State makes money on storm damage

While thousands of trees lie in backyards, across fences and on city streets, the Washington Department of Labor and Industries is at work checking the dozens of tree removal crews for proper paperwork, proper gear and proper training.

In the process, most of those tree removal teams are being fined for minor infraction of the rules.

L&I has sent out word to all of its offices in Western Washington to inspect all crews working on tree and brush clean-up. One local crew, which had all of its paperwork in order and had all of the necessary safety gear, was fined $300 because one worker wasn’t wearing the proper pants.

This state agency, is under orders, to increase its revenue stream, as are all of the state agencies. Responding to the storm and the damage left behind, L&I told its inspectors to strictly interpret the law and issue citations instead of warnings.