OSHA Washington Online Training
When it comes to OSHA standards, if you’re in the state of Washington, you also have to consider your state’s regulations—because they aren’t exactly the same. The good news is that we’ve pulled together this resource to help makes sense of the different rules you need to follow to stay safe at work. You’ll learn about:
- Washington’s state plan
- Safety training recommendations
- Fatal injury and accidents statistics
- Where you can get your OSHA 10 and 30 training
Occupational Safety and Health Jurisdiction in Washington
The federal Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSH Act) allows states to assume their own occupational safety and health responsibilities as long as they're "at least as effective" as the federal program.
Washington has an official state plan that covers all state and local government workers in Washington, as well as most private sector workers.
The state plan adopts some OSHA standards by reference, creates a state-specific (and usually stricter) version of some others, and creates additional standards for which there are no federal counterparts.
Washington's state plan is administered by the Division of Occupational Safety and Health (DOSH), under the Department of Labor and Industries (L&I). DOSH is sometimes referred to as WISHA instead—until 2006, its name was WISHA Services, after the Washington Industrial Safety and Health Act it enforces.
A small number of Washingtonians remain under federal OSHA jurisdiction, instead. Specifically:
- Federal employment
- The U.S. Postal Service plus private contractor-operated facilities engaged by USPS
- Offshore maritime employment, including shipyards, long-shoring, dry or graving docks, marine railways, fuel operations, drilling platforms and rigs, dredging and pile driving, and diving
- Employment by Indian Tribes or enrolled members on Indian reservations or land trusts
- Certain contractors on the Hanford Reservation or Hanford National Monument
- Employment at military reservations and national parks
- Working conditions of cabin crew on aircraft that are in operation
- Situations where the state plan is unable to exercise its authority fully or effectively
OSHA Washington Training Requirements
Washington's occupational health and safety standards are significantly different from federal standards, though some overlap exists. Therefore, Washington employers need to consider which agency they answer to carefully before committing to a safety training program.
For those under federal jurisdiction, OSHA sets specific training requirements within its standards (and gathers the requirements in a handy reference publication). Each employee needs the training that matches up with standards related to their job functions.
Similarly, DOSH has a search tool on its website to help you identify all standards that contain references to training.
Federal OSHA also has Outreach courses (sometimes referred to as "DOL cards") that cover common requirements for your industry. Even though OSHA doesn't require OSHA Outreach training, some employers might. In that case, you’ll either need an OSHA 10-Hour course for entry-level workers or an OSHA 30-Hour course for supervisors.
LEARN MORE ABOUT OSHA 10-HOUR AND 30-HOUR COURSES
We offer OSHA 10-Hour Construction, OSHA 30-Hour Construction, OSHA 10-Hour General Industry, and OSHA 30-Hour General Industry to meet your OSHA training needs.
Not sure where to start? Read our guide.
Benefits of OSHA Washington Training for Workers
When employees complete safety training, they are more aware of their surroundings and the different hazards they face. Additionally, they’re better prepared to react and prevent these hazards. But training doesn’t just benefit employees. It also helps businesses. In fact, businesses that invest in workplace safety training:
- Can reduce or avoid penalties from OSHA inspections
- Are able to reduce workers’ compensation costs and claims
- Increase employee morale which increases employee productivity
And while we can say awareness helps keep workers safe, it’s another thing to look at the statistics from OSHA, the Department of Labor, and other Washington agencies. These workplace injury statistics tell an important story about the role of safety training in preventing fatalities, accidents, and fines.
Fatal Occupational Injuries in Washington
According to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there were a total of 84 fatal occupational injuries in Washington in 2017, while nationally there were 5,147 fatal occupational injuries.
