Workers in health care, construction, mining, warehouse, and manufacturing know the kind of danger they face in the workplace. They know theirs is not an ordinary job where they sit in front of the computer. But come to think of it, even sedentary work is fast becoming a hazardous job since too much sitting down can cause injuries as well. People from all walks of life find themselves in awkward situations at work. Employers rarely care about the well-being of the employees, though the well-being trend is becoming a requirement in the workforce.
Thankfully, there are legal protections that you can enjoy if you work in a hazardous work environment. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has rules and guidelines that companies need to follow. Whether you’re in the road safety or mining or construction industry, OSHA has safety protocols to ensure the protection of the workers. Are you sure that the company is following these rules? Were you made aware of the dangers of the job you are signing up for?
Check the Job Contract
The legal component of these jobs is even more important than the compensation package. That’s why it’s worth taking a look at the job contract. What are your responsibilities? What are the assurances from the company? Was the organization upfront about the kind of job you need to do and how hazardous it could be at certain times? Far too many instances have happened when employees need to seek a PI attorney because the company didn’t want to take responsibility for its workers.
While workers can win these lawsuits, the amount of time, money, and energy they have to pour into pursuing such lawsuits is overwhelming. Not everyone can spend time and money on running after an employer. So, always check the job contract—what protection the employer provides—before signing your name on it.
Follow the Guidelines
What is the use of the organization being strict with the safety guidelines if you are not going to follow them? As much as it is the responsibility of the company to ensure the safety of the workers, the employees must also adhere to these rules. Most of the time, when workers get too comfortable and confident with their abilities at work, they forgot to follow these rules strictly. Even supervisors and managers are guilty of this.
Employees sometimes collude to make the process easier for them. For example, in a warehouse, instead of turning off the forklifts, pallet jacks, and service carts, they’ll make them idle. This way, they don’t have to turn them back on when they have to use them. These usually cause accidents that lead to serious and fatal injuries.
Workers are legally bound to follow safety and health protocols in the workplace. The guidelines will not work on their own even if organizations get strict about their implementation. It is up to the workers themselves to adhere to these rules. If not, they could be held legally liable for untoward incidences in the workplace.
Talk to the Management
Whenever there’s a problem with the safety protocols in the company, you have to talk to the management. You have to raise the problems with them so that they can make the appropriate adjustments to the rules. The management should act immediately if there are problems with the way the safety guidelines are being enforced. They need to call the attention of the supervisors and managers who oversee the operations in the company.
When the management does not address the problems, that’s when you have to seek legal advice. A lawyer will tell you what needs to be done when a company does not follow the OSHA guidelines. The OSHA can call the attention of the company in question or file appropriate charges if they continue to disregard the rules.
Knowledge Is Power
When it comes to the hazard you face in the workplace, knowledge is your ultimate power. Knowing what you have to protect yourself from will be your best armor against falling victim to flawed organizational structure and reckless safety measures. Even before you join an organization, remember to ingrain in yourself what you must and mustn’t do.
The legal components of being in unsafe and inadequate working conditions sometimes put off workers and organizations. However, the protection of workers falls on the shoulders of both the employees and the business owners. If you know your legal rights, you will be in a better place to protect yourself amid unsafe environments.
