Overview

Keep Washington Safe and Working

The Department of Labor & Industries (L&I) is a diverse state agency dedicated to the safety, health, and security of Washington's 3.3 million workers. We help employers meet safety and health standards, and we inspect workplaces when alerted to hazards.

As administrators of the state's workers' compensation system, we are similar to a large insurance company, providing medical and limited wage-replacement coverage to workers who suffer job-related injuries and illness. Our rules and enforcement programs also help ensure workers are paid what they are owed, that children's and teens' work hours are limited, and that consumers are protected from unsound building practices.

We serve customers in 19 offices throughout Washington and have approximately 2,800 skilled employees, including safety inspectors, claims specialists, nurses, researchers, accountants, labor experts, and support staff.

Protecting the health and safety of workers

L&I's Division of Occupational Safety and Health (DOSH) administers the Washington Industrial Safety and Health Act (WISHA) law by developing and enforcing rules that protect workers from hazardous job conditions.

Our inspectors visit about 5,000 workplaces each year and cite businesses that violate health and safety rules. Each year, we also conduct about 2,500 free, on-site safety and health consultations for employers who request our help complying with these rules in their unique workplaces. We also conduct research into workplace health and safety, which focuses on promoting healthy work environments and preventing workplace injuries and illnesses.

Ensuring medical care and financial help for injured workers

Our claim managers oversee benefits to workers who are injured or become ill on the job. They also work closely with doctors, employers, and counselors to help severely injured employees return to paid employment.

Washington's workers' compensation system is funded by premiums from employers and workers and income from investments. We also regulate about 400 large, self-insured employers who have qualified to provide their own workers' compensation insurance.

Protecting workers' wages, hours, breaks, and more

We enforce child labor laws, as well as laws that protect workers' wages and working conditions. Our agency also oversees apprenticeship programs and administers rules covering prevailing wage on public-works construction projects.

Protecting the public from unsafe work and economic hardship

Our technical experts protect the public by inspecting electrical work, boilers, elevators, and manufactured homes. We also test and license electricians, certify plumbers, and issue operating permits for amusement rides.

Our agency registers construction contractors, requiring them to be insured and bonded. We also provide an easy-to-use website that allows customers to see whether a contractor is bonded and insured and alerts them to problems associated with hiring unregistered contractors.

Get More Information About L&I

Leadership Team

L&I's various and diverse programs are led by a group of hard-working professionals and subject matter experts known as the department's Leadership Team. In addition to leading their programs on a day-to-day basis, this group works together to determine future direction and policies for the entire organization. In essence, they are L&I's brain trust.

Biographies

Joel Sacks, Director

Joel Sacks was appointed Director of the Department of Labor & Industries (L&I) in January 2013 by Governor Jay Inslee. L&I's mission is to "keep Washington safe and working." The agency administers many vital programs including the state's workers' compensation system and its occupational safety and health program.

In Joel's time as L&I director, an agencywide goal of helping injured workers heal and return to work with a particular emphasis on preventing long-term disability rates for injured workers is transforming the agency, resulting in better outcomes for workers and projected savings of more than 3 billion dollars.

During his tenure, workers' compensation premium rates have remained flat, average costs in 2022 are almost identical to the costs in 2012. The agency has helped workers recover millions of dollars owed to them in wages through wage complaint investigations. Washington also remains a safe place to work, with one of the lowest workplace fatality rates in the country.

Joel's position at L&I makes him one of 3 ex-officio members and he has served as both the Chair and Vice-Chair of the Washington State Investment Board (WSIB). He is currently the Chair of the Private Markets Committee and a member of the Audit and Administrative Committees.

Previously he worked at the state Employment Security Department for nearly 8 years, serving as Deputy Commissioner and Assistant Commissioner for the Budget, Policy, and Communication Division.

Before joining Employment Security, he was Deputy Director of Field Services at L&I. He also served 4 years at the Occupational Safety and Health Administration in the U.S. Department of Labor.

Joel holds a bachelor's degree in political science from Haverford College and a master's degree in public administration from Syracuse University's Maxwell School of Public Affairs. He lives in Olympia with his wife and 2 daughters.

