RCW 51.16.220
262 words·~1 min read·
/wa/title-51/chapter-51-16/51-16-220·A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.
(1)When a worker of a nongovernment employer is injured or develops an occupational disease due to an exposure while assisting in the life and rescue phase of an emergency, in response to a request for assistance from a state or local government entity, including fire service or law enforcement, the cost of benefits shall be reimbursed from the disaster response account, RCW 38.52.105 , to the appropriate workers' compensation fund, or to the self-insured employer, as the case may be. The cost of such injuries or occupational diseases shall not be charged to the experience record of a state fund employer.
(2)For the purposes of this section, "life and rescue phase" means the first seventy-two hours after the occurrence of a natural or man-made disaster in which a state or municipal entity, including fire service or law enforcement, acknowledges or declares such a disaster and requests assistance from the private sector in locating and rescuing survivors. The initial life and rescue phase may be extended for a finite period of time by declaration of the state or municipal entity requesting assistance.
[ 2005 c 422 s 1 .]
Notes:
Rules — 2005 c 422: "The department of labor and industries may adopt rules to implement this act." [ 2005 c 422 s 3 .]
Effective date — 2005 c 422: "This act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and takes effect immediately [May 11, 2005]." [ 2005 c 422 s 4 .]