The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is a regulatory agency of the United States Department of Labor that was originally established to inspect and examine the health and safety of workplaces. Now, OSHA has enforced standards and provides training and education to further promote the health and safety of workplaces. So, when a violation occurs, a workplace injury is likely to follow. Continue reading to learn what is considered an OSHA violation and how an experienced Fayetteville, Arkansas work injury lawyer at Knapp Law Firm can help you through this situation.
What is an example of an OSHA violation?
Whether it be on construction sites, oil refineries, warehouses, offices, or otherwise, work injuries occur more often than you may realize. And with that, these injuries tend to occur due to the negligence of an employer. Such negligence can be seen by directly violating the safety standards that OSHA has set forth.
Notably, OSHA released the most commonly cited safety standards violations of 2022. They read as follows:
- Failing to comply with when and where fall protection is required.
- Failing to comply with what safety systems and hazard controls must be used to prevent falls.
- Failing to comply with how to classify and label workplace chemicals.
- Failing to comply with how to train on how to handle workplace chemicals.
- Failing to comply with how to keep written workplace hazard communication plans.
- Failing to comply with how to keep respiratory protection programs.
- Failing to comply with how to train on how to select, fit, clean, use, maintain, and repair respirators.
- Failing to comply with how to use ladders, extension ladders, job-made wooden ladders, and step ladders.
What should I do if I am injured due to a violation?
If you believe your job is unsafe, then you must file a complaint with OSHA. From here, OSHA will investigate your workplace and take the measures necessary to rectify it. These measures may go as far as fining your employer or ordering work to stop. You should not be afraid to report your employer, as OSHA will provide you with whistleblower protections.
And in the unfortunate event that you are injured due to your unsafe workplace, then you must file a workers’ compensation claim. Importantly, you must report your injury to your employer within 30 days. From here, you must file your workers’ compensation claim within three years from the date of your accident.
In the end, you cannot miss out on the opportunity to recover your lost wages, medical bills, and other damages. We recommend that you retain the services of a skilled Fayetteville, Arkansas personal injury lawyer. What’s more, your initial consultation with us is free. So give the Knapp Law Firm a call today.
