labor lawAdivision of labor law center

With temperatures soaring in Washington and throughout the nation in the past few weeks, the Washington Department of Labor & Industry has issued a worker safety warning for employers.

The Washington Department of Labor and Industries in Tumwater wants employers to be aware of precautions that workers must take to avoid heat stress, heat stroke and heat-related illness.

Tragically, heat-related illnesses in the workplace can result in disability and even death.

Employees should take these precautions when working outdoors, especially in hot, sunny conditions: 

• Drink as much as one cup of water every 15 minutes
•  Know the signs and symptoms of heat-related illness
•  Pace your work and take breaks.
•  Wear lightweight, light-colored clothing
•  Avoid alcohol, caffeine and heavy meals  

The same precautions apply when employees work indoors without air conditioning, especially in industries involving heat such as factories and restaurant kitchens.

Heat-related illness can cause serious medical conditions, including disability and death.

The L&I emphasizes that Washington employers are required to provide safe working conditions for employees, including protection from heat-related illness.

Supervisors and workers should be trained to recognize the symptoms of heat stress and to respond. During especially hot weather, employees may need to take rest breaks as frequently as every hour. If possible, breaks should be taken in an air-conditioned location such as a building or vehicle.

Workers suffering from heat stress may be disoriented and unable to summon help. For that reason, employees should never work alone in hot weather. Employers should use the buddy system, with employees charged with the responsibility of watching out for each other. Employees should also be trained in responding to heat stress and heat stroke, including giving the worker extra liquids, cooling them off in an air-conditioned location, and summoning professional help. 

More information and resources regarding  outdoor heat exposure are available.

Washington employers have long complained about the high cost of doing business in the state, including workers’ compensation claims and insurance premiums. Now, they can take control of this annoying problem.

Employers in the state of Washington can sign up for free seminars on managing workers’ comp costs, claims and premiums sponsored by the state government.

The Washington State Department of Labor and Industries or L&I is offering the free seminar, entitled “Introduction to Rates and Claims Management.”

The seminar is free, but registration is required. Participants can register online  or by calling 1-800-574-2829.

The half-day seminar will be presented on 17 different dates in locations across the state including Bremerton, Tukwila, Vancouver, Port Angeles, Kennewick and Mount Vernon.

The complete schedule of dates and locations is here.  The next workshop is in Kennewick on June 10, 2009. The final workshop this year is in Tacoma on December 9, 2009.

According to L&I, the workshop is an overview of basic workers’ comp claims management principles. Participants will learn:  (more…)

The Washington minimum wage increased as of January 1, 2009, and the new rate is the highest in the nation. The new minimum wage rate is also the highest that the state of Washington has experienced since it linked the minimum to the cost of living.

According to the Washington L&I, or Department of Labor and Industries, the Washington minimum wage went up to $8.55 an hour for 2009. Each September, the L&I recalculates the minimum wage based on the Consumer Price Index, or CPI.

Any employers who have not updated their Washington minimum wage poster should do so ASAP. Employers are subject to sanctions, fines and penalties for not displaying updated posters.

Adjusting the minimum wage to the CPI is a result of an initiative approved by voters 10 years ago, in 1998, called Initiative 688. The state uses the CPI for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers, or CPI-W.

As most readers know, the CPI is a national gauge, marking the cost (more…)

The Washington state minimum wage will increase to $8.55 per hour on January 1, 2009. The state Department of Labor and Industries or L& I recalculates the minimum wage each year in September as required by state Initiative 688, approved by Washington voters in 1998.

The Washington state minimum wage is adjusted each year based on the federal Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers or CPI-W during the 12 months ending on August 31. The Consumer Price Index is a national measure of the cost of goods and services required for daily life. During the 12-month period ending in August 2008, the CPI increased a whopping 5.9%. For comparison, the increase in the prior year was 1.8%, which led to an increase of 14 cents per hour in the Washington minimum wage.

This 48-cent increase ensures that the Washington minimum wage (more…)

Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao recently said, “Community colleges are in a unique position to prepare local workers for careers in high-growth industries. The $125 million awarded today will expand enrollment in education and training programs and provide more workers with the skills they need to succeed.”

Secretary Chao was talking about a number of US Department of Labor job-training grants, including two that go to Washington. Community colleges in Bellevue and Bellingham recently received more than $3.6 million to train workers (more…)