Is Your Workplace Dangerous?

Jun 29,2018

Workplace injuries are unfortunately common occurrences in the U.S. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics states that there were 2.9 million nonfatal workplace injuries and illnesses reported in 2016. Are all workplace injuries preventable? No—sometimes accidents happen. However, many of them can be prevented, especially if workers and employees both make the effort to keep conditions safe.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has set forth several regulations businesses must abide by, to protect the health and safety of employees. Some of these include posting an OSHA job safety notice in the workplace, providing all necessary safety training to employees, providing a safe workplace free of hazards, and keeping a record of workplace injuries and deaths.

Reporting Dangerous Conditions to OSHA

If you are working in conditions you believe are dangerous and go against OSHA regulations, you should report the dangerous conditions to your employer and to OSHA. Remember that you have the right to refuse to work under conditions that violate OSHA standards. Thus, if there is a logical reason to believe a condition is a substantial, immediate risk to your health or safety and you did not have a reasonable alternative, or if your employer is aware of a dangerous condition and refuses to fix it, you have the right to refuse to work.

If a dangerous condition does not pose an immediate danger but is still a hazard, you should inform your employer of the danger in writing. If the employer fails to fix the problem, you should then file a complaint through OSHA. According to OSHA regulations, your employer cannot fire you, demote you or reduce your wages for reporting a violation to the agency.

“All employees have the right to a safe working environment. If that is not the case for you, you should immediately report any health or safety violations to the appropriate authorities,” said Attorney Walter Clark, founder of Walter Clark Legal Group.

Our firm has been handling personal injury cases throughout the California Low Desert and High Desert communities for over 30 years. With a 95% success rate, the California personal injury attorneys at Walter Clark Legal Group will fight to hold those responsible for your loss accountable and win compensation to cover medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering. If you have been injured and want to discuss your legal options, contact us today for a free consultation with an experienced personal injury lawyer. We have offices in Indio, Rancho Mirage, Victorville, El Centro, and Yucca Valley, and represent clients through the entire California Low Desert and High Desert communities.

DISCLAIMER: The Walter Clark Legal Group blog is intended for general information purposes only and is not intended as legal or medical advice. References to laws are based on general legal practices and vary by location. Information reported comes from secondary news sources. We do handle these types of cases, but whether or not the individuals and/or loved ones involved in these accidents choose to be represented by a law firm is a personal choice we respect. Should you find any of the information incorrect, we welcome you to contact us with corrections.