Washington Administrative Code
Title 296 - Labor and Industries, Department of
Chapter 296-17A - Classifications for Washington workers' compensation insurance
Section 296-17A-6510 - Classification 6510

6510-00 Domestic workers/home care assistants employed in or about the private residence of a home owner

Applies to:

Individuals employed by a home owner to provide domestic services/home care assistants in or about the home owner's private residence.

Services include, but are not limited to:

* Cooking;

* Gardening;

* Housekeeping;

* Care of animals not used for a business at the homeowner's residence;

* Caring for children;

* Caring for the elderly;

* Caring for people with disabilities including personal care such as bathing, body care, dressing and help with ambulating, as well as companionship;

* Shopping;

* Running errands;

* Caretaker at homeowner's residence; and

* Transporting members of the household by vehicle to appointments, after school activities, or similar activities.

Domestic workers and caretakers under this classification are exempt from mandatory coverage as specified in RCW 51.12.020:

* Any person employed as a domestic worker in a private home by an employer who has less than two employees regularly employed 40 or more hours a week in such employment.

* Any person employed to do gardening, maintenance, or repair, in or about the private home of the employer.

Employers of domestic workers and caretakers exempt from mandatory coverage may elect coverage.

Exclusions:

* Businesses whose nature of business is providing chore services are classified in 6511;

* Domestic (residential) cleaning or janitorial businesses are classified in 6602;

* Lawn and yard maintenance businesses are classified in 0308;

* Skilled or semiskilled nursing care is classified in 6110; and

* Worker hours engaged in new construction are reported separately in the classification applicable to the phase of construction.