Keep Washington Safe and Working
The Department of Labor & Industries (L&I) is a diverse state agency dedicated to the safety, health, and security of Washington's 3.3 million workers. We help employers meet safety and health standards, and we inspect workplaces when alerted to hazards.
As administrators of the state's workers' compensation system, we are similar to a large insurance company, providing medical and limited wage-replacement coverage to workers who suffer job-related injuries and illness. Our rules and enforcement programs also help ensure workers are paid what they are owed, that children's and teens' work hours are limited, and that consumers are protected from unsound building practices.
We serve customers in 19 offices throughout Washington and have approximately 2,800 skilled employees, including safety inspectors, claims specialists, nurses, researchers, accountants, labor experts, and support staff.
Protecting the health and safety of workers
L&I's Division of Occupational Safety and Health (DOSH) administers the Washington Industrial Safety and Health Act (WISHA) law by developing and enforcing rules that protect workers from hazardous job conditions.
Our inspectors visit about 5,000 workplaces each year and cite businesses that violate health and safety rules. Each year, we also conduct about 2,500 free, on-site safety and health consultations for employers who request our help complying with these rules in their unique workplaces. We also conduct research into workplace health and safety, which focuses on promoting healthy work environments and preventing workplace injuries and illnesses.
Ensuring medical care and financial help for injured workers
Our claim managers oversee benefits to workers who are injured or become ill on the job. They also work closely with doctors, employers, and counselors to help severely injured employees return to paid employment.
Washington's workers' compensation system is funded by premiums from employers and workers and income from investments. We also regulate about 400 large, self-insured employers who have qualified to provide their own workers' compensation insurance.
Protecting workers' wages, hours, breaks, and more
We enforce child labor laws, as well as laws that protect workers' wages and working conditions. Our agency also oversees apprenticeship programs and administers rules covering prevailing wage on public-works construction projects.
Protecting the public from unsafe work and economic hardship
Our technical experts protect the public by inspecting electrical work, boilers, elevators, and manufactured homes. We also test and license electricians, certify plumbers, and issue operating permits for amusem*nt rides.
Our agency registers construction contractors, requiring them to be insured and bonded. We also provide an easy-to-use website that allows customers to see whether a contractor is bonded and insured and alerts them to problems associated with hiring unregistered contractors.
Get More Information About L&I
- (F101-170-000)
- Legislative information
- 2023 – 25 IT Strategic Plan
- Vendor and Contract Information
- Worker Memorial Day
L&I's various and diverse programs are led by a group of hard-working professionals and subject matter experts known as the department's Leadership Team. In addition to leading their programs on a day-to-day basis, this group works together to determine future direction and policies for the entire organization. In essence, they are L&I's brain trust.
Biographies
Joel Sacks, Director
Joel Sackswas appointed Director of the Department of Labor & Industries (L&I) in January 2013 by Governor Jay Inslee. L&I's mission is to "keep Washington safe and working." The agency administers many vital programs including the state's workers' compensation system and its occupational safety and health program.
In Joel's time as L&I director, an agencywide goal of helping injured workers heal and return to work with a particular emphasis on preventing long-term disability rates for injured workers is transforming the agency, resulting in better outcomes for workers and projected savings of more than 3 billion dollars.
During his tenure, workers' compensation premium rates have remained flat, average costs in 2022 are almost identical to the costs in 2012. The agency has helped workers recover millions of dollars owed to them in wages through wage complaint investigations. Washington also remains a safe place to work, with one of the lowest workplace fatality rates in the country.
Joel's position at L&I makes him one of 3 ex-officio members and he has served as both the Chair and Vice-Chair of the Washington State Investment Board (WSIB). He is currently the Chair of the Private Markets Committee and a member of the Audit and Administrative Committees.
Previously he worked at the state Employment Security Department for nearly 8 years, serving as Deputy Commissioner and Assistant Commissioner for the Budget, Policy, and Communication Division.
Before joining Employment Security, he was Deputy Director of Field Services at L&I. He also served 4 years at the Occupational Safety and Health Administration in the U.S. Department of Labor.
Joel holds a bachelor's degree in political science from Haverford College and a master's degree in public administration from Syracuse University's Maxwell School of Public Affairs. He lives in Olympia with his wife and 2 daughters.
