Washington L&I Launches Ergonomics Rulemaking for High-Risk Workers
The first meeting will occur on Jan. 9, 2025, and focus on airline ground crew workers.
- By Robert Yaniz Jr.
- Jan 02, 2025
The Washington State Department of Labor & Industries (L&I) is beginning to develop ergonomics rules to reduce work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) in industries with high rates of worker injuries. This follows a 2023 legislative mandate allowing L&I to create rules for industries or risk classes with workers’ compensation claim rates exceeding twice the statewide average.
The first rulemaking effort will focus on Scheduled Airlines - Ground Crew Operations, classified under Risk Class 6802. L&I filed a Preproposal Statement of Inquiry (CR-101) on October 29, 2024, to initiate the process. The agency can adopt only one rule per year targeting either an industry or a risk classification.
L&I will hold a broad scoping meeting on January 9, 2025, from 10 a.m. to noon. The meeting will be conducted virtually. Registration is required and available online. Interested parties are encouraged to participate and provide input on the rulemaking process. Interpretation services are available upon request by December 31, 2024.
The scoping meeting will cover the new law, WMSD hazards and ergonomics principles. L&I is seeking feedback on several key questions, including concerns about the rulemaking process, information priorities for future meetings, and whether rules should address all WMSD risk factors or focus on industry-specific hazards. Written feedback can be submitted via email by January 27, 2025, to [email protected].
This initiative marks the first of several anticipated rulemaking efforts. L&I has emphasized the importance of stakeholder input to ensure the rules are effective and tailored to industry-specific needs while maintaining consistency across sectors.
For more information, visit the Ergonomics, Scheduled Airlines Ground Crew Operations Rulemaking webpage.
About the Author
Robert Yaniz Jr. is the Content Editor of Occupational Health & Safety.