- April 30, 2019
When you go to work, you should expect to be in safe working conditions. You shouldn’t have to worry about getting hurt while you’re trying to do your job. Too many people get hurt at work every year. You don’t want to become another statistic.
The problem is, a lot of people don’t know what to do if they do work in unsafe working conditions, Or, they’re afraid they’ll get in trouble if they do report it. This is why so many people keep their mouths shut and end up getting hurt.
Depending on the type of work you do, you may already work in dangerous work conditions. For example, construction workers understand that they may be forced to work in unsafe work conditions. For other industries, however, there’s no excuse for this to happen.
If you notice that your workplace is unsafe, you really should report it. You want to make sure that you and your coworkers don’t get injured.
OSHA is the Agency That Oversees Unsafe Workplaces
If you want to report an unsafe work condition, you can do so in a few ways. You will more than likely want to report it directly to OSHA. You can do this on the phone, by fax or online. All you have to do is download the violation form, complete it and return it to OSHA.
OSHA guarantees that they’ll keep the identity of anyone who reports a complain confidential. However, some people are still afraid of what may happen if they get caught reporting their employer.
If you’re afraid to report it yourself, the following people can report it on your behalf:
- Attorney
- Social worker
- Labor union representative
- Spouse
- Government official
Anyone of these individuals can report a safety violation.
What Industries Does OSHA Oversee?
For the most part, there are certain industries that create dangerous work conditions. OSHA makes a point of ensuring that these industries keep their employees safe. The main industries that OSHA concerns itself with are:
- Industry
- Construction
- Maritime
- Agriculture
The reason these industries are targeted is because, historically, they’re the most dangerous industries.
They create very specific rules that employers in these industries must comply with. Some of these requirements are:
- Employees have the right to medical exposure records of their employer
- Employees are entitled to and required to wear personal protective equipment
- All hazard potentials must be investigated and reported
If you work in any of these industries and notice an unsafe working condition, you should contact OSHA and report it.
Even if you don’t work in one of these industries, you’re still protected. OSHA requires that all employers, regardless of type, offer a safe workplace environment that doesn’t present the risk of serious bodily harm or death to its employees.
If You’re Not Comfortable Reporting an Unsafe Condition, Have Your Louisiana Injury Lawyer Handle It for You
If you feel able to report the unsafe working condition yourself, you can easily do so. Just go online and fill out the complaint form. However, if you’re not comfortable doing this, contact a Louisiana injury lawyer to do it for you.
Your attorney is allowed to report an unsafe condition on your behalf. He can reach out to a representative at OSHA and let them know what’s going on. He can also follow up to make sure that the issue is corrected.
Your lawyer will recommend that you talk to your employer first before you report a violation. This is for two reasons: it’s courteous and it may get the problem corrected faster. If you can get the issue corrected right away, you’re better off.
If, however, you don’t feel safe reporting the issue to your employer, your attorney can do it for you. He can try to get the problem fixed without having to reveal your identity.
Contact a Louisiana Injury Lawyer Today
If you’re dealing with an unsafe condition at work, you need to report it. If you aren’t comfortable doing this, contact a Louisiana injury lawyer today. He can reach out to OSHA and make sure the violation is reported. He can also reach out to your employer to try to get the issue corrected.
Call and schedule a consultation with a Louisiana injury lawyer today. Sit down with an experienced attorney who know what your rights are under the law. Injury lawyers are well versed in OSHA regulations and have no problem helping you protect your rights.