Of the 84 fatalities:
- 30 were the result of transportation incidents
- 26 were the result of falls, slips, and trips
- 10 were the result of contact with objects and equipment
- 13 were the result of violence and other injuries by persons or animals
- 3 were the result of exposure to harmful substances or environments
The industries with the greatest number of fatalities were:
- 15 in construction
- 14 in agriculture, forestry, fishing, and hunting
- 10 in transportation and warehousing
- 10 in retail trade
2019 Top OSHA Enforcement Cases in Washington
As you can see, workers in Washington, especially in construction, are at risk for injury and accidents. But they are not alone. Washington businesses can also use OSHA training to help reduce their risk of enforcement penalties from an OSHA inspection.
Federal OSHA lists the top enforcement cases by state on its website. To give you an idea of the hefty fines you risk for violations, here are the top cases for 2019.
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| State | Inspection Number | Employer | City | Issuance Date | Initial Penalty |
| WA | 1356528.015 | JP Remolding & Construction, LLC | WASHOUGAL | 03/28/2019 | $60,000.00 |
| WA | 1355490.015 | Wilson Roofing & Construction, LLC | NORTH BEND | 03/26/2019 | $42,240.00 |
| WA | 1405495.015 | Dollar Tree Stores, Inc. | TACOMA | 10/02/2019 | $132,000.00 |
| WA | 1365999.015 | T&M Restoration, LLC | VALLEY | 06/10/2019 | $52,500.00 |
| WA | 1378192.015 | Victoria Enterprises, Inc. | SEATTLE | 06/04/2019 | $42,000.00 |
| WA | 1397073.015 | Novella Brothers Construction, Inc. | PUYALLUP | 05/29/2019 | $49,000.00 |
| WA | 1383032.015 | Above & Beyond Asbestos Removal, LLC | KINGSTON | 04/29/2019 | $46,000.00 |
| WA | 1387958.015 | Greystar Management Services, LP | SEATTLE | 04/29/2019 | $40,500.00 |
| WA | 1358146.015 | Dollar Tree Stores, Inc. | VANCOUVER | 04/23/2019 | $503,200.00 |
| WA | 1371495.015 | Shkarin Vadim | LACEY | 04/23/2019 | $71,040.00 |
| WA | 1354889.015 | Roof Doctor, Inc. | VANCOUVER | 04/11/2019 | $116,200.00 |
| WA | 1365000.015 | Chilos Builders, LLC | SEATTLE | 04/11/2019 | $137,200.00 |
| WA | 1379636.015 | Rotschy, Inc. | VANCOUVER | 04/09/2019 | $69,300.00 |
| WA | 1413829.015 | NATIONAL PRODUCTS INC | SEATTLE | 08/05/2019 | $51,700.00 |
| WA | 1387932.015 | EVERGREEN STATE COLLEGE THE | OLYMPIA | 09/09/2019 | $135,600.00 |
Federal and State OSHA Offices in Washington
Since Washington employers and workers are divided up into federal and state jurisdiction, there are separate local area offices for state and federal OSHA.
There's one local area office for federal OSHA if you're a federal employee or otherwise fall under federal jurisdiction. It's in Seattle.
The rest of Washington's private sector, along with all of its state and local government employees, should contact the Washington state plan office in Tumwater (near Olympia).
You can find the most up-to-date contact information for either type of Washington OSHA office on OSHA's website.
Additional Washington Resources for Safety Information
In addition to the information we have provided, you can visit additional Washington state agency websites for more safety resources.
Washington State Department of Labor and Industries (L&I): The Washington L&I protects the state’s workers through a variety of programs and divisions, such as DOSH, in addition to administering the workers’ compensation system.
Enroll Now in Washington OSHA Training Courses
As you can see, OSHA Washington training offers many advantages for workers, supervisors, and employers. And now that you know how important it is, the next thing to do is pick your OSHA training course.
We have over 20 years of experience as an OSHA-authorized training provider, and we offer OSHA 10-Hour Construction, OSHA 30-Hour Construction, OSHA 10-Hour General Industry, and OSHA 30-Hour General Industry to satisfy your OSHA training needs.
Complete your course online and at your own pace. Register for training today!
