Investigative reporter and photographer @CascadePBS covering labor and workplace matters, formerly of @EverettHerald @SeaTransitBloghttps://bsky.app/profile/lizzgiordano.bsky.socialhttps://bsky.app/profile/lizzgiordano.bsky.social/post/3m33lbrkwzs2kMy last story published last week, as @cascadepbsnewsroom.bsky.social sunsets its investigative team desk -- ending coverage of a company with egregious safety violations developing a $44 million Port of Longview project. One that's already had an excavator fall into a pond.https://bit.ly/4hf2Ey713 Oct 2025 15:56 +0000at://did:plc:ufufruef25werwi56csgcs4w/app.bsky.feed.post/3m33lbrkwzs2khttps://bsky.app/profile/lizzgiordano.bsky.social/post/3m2twqneycs2gbit.ly/4hf2Ey7 A Vancouver company won't face charges after a teen lost both legs operating equipment minors can not use. The prosecutor cited inability to prove "culpable mental state" despite safety violations, including $264K in fines from @lniwa.bsky.social @cascadepbsnewsroom.bsky.social https://bit.ly/4hf2Ey710 Oct 2025 15:00 +0000at://did:plc:ufufruef25werwi56csgcs4w/app.bsky.feed.post/3m2twqneycs2ghttps://bsky.app/profile/lizzgiordano.bsky.social/post/3lwwwynbmh22vOld docs, big bucks: Retired doctors are making millions examining injured workers for WA's workers' comp system. @lniwa bit.ly/461jJHJ @cascadepbsnewsroom.bsky.social https://bit.ly/461jJHJ21 Aug 2025 22:02 +0000at://did:plc:ufufruef25werwi56csgcs4w/app.bsky.feed.post/3lwwwynbmh22vhttps://bsky.app/profile/lizzgiordano.bsky.social/post/3lwweww77sc2yRetired doctors are making millions examining injured workers for WA's workers' comp system. Are elderly examiners fit for the job? One doctor billed @lniwa.bsky.social $690K in a single year. bit.ly/461jJHJ @cascadepbsnewsroom.bsky.social http://bit.ly/461jJHJ21 Aug 2025 16:38 +0000at://did:plc:ufufruef25werwi56csgcs4w/app.bsky.feed.post/3lwweww77sc2yhttps://bsky.app/profile/lizzgiordano.bsky.social/post/3lwuhf27ajc2qThe controversial Independent Medical Exam — assessments done by a third-party doctor to evaluate an injured worker’s recovery — carry significant weight. They can pause treatment or wage-replacement, and also determine the size of a settlement. @lniwa.bsky.social bit.ly/4mVbdQr https://bit.ly/4mVbdQr20 Aug 2025 22:17 +0000at://did:plc:ufufruef25werwi56csgcs4w/app.bsky.feed.post/3lwuhf27ajc2qhttps://bsky.app/profile/lizzgiordano.bsky.social/post/3lwttis6dl22wIndependent medical exams — one of the most controversial parts of WA’s workers’ comp system — often favor employers, workers say. They’re designed to give injured workers a second opinion, but also can pause treatment or wage-replacement payments. bit.ly/4mVbdQr @cascadepbs.bsky.social http://bit.ly/4mVbdQr20 Aug 2025 16:21 +0000at://did:plc:ufufruef25werwi56csgcs4w/app.bsky.feed.post/3lwttis6dl22whttps://bsky.app/profile/lizzgiordano.bsky.social/post/3lvtbngp7xk27A 16-year-old lost both legs while on the job for Rotschy operating machinery prohibited for minors. Clark County Sheriff declined criminal investigation, citing lack of victim cooperation. bit.ly/41tx2y1 @cascadepbs.bsky.social http://bit.ly/41tx2y107 Aug 2025 17:36 +0000at://did:plc:ufufruef25werwi56csgcs4w/app.bsky.feed.post/3lvtbngp7xk27https://bsky.app/profile/lizzgiordano.bsky.social/post/3lv57qmzvqs2zFederal cuts threaten 3 WA centers that protect workers in the most dangerous jobs and train safety experts. "If you have fewer trained professionals to protect workers...you're going to have more workers who are getting injured." bit.ly/3HbHJhP @uwsph.bsky.social @cascadepbsnewsroom.bsky.social https://bit.ly/3HbHJhP29 Jul 2025 23:04 +0000at://did:plc:ufufruef25werwi56csgcs4w/app.bsky.feed.post/3lv57qmzvqs2zhttps://bsky.app/profile/lizzgiordano.bsky.social/post/3lv4iptmv422gFederal cuts to close 3 centers in WA that protect workers in the most dangerous jobs and train safety experts. "If you have fewer trained professionals to protect workers...you're going to have more workers who are getting injured." bit.ly/3HbHJhP @uwsph.bsky.social @cascadepbsnewsroom.bsky.social http://bit.ly/3HbHJhP29 Jul 2025 