Every employee in the United States has the right to work in safe working environments. This is regulated by OHSA (the Occupational Safety and Health Administration), which assures safe and healthful working conditions for employees. Sadly, many workplaces are unsafe, and employees are injured on a daily basis.
If you believe that your working conditions are unsafe, you may have the right to file a complaint. Consult with our Los Angeles employment law attorneys today, schedule your free initial consultation and receive a free case review and legal support.
Here is how you can know that you are working in an unsafe environment.
Three Types of Hazards
Generally speaking, there are 3 common types of hazards that you should be aware of at all times. These include:
- Ergonomic hazards
- Chemical hazards
- Biological hazards
Ergonomic hazards are usually related to the way your job strains your entire body. This includes repetitive motions, working in awkward positions or lifting heavy objects (which are located above your head). Other elements may involve bad lighting and working in unsafe and irregular positions.
Chemical hazards are related to direct exposure to chemicals in the workplace. These can be solid, liquid or gas chemicals. Also, cleaning products may include chemicals and other solvents, vapours, fumes, flammable materials, carbon monoxide, gasoline, and asbestos. Any exposure to these chemicals can have lasting effects on your body and cause you permanent damage.
Biological hazards come from working with people, plants or animals. These usually involve blood, fluids, bacteria and viruses, insect and animal bites, and droppings.
Each of these types of hazards is a threat to everyone in the workplace. If any of the above-mentioned is present at your workplace, it can be classified as an unsafe working environment. You have the right to file a good-faith complaint against the conditions in your workplace. If there is no response from the company or your superiors, the next step is filing a complaint with the OHSA.
Other Examples of Unsafe Working Conditions
There are many other examples of unsafe working conditions. Some of them include:
- Failure to balance materials properly
- Failure to use safety devices (also a failure in their maintenance)
- Improper lifting
- Failure to train employees
- Failure to use personal protective equipment (or failure in gear/tool maintenance)
- Operating machinery without proper training
- Operating machinery at unsafe speeds
- Operating machinery in violation of safe working conditions
- Overloading machinery
- Overloading materials
- Smoking in restricted areas
- Removing or disabling guards and safety devices on equipment (or machinery)
- Using tools or equipment in an unsafe way
- Using tools, machinery or equipment without proper training or authority
- Using unapproved tools
- Using defective tools or equipment
- Mislabeling chemicals
If you believe that your working conditions are unsafe, remember that you have the legal right to file a complaint against your employer. Contact our employment attorneys in Los Angeles today, and let us help you file a claim and seek compensation for having to work in unsafe working conditions.