Occupational Medicine Resources for Workers

Despite taking safety precautions, sometimes injuries and accidents happen on the job. These range from slips and falls, to cuts and lacerations, to repetitive strain injuries and other types of medical problems.

In addition to experiencing discomfort and pain from an injury, you may worry about medical expenses, lost wages and how your injury will affect your ability to do activities at home and at work. Our occupational medicine team is here to ease some of that stress and put you on the road to recovery.

We provide timely medical evaluation and treatment while helping you navigate the workers’ compensation process so you can focus on what matters most — your health and healing.

Even if an injury seems minor at first, it’s important to seek care right away because it can become more serious over time if not properly treated.

Our medical professionals will:

• Provide prompt medical attention for your illness or injury
• Recommend any further treatment you may need and provide referrals
• Confirm whether your injury or illness is work-related
• Help you file a workers’ compensation claim
• Collaborate with you and your employer to create a plan and timeline for returning to work safely

Please obtain any medical records pertaining to your injury or illness before your appointment. This will help us better understand the extent of the problem and how we can best care for you. 

Visit our Find a Location page to get directions to your appointment.

Workers’ compensation is a state-regulated insurance system that provides financial assistance and health care benefits for workers who are injured or become ill while on the job. Once a claim is approved, workers’ compensation will cover your medical expenses and pay a portion of lost wages if you can’t work for a period of time or need to modify your work duties.

If you experience an injury on the job or are diagnosed with an illness related to your work (known as an occupational disease), it’s important to tell your employer right away. Your employer will help you determine whether they are self-insured or whether the claim should go through Washington State Labor & Industries (L&I).

Employees of self-insured businesses. If your employer is self-insured, the company you work for must cover the costs of an on-the-job injury or occupational disease. L&I regulates self-insurance programs. Employees of self-insured businesses have the same rights and responsibilities as other workers in Washington state.

To learn more about workers’ compensation for employees of self-insured businesses, read this guide from Washington State L&I in English or Spanish.

Employees of businesses covered by L&I. Unlike other types of insurance, L&I only cover injuries if they happen at a definite time and place at work. Also, claims for occupational diseases are accepted only if your work and medical history shows you have an illness or infection that was directly caused by the work you do, and not by something else.

To learn more about L&I workers’ compensation benefits, read this guide in English or Spanish.