Elizabeth (Liz) Smith, Deputy Director

Elizabeth Smith was appointed as deputy director in March 2018. She previously served as assistant director for L&I's Fraud Prevention & Labor Standards division. Liz's other positions at L&I include program manager for the Worker's Comp Fraud Prevention and Compliance program, the Employment Standards program, and the L&I Office of Apprenticeship.

Before joining L&I in 2004, Liz worked as legislative staff for the California State Senate. Liz graduated from Western Washington University and completed a post-graduate Public Affairs Leadership Fellowship through the Coro Foundation.

Randi Warick, Deputy Director for Financial Management

Randi Warick was appointed the deputy director of Financial Management at L&I in 2013.

Before working for L&I, Randi served as the assistant commissioner for the Budget, Performance, and Research division at the Employment Security Department.

During her 28-year career of state service, Randi has held senior leadership roles for 6 other state agencies, including the Department of Corrections and the Office of Financial Management.

Randi and her husband enjoy spending time outdoors and have 2 children, both of whom are in college.

Tim Church, Assistant Director, Web & Communication Services

Tim Church has been the assistant director for L&I's division of Web & Communication Services since July 2020.

He's responsible for all internal and external agency communications, including a staff of public information officers, the agency's public call center, and L&I web content and development.

Tim has more than 35 years of communications and journalism experience, including time as a TV news managing editor, reporter, and as communication director for 2 state agencies.

He's been with L&I since 2014, after spending nearly 15 years as the communications director at the state Department of Health.

Tim has a degree in broadcast journalism from Washington State University's Edward R. Murrow School of Communication.

He's married and has an adult son and daughter.

Heather Normoyle, Assistant Director, Office of Human Resources

Heather Normoyle was appointed assistant director of L&I's Office of Human Resources in February 2019.

Heather has worked in the human resources field for over 20 years, much of that time in the private sector. She joined L&I in 2015 as the Human Resources operations manager.

Heather holds a Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR), and is a certified facilitator in Myers Briggs, Franklin Covey, and Achieve Global curriculum. She graduated in 1998 from Washington State University with a Bachelor of Arts in business administration. 

Heather lives in Tumwater with her husband, Eli, and their 4 children. She volunteers her time throughout the community supporting youth sports.

Tammy Fellin, Legislative Director, Government Affairs & Policy Division

Tammy Fellin joined L&I in 2013 as the legislative director. She served in this same role at the Employment Security Department and was a lobbyist for the Association of Washington Cities.

After nearly 2 decades in the legislative arena, she still considers it a privilege to do this work. She finished her bachelor's degree at The Evergreen State College and her Master of Public Administration degree at the University of Washington Evans School of Public Affairs.

Maurice Perigo, Assistant Director, Administrative Services

Maurice Perigo joined L&I in 2017 and was appointed assistant director for the Administrative Services division in October 2020. He has 20 years of state service in several different agencies, including the Employment Security Department, Department of Transportation, Office of Financial Management, and the Washington State Legislature. His background includes project and program management, statewide budget and policy, and legislative operations.

Maurice graduated from Eastern Washington University in 1999 with Bachelor of Science in construction technology. He lives in Olympia with his wife and daughter.

Jennifer Myers, Director, Office of Internal Audit

Jennifer Myers joined L&I in April 2018 as the director of Internal Audit. She and her team provide expert advice to agency leaders on governance, risk, and control issues, and manages the agency's independent assurance function. She serves as L&I's liaison with external regulatory and oversight agencies related to audits, reviews, and investigations.

Jennifer is a CPA and is active in the local chapter of the Institute of Internal Auditors.

Jennifer has 23 years of experience with auditing in state government. Most recently, she was an internal audit supervisor at the Health Care Authority from 2014 –18. Before that, she spent 19 years at the State Auditor's Office auditing state and local governments. Jennifer was previously involved in auditing L&I as an external auditor, so she already has some familiarity with the agency.

She graduated in 1994 from Central Washington University with a Bachelor of Science in accounting. She lives in Olympia with her husband and 2 children.

Mike Ratko, Assistant Director, Insurance Services

Mike Ratko assumed the role of assistant director for Insurance Services at L&I on April 1 after serving as the deputy assistant director for 17 years. He has been with L&I for over 30 years and served in a variety of roles across the agency.

