Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Retired docs earn millions examining injured Washington workers

Lizz Giordano @lizzgiordano.bsky.social · Aug 21

Retired doctors are making millions examining injured workers for WA's workers' comp system. Are elderly examiners fit for the job? One doctor billed @lniwa.bsky.social $690K in a single year. bit.ly/461jJHJ @cascadepbsnewsroom.bsky.social

'This is a wonderful way to make six figures saying no,' said one attorney about Independent Medical Examiners' role in evaluating workers' comp claims.

The controversial medical exams that help decide WA workers' comp

4 6

Lizz Giordano @lizzgiordano.bsky.social · Aug 20

The controversial Independent Medical Exam — assessments done by a third-party doctor to evaluate an injured worker’s recovery — carry significant weight. They can pause treatment or wage-replacement, and also determine the size of a settlement.
@lniwa.bsky.social bit.ly/4mVbdQr

Reports from doctors hired by Labor & Industries have the power to close a claim and determine settlements, but injured workers say they favor employers.

The controversial medical exams that help decide WA workers' comp

Lizz Giordano @lizzgiordano.bsky.social · Aug 20

Independent medical exams — one of the most controversial parts of WA’s workers’ comp system — often favor employers, workers say. They’re designed to give injured workers a second opinion, but also can pause treatment or wage-replacement payments. bit.ly/4mVbdQr @cascadepbs.bsky.social

Reports from doctors hired by Labor & Industries have the power to close a claim and determine settlements, but injured workers say they favor employers.

Sheriff declines to investigate WA teen worker’s amputation case

3

Lizz Giordano @lizzgiordano.bsky.social · Aug 7

A 16-year-old lost both legs while on the job for Rotschy operating machinery prohibited for minors. Clark County Sheriff declined criminal investigation, citing lack of victim cooperation. bit.ly/41tx2y1 @cascadepbs.bsky.social

The Clark County Sheriff’s Office has declined to criminally investigate a Vancouver-based company that, state officials concluded, had violated youth labor laws, resulting in the permanent disability...

Federal cuts put Washington workplace safety research at risk

Lizz Giordano @lizzgiordano.bsky.social · Jul 29

Federal cuts threaten 3 WA centers that protect workers in the most dangerous jobs and train safety experts. "If you have fewer trained professionals to protect workers...you're going to have more workers who are getting injured." bit.ly/3HbHJhP
@uwsph.bsky.social @cascadepbsnewsroom.bsky.social

Three programs that train occupational health experts and study worker safety for the state’s most dangerous jobs face an uncertain future.

Federal cuts put Washington workplace safety research at risk

2

Lizz Giordano @lizzgiordano.bsky.social · Jul 29

Federal cuts to close 3 centers in WA that protect workers in the most dangerous jobs and train safety experts. "If you have fewer trained professionals to protect workers...you're going to have more workers who are getting injured." bit.ly/3HbHJhP @uwsph.bsky.social @cascadepbsnewsroom.bsky.social

Three programs that train occupational health experts and study worker safety for the state’s most dangerous jobs face an uncertain future.

El sistema de compensación para trabajadores de Washington enreda a algunos trabajadores lesionados en el trabajo.

2 3

Lizz Giordano @lizzgiordano.bsky.social · Jun 17

leer en español: bit.ly/3G0ymks

El “gran arreglo” de Labor e Industrias puede forzar a empleados lesionados a navegar múltiples apelaciones o iniciar un litigo costoso para recibir la atención que necesitan.

WA’s workers’ compensation system ensnarls some hurt on the job

Lizz Giordano @lizzgiordano.bsky.social · Jun 17

Cascade PBS found:
More than a third of L&I decisions are overturned on appeal
Many workers pay 15-30% in legal fees
Employers can access medical records & request second opinions

Lizz Giordano @lizzgiordano.bsky.social · Jun 17

"L&I is on the side of the employer:"When Leticia Maldonado Reyes’ workers’ compensation claim was challenged, she became homeless and eventually took her own life disillusioned with the system. Here’s her story and how a system designed to help injured workers—can fail them. bit.ly/4e7m1aF

A “grand bargain” under L&I can force injured employees to navigate multiple appeals or turn to costly litigation to get the care they need.

Seafarer’s death in Columbia River reveals murky maritime oversight

2 3 2

Lizz Giordano @lizzgiordano.bsky.social · May 27

"This was truly a preventable death — the risks were very clear." Questions remain nearly nine months after a Filipino seafarer drowned in the Columbia River. bit.ly/3SnJTwU

Advocates ask for additional investigation and accountability after AJ Meraña, a Filipino worker on a bulk cargo ship, drowned last September.

Seafarer’s death in Columbia River reveals murky maritime oversight

Lizz Giordano @lizzgiordano.bsky.social · May 27

"This was truly a preventable death — the risks were very clear." Questions remain nearly nine months after a Filipino seafarer drowned in the Columbia River. bit.ly/3SnJTwU @BAYAN_USA @cascadepbsnewsroom.bsky.social @cascadepbs.bsky.social

Advocates ask for additional investigation and accountability after AJ Meraña, a Filipino worker on a bulk cargo ship, drowned last September.

