L&I Year in Review 2008

Date: December 05, 2008

The Department of Labor and Industries' (L&I) 2008 Year in Review is being printed and will be going out to employers all across Washington. This report provides safety statistics, Department goals and objectives, and highlights for 2008.

This year's report explains L&I's financial objectives like keeping premium rates fair, stable, and as low as possible, hoping to balance the negative effects of the national economic down-turn. And the 2008 highlights include items like enhanced services through technology improvements, expanded online tools and resources, increased fraud recoveries and a safety initiative focused on young workers that was launched this year.

According to the report, "the State Fund provides workers' compensation insurance for about 2,570,000 employees working for 171,000 employers."

The report lists the top three "most frequent injuries" in 2008 as: 1) traumatic back injuries (to muscles, tendons, ligaments, joints, etc. of the back); 2) open wounds of fingers (cuts, lacerations, amputations); and, 3) surface wounds and bruises to the face (including eye injuries and bruises or contusions of the forehead). L&I lists additional injury categories as well as operating environment and claim statistics for the year.

According to the report, L&I promises to continue combating fraud and abuse by workers, employers, and health care providers. Between July 1, 2007, and June 30, 2008, the Fraud and Compliance Program collected $124.9 million. The annual report will be available at the end of January, 2009.

Please contact SMART for a complete copy of L&I's 2008 Year in Review or download it now.  2008 Year in Review

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