Elizabeth (Liz) Smith, Deputy Director
Elizabeth Smith was appointed as deputy director in March 2018. She previously served as assistant director for L&I's Fraud Prevention & Labor Standards division. Liz's other positions at L&I include program manager for the Worker's Comp Fraud Prevention and Compliance program, the Employment Standards program, and the L&I Office of Apprenticeship.
Before joining L&I in 2004, Liz worked as legislative staff for the California State Senate. Liz graduated from Western Washington University and completed a post-graduate Public Affairs Leadership Fellowship through the Coro Foundation.
Randi Warick, Deputy Director for Financial Management
Randi Warick was appointed the deputy director of Financial Management at L&I in 2013.
Before working for L&I, Randi served as the assistant commissioner for the Budget, Performance, and Research division at the Employment Security Department.
During her 28-year career of state service, Randi has held senior leadership roles for 6 other state agencies, including the Department of Corrections and the Office of Financial Management.
Randi and her husband enjoy spending time outdoors and have 2 children, both of whom are in college.
Tim Church, Assistant Director, Web & Communication Services
Tim Churchhas been the assistant director for L&I's division of Web & Communication Services since July 2020.
He's responsible for all internal and external agency communications, including a staff of public information officers, the agency's public call center, and L&I web content and development.
Tim has more than 35 years of communications and journalism experience, including time as a TV news managing editor, reporter, and as communication director for 2 state agencies.
He's been with L&I since 2014, after spending nearly 15 years as the communications director at the state Department of Health.
Tim has a degree in broadcast journalism from Washington State University's Edward R. Murrow School of Communication.
He's married and has an adult son and daughter.
Heather Normoyle, Assistant Director, Office of Human Resources
Heather Normoylewas appointed assistant director of L&I's Office of Human Resources in February 2019.
Heather has worked in the human resources field for over 20 years, much of that time in the private sector. She joined L&I in 2015 as the Human Resources operations manager.
Heather holds a Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR), and is a certified facilitator in Myers Briggs, Franklin Covey, and Achieve Global curriculum. She graduated in 1998 from Washington State University with a Bachelor of Arts in business administration.
Heather lives in Tumwater with her husband, Eli, and their 4 children. She volunteers her time throughout the community supporting youth sports.
Tammy Fellin, Legislative Director, Government Affairs & Policy Division
Tammy Fellin joined L&I in 2013 as the legislative director. She served in this same role at the Employment Security Department and was a lobbyist for the Association of Washington Cities.
After nearly 2 decades in the legislative arena, she still considers it a privilege to do this work. She finished her bachelor's degree at The Evergreen State College and her Master of Public Administration degree at the University of Washington Evans School of Public Affairs.
Maribeth Sapinoso, Assistant Director, Administrative Services
Maribeth Sapinosowas appointed assistant director of L&I's Administrative Services division in June 2023.
Prior to assuming this role, Maribeth Sapinoso was with the Employment Security department from 2021 – 2023 as their chief information officer for their Information Technology Services division. Maribeth worked for the Department of Labor & Industries from 2018 – 2021 as their first deputy CIO, primarily responsible for their daily operations of their IT division. From 2011 – 2018, Maribeth worked with the Washington State Administrative Office of the Courts as an IT Program Manager implementing a statewide Commercial off the Shelf (COTS) case management system for the Washington State Superior Courts. Maribeth also worked with the Washington State Department of Transportation for approximately 15 years holding various leadership and technical roles in Information Technology and Human Resources.
Maribeth holds a bachelor's degree in political science from San Diego State University and is certified as a Project Management Professional (PMP). Maribeth is also a board member of the Information Professional Management Association (IPMA).
Jennifer Myers, Director, Office of Internal Audit
Jennifer Myers joined L&I in April 2018 as the director of Internal Audit. She and her team provide expert advice to agency leaders on governance, risk, and control issues, and manages the agency's independent assurance function. She serves as L&I's liaison with external regulatory and oversight agencies related to audits, reviews, and investigations.
Jennifer is a CPA and is active in the local chapter of the Institute of Internal Auditors.
Jennifer has 23 years of experience with auditing in state government. Most recently, she was an internal audit supervisor at the Health Care Authority from 2014 –18. Before that, she spent 19 years at the State Auditor's Office auditing state and local governments. Jennifer was previously involved in auditing L&I as an external auditor, so she already has some familiarity with the agency.
She graduated in 1994 from Central Washington University with a Bachelor of Science in accounting. She lives in Olympia with her husband and 2 children.
