This series is used within the Department of Labor and Industries. Positions perform a variety of professional-level duties related to the Washington State Industrial Insurance Laws. Duties may include underwriting and managing State Fund workers’ compensation accounts determining whether employers are mandated to have accounts; assigning complex risk classification for new and established accounts; managing claims under each account; consulting with employers on options and risk; use of mathematical reasoning when analyzing deficiencies, errors, and calculating and adjusting rates; making final determinations regarding refunds of accounts, including updating employers' claims.

In the Department of Labor and Industries, within an in-training capacity, underwrites, manages, audits, educates and consults on State Fund workers’ compensation policy, accounts, and risk classification under the Washington State Industrial Insurance Laws for Level 1 Complexity.

In an in-training capacity, positions at this level work under close supervision to underwrite and manage the State Fund workers’ compensation policies/accounts for Level 1 complexity. This first level of the training concentrates on gaining knowledge and experience with Level 1 complexity and advances to the Industrial Insurance Underwriter 2. 

Note: Level 1 complexity factors are determined by the Department of Labor and Industries’ industry level/major operations matrix. 

First point of contact for assigned group of employers; responds to employers’ questions about the Department of Labor and Industries services; 

Establishes new State Fund workers’ compensation policies and accounts, determines proper coverage, evaluates jurisdiction status, assigns risk classification and corresponding rate, and determines appropriate experience rating level; 

Performs the necessary accounting functions involved in maintaining employer policies and accounts; analyzes deficiencies and errors reported by policy holders and makes corrections; analyzes organization changes if indicated and makes proper determination as to action required; 

Manages established policies and accounts; updates policy and account information such as adding/deleting risk classifications, investigating ownership changes, approving elective coverage and authorizing experience transfer, evaluating employer liability status, and assigning risk classification to industrial insurance claims; 

Analyzes, calculates, and adjusts rates and premiums resulting from experience consolidations, third party recovery, second injury relief, claim overpayments, occupational disease claims and risk class conversions, and authorizes issuing of a bill statement to policy holder; authorizes re-evaluation of case reserves when the current reserve results in inequitable rates for the policy and account holders; 

Initiates legal action for unregistered employers for claim cost penalties to bring unregistered employers into compliance;

Resolves issues of employers at lowest level; receives protests and conducts research and analysis to determine whether or not to investigate and/or audit an employer account to make final determination on the employer’s appropriate risk class, rating, and financial balance; reviews and investigates employer notification of claims charged in error; reassigns claim to appropriate account to ensure proper assessment;

Conducts analysis to identify and present insurance options for employers; educates and consults with employers on insurance options, risks, and cost saving measures; provides information on Labor and Industries services; determines and initiates the necessary referrals to other services offered by the department;

May perform underwriting functions by on-site inspection of employer’s operations for determination of proper risk classifications based on job hazard(s) of business and/or employees; 

Performs other related duties as required.

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. 

Persons legally authorized to work in the U.S. under federal law, including Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals recipients, are eligible for employment unless prohibited by other state or federal law.

A Bachelor’s degree with a field of focus involving tax liabilities, insurance benefits, risk classification, accounting or bookkeeping, research, statistical or management analysis or related fields;

Note: Additional qualifying experience may substitute year for year, for the required education. This experience must include one year of direct customer service.

New class, replaces 13844 Industrial Insurance Underwriter Assistant, 13845 Industrial Insurance Underwriter 1, effective January 1, 2006

Revised salary range, class series concept, definition, typical work, desirable qualifications and added distinguishing characteristics; adopted June 30, 2017; effective July 1, 2017.

Revised Legal Requirements; effective June 6, 2024, due to adopted legislative action.