Mike has a great passion for Washington's unique workers' compensation system, the sixth largest in the nation with nearly $2 billion in premiums, 2.5 million workers, and more than 180,000 employers. He oversees more than 1,100 staff across 12 programs within Insurance Services.

Mike holds a master's in business administration from Pacific Lutheran University and a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Washington. In his spare time, he enjoys spending time with his family, boating, and working on house projects.

David Marty, Assistant Director, Information Technology

David Marty was appointed assistant director of L&I's Information Technology division in April 2017.

For 12 years before coming to L&I, David worked for the Office of the Insurance Commissioner, where he served in several roles including chief information officer within the agency's Operations division. Prior to that, he worked for the Liquor Control Board for 10 years, serving in numerous positions within the Administrative Services and Regulatory divisions.

David holds a bachelor's degree in criminal justice from Saint Martin's College. He lives in Olympia with his wife and 2 children.

Maggie Leland, Assistant Director, Governmental Affairs & Policy Division

No current biography.

Steve Reinmuth, Assistant Director, Field Services & Public Safety

Assistant director for the Field Services & Public Safety division since 2020, Steve Reinmuth previously served at L&I as chief legal counsel, assistant director for Administrative Services, and deputy assistant director of the Insurance Services division. Prior to that, he was chief of staff and chief legal counsel at the Washington Department of Transportation.

Steve and his wife, Jill, live in Olympia and are the proud parents of 2 adult twins — one on each coast.

Celeste Monahan, Assistant Director, Fraud Prevention & Labor Standards

Celeste Monahan was appointed acting assistant director of Fraud Prevention & Labor Standards (FPLS) in September 2021 after serving as the deputy assistant director of FPLS for 3 years. She is the assistant director as of February 2022.

FPLS oversees the Audit, Fraud, Collection, Investigative, Apprenticeship, and Labor Standards programs.

Celeste has over 30 years of experience working in Washington State government, 23 of which was with Department of Revenue. In her last 13 years with Revenue, she was a program manager in the Special Programs Division. She was the Washington State unclaimed property administrator from 2005 to 2018 and was recently appointed the secretary of the Washington State Apprenticeship and Training Counsel.

Her experience includes fraud prevention, compliance, worker rights, various labor programs, unclaimed property, and several miscellaneous excise tax programs, including estate tax, REET, and forest excise tax. She earned her bachelor's degree with a business focus from The Evergreen State College.

Celeste resides in Olympia with her husband, David. She has 1 son and 3 grandchildren.

Craig Blackwood, Assistant Director, Division of Occupational Safety & Health

Craig Blackwood has been with L&I since 1991, starting in Seattle as an industrial hygienist in the Division of Occupational Safety & Health (DOSH) Compliance program. The Compliance program is responsible for all DOSH inspection-related activities.

After spending 3 years in the field, Craig took the position of industrial hygiene supervisor in Region 4, working out of the Vancouver office. In July 2004, he was appointed to the Region 4 compliance manager position, which became the DOSH Region 4 compliance manager in 2006. In March 2012, he was appointed as the DOSH statewide compliance manager. 

Craig was appointed as the deputy assistant director for DOSH in December 2014. He became the assistant director for DOSH in January 2022.

Craig has Bachelor of Science degree in environmental and occupational safety and health from California State University at Northridge. Prior to working for L&I, he worked as an industrial hygienist for the Los Angeles Unified School District and as an industrial hygienist for a private consulting firm in Los Angeles.

Boards and Committees

Boards and Committees

Last updated: October 2021

Advisory Board of Plumbers

Members Affiliation Term Start Term End
John Tapani Journeyman Plumber 07-15-13 07-01-19
Ed Holmes Journey Level Plumber 07-01-18
Scott Fowler Specialty Plumbing Business 07-01-16 07-01-19
Dave Weisbeck Public Member 11-05-09 07-01-18
Linda Houser Plumbing Business 07-01-14 07-01-17
Evan Conklin Plumbing Business 07-01-12 07-01-18
Dave Weickum Well Driller 07-01-15 07-01-18