Mike Ratko, Assistant Director, Insurance Services
Mike Ratko assumed the role of assistant director for Insurance Services at L&I on April 1 after serving as the deputy assistant director for 17 years. He has been with L&I for over 30 years and served in a variety of roles across the agency.
Mike has a great passion for Washington's unique workers' compensation system, the sixth largest in the nation with nearly $2 billion in premiums, 2.5 million workers, and more than 180,000 employers. He oversees more than 1,100 staff across 12 programs within Insurance Services.
Mike holds a master's in business administration from Pacific Lutheran University and a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Washington. In his spare time, he enjoys spending time with his family, boating, and working on house projects.
David Marty, Assistant Director, Information Technology
David Martywas appointed assistant director of L&I's Information Technology division in April 2017.
For 12 years before coming to L&I, David worked for the Office of the Insurance Commissioner, where he served in several roles including chief information officer within the agency's Operations division. Prior to that, he worked for the Liquor Control Board for 10 years, serving in numerous positions within the Administrative Services and Regulatory divisions.
David holds a bachelor's degree in criminal justice from Saint Martin's College. He lives in Olympia with his wife and 2 children.
Maggie Leland, Assistant Director, Governmental Affairs & Policy Division
Maggie Leland is the policy director for L&I, working in its Governmental Affairs & Policy Division. Maggie advises and collaborates with the agency director and leadership team on strategic policy issues. Maggie has also worked in L&I’s Division of Occupational Safety and Health (DOSH).
Prior to joining L&I, Maggie was an assistant attorney general for the L&I division, representing L&I in litigation and serving as advisor to L&I DOSH. Before becoming an attorney, Maggie spent many years working as an occupational health and safety professional in both the private and public sector. Maggie earned her law degree from Seattle University and her Master of Science in Public Health in Industrial Hygiene from San Diego State University. She is a member of the Washington State Bar Association.
Steve Reinmuth, Assistant Director, Field Services & Public Safety
Assistant director for the Field Services & Public Safety division since 2020, Steve Reinmuth previously served at L&I as chief legal counsel, assistant director for Administrative Services, and deputy assistant director of the Insurance Services division. Prior to that, he was chief of staff and chief legal counsel at the Washington Department of Transportation.
Steve and his wife, Jill, live in Olympia and are the proud parents of 2 adult twins — one on each coast.
Celeste Monahan, Assistant Director, Fraud Prevention & Labor Standards
Celeste Monahanwas appointed acting assistant director of Fraud Prevention & Labor Standards (FPLS) in September 2021 after serving as the deputy assistant director of FPLS for 3 years. She is the assistant director as of February 2022.
FPLS oversees the Audit, Fraud, Collection, Investigative, Apprenticeship, and Labor Standards programs.
Celeste has over 30 years of experience working in Washington State government, 23 of which was with Department of Revenue. In her last 13 years with Revenue, she was a program manager in the Special Programs Division. She was the Washington State unclaimed property administrator from 2005 to 2018 and was recently appointed the secretary of the Washington State Apprenticeship and Training Counsel.
Her experience includes fraud prevention, compliance, worker rights, various labor programs, unclaimed property, and several miscellaneous excise tax programs, including estate tax, REET, and forest excise tax. She earned her bachelor's degree with a business focus from The Evergreen State College.
Celeste resides in Olympia with her husband, David. She has 1 son and 3 grandchildren.
Craig Blackwood, Assistant Director, Division of Occupational Safety & Health
Craig Blackwoodhas been with L&I since 1991, starting in Seattle as an industrial hygienist in the Division of Occupational Safety & Health (DOSH) Compliance program. The Compliance program is responsible for all DOSH inspection-related activities.
After spending 3 years in the field, Craig took the position of industrial hygiene supervisor in Region 4, working out of the Vancouver office. In July 2004, he was appointed to the Region 4 compliance manager position, which became the DOSH Region 4 compliance manager in 2006. In March 2012, he was appointed as the DOSH statewide compliance manager.
Craig was appointed as the deputy assistant director for DOSH in December 2014. He became the assistant director for DOSH in January 2022.
Craig has Bachelor of Science degree in environmental and occupational safety and health from California State University at Northridge. Prior to working for L&I, he worked as an industrial hygienist for the Los Angeles Unified School District and as an industrial hygienist for a private consulting firm in Los Angeles.
