sales
Employees at the walk-up ticket windows at the ballpark were twisting, bending and reaching a lot due to the layout of the computers and printers. Based on recommendations from the L&I Ergonomist, they updated and relocated equipment to allow employees to work in a better posture and focus more on customer interactions.
Hempler’s Meats
The meat processing and smoking company had a number of injuries related to heavy and awkward lifting. Analysis by the L&I Ergonomist helped the company to prioritize areas where new and modified equipment would improve worker safety and reduce injury costs.
Washington State Department of Agriculture Metrology Lab
Calibrating scales in the lab involved repetitively lifting heavy weights, often in awkward postures. Based on our recommendations, they raised the height of the scale and used a height-adjustable cart to move the weights, reducing injury risk and improving productivity.
Pierce Transit
Bus Driver Instructors were having aches, pains and injuries from standing near the front of moving buses while training new drivers. We recommended a sit-stand stool with a stable base and a mat to help instructors work in a more comfortable position.
TMX Aerospace
An L&I Ergonomist trained the safety committee at this manufacturer to recognize the risks of injury from bending, squatting and kneeling to work near floor level. Using Lean manufacturing methods, a team of workers created standing height workstations that decreased the risk for injury while also improving productivity and product quality.
Washington State Ferries
Ticket sellers were having arm, shoulder and back problems from reaching out hundreds of times per day to passengers in their vehicles. A simple change to the ticket selling process dramatically reduced the number of times that workers had to pass items back and forth with customers, speeding up the process for everyone.
“The ergonomist's visit to Dayspring Memory Care adult family homes was invaluable to both our residents and caregivers. The information we gained from the visit provided additional improvements in safety and ways to positively affect our bottom line. The thorough report at the end of the visit gave us many new ideas. Overall, the consultant taught us safe, cost effective solutions to tasks that our business is faced with that go outside the realm of the basic resident/caregiver relationship. It was a winning experience for us in every way.”
- Madonna Maxaner, Owner, Dayspring Adult Family Homes
Commonly asked questions about Ergonomics Consultations
We can only visit a workplace if we’re invited by a member of management.
No, we don’t charge for any of our services.
We offer a popular service. We are sometimes scheduling 2 or 3 weeks out. We’ll do everything we can to schedule a visit that’s convenient for you.