Revised Code of Washington
Wash. Rev. Code § 51.04.020 (2026)
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✓ current as of May 2026
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The director shall:
(1) Establish and adopt rules governing the administration of this title;
(2) Ascertain and establish the amounts to be paid into and out of the accident fund;
(3) Regulate the proof of accident and extent thereof, the proof of death and the proof of relationship and the extent of dependency;
(4) Supervise the medical, surgical, and hospital treatment to the intent that it may be in all cases efficient and up to the recognized standard of modern surgery;
(5) Issue proper receipts for moneys received and certificates for benefits accrued or accruing;
(6) Investigate the cause of all serious injuries and report to the governor from time to time any violations or laxity in performance of protective statutes or regulations coming under the observation of the department;
(7) Compile statistics which will afford reliable information upon which to base operations of all divisions under the department;
(8) Make an annual report to the governor of the workings of the department;
(9) Be empowered to enter into agreements with the appropriate agencies of other states relating to conflicts of jurisdiction where the contract of employment is in one state and injuries are received in the other state, and insofar as permitted by the Constitution and laws of the United States, to enter into similar agreements with the provinces of Canada; and
[ 2000 c 5 s 14; 1994 c 164 s 24; 1977 c 75 s 77; 1963 c 29 s 1; 1961 c 23 s 51.04.020. Prior: 1957 c 70 s 3; prior: (i) 1921 c 182 s 9; 1911 c 74 s 24; RRS s 7703. (ii) 1947 c 247 s 1, part; 1911 c 74 s 4, part; Rem. Supp. 1947 s 7676f, part.]
Notes:
Intent—Purpose—2000 c 5: See RCW 48.43.500.
Application—Short title—Captions not law—Construction—Severability—Application to contracts—Effective dates—2000 c 5: See notes following RCW 48.43.500.
Severability—1963 c 29: "If any provision of this act, or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the act, or the application of the provision to other persons or circumstances is not affected." [ 1963 c 29 s 2.]
Assignment of wage claims: RCW 49.48.040.
Farm labor contractors: Chapter 19.30 RCW.
Health and safety, underground workers: Chapter 49.24 RCW.
Minimum wage act: Chapter 49.46 RCW.
Seasonal labor disputes: Chapter 49.40 RCW.
Washington Industrial Safety and Health Act: Chapter 49.17 RCW.
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 20
cases (3 in the last 5 years), 1987–2025 · leading case: Dep't of Labor & Indus. v. Kantor, 973 P.2d 30 (Wash. Ct. App. 1999).
Dep't of Labor & Indus. v. Kantor, 973 P.2d 30 (Wash. Ct. App. 1999). “to workers injured during the course of their employment at the least cost consistent with promptness and efficiency,” RCW 51.”
Ravsten v. Dep't of Labor & Indus., 736 P.2d 265 (Wash. 1987). “WAC 296-20-091 *155 places the fixing of the need for attendant care directly under the responsibility of the attending doctor, stating in part: Private room Intensive care special or home nurses.”
Marley v. Dep't of Labor & Indus., 886 P.2d 189 (Wash. 1994). “A lack of subject matter jurisdiction implies that an agency has no authority to decide the claim at all, let alone order a particular kind of relief.”
Kustura v. Dep't of Labor & Indus., 169 Wash. 2d 81 (Wash. 2010). “¶11 Petitioners additionally argue that, upon receiving a report of a workplace injury, the Department conducts an investigation under RCW 51.04.020(6), which requires the investigation of “serious injuries” at the workplace.”
KUSTURA v. Dept. of Labor & Indus., 233 P.3d 853 (Wash. 2010). “¶ 11 Petitioners additionally argue that, upon receiving a report of a workplace injury, *858 the Department conducts an investigation under RCW 51.04.020(6), which requires the investigation of "serious injuries" at the workplace.”
