AGC Group Retro has certified workers-compensation claims consultants who know the RCWs, WACs, case law, L&I policies and internal departmental practices to help facilitate action and resolve outstanding issues on claims. AGC consultants can represent you on protests with L&I and appeals up through mediation at the Board of Industrial Insurance Appeals (BIIA).  Our staff have a high success rate at resolving claims in mediation, and work seamlessly with attorneys in cases that go to hearing.

AGC claims consultants review members’ workers-compensation claims and target those with work restrictions for purposes of assisting with light-duty accommodation and kept-on-salary efforts. We also review occupational-disease claims to ensure that a complete employment history is utilized in assessing liability, and that the doctor has clarified work activities contributing to development of the condition at hand.  

Our claims consultants may travel to jobsites to talk with employees or management about the L&I claims processes, effective loss-control practices, and the importance of on-going communication when an injury or disease happens. We emphasize early reporting of claims and near-miss incidents to help facilitate and reinforce a pronounced safety culture.

AGC provides the most advanced light-duty services in the state. A major emphasis is the study of the laws and rules applicable to construction, of which all employees are to have a working knowledge. After the initial study of core L&I safety rules, duties can be customized so that injured workers can receive CPR/first-aid certification, flagger certification, CDL certification and building-inspector certification in addition to construction math, introduction to blueprint reading, proper lifting techniques, as well as opportunity to study for and complete their GED, if applicable. Employers also can send blueprints or other materials for their injured employees to work on or study while in the center.

Training perk: If a Retro member wants to send an employee to obtain one of the many certifications offered in the centers, they can make arrangements with the AGC center manager to do so.

AGC’s four light-duty jobsite centers are located in Seattle, Tacoma, Spokane and Arlington. Additionally, we contract with FACT Consulting to provide a light-duty jobsite center in Yakima. See the list of these centers below.

For injured employees restricted from travel, or for employers desiring to have the employee at their office, we have a mobile light-duty program. AGC Group Retro consultants do all the leg work, sending the job analysis and list of duties to the doctor, and the job-offer letter to the worker (directions to the light-duty jobsite center, etc.) — via both certified and regular mail. Additionally, our consultants work with the department, physicians, attorneys and the injured worker to help facilitate their return to work. 

There is no fee for AGC Group Retro participants enrolled in an open plan year.

For information on our Mobile Light-Duty program, call or email Howard Hoefs at 509.893.1443.

If workers are not released to return to their job of injury and do not have transferable skills within their permanent restrictions, they may be entitled to L&I vocational-retraining benefits. To provide injured craftspeople with an opportunity to remain in construction while earning a more comparable salary, there are four retraining programs approved by L&I: Safety Coordinator, Assistant Project Manager, L&I Risk Manager and Building Inspector. These programs involve time in the centers and on-the-job training (OJT). The L&I Risk Manager and  Building Inspector positions were designed at L&I’s request and involve on-the-job training (OJT) with the Department of Labor and Industries. 

Many people completing vocational-retraining programs are unable to get placed with an employer right away, but 90 percent of our program graduates are directly placed with an employer upon program completion. 

Companies interested in providing OJT for safety coordinator or assistant project manager positions should contact Lauren Gubbe at 253.280.0135. This is a great opportunity to assist an injured tradesperson with staying in the industry while receiving some help at your jobsite for a decreased rate of pay. L&I makes up the difference in wages to any worker sustaining a loss of earning power of 5% or more. Additionally, if workers are certified as Preferred Workers, L&I does not charge you an accident fund or medical-aid fund premium for OJT participants’ man-hours (nor is the worker charged their portion of the medical-aid fund).

Also, L&I provides indemnification from any claim liability for a preferred worker for up to three years. The Department provides this premium break and indemnification of claim liability to employers who provide OJT and/or companies hiring Preferred Workers as an incentive to help keep people in the workforce who have sustained a permanent restriction as a result of an on-the-job injury or disease.

Think tanks are roundtable discussions regarding L&I issues where staff and members share best practices and lessons learned. There is also a variety of loss-control workshops available on demand, as well as an annual experience-modification rate (EMR) workshop where projected rates for the new year are provided.  

Seattle
(Physical) 1100 Westlake Avenue N  –  Seattle WA  98109
(Street) 1200 Westlake Avenue N, Suite 301  –  Seattle WA  98109
Email: violet@agcwa.com
Phone: 206.812.4860       Fax: 206.285.4546 
Monday – Friday, 6:00 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. 

Spokane
9212 East Montgomery, Suite 103, Spokane Valley WA  99206
Email: howard@agcwa.com
Phone: 509.893.1443       Fax: 509.893.1459 
Monday – Friday, 6:00 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. 

Tacoma
3640 S. Cedar Street, Suite G
Tacoma WA  98409
E-mail: nate@agcwa.com
Phone 253.472.6521
Monday – Friday, 6:00 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. 

Yakima
FACT Consulting Services
112 West Nob Hill Boulevard, Yakima WA  98902
Phone: 509.248.2373      Fax: 509.248.2884
Monday – Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. 

Arlington
3405 172nd Street NE, #8
Arlington WA  98223
Phone: 360.454.0353
Email: craig@agcwa.com
Monday – Friday, 6:00 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. 

For job-analysis assistance and/or more information, please contact AGC Group Retro at 888.22.RETRO, or by fax at 888.73.RETRO.