Firefighters Best Practices.  The Department of Labor and Industries (L&I) must establish best practices to improve safety and health outcomes for firefighters, including best practices: 

• for a proactive health and safety risk management system consisting of a joint employer and employee governance structure to oversee a continuous process of identification, evaluation, monitoring and controlling, and reporting safety and health hazards in the workplace;
• to reduce firefighter risk of exposure to carcinogens; and
• to prevent or reduce the risk of injuries and illness with particular focus on causes of compensable workers' compensation claims. 

L&I must consult with firefighters and employers of firefighters in establishing best practices and criteria for a premium discount.  L&I partnered with representatives from the Washington Fire Chiefs and the Washington State Council of Fire Fighters to develop the Firefighter Injury and Illness Reduction Program.
 
Premium Discounts.  Employers of firefighters who implement best practices may be eligible for a premium discount according to criteria established by L&I.  The potential premium discount is currently 10 percent. 
 
Grants.  L&I may provide funding of up to 2 percent of the premiums paid in the prior year from the risk classes for firefighters for the purposes of providing funding to employers of firefighters who have limited resources to purchase additional equipment and other gear that may be needed to follow best practices.  L&I may require matching funds from employers.

The L&I grants are also available for employers of firefighters with limited resources to participate in assessments or training related to safety culture or other safety intervention activities.