WA safety agency seeks felony charges after teen worker loses legs

1 2

Lizz Giordano @lizzgiordano.bsky.social · Apr 28

"They should have reasonably known the requirements." WA agency seeks first ever felony for violating youth labor law after teen loses both legs doing prohibited construction work. bit.ly/3Yfycf1 @cascadepbs.bsky.social

Labor & Industries submitted an unprecedented referral against construction company Rotschy for allegedly allowing a minor to use dangerous equipment.

WA safety agency seeks felony charges after teen worker loses legs

Lizz Giordano @lizzgiordano.bsky.social · Apr 26

"They should have reasonably known the requirements." WA agency seeks first ever felony for violating youth labor law after teen loses both legs doing prohibited construction work. bit.ly/3Yfycf1 @cascadepbsnewsroom.bsky.social

Labor & Industries submitted an unprecedented referral against construction company Rotschy for allegedly allowing a minor to use dangerous equipment.

WA safety agency seeks felony charges after teen worker loses legs

2 5

Lizz Giordano @lizzgiordano.bsky.social · Apr 24

"They should have reasonably known the requirements." WA agency seeks first ever felony for violating youth labor law after teen loses both legs doing prohibited construction work. bit.ly/3Yfycf1

Labor & Industries submitted an unprecedented referral against construction company Rotschy for allegedly allowing a minor to use dangerous equipment.

WA safety agency seeks felony charges after teen worker loses legs

2

Lizz Giordano @lizzgiordano.bsky.social · Apr 24

"They should have reasonably known the requirements." WA agency seeks first ever felony for violating youth labor law after teen loses both legs doing prohibited construction work. bit.ly/3Yfycf1 @cascadepbsnewsroom.bsky.social

Labor & Industries submitted an unprecedented referral against construction company Rotschy for allegedly allowing a minor to use dangerous equipment.

‘Beyond failure’: WA teen loses legs at school-based work program

2 2

Reposted by Lizz Giordano

State Representative Julia Reed @staterepjuliareed.bsky.social · Mar 11

Jokes aside, when child labor laws are ignored or weakly enforced, real harm is done to children. Youth employment has increased 46% in WA in the last 10 years and injuries and labor violations have also grown. This is the situation HB 1644 aims to correct. #waleg
www.cascadepbs.org/investigatio...

Thousands of students enroll in work-for-credit programs, but a 16-year-old’s case shows life-altering consequences of risky jobs and murky oversight.

WA agency tightens workplace safety rules for student learners

1 2 7

Lizz Giordano @lizzgiordano.bsky.social · Apr 10

After WA teen's severe injury, L&I can now block a company with past labor and safety violations from receiving a special permit that allows minors to perform some dangerous tasks. @CascadePBSNews bit.ly/44hJJy4

L&I can now block a company with past labor and safety violations from receiving a special permit that allows minors to perform some dangerous tasks.

WA agency tightens workplace safety rules for student learners

Lizz Giordano @lizzgiordano.bsky.social · Apr 9

Labor & Industries can now block a company with past labor and safety violations from receiving a special permit that allows minors to perform some dangerous tasks. @CascadePBSNews bit.ly/44hJJy4

L&I can now block a company with past labor and safety violations from receiving a special permit that allows minors to perform some dangerous tasks.

Lizz Giordano @lizzgiordano.bsky.social · Mar 20

Transparency or privacy? L&I says the law protects witnesses, while advocates contend it prevents scrutiny of serious incidents and investigations. WA keeps details of severe workplace injuries, deaths from public.

WA keeps details of severe workplace injuries, deaths from public

Lizz Giordano @lizzgiordano.bsky.social · Mar 19

Transparency or privacy? L&I says the law protects witnesses, while advocates contend it prevents scrutiny of serious incidents and investigations. www.cascadepbs.org/investigatio...

Transparency or privacy? L&I says the law protects witnesses, while advocates contend it prevents scrutiny of serious incidents and investigations.

Washington legislature considers strengthening youth labor laws

2 1

Lizz Giordano @lizzgiordano.bsky.social · Mar 13

Rep Fosse’s bill to tighten youth labor laws made it past this week’s cut off. HB1644 would set minimum penalty amounts and bans companies with a history of serious safety violations from hiring minors. It now sits in the Senate’s Labor & Commerce Committee. bit.ly/41ajAj5 #waleg

A state rep and labor unions push for tougher regulations after Cascade PBS reported on a teen who lost both legs in a school work program.

WA raises workplace safety fines to catch up with national rates

3

Lizz Giordano @lizzgiordano.bsky.social · Mar 6

WA ties workplace safety fines increases to inflation to catch up with national rates, but the boost will still keep amounts way behind the average. www.cascadepbs.org/briefs/2025/...

WA raises workplace safety fines to catch up with national rates

3 1

Lizz Giordano @lizzgiordano.bsky.social · Mar 5

WA ties workplace safety fines increases to inflation to catch up with national rates, but likely will still lag behind. www.cascadepbs.org/briefs/2025/...