L&I DOSH Tower Crane Safety Compliance Investigator (CISHI 3)

Tower Crane Safety Compliance Investigator (CISHI-3)

Our Mission: Keep Washington Safe and Working! Our Values: Customer Focus, One L&I, Respect, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, Learning and Growth, Reliability

*We are hiring for multiple positions in this recruitment with a desired start date of mid to late July, 2026 *

The assigned duty stations available can be one of the following locations: Seattle, Tukwila, Bellevue, or Everett, WA.

Because this is a specialized position, it has been our practice to hire in at least the mid-high range of the salary range for this job class.

In addition to the base salary above

A 2% cost of living pay increase will occur on July 1, 2026

Industrial Hygienists and Safety & Health Professionals will be compensated basic salary plus 10% for each hour they are required to use personal protective equipment (excluding hard hats, boots, hearing and eye protection) to enter a hazardous worksite to consult, inspect or investigate where serious hazards are present.

King County Premium Pay - If assigned to a permanent duty station in King County, employees will receive 5% Premium Pay calculated from their base salary.

And if bilingual, if hired as bilingual (not required), after passing an assessment of your ability to write and speak fluently. We do not use translating software. Employees with bilingual responsibilities receive a 5% increase in pay.

All Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) required for this position will be provided by L&I DOSH as specified in WAC 296-800-16020.

Help protect the lives of Washington workers by investigating some of the most complex and high-profile construction safety incidents in the state.

The Division of Occupational Safety & Health (DOSH) is seeking an experienced and highly motivated Tower Crane Safety Compliance Investigator (CISHI-3) to join our specialized crane safety team. This is an advanced-level investigator role focused on tower crane safety, regulatory compliance, and complex accident investigations in support of Washington's Tower Crane Permit and Inspection Program established under Second Substitute House Bill 2022.

This position plays a critical role in safeguarding workers, construction sites, and the public by conducting highly technical inspections and investigations involving tower cranes, mobile cranes, rigging operations, and other construction hazards. Investigators in this role serve as subject matter experts in crane safety and are entrusted with independently handling fatality investigations, serious injury investigations, compliance inspections, and enforcement actions.

If you thrive in challenging environments, enjoy investigative work, and want your expertise to directly improve workplace safety across Washington State, this is an opportunity to make a meaningful impact.

We value our employees and their work-life balance by encouraging flexible schedules. This position can be offered with a flexible schedule (4/10's, 9/80's, 5/8's etc.) once fully trained and approved by management.

For this position, teleworking is permitted on occasion dependent upon business needs and supervisor approval.

Learn more about DOSH here: 50 Years of DOSH

Some of what you will do:

As a Tower Crane Safety Compliance Investigator, you will independently conduct complex safety inspections and investigations involving tower cranes and related construction operations. Your work will directly support accident prevention, enforcement of safety standards, and the protection of workers statewide.

• Conducting investigations involving crane-related accidents and near misses
• Performing inspections and evaluations of:
  • Tower crane assembly, disassembly, and reconfiguration
  • Rigging operations
  • Fall protection systems
  • Excavation and trenching hazards
  • Machine guarding
  • Ladders and scaffolding
  • PPE and engineering controls
• Reviewing tower crane permit compliance and ensuring employers meet all operational and safety requirements
• Entering active construction worksites unannounced to conduct inspections and compliance investigations
• Gathering and preserving evidence through:
  • Interviews
  • Photographs and video
  • Field notes
  • Document review
  • Physical evidence handling
• Determining root causes and contributing factors of accidents and workplace hazards
• Writing highly detailed technical reports that support citations, penalties, and legal proceedings
• Presenting findings during opening and closing conferences with employers and employee representatives
• Working collaboratively with:
  • Engineers
  • Attorneys
  • Prosecutors
  • Safety professionals
  • Other compliance investigators
• Testifying as a primary witness in formal and informal appeal hearings
• Ensuring employers complete required hazard abatement actions
• And much more!

Driving is an essential function of this position. The incumbent is required to travel between worksites to perform assigned duties and must operate a state-issued vehicle, motor pool vehicle, or personally owned vehicle (POV), as appropriate. Use of a POV will be reimbursed at the current state mileage reimbursement rate.

Must be able to safely navigate a variety of work environments, including large manufacturing facilities with metal stairways, catwalks, ladders, and uneven terrain. Must also be able to work outdoors for extended periods in varying weather conditions, using appropriate protective gear.

What we're looking for:

• A solid desire to ensure worker safety with a thorough understanding of safety and health rules and regulations and ability to identify safety related hazards in a variety of workplaces.
• Strong written, verbal, and interpersonal communications skills with ability to write comprehensive and concise reports detailing identified hazards.
• Willing and able to work respectfully with, at times, hostile clients or customers (both internal and external) with effective listening.
• Knowledge of Safety and Health Rules and Regulations, the Washington Industrial Safety and Health Act (WISHA) and the federal government's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). The ability to explain to customers what their businesses must do to comply with these regulations without instilling fear.
• Enforcing of governmental laws, rules and regulations, and initiates enforcement actions in such a way that the public perceives as fair, objective, and reasonable.
• Perform duties safely by modeling the behavior we expect to see.

Required:

• A valid and unrestricted driver's license
• The ability to take action to learn and grow.
• The ability to take action to meet the needs of others.

And one of the following:

• A certified crane operator with 7 years' experience of operating and inspecting cranes, which includes at least 2 years of tower crane experience.

Or:

• A certified crane inspector with 7 years' experience who is accredited from one of the following: Crane Certification Association of America, North American Crane Bureau (NACB), Cal-OSHA, National Commission for the Certification of Crane Operators (NCCCO), or Washington State.

Work history experience must include primary certifier for at least 5 tower cranes.

Or:

• A qualified crane mechanic or crane technician with 7 years of experience working with and inspecting cranes, which includes at least two years of tower crane experience.

Desired:

• Bilingual preferred; persons of all languages are encouraged to apply. Bilingual jobs include a 5% salary increase for dual language responsibilities.

Research suggests that women and people of color are less likely to apply unless they are confident they meet 100% of the listed qualifications. We strongly encourage all interested individuals to apply, and allow us to evaluate your combination of knowledge, skills, and abilities demonstrated using an intentional equity lens.

Things you need to know:

State employees who meet the qualifications will become eligible for a generous retirement package at the end of the employee's career. Click on the "Benefits" tab to learn more.

At L&I, your voice matters. In addition, L&I is a diverse state agency dedicated to the safety and health and security of Washington's 3.3 million workers. Take a look at this brief video and learn more about why L&I is an employer of choice.

Application process: