Avoid Workplace Injury
Watertown, NY — Your employer has a legal duty to provide a safe work environment that is free of hazardous conditions, toxic substances, and other potential dangers. At Stanley Law Offices in Watertown, NY, our workplace injury attorneys can help you learn how to spot the hazards lurking in your workplace. Assessing workplace safety procedures, identifying risks, and eliminating these hazards can keep you and your coworkers safer.
Your Employer’s Responsibilities
A vital aspect of workplace safety is the regular maintenance and repair of machinery and equipment, especially in industrial settings and on construction sites. If you see that something is broken or malfunctioning, make sure to report it to a supervisor right away. Many people also become injured at work due to falling objects, slipping on wet surfaces, or falling from defective or in disrepair ladders, scaffolding, or stairs.
Proper employee training, adequate protective gear, and implementing best practices and procedures for workplace safety, injuries, and accidents are all effective ways to prevent injury. Providing employee training for first aid and CPR and having a portable defibrillator on hand can also save lives. Your employer should have written procedures for what to do in case of a workplace accident or injury. If written procedures aren’t available, ask for a verbal explanation.
Assessing The Safety Of Your Workplace
There are many different factors to take into account when determining whether any dangerous conditions exist at your job, and as an employee, you also have a duty to act responsibly to prevent workplace injuries. Behaving in a reckless manner, horsing around or failing to follow proper procedure can cause serious injury and even death. Making sure you and others are appropriately trained to operate equipment and perform your duties and staying informed of proper procedure in the event of an injury or accident can greatly improve workplace safety. Take a look around your workplace and ask yourself a few questions:
- Are machinery, equipment and tools in good working order?
- Is all equipment properly operated, cleaned, maintained and inspected?
- Are the premises safe, or do any floors, stairs, windows or other areas need to be repaired?
- Do you have the protective gear you need? Is it in functional condition?
- Are other employees properly trained and performing their duties safely?
- Are there any dangerous chemicals that are improperly secured or not being handled correctly?
- Is there a first aid kit readily available in your workplace?
- Is providing a safe work environment a priority for your employer?
- Has management responded positively and fixed safety issues in the past?
If anything is amiss, speak up and take appropriate precautions to protect yourself and others. If problems and safety issues persist, you can make an anonymous complaint with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). Being proactive about making things safer for everyone is well worth the effort.
Workplace Safety As A Factor In Workers’ Compensation Cases
When you file a workers’ compensation claim, you’re typically prohibited from bringing a personal injury claim against your employer. However, if your employer hasn’t taken the action required to create an appropriate standard of workplace safety, they may be liable if you are injured due to their negligence. If your injury was caused by defective equipment, you may be able to recover compensation from the parts manufacturer, product manufacturer and distributor of the product by filing a product liability claim. A workplace injury attorney can assess your case and determine which avenues are viable for recovering maximum compensation.
Contact An Experienced Workplace Injury Attorney in Watertown, NY
On-the-job-injuries can have far-reaching consequences that affect your long-term physical, emotional and financial health. If you’ve been injured or have lost a loved one in a workplace accident, contact Stanley Law Offices of Watertown, NY, online or call 800-608-3333 to schedule a FREE consultation with a workplace injury attorney. Se habla español.