Advisory Committee on Health Care Innovation and Evaluation

Industrial Insurance Medical Advisory Committee
Dianna Chamblin, MD
Andrew Friedman, MD
Robert Waring, MD
Alternate: Kirk Harmon, MD
Industrial Insurance Chiropractic Advisory Committee
Clay Bartness, DC
Ron Wilcox, DC
Alternate: Mike Dowling, DC
Business
Rebecca Forrestor, Group Health Cooperative
John Meier, Employer Resources Northwest
Lisa Vivian, Eberle Vivian, Inc.
Labor
Sofia Aragon, JD, RN, Wa State Nurses Association
Dave Myers, Washington Building and Trades Council
Teri Rideout, Attorney
Alternate: Joe Kendo, WA State Labor Council

Board of Boiler Rules

Members Affiliation Term Start Term End
Terry Chapin, Chair Boilermakers/Operators 08-22-16 08-22-20
Jeff Waytashek, PE Owner/Users 08-22-17 08-22-21
Lisa Hawkins, PE Professional Engineers 08-23-15 08-22-19
Isaac Osborn Manufacturers 11-06-17 08-22-19
Jeff Barnes Insurance Companies 08-26-14 08-22-18

Electrical Board

Members Affiliation Term Start Term End
Bobby Gray Electrical Contractor 07-08-15 07-07-19
Don Baker Electrical Contractor 07-08-15 07-07-19
David Cornwall Manufacturer Rep 07-08-15 07-07-19
Janet Lewis Electrician 07-08-14 07-07-18
Jason Jenkins Electrician 07-08-16 07-07-19
John Brickey Local Jurisdiction 07-08-16 07-07-20
Kevin Schmidt Telecommunication Contractor 08-26-14 07-07-18
Mike Nord Telecommunication Worker 07-08-13 07-07-17
Dylan Cunningham Engineer 08-01-17 07-07-21
David Ward Electrical Utility Rep 07-08-16 07-07-20
Randy Scott General Public Member 08-26-14 07-07-18
Tracy Prezeau Electrician 07-08-13 07-07-17
Alice Phillips Outside Line Worker 08-01-17 07-07-21
Dominic Burke Electrical Contractor 07-08-13 07-07-17
Ryan LaMar Telecommunication Provider 07-08-16 07-07-20
Stephen D. Thornton Chief Electrical Inspector
(non-voting)

Elevator Safety Advisory Committee

Members Position Term Start Term End
Licensed Elevator Contractors / Chairperson
Rob McNeill Primary 07-01-15 06-30-19
Vacant Alternate
Owner Employed Mechanics Exempt From Licensing
Scott Cleary Primary 06-01-16 06-30-20
Lyall Wohlschlager Alternate 06-01-16 06-30-20
Registered General Contractors
Garry Wood Primary 11-01-17 06-30-21
Vacant Alternate
Building Owners and Managers
Dave Nieman Primary 08-01-15 06-30-19
Ad Hoc
Paul Jones Primary 08-01-17 06-30-21
Al Sorensen Alternate 07-01-15 06-30-19
Elevator Mechanics Licensed To Perform All Types of Conveyance Work
Patrick Strafer Primary 04-01-16 06-30-20
Jim Norris Alternate 04-01-16 06-30-20
Representative of Registered Architects or Professional Engineers
Vacant Primary

Factory Assembled Structures Advisory Board

Members Represents Term Start Term End
Joan Brown, Chair Manufactured Housing 08-19-03 07-01-16
Mike Lubliner, Vice Chair Factory Built Structures 06-09-08 07-01-12
Craig Sedlacek, Secretary Program Manager, FAS 08-01-12 08-01-16
Don Carlson Consumer 02-01-12 02-01-16
Steve Hart Building Officials 08-01-12 08-01-16
Michael Szramek Professional Engineer 08-19-03 02-01-16
Craig Hillis Consumer 06-18-16 07-01-18
Wade Elliott RV and PM&RV 11-25-15 12-01-17
Gary Stoskopf Manufactured Housing 02-01-12 02-02-16
Alan Duer Factory Built Structures 02-01-15 02-28-19

Industrial Insurance Chiropractic Advisory Committee (IICAC)

