What are Common NE Workplace Safety Violations?
Some common workplace safety violations in Nebraska include lack of fall prevention measures, failure to communicate safety hazards, and lack of protective equipment for employees.
Workers have a right and a responsibility to report unsafe conditions in the workplace. Under Nebraska employment laws, reporting a workplace safety hazard to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is a protected activity, which means that your employer cannot fire you or punish you for doing it. Unfortunately, workplace safety hazards are a common occurrence, especially in industries like construction, where workers are often in the proximity of heavy objects that could fall, high voltage electricity, or substances that are dangerous if inhaled or if they come into contact with the skin. Workers suffer preventable injuries whether OSHA has previously cited the company for the violation or if the hazard went unreported. If you have been injured due to a preventable safety hazard at your workplace, contact the Omaha workers’ compensation lawyers at Andres Law Offices, PC LLO.
Preventing Falls in the Workplace
Many workers’ compensation claims, including a disproportionate number involving injuries resulting in permanent disability, involve workers falling from heights. Many of these injuries could be prevented if employers ensured ladder safety or provided adequate scaffolding. Employers should use scaffold-grade lumber to build the scaffolds and train workers on how to use it. Likewise, safety harnesses can prevent falls.
Protective Clothing and Other Types of Protective Equipment
If you spent any part of today in the comfort and safety of a building or motor vehicle, you can thank someone who encountered caustic chemicals, open flames, toxic fumes, or high voltage electricity in the course of their work. Employers must provide workers with adequate safety equipment to protect them from the hazards associated with their jobs. These are some types of protective equipment that can prevent work injuries and occupational diseases:
- Hard hats or helmets
- Eye protection such as goggles or visors
- Protective clothing, ranging from heat-resistant gloves to full body protective suits
- Safety harnesses
- Ear protection for workers exposed to loud noises
- Respiratory protection to prevent inhalation of harmful particles, such as asbestos dust
Not only should employers provide this equipment, but they should also formally train workers on how to use it properly.
Burnout is a Safety Hazard
Sometimes the biggest workplace safety hazard is tired, distracted employees. Just as drowsy and distracted driving increases the risk of collisions, workers who are tired from overwork are at greater risk of getting injured due to preventable accidents resulting from lack of concentration. It is important for your employer to allow you the breaks and rest periods that your industry requires.
Contact Andres Law Offices, PC LLO About Workers’ Compensation in Omaha for Preventable Work Accidents
Even if safety hazards were present at your job, you do not have to prove your employer’s negligence to get your workers’ compensation claim paid. An Omaha workers’ compensation lawyer can help you if you got injured because of a workplace safety hazard. Contact Andres Law Offices, PC LLO in Omaha, Nebraska about your case.