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Q&A: Do we need to provide prescription safety glasses?
Answer: The short answer is no. Safety regulations require employers to provide necessary personal protective equipment (PPE) at no cost to employees. However, this typically refers to...
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Lack of individual ADA assessment costs employer nearly $27M
A federal district court in Oregon recently awarded $26,952,863, including $25 million in punitive damages, to a train conductor whose employer automatically excluded him from...
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Q&A: Consider whether your company will allow smart glasses
Question: We have an employee who started wearing a pair of “smart” eyeglasses to work. We only found out because he showed his peers some pictures he took while working. We have a...
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Q&A: Avoid 5 common mistakes in disability accommodation
Question: I have an employee who brought in a doctor’s note that says she should work from home any time her anxiety flares up. Most of her job can’t be done remotely, and I don’t...
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OSHA renews focus on preventing amputations in manufacturing
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has issued an update to the National Emphasis Program on Amputations in Manufacturing Industries, effective June 27, 2025. OSHA...
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Be prepared to address wildfire smoke exposure
With wildfire season upon us yet again, employers must take steps to protect workers from harmful smoke exposure. Under federal OSHA’s General Duty Clause, employers must provide a...
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Retro Group Assessments: Are You at Risk and How to Stay in the Refund Zone
Retro group assessments can turn expected refunds into unexpected costs. We’re breaking down why they happen, how to spot warning signs, and what you can do to stay in the...
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It’s getting hot outside; time to prevent heat illness
Warm weather brings welcome relief from long winter months, but it also brings dangers for employees working outside. As summer approaches, it’s time to review your safety plans for...
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Washington Governor signs 2025 legislation
The 2025 legislative session ended on April 27, 2025, with Washington Governor Bob Ferguson signing multiple employment-related bills into law. We separately reported on three of those...
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Washington L&I makes wildfire smoke AQI levels official
As promised, Washington’s Division of Occupational Safety and Health (DOSH) updated its rules for protecting employees from wildfire smoke, incorporating changes the federal...
View ArticleJob Opening: Safety Professional – Washington
We are seeking an experienced, full-time Safety Professional. Vigilant safety professionals are responsible for providing proactive advice related to workplace safety for our member employers located...
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Q&A: Be prepared for an unannounced safety inspection
Question: A government safety and health inspector showed up to our company front office unannounced, asking to conduct a safety inspection of our plant. Can they do that? Can I ask...
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Q&A: Obtain medical opinion to evaluate direct threat under ADA
Question: One of our production employees reportedly “blacked out” a few times last week. When I asked her about it, she said she has a seizure disorder, but she can work. Her job requires working...
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Submit OSHA injury and illness data by March 2, 2025
March 2, 2025, is the deadline for covered employers to submit injury and illness data to OSHA—for some employers, this just means their 300A Summaries, while for others, this means...
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OSHA cites employer after over-stacked pallets cause fatality
The federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) recently cited a tire facility for 12 violations and proposed $288,299 in penalties after a forklift operator was fatally...
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Employee complaint to customer is protected confirms Fifth Circuit
The U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals recently confirmed that an employee’s complaints to an important customer about wages and working conditions for herself and her coworkers were...
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Fit requirements finalized for construction PPE
The U.S. Department of Labor has issued a final rule codifying proper fit requirements for personal protective equipment (PPE) in the construction industry. The new rules align the...
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Pre-existing conditions do not invalidate a claim
Building on our recent article about the basic elements of claim validation in the Washington workers’ compensation system, let’s explore a subject that can be particularly frustrating...
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Holiday parties: HR tips to minimize company liability
The holiday season has returned, and many companies are planning holiday parties for their employees. While a holiday party can be a great way to reward employees, here are some tips...
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Turning Rising Workers’ Comp Costs Into Big Savings
What if one of your company’s biggest challenges could become a triumph? That’s exactly what happened with a Washington engineering and fabrication company. Facing escalating workers’...
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