Members Affiliation Term End
Robert Baker, DC Public 02-15-19
Clay Bartness, DC Public 02-15-21
David Folweiler, DC Public 04-03-19
Michael Dowling, DC Public 02-15-20
Lissa Grannis, DC Public 02-15-20
J.F. Lawhead, DC Public 02-15-20
William Pratt, DC Public 02-15-21
Michael Neely, DC Public 12-14-21
Ron Wilcox, DC Public 02-19-29

Industrial Insurance Medical Advisory Committee (IIMAC)

Members Affiliation Term End
Gregory Carter, MD Public 10-31-19
Gregory Gutke, MD Public 09-30-18
Kirk Harmon, MD Public 09-30-19
Robert G.R. Lang, MD Public 09-03-19
Linda Seaman, MD Public 04-01-20
Stephen Thielke, MD Public 10-31-19
David Tauben, MD Public 10-31-19
Andrew Friedman, MD Public 09-30-19
Diana Chamblin, MD Public 10-31-19
Christopher Howe, MD Public 11-01-19
Monica Haines, DO Public 10-13-15
JC Leveque, MD Public 10-31-14
Michael Codsi, MD Public 07-15-19
Malcolm Butler, MD Public 10-01-19

Insolvency Trust Board

Members Affiliation Term Start Term End
Matt Saxon, REI Business 03-31-13 03-31-19
Kris Tefft, WSIA Business 03-31-17 03-31-19
Joe Kendo, Legislative & Policy Director Labor 03-31-14 03-31-18
John Snyder, CFO/COO Business 03-31-16 03-31-18
Jim Nylander, Self-Insurance Program Manager Public
Brian Schmidlkofer, Compliance Operations Manager Public

Prevailing Wage Advisory Committee (PWAC)

Members Affiliation
Heidi Jensen Awarding Agency
Kathleen Kline Awarding Agency
Andrew Pittelkau Awarding Agency
James Thompson Awarding Agency
Bruce Chattin Business
Andy Kaplowitz Business
Ed Kommers Business
Wendy Novak Business
Jerry Vanderwood (alternate) Business
Monty Anderson Labor
Andrew Ledbetter Labor
Josh Swanson Labor
Mark Riker Labor

Self Insurance Curriculum Review Committee

Members Affiliation Term Start Term End
Jane Dale, Causey Law Firm Labor 08-01-16 07-31-18
Eric Gonzalez, WSLC Labor 08-01-17 07-31-19
Natalee Fillinger, Fillinger/Shima Law Firm Business 08-01-16 07-31-18
Debbie Summers, Penser North America Business 08-01-15 07-31-17
Kelli Zimmerman Public**
Melinda Bonson Public**

**Not all public representatives attend each meeting.

WISHA Advisory Committee

Members Affiliation Term End
Linda Williams Non-voting member
Tammie Hetrick Business 06-30-16
Claude Golden Business 06-30-18
Mark Gauger Business 06-30-21
Pamela Tabert Business 06-30-20
Sybill Hyppolite Labor
Ed Wood, Jr. Labor 06-30-19
Mark Riker Labor 06-30-21
Samantha Grad Labor 06-30-20
Craig Blackwood, Chair Public

Workers' Compensation Advisory Committee

Members Affiliation Term Start Term End
Joel Sacks, L&I Public
Vickie Kennedy, L&I Public
Linda Williams, Board of Industrial Insurance Appeals Public 12-01-16 Present
Bob Battles, Association of Washington Business Business 08-01-20 07-31-23
Jon DeVaney, Washington Tree Fruit Association Business 09-01-20 08-31-23
Sheri Call, Washington Trucking Association Business 09-01-20 08-31-22
Sheri Sundstrum, Hoffman Construction Company Business 01-01-18 12-31-23
Brenda Wiest, Teamsters Local 117 Labor 07-10-20 06-30-22
Joe Kendo, Washington State Labor Council Labor 10-01-20 09-30-23
Mark Riker, Washington State Labor Council Labor 03-01-18 02-28-23
Sean Embly, UFCW Local 21 Labor 07-01-19 06-30-22
Public Data

Public Data and Look-Up Tools

Injury and fatality statistics

Facts, figures, and look-up tools

Medical provider reports

Rates and rating

Workers' comp files

Contact Us About Public Data

Research & Data Services Program Manager Lisann Rolle

Lisann.Rolle@Lni.wa.gov
360-902-6785