Occupational Health Tests – Spokane, WA

Spokane occupational health services are primarily regulated under Washington State's OSHA plan, which has been in place since January 1973. The plan is administered by the Division of Occupational Safety and Health (DOSH) and the Department of Labor and Industries.

Both employers and employees benefit from following workplace occupational health guidelines. By ensuring compliance with all federal, state, and Spokane workplace health regulations, employers can limit their liability for work-related accidents and illnesses. When employers provide a safe and healthy working environment, this also helps improve employee morale and may reduce turnover, sick calls, and workers' compensation claims.

When employees follow occupational health regulations, they minimize the chances of suffering a work-related injury or illness and are less likely to unintentionally create an unsafe workplace for their co-workers.

There are many occupational health laws and guidelines in place, many of which are designed to ensure employees are physically healthy enough to meet the demands of their jobs. For example, the City of Spokane requires pre-employment physicals for all job applicants. The scope of the physicals varies depending on the type of work required, and the physical may only be used to ensure the applicant's physical ability to perform the job-related functions.

If the physical finds that there would be a "direct threat" to the safety and health of others or a high probability of "substantial harm" to the applicant while performing the job, then the job applicant may be rejected.

Applicants to the City of Spokane Police Department must also pass a post-offer physical and psychological examination, and applicants to the Spokane Fire Department must undergo Candidate Physical Ability Testing (CPAT) prior to applying.

Some occupational health laws are designed to protect workers in environments that are known to be dangerous. One example of this is Washington state's Respiratory Protection Program (RPP), a federal and state OSHA requirement to protect workers from exposure to respiratory hazards.

The state of Washington also has several laws regulating tuberculosis (TB) testing for employees in multiple industries including early learning, child care, and healthcare providers.

One of the most recent state occupational health mandates was passed on August 20, 2021, when Washington Governor Jay Inslee signed Proclamation 21-14.1 into law, requiring all healthcare workers, employees in educational settings, and employees of state agencies to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 by October 18, 2021.