BELLINGHAM, WA – (KGMI.com) Workers in petroleum refineries will see new protections in Washington starting next December.

The state Department of Labor and Industries recently updated their rules to make handling dangerous chemicals safer in those refineries.

The updated rules include enforcing reviews to identify the most effective ways to handle a hazard and conducting root cause analyses after significant accidents.

L&I says they developed the new protections with input from refinery operators, worker advocates and other stakeholders through four public hearings.

The updated rules will take effect on Dec. 27, 2024.

To see the full updated list, visit the L&I website.