PDFWAC 296-900-12015

Complaints.

(1) Employees or employee representatives may file a written complaint if they believe they have been exposed to a hazard that is a violation of WISHA safety and health requirements.
What to expect from WISHA:
(2) After receiving a written complaint from an employee or employee representative, WISHA reviews the allegations and responds according to Table 2, WISHA Responses to Employee Complaints.
Table 2
WISHA Responses to Employee Complaints
For this determination:
WISHA will take the following actions:
The complaint is within WISHA jurisdiction and an inspection does not appear to be needed at this time
Call the employer to discuss the complaint
Set a deadline for the employer to respond in writing
 
Fax or mail a complaint notification letter to the employer. Before the complaint is faxed or mailed, the following names will be removed unless specific permission is given to include them:
 
The name of the person submitting the complaint
 
The names of any employees identified in the complaint
 
Evaluate the employer's response, and do one of the following:
 
Close the complaint because the issues have been addressed, and send a copy of the employer's response to the person filing the complaint
 
Inspect the workplace
 
Note:
 
If the complaint is closed and additional information is received from the person filing the complaint disputing the employer's written response, WISHA may schedule an inspection
 
If the person who filed the original complaint requests in writing that WISHA review a decision not to conduct an inspection, WISHA will review the decision and notify the person in writing of the results
 
If the person requesting the review is not satisfied with the results of the review, they may request a second review by the assistant director or designee
The complaint is within WISHA jurisdiction and an inspection needs to be conducted
Conduct an inspection
Issue a citation and notice that shows one of the following:
 
Violations found
 
No violations were found
 
Send a letter to the person filing the complaint with inspection results
 
Reference: For citation and notice information, turn to citation and notice, WAC 296-900-130
The complaint is not within WISHA jurisdiction
Send a written response to the person filing the complaint explaining the matter is not within WISHA jurisdiction
 
Note: WISHA may make a referral to the proper authority
[Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.010, 49.17.040, 49.17.050, and 49.17.060. WSR 17-18-075, § 296-900-12015, filed 9/5/17, effective 10/6/17; WSR 06-06-020, § 296-900-12015, filed 2/21/06, effective 6/1/06.]