Effective July 1, 2019, all businesses in Washington State are required to complete training before bidding or performing work on public works projects. The Washington State legislature passed ESSHB 1673, which adds new requirements to responsible bidder criteria for public works contracts.
The training covers a variety of topics relevant to paying prevailing wages on public works projects, including how to handle the bidding process and how to determine the correct rate of pay for the workers. The training is required for all businesses working on public works projects that commence after July 1, 2019. Both the agency awarding the public works contract and the general contractor are responsible for verifying that subcontractors have completed the prevailing wage trainin
Verifying that the training is completed
A new “verify a contractor” tool has been launched to assist with verifying that the company or contractors you’ve hired to work on a public works project have completed the required training. The “verify a contractor” tool can be found at: https://lni.wa.gov/TradesLicensing/Contractors/Workshops/Training.asp. This tool also provides a link to a list of risk classes and prevailing wages for job descriptions.
Businesses who are exempt from this training
Businesses are exempt from this training requirement if they have been in business with an active UBI number for 3 or more years and have performed work on 3 or more public works projects. Additionally, you may continue to work on a public works project that commenced before July 1, 2019 and continues on or after July 1, 2019 without needing to complete the required trainin
Where is this training?
The training can be completed online or in person. The online training can be accessed through L&I’s “Prevailing Wage Intent and Affidavit” portal on the Department of Labor and Industries’ website. The Department of Labor and Industries is also holding 3-hour in-person training classes, a schedule of which is available on the Department’s website.
Karen Galipeau Forner is the founder and managing member of K-Solutions Law in Bellevue, Washington. Karen represents employers in the areas of workplace safety, workers’ compensation, administrative appeals and employment law. She is a frequent presenter at continuing legal education seminars and to employer groups. Karen has over 25 years’ experience defending and resolving a wide range of workers’ compensation, WISHA and employment law matters. Prior to starting K-Solutions Law, Karen worked as senior attorney at a law firm in Seattle and for the Washington State Attorney General’s Office. She was the Program Advisor for the Industrial Insurance and Washington Industrial Safety and Health Act (WISHA) Discrimination Programs for more than ten years and the Program Advisor for the Workers’ Compensation Self-Insurance Program. Karen also litigated complex WISHA, Industrial Insurance, Third Party and Crime Victims Compensation Act cases. She recently served on the Washington State Bar Association Character and Fitness Board.
