About Risk Management

The Risk Management Department administers the County's self-insurance and claims programs. Risk Management's mission is to provide loss prevention and control programs and consultation, direction, insurance, and claims management services to Lewis County elected officials and departments to reduce or eliminate losses to property, liability, personnel, and net income.

We believe that:

• Accidents and Injuries are preventable
• Safety can be managed
• Safety is an individual responsibility
• Safety is a way of life
• Nothing is more important than employee safety

Risk Management's primary activities are:

• Risk consulting
• Insurance procurement above self-insured retention levels
• Lewis County Self-Insured Fund management and financing for self-insured retention levels
• Administration of workers' compensation and unemployment claims (in concert with a TPA)
• Tort claim management
• Investigation and disposition of casualty and property claims and lawsuits
• Safety training, reporting, and compliance
• Loss control programs
• Ergonomics consultation
• Contractual indemnification and insurance requirement language drafting and review

The Risk Management Department involves Claims, Safety, and Administration. The Department strives to accomplish its mission with assistance and direction from the Lewis County Board of County Commissioners, the Washington Counties Risk Pool, and the Lewis County Prosecutor’s Office. The Risk & Safety Administrator reports to the Board of County Commissioners.

As an employer, Lewis County believes that employee safety is of the utmost importance. It is the policy of Lewis County to provide a place of employment reasonably free from hazards that may cause illness, injury, or death. It is also County policy to establish and conduct an effective and continuous safety program incorporating education and monitoring procedures to teach safety, correct deficiencies and provide a safe, clean working environment. The following principles support this philosophy:

• Most injuries and accidents are preventable through establishment of and compliance with safe work procedures.
• The prevention of bodily injury and safeguarding of health are the first considerations in workplace safety and are the responsibility of every employee at every level.
• Safety policies for safe procedures in all workplace functions are an essential element of the overall safety program.
• All employees at every level are responsible for knowing and following the safety practices described in written safety policies.

All County employees have a responsibility to themselves and to the County for their safety and the safety of their coworkers. All County employees are required to:

• Comply with all federal, state, and local rules and regulations relevant to their work;
• Observe all County rules and regulations related to the efficient and safe performance of their job duties;
• Integrate safety into each job function and live by this philosophy in the performance of their job duties;
• Correct and/or report unsafe equipment and practices; and
• Report any accidents that occur while on the job.

These safety guidelines have been established and are followed to comply with safety regulations from the Washington Department of Labor and Industries, based on the Washington Industrial Safety and Health Act (WISHA), and the Department of Transportation (DOT).