overview of the department of labor & industries our mission: keep washington safe and working...
TRANSCRIPT
Overview of the Department of
Labor & Industries
Our Mission: Keep Washington Safe and Working
Presented By: Doric OlsonSenior Policy AdvisorLabor & Industries(360) [email protected]
2
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”
4
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
5
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
6
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
7
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
8
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
9
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/
10
Help Injured Workers Heal and Return to Work Focus on return to work Reduce unnecessary disability Reduce system delays and improve our
customers’ experience
11
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
12
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
13
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
14
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
15
17
Click Verify a Contractor.
Verifying a contractor is easy. Type “LNI.WA.Gov” into your Web BrowserHow to Verify a Contractor
18
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