Whistleblower complaints to OSHA increased by 30 percent for the first half of 2020, according to The National Law Review. This was compared to data from the previous year. Employers are responsible for all aspects of workplace health and safety. But some parts of this sometimes get overlooked, especially the legal side of things. Whether you’re an employer or employee, here are some facts you must know about workplace health and safety.
The Current State Of American Workplace Health And Safety Laws
Currently, As of the time of this writing, 221 states and Puerto Rico have enacted an OSHA-approved State Plan that covers both private and state workplaces. 5 states and the Virgin Islands have state plans that cover only the public sector. 24 states, as well as Guam, American Samoa, The Northern Marianas, and the District of Columbia rely on the baseline of federal regulations. However, some of those 24 states have taken their own steps to improve workplace safety.
Texas is one such example, having adopted hazard communication requirements for the public sector and agricultural workplaces. Other ordinances have also been enacted across these federal OSHA states. One of these is requiring that high-hazard workplaces have appropriate worker’s compensation insurance. Regular safety consultations are also strongly advised. In some states, it is mandatory for workplaces to submit accident prevention plans.
Employers’ Health And Safety Obligations As Defined By OSHA
Their main obligation is to inform and train employees as much as possible about every hazard in their line of work. If it is in their power to neutralize any of these hazards, they must do so as soon as possible. Precautionary Appropriate precautionary measures, such as safety gear, should be set in place and approved by the regular safety inspections. Accident records should be kept as objectively and accurately as possible. These records must be made available for viewing if requested.
Employees have the right to be familiarized with the health and safety laws the company must abide by. The company is also compelled to give employees a means to file a complaint with complete confidentiality and without fear of retaliation. OSHA encourages whistleblowing and has numerous protections in place to shelter whistleblowers against retaliation. But despite this, it is best to consult a workplace injury lawyer to ensure the success of your appeal, according to a law firm in the Rio Grande Valley, Texas.
What Businesses Stand To Gain From Enforcing Strict Workplace Health And Safety
Besides being a moral duty, there are also some significant benefits to observing strict workplace safety. First, it lets businesses avoid unnecessary legal trouble. It also improves financial efficiency through better productivity and employee morale. Workers who are assured in the safety nets that are in place often work more confidently and smoothly overall. Proof that you have strong workplace safety measures, combined with proper record-keeping, ensures that you get as many benefits from your insurance as possible. If employees claim worker’s comp lower than the industry average, the business will enjoy a significant reduction in premium payments.
In the modern work landscape, the importance of health and safety cannot be stressed enough. Both employees and employers must equip themselves with the knowledge and tools needed to ensure that the workflow moves along without a hitch.
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