Wash. Rev. Code » Title 51 · Chapter 51.32
Revised Code of Washington

Wash. Rev. Code § 51.32.180 (2026)

✓ current as of May 2026
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Every worker who suffers disability from an occupational disease in the course of employment under the mandatory or elective adoption provisions of this title, or his or her family and dependents in case of death of the worker from such disease or infection, shall receive the same compensation benefits and medical, surgical and hospital care and treatment as would be paid and provided for a worker injured or killed in employment under this title, except as follows: (a) [(1)] This section and RCW 51.16.040 shall not apply where the last exposure to the hazards of the disease or infection occurred prior to January 1, 1937; and (b) [(2)] for claims filed on or after July 1, 1988, the rate of compensation for occupational diseases shall be established as of the date the disease requires medical treatment or becomes totally or partially disabling, whichever occurs first, and without regard to the date of the contraction of the disease or the date of filing the claim.
[ 1988 c 161 s 5; 1977 ex.s. c 350 s 53; 1971 ex.s. c 289 s 49; 1961 c 23 s 51.32.180. Prior: 1959 c 308 s 19; prior: 1941 c 235 s 1, part; 1939 c 135 s 1, part; 1937 c 212 s 1, part; Rem. Supp. 1941 s 7679-1, part.]

Notes:

Benefit increases—Application to certain retrospective rating agreements—1988 c 161: See notes following RCW 51.32.050.
Effective dates—Severability—1971 ex.s. c 289: See RCW 51.98.060 and 51.98.070.
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 41 cases (8 in the last 5 years), 1978–2025 · leading case: Harry v. Buse Timber & Sales, Inc., 201 P.3d 1011 (Wash. 2009).
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Harry v. Buse Timber & Sales, Inc., 201 P.3d 1011 (Wash. 2009). · cites it 31× “180 provides: Every worker who suffers disability from an occupational disease in the course of employment.”
Dennis v. Dep't of Labor & Indus., 745 P.2d 1295 (Wash. 1987). · cites it 6× “180, which provides that a worker suffering disability from an occupational disease shall receive benefits under the Act: Every worker who suffers disability from an occupational disease in the course of employment under the mandatory or elective adoption provisions of this…”
Mason v. Georgia-Pac. Corp., 271 P.3d 381 (Wash. Ct. App. 2012). · cites it 8× “050 (1986) conflicts with RCW 51.32.180, the conflict should be resolved in favor of the survivor.”
Boeing Co. v. Heidy, 51 P.3d 793 (Wash. 2002). · cites it 3× “RCW 51.32.180(b) does not require such knowledge: “[T]he rate of compensation for occupational diseases shall be established as of the date the disease requires medical treatment or becomes totally or partially disabling, whichever occurs first, and without regard to the date of…”
Kilpatrick v. Dep't of Labor & Indus., 915 P.2d 519 (Wash. 1995). · cites it 6× “What is pivotal is that these diseases can be traced to a worker's single or prolonged exposure to asbestos and once diagnosed with asbestos-related condition the injured worker is entitled to trigger the workers' compensation statute by filing a claim for compensation and…”
Dep't of Labor & Indus. v. Landon, 814 P.2d 626 (Wash. 1991). · cites it 5× “We hold that for claims filed prior to July 1, 1988, workers' compensation benefits for occupational diseases must be calculated as of the date the worker's *124 disease manifested itself, not the date of the worker's last exposure to the harmful materials.”
Boeing Co. v. Heidy, 51 P.3d 793 (Wash. 2002). · cites it 2× “RCW 51.32.180(b) does not require such knowledge: "[T]he rate of compensation for occupational diseases shall be established as of the date the disease requires medical treatment or becomes totally or partially disabling, whichever occurs first, and without regard to the date of…”
Pollard v. Weyerhaeuser Co., 123 Wash. App. 506 (Wash. Ct. App. 2004). · cites it 5× “RCW 51.32.180 provides in part: *512 Every worker who suffers disability from an occupational disease in the course of employment.”
Lewis v. Simpson Timber Co., 189 P.3d 178 (Wash. Ct. App. 2008). · cites it 2× “RCW 51.32.180. 11 An “occupational disease” is a “disease or infection as arises naturally and proximately out of employment.”
City of Bremerton v. Shreeve, 777 P.2d 568 (Wash. Ct. App. 1989). · cites it 3× “However, the doctors disagreed about whether Shreeve's valve had been abnormal at some point in the progression of her disease, and other aspects of Scheinman's testimony were rebutted by the testimony of one or more of the other doctors.”
Dep't of Labor & Indus. v. Fankhauser, 849 P.2d 1209 (Wash. 1993). “RCW 51.32.180. Claimants argue that they meet these requirements and thus are entitled to benefits for their disability resulting from employment covered by the Act.”
McClelland v. ITT Rayonier, Inc., 828 P.2d 1138 (Wash. Ct. App. 1992). “*391 RCW 51.32.180 provides that a worker suffering disability from an occupational disease shall receive benefits under the Industrial Insurance Act.”
Show all 41 citing cases →
— Wash. Rev. Code § 51.32.180(b) — 9 cases
Harry v. Buse Timber & Sales, Inc., 201 P.3d 1011 (Wash. 2009). “180 provides: Every worker who suffers disability from an occupational disease in the course of employment.”
Boeing Co. v. Heidy, 51 P.3d 793 (Wash. 2002). “RCW 51.32.180(b) does not require such knowledge: “[T]he rate of compensation for occupational diseases shall be established as of the date the disease requires medical treatment or becomes totally or partially disabling, whichever occurs first, and without regard to the date of…”
Mason v. Georgia-Pac. Corp., 271 P.3d 381 (Wash. Ct. App. 2012). “050 (1986) conflicts with RCW 51.32.180, the conflict should be resolved in favor of the survivor.”
Boeing Co. v. Heidy, 51 P.3d 793 (Wash. 2002). “RCW 51.32.180(b) does not require such knowledge: "[T]he rate of compensation for occupational diseases shall be established as of the date the disease requires medical treatment or becomes totally or partially disabling, whichever occurs first, and without regard to the date of…”
Pollard v. Weyerhaeuser Co., 123 Wash. App. 506 (Wash. Ct. App. 2004). “RCW 51.32.180 provides in part: *512 Every worker who suffers disability from an occupational disease in the course of employment.”
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