Dangerous NJ / NY Worksite Conditions: What Can You Do?
When you work construction in New York or New Jersey for any length of time, there is a good chance you will eventually encounter an unsafe environment. This could be in the form of faulty equipment, unsafe structures, or lack of supervision and oversight. When found in this situation, many workers are unsure of what to do. Do you risk disdain and retaliation by informing your employer, or do you risk injury and do nothing at all? Knowing your rights on the job can help you determine the best course of action and prevent future accidents.
According to OSHA, you have a right to a safe work environment. When there are unsafe conditions, you can do something about it. Their first recommendation is to bring the problem to the attention of your employer. Your employer doesn’t want to be held responsible if an accident happens and will likely be appreciative of your observation.
However, there are other options if you don’t want to go to your employer or if your employer fails to act on the unsafe conditions.
The OSHA website states:
The Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 gives employees and their representatives the right to file a complaint and request an OSHA inspection of their workplace if they believe there is a serious hazard or their employer is not following OSHA standards. Further, the Act gives complainants the right to request that their names not be revealed to their employers.
Complaints from employees and their representatives are taken seriously by OSHA. It is against the law for an employer to fire, demote, transfer, or discriminate in any way against a worker for filing a complaint or using other OSHA rights.
The website includes links that allow workers to file complaints and to contact OSHA directly.
Many people are scared to alert OSHA to problems at their job, for fear of retaliation or trouble on their work site. The decision to file a complaint or to even notify your employer is yours alone. However, if the work environment is truly unsafe, your action could prevent an accident.
Construction Accidents and the Ginarte Law Firm
Sometimes no one is alerted to unsafe working conditions. Sometimes, the safety violations or problems aren’t realized until after an accident occurs. When this happens, serious physical injuries can occur.
The NY / NJ construction accident attorneys with the Ginarte Law Firm have represented numerous construction workers in New York and New Jersey after they were injured on a jobsite. We know what you are going through as you try to recover both physically and mentally. Such accidents can change your life.
In many cases, the company you work for, the equipment manufacturer and other parties can be held responsible for your construction accident. If you’ve been hurt and you are curious whether or not you might be entitled to compensation, contact us today. Call 888-GINARTE to speak with an attorney about your accident or use our online contact form.
