If you’re dealing with unsafe conditions in your workplace, here are some insights and suggested steps to take.
As an employee, you have the right to a safe workplace free from any accidents or hazards.
When your employer provides an unsafe work environment, it may can cause illness, injury, or even death to all the employees working in their premises. This is one of the reasons why an Occupational Safety and Health Act is in place – to protect employees from the unsafe conditions in the workplace.
Typically, the Occupational Safety and Health Act refers to a federal statute requiring employers to keep a workplace that’s safe and free from dangerous conditions. Commonly known as OSHA, it establishes safety standards that businesses should follow for the protection of their employees while at work. These can include the implementation of workplace safety training.
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Due to the enforcement of this statute, employees like you who are aware of the unsafety of their workplace can do the following things to improve the conditions and prevent illness, injuries, or death among the workforce:
Primarily, an unsafe working environment refers to a situation when a certain employee can’t perform their duties and responsibilities because the physical workplace conditions are unsafe and dangerous. Examples of these conditions can include broken equipment, hazardous materials, exposed wirings, and many more.
Thus, if you’ve been hurt on the job due to some dangerous or unsafe conditions in the workplace, you may speak to a reputable lawyer to educate you about your rights as well as the legal remedies available to your situation. To better understand the things you should do when injured at work, you may visit this link for more information.
Now that you know what an unsafe work environment is, it’s time to get familiar with the things you can do about this situation.
These can include:
When you notice some unsafe working conditions that can place your life in imminent danger, then it’s best to refuse to go to work to protect yourself from the accidents or injuries you may sustain as a result thereof. In most cases, you can refuse to work under the following specific circumstances:
In case the conditions don’t pose an imminent danger, you should immediately report the problem to the employer in writing. You can course through the report by notifying your supervisor and the human resource department. However, if your employer fails to address the condition within a reasonable time, it’s time to file a complaint with OSHA or the proper occupational safety agency in your state.
In doing so, the OSHA regulations provide protection by prohibiting your employer from retaliating against you for reporting a violation. This means they can’t demote, reduce your pay, and fire you because you filed a complaint regarding the unsafe working conditions in your workplace.
If you have a hard time dealing with dangerous conditions in the workplace, it’s best if you seek legal help from an experienced lawyer in your area. They can help you understand your rights as an employee, including the right to work in a safe environment. You can ask friends who they recommend or explore a firm like Wyllie Spears which would be able to assist with any legal questions and cases you may be wanting to pursue.
For instance, you may require the assistance of a sex crime lawyer in case you’ve decided to file a complaint against your employer whose been sexually harassing you. They can provide some invaluable advice as to the subject matter involved and make sure your employer’s workplace safety violations will be dealt accordingly through the following:
Lastly, when you’re hurt because of dangerous workplace conditions, having them by your side means helping you determine whether to sue your employer in court by filing a personal injury lawsuit or to continue negotiating with them by filing a workers’ compensation claim.
Indeed, dangerous working conditions as well as imminent danger, are serious matters that employees and employers should never take lightly. Hence, if you’re an employee and have been exposed to these issues, the things mentioned above can help safeguard you from the consequences of getting hurt on the job as a result of unsafe conditions at work.
David Rowland, Head of Digital Marketing at Eco Online, notes that, “Safety culture must be the cornerstone of any health and safety program. This is because it serves as the foundation for all health and safety achievements. To achieve this, an organization must work to change the attitudes and behaviors of its workforce.”
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