The purpose of this rule filing is to consider reviewing the rules relating to work environment, equipment, and conditions in businesses operating in risk classifications 3902, various food processing and manufacturing operations, and 4002, dairy products processing and manufacturing. With only 17 companies now reporting in 4002, we want to consider combining these classifications.569.

The purpose of this rule filing is to review various classifications and determined if certain classifications are in need of revision for purposes of clarification. Revisions are being considered for the following classifications: WAC 296-17A-0101 Logging machine operators – Inactivate sub classification (move to 5005 mechanical logging) WAC 296-17A-5001 Logging – Changing reference from classification 0101 to classification 5005. WAC 296-17A-5005 Mechanized logging – Create sub classification to report hours from newly inactivated 0101-41 (logging machine operators) and changing references from classification 0101 to classification 5005. A public hearing will be held on Wednesday October 28, 2009 at the L&I Tumwater Office Room S117.555.

Labor and Industries is required by law to establish and maintain a workers compensation classification plan that classifies all occupations or industries within the state and sets basic rates of premium for these classifications that are distributed fairly (RCW 51.16.035). The department determined that certain rules may be in need of revision and will be reviewed and/or studied. The changes were adopted 9/30/2009 and will be effective on 1/1/2010.556.

The purpose of this rulemaking is to make amendments to the reporting requirements in WAC 296-17 and to the classifications in WAC 296-17A. The amendments are being made to correct some grammatical or typographical errors, rearrange information for better readability, and adopt into rule the practice of classifying contractors performing portable snowblowing in classification 0308 landscaping. The changes were adopted 8/4/2009 and became effective on 10/1/2009.542.

The purpose of this rule filing is to amend WAC 296-17-870 Evaluation of actual losses is to include reserve amounts in Permanent Partial Disability and Vocational Option 2 claims’ actual losses. This will ensure the losses accurately reflect benefit payments for these claims and that the rule is aligned with current practices. The amendment to WAC 296-17A-5307 State government employees, N.O.C. creates a sub classification for reporting some higher risk Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) staff to allow tracking for actuarial analysis. The changes were adopted 8/4/2009 and became effective on 10/1/2009.547.

Labor and Industries is required by law to establish and maintain a workers compensation classification plan that classifies all occupations or industries within the state and sets basic rates of premium for the classifications that are distributed fairly (RCW 51.16.035). The department has conducted a review of various classifications and determined that certain classifications are in need of revision for purposes of clarification. The changes were adopted 8/4/2009 and will be effective on 1/1/2010.520.

The Department of Labor and Industries establishes and maintains a workers compensation classification plan that classifies all occupations or industries within the state and sets basic rates of premium for the classifications that are distributed fairly (RCW 51.16.035). The department has conducted a review of various classifications and determined that certain classifications are in need of revisions. The changes were adopted 7/22/2008 and became effective on 10/1/2008.508.

Proposed rule making is in response to a petition filed by the Building Industry Association of Washington (BIAW) requesting the department consider permitting the assignment of classification 5206-79 for permanent yard or shop operations to sand and gravel companies defined in WAC 296-17A-0112.464.