Who We Help: Pierce County’s Highest-Risk Industries for L&I Claims
Pierce County’s economy runs on a smaller set of industries than King County’s, which makes it easier to speak directly to the workers most likely to need an L&I attorney in Tacoma.
Port of Tacoma
The Port of Tacoma, combined with the Northwest Seaport Alliance’s South Harbor operations, supports over 41,000 jobs in the region: longshore workers, truck drivers, railroad crews, freight forwarders, cranesmen, clerks, maintenance workers, and security officers. As with any port, some maritime roles fall under the federal Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act rather than Washington L&I, while landside jobs like trucking, clerical work, and maintenance are typically covered by state L&I. Knowing which system actually applies to a given job is often the first thing that gets missed in a Port of Tacoma injury claim.
JBLM-Adjacent Employers
Joint Base Lewis-McChord is Pierce County’s largest employer, supporting roughly 15,000 civilian jobs on-base and tens of thousands more through the surrounding contractor economy — construction is the single largest category of defense contract spending tied to the base. Active-duty military members aren’t covered by L&I, and many direct federal civilian employees fall under a separate federal system (FECA) rather than state L&I. But the large base of private contractors and civilian businesses that serve JBLM, construction crews, logistics, facilities, food service, are generally covered by state L&I like any other Washington employer. That distinction trips people up constantly, and it’s worth spelling out for anyone searching for help near the base.
Healthcare
MultiCare Tacoma General is the largest hospital in Tacoma and the region’s Level II trauma center, with Virginia Mason Franciscan Health’s St. Joseph Medical Center as the other major system in the county. As in any hospital system, patient handling and lifting injuries, needlesticks, slips, and workplace violence are the most common sources of L&I claims among nurses, aides, and support staff.
