See Compliance Industrial Safety and Health Investigator 1.

Supervises lower-level positions within this series and may lead all levels of enforcement investigations or supervises Reassumption Hearing Officers as a working supervisor.

As the regulatory expert in the work unit, positions at this level have the most regulatory knowledge and best understanding of safety and health case law and regulatory practices. Inspections/investigations at this level are of unusual complexity or pose unusual problems. Supervisors may lead multidisciplinary teams, which may include engineers and other types of DOSH positions.

Ensures that compliance authority follows agency and Division of Occupational Safety and Health policy using highly technical scientific and regulatory case law knowledge in completing investigation reports with documentation of violations and penalties.

In accordance with Chapter 49.17 RCW, only Labor & Industries staff exercise compliance authority in completing investigation reports with documentation of violations and penalties including Orders and Notices of Immediate Restraint

Oversees, directs and supervises inspection and investigation work done by CISHI positions, ranging from routine to highly complex cases;

Oversees, directs and supervises RHO’s in the appeals unit;

Reviews and approves investigation, activity, and inspection reports;

Maintains consistency of inspections, investigations, citations and policies;

Responsible for and approves staff issuance of stop work orders and the posting of Orders and Notices of Immediate Restraint;

Prepares warrants for staff to take to judges when compliance staff are refused entry to places of business;

Approves the issuance of compliance citation and notices with penalties from investigators in their unit;

Trains and guides staff on all aspects of investigations, to include negotiating with employers;

Ensures staff evaluate hazard severities and probabilities and properly assigned history and good faith of employers;

Ensures proper classification of violations (e.g., repeat histories, willfulness and/or egregious);

Advises staff on investigation strategies considering case law, advanced accident investigation training, and methods that are in alignment with the National Traffic and Safety Board/Federal Aviation Administration, including techniques for evidence collection, witness interviews, jurisdictional assessment, etc.;

Leads teams conducting catastrophic workplace accident/incident investigations;

Coordinates regional field inspection and investigation activities with other DOSH and regional teams;

Completes required justification documentation and appears in superior court for warrant requests or civil cases; initiates and serves warrants and subpoenas;

Assists staff when challenges arise regarding communicating or working with third party employer representatives, industry groups, attorneys, employee representatives and unions;

Ensures proper calculation of violation penalties for issuance of investigation citation and notices;

Works with other regulatory agencies with jurisdiction or federal agencies such as the United States Chemical Safety Board;

Works with staff and management to obtain secure storage facilities for evidence handling.

Knowledge of: Report writing skills, use of computers and the internet to complete work product. Regulatory experience in applying occupational safety and health case law while conducting investigations; leadership practices; supervisory policies and practices; advanced level of assessment, sampling and direct measuring techniques for chemical and physical hazards, engineering principles as they apply to industrial processes and occupational hazards. Investigative interviewing and root cause analysis for effective accident investigations. Sampling and direct measuring techniques for chemical and physical hazards, noise and non-ionizing radiation; industrial processes and occupational hazards; chemicals exposure assessment, chemical by-products and their air contamination potential; hazard potential of dusts, gases, vapors, noise and non-ionizing radiation; routine analytical procedures. Knowledge of safety hazards such as falls from heights, trenches and excavation, and machine guarding. Knowledge of the different means to eliminate or control hazards identified during inspections/investigations. Extensive knowledge of many industries, or expert knowledge of specific industries. Knowledge of supervisory techniques, leadership principles, human resources processes, recruitment and hiring procedures, resources for staff, and the collective bargaining agreement.

Ability to: Ability to follow DOSH regulatory and procedural policy manuals. Ability to learn, use and apply advance legal theory and occupational safety and health and employment case law in decision-making. Explain technical procedures and findings in language a layperson can understand establish and maintain effective working relationships with representatives of management and labor; use industrial hygiene sampling equipment such as gas and vapor detectors, noise dosimeters and direct reading instruments; speak effectively; write clear, concise reports. Ability to conduct effective investigative interviews and apply root-cause analysis principles. Ability to effectively communicate expectations to employees and mentor them to be successful in meeting them. Ability to train staff in a field environment. Ability to support unpopular management decisions and new job tasks.

There may be instances where individual positions must have additional licenses or certification. It is the employer’s responsibility to ensure the appropriate licenses/certifications are obtained for each position.

Six years’ experience as a DOSH Compliance Industrial Safety and Health Investigator, one of which must be at the CISHI 3 or 4 level or equivalent experience as a Federal OSHA or other state plan journey-level safety and health specialist or industrial hygienist.


Seven years of full-time experience as an employer’s safety director or manager, industrial hygienist, safety and health specialist, safety and health specialist, etc.


Eight years of full-time journey level occupational/industrial safety experience in one or more of the following industries: Government, military, public health or related safety and health field.


One year of supervisory experience.

Must possess a valid and unrestricted driver license.

Some positions may require certification as a Certified Safety Professional granted by the Board of Certified Safety Professionals, Certified Industrial Hygienist granted by the American Board of Industrial Hygiene, Doctorate of Medicine from graduate Medical School accepted for licensure in the state of Washington, Certified Marine Chemist granted by the National Fire Protection Association, or their equivalent in Europe or the United Kingdom.

New class adopted June 22, 2023; effective July 1, 2023.