All employees in Pennsylvania and across the United States have the right to work in an environment free of known dangers. Whether employees are working with hazardous materials nearby, with powerful machinery or any other potential danger, employees should know that safeguards are in place to protect them.
Since 1970, the United States have protected employees with The Occupational Safety and Health Administration, or OSHA, to train and inform both employees and employers on maintaining a safe a healthy workforce. The Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 provides a series of standards and laws aimed at providing clear and concise regulations to protect workers from harm and businesses from liabilities. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration will also address claims of negligence, including testing for hazardous materials or investigating a jobsite to see if any violations occurred following an accident to make certain businesses are in compliance of OSHA regulations. In addition, OSHA protects employees from retaliation or discrimination if a complaint has been filed.
The administration also provides signs for employees and employers to be posted at the workplace, and keeps a record of work-related injuries at each business.
OSHA helps maintain a safe working environment for all employees, since both accidents and negligence are possible. If a worker has suffered from a workplace injury and believes the injury may have been caused due to the negligence of his or her employer, that worker may have the right to seek compensation for his or her injuries through the workers’ compensation system or otherwise. In addition to pain and suffering, an injured worker can seek compensation for medical bills and lost wages.
Source: . FindLaw, “Workplace Safety: OSHA and OSH Act Overview” Accessed June 2, 2015