Despite averaging 32,000 inspections by the Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA), more than 4,500 workers are still injured or killed in the workplace each year.
Workplace injuries may be caused by preventable or non-preventable hazards. All employees in the private sector are entitled to a workplace free from hazards, and employers are obligated to examine the workplace to be sure it meets state and federal standards.
Through the Occupational Safety and Health Act, OSHA sets standards and regulates and enforces the rules to protect workers from injury and illness. OSHA standards cover four areas of safety: general industry, maritime, construction, and agriculture.
All employees have a right to a safe workplace, and employers must inform workers about hazards and how to deal with them. Injury reporting procedures and injury recordkeeping must be carried out by the employer.
That may also include legal protections against workplace violence, infectious diseases, smoking in the workplace, and more.
Understanding Health & Safety Rights
When you sign an employee contract, you are legally given a number of rights. At their most basic, those rights include:
- Training in a language you comprehend
- Working on machines that have been approved for safe use
- Provision of safety gear when climbing or handling toxic chemicals
- Requesting an OSHA inspection
ELA also helps protect whistleblowers from retaliation. Filing an anonymous complaint regarding unsafe or unfair practices means that you cannot be subjected to the following by your employer:
- Demotion or termination
- Reduction in hours or pay
- Denial of overtime, promotion, or benefits
- Intimidation, threat, or harassment
Top 10 OSHA Citations of 2016:
- Fall protection
- Hazard communication
- Scaffolds
- Respiratory protection
- Lockout/tagout
- Powered industrial trucks
- Ladders
- Machine guarding
- Electrical wiring
- Electrical, general requirements
Filing a Workers’ Compensation Claim
Workers compensation claims provide funds for work-related injury or occupational disease. Legal action may be able to recover funds for the following:
- Wage replacement
- Medical treatment
- Temporary disability
- Permanent disability
- Vocational rehabilitation
- Additional benefits
It’s important to note the laws vary from state-to-state, and there are specific requirements and deadlines to file a workers’ compensation claim.
Your rights to a safe and healthy work environment begin the moment you sign your employee contract.