Worker’s Compensation

In the State of Washington, claims may arise in one of two ways: (1) because of an industrial injury or (2) because of the development of an occupational disease. Industrial injuries are often easy to identify because they are the result of a sudden and tangible event that produces the injury. Occupational diseases, on the other hand, may be much more difficult to recognize because they often develop over time. An occupational disease is defined as “such disease or infection as arises naturally and proximately out of employment.” RCW 52.08.140. For a claim for occupational disease to be allowed, an […]

The Industrial Insurance Act defines monthly wages as the earnings the worker was receiving from all employment at the time of injury (or the date of manifestation of an occupational disease). Wages must also include the reasonable value of board, housing fuel, or other consideration of a like nature received from the employer as part of the contract of hire. If the injured worker has a second job at the time of injury or date of manifestation, the earnings from the additional employment must also be included when computing the worker’s gross monthly wage. This provision of the Industrial Insurance […]