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Updated for 2026 Regulations

Washington State Compliance Training
Requirements 2026

Navigate WA Food Worker Card requirements, L&I workplace safety, and hotel employee safety laws with state-approved online courses.
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  • WA State Approved
  • Full Compliance Requirements
  • Washington
  • 4 Compliance Requirements

Compliance Requirements

Each area below connects directly to employer policies, training requirements, recordkeeping, and workforce management.

Washington Food Worker Card

ALL employees who handle, prepare, or serve food in Washington food service establishments
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Requirements

  • Valid Food Worker Card must be obtained within 14 days of starting work
  • Level 1 Card valid for 2 years; Level 2 Card valid for 3 years
  • Covers: personal hygiene, safe food temperatures, cross-contamination prevention, cleaning and sanitizing
  • Available in multiple languages; online training and testing available
  • Card issued by Washington State Department of Health

Key Standards

WAC 246-215-02115; Washington Food Worker Card Act (RCW 69.06); WA Dept. of Health

Penalties

Health code violations; establishment citations and fines from county/local health departments

Deadline: Within 14 days of starting work in food service. Renewal per card level (2 or 3 years).

Safety Orientation Made Simple

All Washington State employers
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Requirements

  • New-employee safety orientation required at hire under the WISHA Accident Prevention Program (APP)
  • Core orientation topics: hazard awareness, personal protective equipment (PPE), and ergonomics
  • Electrical safety, bloodborne pathogens, and basic first-aid awareness for applicable roles
  • Hazard Communication for employees exposed to hazardous chemicals
  • Refresher training when job assignments or workplace hazards change

Key Standards

Washington Industrial Safety and Health Act (WISHA), RCW 49.17; WAC 296-800-14005 (Accident Prevention Program + safety orientation); WAC Title 296

Penalties

Up to $7,000 per serious violation; up to $70,000 for willful violations; criminal penalties for egregious cases

Deadline: At hire and as required by applicable WAC standards. APP must be maintained and reviewed regularly.

Lone Worker, Parts 1-2

Hotels with 60 or more guest rooms; lodging establishment employees assigned to work alone
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Requirements

  • Identify lone-work scenarios and assess the health & safety risks for employees who work alone
  • Provide panic buttons or personal safety devices to isolated employees in guest rooms
  • Lone-worker safety training: risk awareness, check-in & monitoring procedures, responding to threats
  • Maintain a written workplace-safety and anti-harassment policy covering isolated workers
  • Record and review all reported incidents

Key Standards

RCW 49.12 (HB 2930, effective January 1, 2020); WAC 296-831

Penalties

WA L&I enforcement; civil suits; employee lawsuits for retaliation or failure to protect

Deadline: Effective January 1, 2020 — must be in compliance now. Annual training thereafter.

Washington Paid Family and Medical Leave (WA PFML)

All Washington employers with 1 or more employees

Requirements

  • Provide written notice of WA PFML rights to all employees at hire
  • Display required PFML poster in the workplace
  • Train HR and managers on leave administration, tracking, and anti-retaliation
  • Employers with 50+ employees: contribute employer share of PFML premium

Key Standards

RCW 50A (Washington Paid Family and Medical Leave Act, effective January 2020); WA ESD guidance

Penalties

WA Employment Security Department enforcement; penalties for non-payment; retaliation claims

Deadline: Employee notice at hire. Contributions began Jan 1, 2019; benefits effective Jan 1, 2020.

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Required Courses for Washington

6 courses mapped to the compliance areas above

Washington Compliance Essentials

All required and recommended courses for complete Washington coverage

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Sexual Harassment in the Workplace National

This interactive course equips employees with the knowledge to recognize harassment, take appropriate action, and support a respectful and inclusive work environment through realistic scenarios, interactive exercises, and assessments.

  • 60 mins
  • Online, Self-Paced
  • Certificate of Completion

$9.95 per person

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Preventing Sexual Harassment for Managers Course

Because managers act on behalf of their employer, they have heightened responsibilities for preventing and responding to sexual harassment. This course covers recognizing misconduct, responding to complaints, and meeting the training requirements enacted by federal, state, and local lawmakers.

  • 60 mins
  • Online, Self-Paced
  • Certificate of Completion

$14.95 per person

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Food Handler Training Course (Food Worker Card prep)

Our online Food Handlers training course provides ANSI accredited, video-based learning to teach you what you need to know about food safety.

  • 120 mins
  • Online, Self-Paced
  • Certificate of Completion

$10.00 per person

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Workplace Violence Prevention Made Simple for Managers

Equips managers to prevent and react to violence on the job — covering the OSHA mandate on workplace violence, the behaviors considered workplace violence by the Department of Labor, workplace bullying, and how to respond as a leader.

  • 30 mins
  • Online, Self-Paced
  • Certificate of Completion

$9.95 per person

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Workplace Violence Prevention Made Simple Course

Over 2 million people in the United States are victims of violence at work every year. This course trains employees to prevent and react to violence on the job, covering the OSHA mandate on workplace violence, workplace bullying, and the behaviors the Department of Labor considers workplace violence.

  • 30 mins
  • Online, Self-Paced
  • Certificate of Completion

$9.95 per person

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OSHA 10: General Industry

This DOL-recognized, OSHA-authorized 10-hour program covers walking-working surfaces, electrical safety, lockout/tagout, machine guarding, hazard communication under GHS, PPE, emergency action plans, and more — fully aligned with 29 CFR Part 1910.

  • 600 mins
  • Online, Self-Paced
  • Certificate of Completion

$59.00 per person

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Multi-State Considerations

Multi-state employers face differences across jurisdictions in definitions, coverage thresholds, employee protections, documentation requirements, and enforcement approaches. Washington obligations apply based on where work is performed, where an employee resides, and how a role is structured. A state-specific approach prevents Washington standards from being diluted by broad national policies while supporting consistent governance across the organization.

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Frequently asked questions

Under WAC 246-215-02115, all food workers in Washington must obtain a valid Food Worker Card from the Washington State Department of Health within 14 days of starting work. The card is valid for 2–3 years depending on level and covers food safety essentials.

WISHA (Washington Industrial Safety and Health Act, RCW 49.17) is Washington's state OSHA plan administered by WA L&I. WISHA adopts all federal OSHA standards and adds state-specific requirements. WA L&I often enforces more strictly than federal OSHA and has some stricter standards.

Hotels with 60 or more guest rooms that employ workers who work alone in guest rooms must provide panic buttons, annual violence prevention training, and maintain a written anti-harassment policy under RCW 49.12 (effective Jan 1, 2020).

Washington RCW 49.60 provides strong anti-discrimination and anti-harassment protections. While there is no blanket mandatory training requirement for all employers (except hotel/motel under HB 2930), the Silenced No More Act (HB 1795, 2022) significantly expanded employee rights. Training is strongly recommended and required for hospitality employers.

WA PFML (RCW 50A) requires all employers to notify employees of their rights, maintain workplace posters, and train HR/managers on leave administration. Employers with 50+ employees must also pay an employer premium contribution. Benefits of up to 12 weeks paid leave became available January 1, 2020.

Level 1 cards are valid for 2 years; Level 2 cards (with additional training) are valid for 3 years. Online renewal is available through the WA DOH.

WA L&I can impose penalties up to $7,000 per serious violation and up to $70,000 for willful violations. Criminal penalties apply in egregious cases resulting in worker fatalities.

Yes. All Washington employers must have a written Accident Prevention Program (APP) under WAC 296-800-14005. The APP must describe hazard identification, control procedures, and training — similar to a federal OSHA IIPP.

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