How does WISHA work?
Employers in Washington must follow safety and health rules, called standards, to protect their employees from workplace hazards. The Department enforces the rules by inspecting workplaces without advance notice, and by investigating work-related fatalities, incidents and complaints. When a violation is found, we issue a citation requiring the employer to correct the hazard. The WISH Act requires monetary penalties for serious violations. We encourage employers to voluntarily comply with the standards, and offer free on-site consultation visits and training services. Employers are required to fix serious hazards identified by a consultant, but penalties are not assessed. For more information on services which DOSH offers to employers, visit the Safety portion of our website.