16:12 +0000at://did:plc:ufufruef25werwi56csgcs4w/app.bsky.feed.post/3lv4iptmv422ghttps://bsky.app/profile/lizzgiordano.bsky.social/post/3lrsv7rbvvc23"L&I is on the side of the employer:"When Leticia Maldonado Reyes’ workers’ compensation claim was challenged, she became homeless and eventually took her own life disillusioned with the system. Here’s her story and how a system designed to help injured workers—can fail them. bit.ly/4e7m1aF http://bit.ly/4e7m1aF17 Jun 2025 16:13 +0000at://did:plc:ufufruef25werwi56csgcs4w/app.bsky.feed.post/3lrsv7rbvvc23https://bsky.app/profile/lizzgiordano.bsky.social/post/3lq6tb4eun22u"This was truly a preventable death — the risks were very clear." Questions remain nearly nine months after a Filipino seafarer drowned in the Columbia River. bit.ly/3SnJTwU https://bit.ly/3SnJTwU27 May 2025 23:20 +0000at://did:plc:ufufruef25werwi56csgcs4w/app.bsky.feed.post/3lq6tb4eun22uhttps://bsky.app/profile/lizzgiordano.bsky.social/post/3lq64edfzes2p"This was truly a preventable death — the risks were very clear." Questions remain nearly nine months after a Filipino seafarer drowned in the Columbia River. bit.ly/3SnJTwU @BAYAN_USA @cascadepbsnewsroom.bsky.social @cascadepbs.bsky.social https://bit.ly/3SnJTwU27 May 2025 16:30 +0000at://did:plc:ufufruef25werwi56csgcs4w/app.bsky.feed.post/3lq64edfzes2phttps://bsky.app/profile/lizzgiordano.bsky.social/post/3lnvfslkmn22g"They should have reasonably known the requirements." WA agency seeks first ever felony for violating youth labor law after teen loses both legs doing prohibited construction work. bit.ly/3Yfycf1 @cascadepbs.bsky.social https://bit.ly/3Yfycf128 Apr 2025 18:35 +0000at://did:plc:ufufruef25werwi56csgcs4w/app.bsky.feed.post/3lnvfslkmn22ghttps://bsky.app/profile/lizzgiordano.bsky.social/post/3lnq4idnrfk2l"They should have reasonably known the requirements." WA agency seeks first ever felony for violating youth labor law after teen loses both legs doing prohibited construction work. bit.ly/3Yfycf1 @cascadepbsnewsroom.bsky.social https://bit.ly/3Yfycf126 Apr 2025 16:04 +0000at://did:plc:ufufruef25werwi56csgcs4w/app.bsky.feed.post/3lnq4idnrfk2lhttps://bsky.app/profile/lizzgiordano.bsky.social/post/3lnlro5sk522b"They should have reasonably known the requirements." WA agency seeks first ever felony for violating youth labor law after teen loses both legs doing prohibited construction work. bit.ly/3Yfycf1 https://bit.ly/3Yfycf124 Apr 2025 22:40 +0000at://did:plc:ufufruef25werwi56csgcs4w/app.bsky.feed.post/3lnlro5sk522bhttps://bsky.app/profile/lizzgiordano.bsky.social/post/3lnkvawojwk2n"They should have reasonably known the requirements." WA agency seeks first ever felony for violating youth labor law after teen loses both legs doing prohibited construction work. bit.ly/3Yfycf1 @cascadepbsnewsroom.bsky.social https://bit.ly/3Yfycf124 Apr 2025 14:12 +0000at://did:plc:ufufruef25werwi56csgcs4w/app.bsky.feed.post/3lnkvawojwk2nhttps://bsky.app/profile/lizzgiordano.bsky.social/post/3lmhwverxnk2nAfter WA teen's severe injury, L&I can now block a company with past labor and safety violations from receiving a special permit that allows minors to perform some dangerous tasks. @CascadePBSNews bit.ly/44hJJy4 https://bit.ly/44hJJy410 Apr 2025 16:38 +0000at://did:plc:ufufruef25werwi56csgcs4w/app.bsky.feed.post/3lmhwverxnk2nhttps://bsky.app/profile/lizzgiordano.bsky.social/post/3lmfexeyfg22qLabor & Industries can now block a company with past labor and safety violations from receiving a special permit that allows minors to perform some dangerous tasks. @CascadePBSNews bit.ly/44hJJy4 https://bit.ly/44hJJy409 Apr 2025 16:12 +0000at://did:plc:ufufruef25werwi56csgcs4w/app.bsky.feed.post/3lmfexeyfg22qhttps://bsky.app/profile/lizzgiordano.bsky.social/post/3lkt3g3c4uc2oTransparency or privacy? L&I says the law protects witnesses, while advocates contend it prevents scrutiny of serious incidents and investigations. WA keeps details of severe workplace injuries, deaths from public.20 Mar 2025 16:08 +0000at://did:plc:ufufruef25werwi56csgcs4w/app.bsky.feed.post/3lkt3g3c4uc2ohttps://bsky.app/profile/lizzgiordano.bsky.social/post/3lkqlk5chnc2uTransparency