Workplace Violence Prevention Rulemaking

Last week, WHCA and our partners at LeadingAge Washington had the opportunity to offer regulatory expertise to the state Department of Labor and Industry (L&I) on rulemaking related to Workplace Violence Prevention in Health Care.

Our teams were called to offer guidance as long-term care was a sector needing a precise explication in this rule. As always, we were happy to offer our experience interpreting and providing clarity on matters that may impact our members. Being a stakeholder in regulatory discussions is the primary means of building strong connections with state agencies. When policy has a strong, stakeholder-focused foundation, implementation is easy, effective, and stable.

After reviewing an initial draft of the purposed changes to WAC 296-830, the rule in question, WHCA and LeadingAge certified that the definitions of long-term care worker and health care setting within the purposed and underlying regulatory framework did not apply to skilled nursing or assisted living facilities or their employees. While neither the facility nor employee portions of the rulemaking included our members, our stakeholder engagement was welcomed by L&I, who agreed that additional clarity was needed in future drafts.

It is our privilege to support L&I in its goal of implementing certain portions of WAC 296-830 as we support the chapter’s aim of uplifting and protecting the long-term care workforce. We will continue to strengthen our regulatory relationship with the department by reviewing future drafts, clarifying pertinent regulatory definitions, and providing additional support as needed.

We anticipate and appreciate continued opportunities to be at the table as L&I moves forward with rulemaking in the future.