Roller v. Dep't of Labor & Indus., 117 P.3d 385 (Wash. Ct. App. 2005). “Because we resolve any ambiguity in the regulations to benefit Roller, the Department's denial of coverage of the intrathecal pump and its accompanying surgical implantation under WAC 296-20-03014 and 03002 conflicts with WAC 296-20-01002 and, thus, was erroneous. [3] ¶ 14 The…”
Roller v. Dep't of Labor & Indus., 128 Wash. App. 922 (Wash. Ct. App. 2005). “RCW 51.04.020, .030; see also Marley v. Dep’t of Labor & Indus.”
Shafer v. Dep't, 213 P.3d 591 (Wash. 2009). “RCW 51.04.020(4), .030(1). The IIA provides for a Board of Industrial Insurance Appeals, which serves as the administrative review body for department orders, decisions, and awards.”
Shafer v. Dep't of Labor & Indus., 166 Wash. 2d 710 (Wash. 2009). “RCW 51.04.020(4), .030(1). The IIA provides for a Board, which serves as the administrative review body for department orders, decisions, and awards.”
Manor v. Nestle Food Co., 131 Wash. 2d 439 (Wash. 1997). “Does the Rule Exceed the Statutory Authority of the Agency? The Department is generally authorized to promulgate regulations governing the administration of Title 51 RCW, RCW 51.04.020(1), as well as rules for self-insured employers specifically.”
Manor v. Nestle Food Co., 932 P.2d 628 (Wash. 1997). “Does the Rule Exceed the Statutory Authority of the Agency? The Department is generally authorized to promulgate regulations governing the administration of Title 51 RCW, RCW 51.04.020(1), as well as rules for self-insured employers specifically.”
Magee v. Rite Aid, 277 P.3d 1 (Wash. Ct. App. 2012). “RCW 51.04.020; Marley, 125 Wn.2d at 542 .”
— Wash. Rev. Code § 51.04.020(1) — 2 cases
Manor v. Nestle Food Co., 131 Wash. 2d 439 (Wash. 1997). “Does the Rule Exceed the Statutory Authority of the Agency? The Department is generally authorized to promulgate regulations governing the administration of Title 51 RCW, RCW 51.04.020(1), as well as rules for self-insured employers specifically.”
Manor v. Nestle Food Co., 932 P.2d 628 (Wash. 1997). “Does the Rule Exceed the Statutory Authority of the Agency? The Department is generally authorized to promulgate regulations governing the administration of Title 51 RCW, RCW 51.04.020(1), as well as rules for self-insured employers specifically.”
— Wash. Rev. Code § 51.04.020(4) — 3 cases
Dep't of Labor & Indus. v. Kantor, 973 P.2d 30 (Wash. Ct. App. 1999). “to workers injured during the course of their employment at the least cost consistent with promptness and efficiency,” RCW 51.”
Shafer v. Dep't, 213 P.3d 591 (Wash. 2009). “RCW 51.04.020(4), .030(1). The IIA provides for a Board of Industrial Insurance Appeals, which serves as the administrative review body for department orders, decisions, and awards.”
Shafer v. Dep't of Labor & Indus., 166 Wash. 2d 710 (Wash. 2009). “RCW 51.04.020(4), .030(1). The IIA provides for a Board, which serves as the administrative review body for department orders, decisions, and awards.”
— Wash. Rev. Code § 51.04.020(6) — 2 cases
Kustura v. Dep't of Labor & Indus., 169 Wash. 2d 81 (Wash. 2010). “¶11 Petitioners additionally argue that, upon receiving a report of a workplace injury, the Department conducts an investigation under RCW 51.04.020(6), which requires the investigation of “serious injuries” at the workplace.”
KUSTURA v. Dept. of Labor & Indus., 233 P.3d 853 (Wash. 2010). “¶ 11 Petitioners additionally argue that, upon receiving a report of a workplace injury, *858 the Department conducts an investigation under RCW 51.04.020(6), which requires the investigation of "serious injuries" at the workplace.”
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