Some workplaces are safer than others, but all workplaces in California need to follow the OSHA standards in place for the workplace. OSHA standards are safety standards that employers must follow to ensure that the workplace is as safe as possible for their workers. It is important that workers are kept safe especially in industries and work environments that have inherent dangers, such as construction and manufacturing plants.
There are many different types of OSHA standards and unfortunately they are not always followed for a number of different reasons. One of them could be the cost of following the standards. Not only does it cost money to have the safety equipment, it can also increase the amount of time it takes to complete certain tasks. This is not an excuse though and employers must follow the safety standards to keep employees safe.
Most common OSHA violations
There are many different OSHA violations, but some are more common than others. For the last fiscal year the most common OSHA violations were:
- Inadequate fall protections at construction sites as well as inadequate fall protection training
- Scaffolding construction
- Ladder use
- Improper communication regarding hazards and control of hazardous energy
- Poor respiratory protections
- Violations regarding powered industrial trucks
- Eye and face protection deficiencies
- Machinery violations and violations regarding the guarding the machinery
When these violations occur, workers can be injured as a result. The injuries can be very costly for the victims of the accidents. They may require significant medical treatment, both initially and long-term. They may also miss time at work as a result and lose income as well. This means in addition to the physical problems, they may also face financial problems as they recover from the injuries.
There are many workers California who suffer workplace injuries each year. These injuries can be devastating, but injured workers may be entitled to workers’ compensation benefits. These benefits can pay for the medical expenses and a portion of the loss income as well. It is important that injured workers receive what they deserve though and consulting with experienced attorneys could be beneficial.
