Injured Worker?

Report a Hospitalization or Fatality

• You have 8 hours to report a workplace fatality or in-patient hospitalization of any employee
• You have 24 hours to report a non-hospitalized amputation or loss of an eye of any employee

If you, as an employer or an agent of an employer, do not learn about the incident when it takes place, you must still report it within these time frames after you are notified.

If your business is in another state, and your employee is injured in Washington state, you must follow these reporting requirements. These requirements also apply if your business is based in Washington and your employee is injured while working out-of-state.

If the worker’s injury was not fatal, did not require in-patient hospitalization or did not result in an amputation or loss of an eye, your worker is the one to initiate the claim process by filing their report of accident with L&I.

After your worker has initiated the claim you will get a claim letter with the claim number. Once you have the claim number, you can file the employer’s report of accident:

• Online via our FileFast tool by signing into My L&I
• By mail (with the claim letter you will receive a paper copy of the employer’s report of accident)

We want to hear from you

You can help us process the claim by giving us information on the injured worker and your business. To process a claim accurately we need to know:

• If you intend to protest the claim.
• Complete wage information.
• Which job site or location where the injury happened.
• The last date your worker was able to do their regular job duties.
• If you intend to use the Return to Work or Stay at Work programs.
  • For more information on these programs go to Help Your Employee Return To Work and Employer Incentives.

What to report

When reporting an incident, make sure to provide:

• Name and phone number of the best person to contact
• The name of the establishment/business
• The location/address where it happened
• The date and time it happened
• The names and number of employees harmed
• A brief description of the incident

Preserve the scene

You can move equipment as necessary to assist a victim or prevent further harm, but you must preserve the scene of a work-related incident until L&I has investigated. This includes not moving machinery, tools, or personal protective equipment involved in the incident. (WAC 296-800-32010)

Before the claim is filed

• Make sure your worker receives prompt medical attention
• Keep your workers safe and away from any hazards
• Document how the injury happened
  • Interview witnesses
  • Take photographs
  • Keep a written record
• Plan ahead if you will be using our Return to Work and Stay at Work programs to help your worker heal and return to work faster and potentially reduce the impact of a claim on your account.
  • Check out these programs at Employer Incentives and Help Your Employee Return to Work
  • Have a light duty job description ready for the worker to give to the medical provider for approval
  • Be sure to let us know if you plan on keeping the worker on salary

After the claim is filed

• Complete the employer section of the report of accident either by mail or online at File Employer’s Report of Accident. Make sure to include:
  • Accurate wage information
  • Where the injury happened
  • The last day your worker was able to work their regular job duties
  • If you intend to protest this claim
• Stay involved in your worker’s claim. You are an interested party in the claim and have access to any and all documents related to this injury.
  • Open and read any mail you receive regarding this claim, some types of mail called “orders” have strict deadlines on when we must receive information or a protest.
    • Understand your protest and appeal rights by going to Protest or Appeal a Claim Decision
  • As an employer, you must only share workers’ compensation claim information with people who are authorized. Revealing of a worker’s mental health condition(s) or treatment to unauthorized people can result in a $1,000 fine per occurrence. For more information go to: Lni.wa.gov/MentalHealthPrivacyEmployers
• Use the Claim & Account Center to help you:
  • Check the status of your worker’s claim
  • Send your worker’s claim manager secure messages
  • Sign up for e-correspondence to decrease paper copies of claim mail