How short-term construction labor works in Washington: a general overview

Key points

• This is general information, not legal advice. Rules change and depend on the facts.
• Many people who do construction work for others must be registered contractors with L&I.
• Local building offices, not GapCrew, decide whether a project needs a permit.

Who is who

A short-term job usually involves an owner or employer who needs work done, one or more workers, and sometimes a registered contractor in charge. Each combination changes which rules apply. A homeowner hiring a helper for a day is in a different position from a contractor adding crew to a commercial project.

Contractor registration

Washington requires many construction contractors to register with Washington Department of Labor & Industries (L&I). L&I provides a public lookup at secure.lni.wa.gov/verify to check a registration. Whether registration applies to a specific arrangement is a question for the state.

Workers' compensation and safety

L&I runs the state's workers' compensation system and enforces workplace safety and health rules through its Division of Occupational Safety and Health. Employers are responsible for a safe workplace, for training and for protective equipment, and for knowing which rules apply. Fall protection, trenching, silica and lead are examples where the details matter and are worth checking with the state.

Employed worker or independent contractor

Washington uses its own tests to decide whether someone is an employed worker or an independent contractor for different purposes, such as workers' compensation and unemployment insurance. The label used by a platform or by the two people does not decide it. Check with L&I and the Employment Security Department before relying on a particular classification.

Permits, older buildings and digging

• Permits. Cities and counties handle building permits and inspections. Ask the local office before starting.
• Older buildings. Homes built before 1978 may have lead paint, and older materials may contain asbestos. See the EPA lead program and, in the central Puget Sound area, the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency.
• Digging. Call 811 before any excavation (call811.com).

Where GapCrew fits

GapCrew helps people find each other by availability, trade and distance. It does not check permits, insurance, safety plans or classification, and it does not guarantee any worker's skill or any employer's compliance. Those remain the responsibility of the people involved.

Common questions

Sources and further reading

• Washington Department of Labor & Industries
• L&I contractor and license verification
• Washington Employment Security Department
• EPA lead program
• Call 811 before you dig

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