Accident Prevention Programs are Mandatory in Washington

All Washington State employers are required to create a written Accident Prevention Program (APP) that has been specifically tailored to the company’s operation, hazards, and equipment. Every employee needs to be trained on your program and sign an acknowledgment of the training that should be added to their employee file. Any Washington employer without a program can receive a violation and fine from WISHA. The state L&I website notes that this is the most frequently cited WISHA violation.

Many industries already know the value of having a strong APP in place. It encourages a safety-first approach that can boost morale, reduce costs, and raise productivity—all contributing to your company’s continued success. Industries that are not traditionally deemed dangerous may not even be aware that they are required to have an APP until someone is injured or an inspector is at their door. Recently, we saw a hospitality industry establishment pay $5000 for having no APP.

We are often brought in to help build plans after the violations are written. We want you to be prepared and avoid these stressful and costly fines. Members of Associated Industries can find a template for building their program in our resource center or for help customizing your plan to your business you can sign up for Building Your Accident Prevention Program a workshop led by Dan Hall, Director of Safety, Associated Industries. Or to find out how you can have a plan built for your organization, please connect with Dan directly at safety@aiin.com or 326.6885.