or privacy? L&I says the law protects witnesses, while advocates contend it prevents scrutiny of serious incidents and investigations. https://www.cascadepbs.org/investigations/2025/03/wa-keeps-details-severe-workplace-injuries-deaths-public19 Mar 2025 16:18 +0000at://did:plc:ufufruef25werwi56csgcs4w/app.bsky.feed.post/3lkqlk5chnc2uhttps://bsky.app/profile/lizzgiordano.bsky.social/post/3lkbjttbkws22Rep Fosse’s bill to tighten youth labor laws made it past this week’s cut off. HB1644 would set minimum penalty amounts and bans companies with a history of serious safety violations from hiring minors. It now sits in the Senate’s Labor & Commerce Committee. bit.ly/41ajAj5 #waleg https://bit.ly/41ajAj513 Mar 2025 16:38 +0000at://did:plc:ufufruef25werwi56csgcs4w/app.bsky.feed.post/3lkbjttbkws22https://bsky.app/profile/lizzgiordano.bsky.social/post/3ljq5ijxlok2wWA ties workplace safety fines increases to inflation to catch up with national rates, but the boost will still keep amounts way behind the average. https://www.cascadepbs.org/briefs/2025/03/wa-raises-workplace-safety-fines-catch-national-rates06 Mar 2025 18:42 +0000at://did:plc:ufufruef25werwi56csgcs4w/app.bsky.feed.post/3ljq5ijxlok2whttps://bsky.app/profile/lizzgiordano.bsky.social/post/3ljnw4mnck222WA ties workplace safety fines increases to inflation to catch up with national rates, but likely will still lag behind. https://www.cascadepbs.org/briefs/2025/03/wa-raises-workplace-safety-fines-catch-national-rates05 Mar 2025 21:24 +0000at://did:plc:ufufruef25werwi56csgcs4w/app.bsky.feed.post/3ljnw4mnck222https://bsky.app/profile/lizzgiordano.bsky.social/post/3li646bkwkk2jRecommended reading for the weekend; A little peek into one journalist’s road to covering the alt-right. https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2025/02/trump-musk-alt-right-fascism-psychological-war.html14 Feb 2025 21:05 +0000at://did:plc:ufufruef25werwi56csgcs4w/app.bsky.feed.post/3li646bkwkk2jhttps://bsky.app/profile/lizzgiordano.bsky.social/post/3lhu7zczdhk2lThe bill comes after a teen lost both legs on a worksite for a school work program in the summer of 2023. bit.ly/41ajAj5 HB1644 would set minimum penalty amounts and bans companies with a history of serious safety violations from hiring minors. #waleg @cascadepbsnewsroom.bsky.social https://bit.ly/41ajAj510 Feb 2025 22:47 +0000at://did:plc:ufufruef25werwi56csgcs4w/app.bsky.feed.post/3lhu7zczdhk2lhttps://bsky.app/profile/lizzgiordano.bsky.social/post/3lhtqg3xx4s27The bill comes after a teen lost both legs on a worksite for a school work program in the summer of 2023. bit.ly/41ajAj5 HB1644 would set minimum penalty amounts and bans companies with a history of serious safety violations from hiring minors. #waleg @cascadepbsnewsroom.bsky.social https://bit.ly/41ajAj510 Feb 2025 18:08 +0000at://did:plc:ufufruef25werwi56csgcs4w/app.bsky.feed.post/3lhtqg3xx4s27https://bsky.app/profile/lizzgiordano.bsky.social/post/3lhjm5der4k23Cle Elum goes for broke: The story of a small town and a large settlement that needs to be paid. @CascadePBSNews https://www.cascadepbs.org/politics/2025/02/how-22m-judgment-against-cle-elum-pushed-city-bankruptcy06 Feb 2025 17:25 +0000at://did:plc:ufufruef25werwi56csgcs4w/app.bsky.feed.post/3lhjm5der4k23https://bsky.app/profile/lizzgiordano.bsky.social/post/3lhfabkk4m22pAlways, Always....Always click the link. In an effort to keep records secret the company running the Northwest ICE Processing Center in WA accidentally makes the records publicly accessible #ICE t.co/3w2QhbvnXl https://t.co/3w2QhbvnXl04 Feb 2025 23:42 +0000at://did:plc:ufufruef25werwi56csgcs4w/app.bsky.feed.post/3lhfabkk4m22phttps://bsky.app/profile/lizzgiordano.bsky.social/post/3lhee7f5yq22xIn an effort to keep records secret the company running the Northwest ICE Processing Center in WA accidentally makes the records publicly accessible #ICE Always Always Always click the link. bit.ly/3EmySYW https://bit.ly/3EmySYW04 Feb 2025 15:19 +0000at://did:plc:ufufruef25werwi56csgcs4w/app.bsky.feed.post/3lhee7f5yq22x