Washington L&I Accident Prevention Program (APP)
The written safety program required of every Washington employer under WAC 296-800-140. Covers training programs, hazard identification, employee involvement, accident investigation, and safety committee integration (WAC 296-800-130).
When this template is required
Required of every Washington employer covered by WISHA — essentially every WA private employer plus state, county, and city government employers. (Federal employees, tribal employers on tribal lands, and certain floating worksites remain under federal OSHA.) The APP is the cornerstone WA safety document — must be in writing, tailored to the workplace, with specified content elements.
Why this template
Universal WA employer requirement
WAC 296-800-140 applies to every employer covered by WISHA. The APP is the foundational safety document — not optional, not size-thresholded. DOSH inspectors verify APP existence as one of the first inspection elements.
WAC 296-800-130 safety committee integrated
Most WA employers must also have a safety committee per WAC 296-800-130. The APP integrates with the safety committee — committee oversees APP implementation, reviews accidents, recommends improvements. Both rules referenced and linked.
WAC 296-800-14005 elements covered
The sub-rule lists specific required APP elements: total safety/health program description; on-the-job orientation; safety/health training program; reporting unsafe conditions; injury/accident history; protective measures (engineering, administrative, PPE). The plan addresses all six required elements.
DOSH inspection-ready
WA L&I DOSH inspectors look for specific APP elements during inspections. The plan is structured around what inspectors look for so an inspector sees compliance quickly. Includes the inspection-readiness checklist.
What you receive
- WA APP (Word .docx) — WAC 296-800-140 aligned
- Safety and health policy and program description
- Job orientation procedure (new-hire first-day safety)
- Hazard reporting procedure (employee channels)
- Hazard identification and JHA framework
- Training documentation form
- Workplace hazard report form (employee submission)
- Annual program review
- Safety committee integration (WAC 296-800-130 crosswalk)
- DOSH inspection-readiness checklist
How you get it
This document is written and reviewed against the standard it cites, and it is ready now. The download link is emailed as soon as your payment clears.
Revisions included — if something about your operation changes what the document should say, reply to the delivery email and we will amend it.
Who buys this
- Washington manufacturing and warehousing
- Washington healthcare facilities
- Washington retail and hospitality
- Washington professional services
- Washington agriculture (with WAC 296-307 overlay)
- Washington state, county, city government employers
- Washington nonprofit organizations
Frequently asked
Who needs a WA APP?
Every employer covered by WISHA (Washington Industrial Safety and Health Act) — essentially every WA private employer plus state, county, and city government employers. Federal employees, tribal employers on tribal lands, and certain floating worksites (floating dry docks, fishing boats, construction barges) remain under federal OSHA. Most WA workplaces are under WISHA and need an APP.
What's required in the APP?
WAC 296-800-14005 specifies: (1) Description of your total safety and health program; (2) On-the-job orientation showing employees what they need to know to perform their initial job assignments safely; (3) How and when to do safety and health training; (4) How to report unsafe conditions and practices; (5) The types of accidents and injuries that have occurred in the workplace; (6) How to protect workers from job hazards (engineering, administrative, and PPE controls).
How is this different from federal OSHA programs?
WA is a state-plan state — WISHA operates instead of federal OSHA for most WA private employers. WA's APP requirement (WAC 296-800-140) parallels what federal OSHA might require under the General Duty Clause but doesn't require by specific federal rule. Federal employers in WA are under federal OSHA and don't need a WA APP.
Does the APP need a safety committee?
Most WA employers need BOTH an APP (WAC 296-800-140) AND a safety committee (WAC 296-800-130). The committee oversees APP implementation, reviews accidents, recommends improvements. WAC 296-800-130 specifies committee composition (employee-elected members equal to or exceeding employer-selected) and meeting frequency. The plan integrates the two.
What about construction in Washington?
Construction has its own APP requirement: WAC 296-155-110 ('Accident prevention program in construction'). The construction APP includes elements specific to construction work (multi-employer sites, transient workforce, daily site briefings). Construction employers need a construction APP separately from any general-industry APP. See our Washington Construction APP product.