by Paul W. Taylor, TVW, Washington State Standard
June 22, 2026
The Washington Department of Labor & Industries expects its investigation into the deadly Longview tank implosion that killed 11 workers to take most of the six months allowed under state law, according to agency Director Joel Sacks.
The disaster, believed to be the deadliest workplace accident in modern Washington history, remains under investigation by both L&I and the federal Chemical Safety Board. In an interview with host Austin Jenkins on TVW’s “Inside Olympia,” Sacks said the two agencies have separate but complementary roles. L&I’s investigation will focus on workplace safety requirements, potential violations and lessons that could prevent future tragedies, while federal investigators are examining broader industry and regulatory issues.
“We have six months to go in, do our investigation, and then issue any potential monetary penalties or findings,” Sacks said.
L&I also is providing workers’ compensation benefits to injured workers and surviving family members. Sacks said agency staff have been on the ground since the incident occurred and expect the investigation to continue through late November.
The discussion then turned to the financial pressures facing Washington’s workers’ compensation system and growing concerns from employers about rising costs. L&I increased workers’ compensation rates for 2026, citing higher medical expenses, wage replacement costs and increases in long-term disability claims.
Sacks acknowledged business concerns but said the agency remains committed to predictable rate adjustments rather than large swings from year to year.
One challenge has been a post-pandemic increase in workers remaining on claims for longer periods. Sacks said improving outcomes will require a combination of better access to care, earlier intervention and lower caseloads for claims managers. Current caseloads exceed 200 claims per manager, compared with an industry benchmark of about 141.
Sacks says addressing those challenges is a key goal of L&I’s restarted technology modernization effort. The project, estimated at just under $300 million, is designed to replace a patchwork of some 150 aging workers’ compensation systems dating to the 1980s.
After a lengthy pause, the project has resumed in partnership with the state’s technology agency, Washington Technology Solutions. Sacks said the six-year effort will be implemented incrementally, allowing the agency to deliver improvements while reducing risk.
“The status quo is unacceptable,” Sacks said. “We have to modernize the technology systems.”
He said newer technology should allow claims managers to spend less time navigating outdated systems and more time helping injured workers recover and return to work.
This article was first published by TVW, a media nonprofit that provides comprehensive coverage of state government. TVW broadcasts unedited gavel-to-gavel coverage on statewide cable and at tvw.org, and produces original current affairs and education shows, including “Inside Olympia” and “The Impact”. TVW’s mission is to give Washingtonians access to their state government, increase civic access and engagement, and foster an informed citizenry.
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