Mar 27, 2020
How Employers Can Create a Safe and Healthy Workplace
Employers have a professional and legal responsibility to maintain a safe and healthy work environment. Failing to fulfill this responsibility can lead to injuries, and potentially, workers’ compensation claims.
If you are an employer, you need to provide your workers with the tools to do their job safely and be cognizant of regulations. If you are an employee, identifying unsafe conditions in your place of work can help protect yourself and your coworkers.
Properly Training Employees
Workplace safety starts before an employee fully knows how to do their job. Upon hiring, workers must be provided with proper training so they know not only how to fulfill their job responsibilities, but how to do so safely. This is especially important for jobs that are inherently very high-risk, such as construction and manufacturing.
Similarly, employers must be sure to hire new employees who are competent. Safety is the responsibility of everyone at a company — a negligently hired or trained worker can cause workplace accidents and injuries.
Providing Safety Equipment
In addition to giving employees the educational materials they need to do their job, employers should provide the tangible materials that employees need to prevent injury. This may include wearable safety equipment, ergonomic desk accessories, or company vehicles. All provided equipment must be well-maintained to ensure safe and effective operation.
Adhering to Compliance Regulations
In some industries, workplaces must adhere to regulations on equipment use, noise volume, air quality, and other factors that could impact the health and wellness of employees. Violations of these regulations by employers can harm workers, and potentially result in legal penalties.
Employer Liability for Unsafe Working Conditions
Workers’ compensation is a no-fault system, so liability is generally not considered during claims. Even if employer negligence is identified as the cause of injury, their fault may not have any effect on a claim.
You may be entitled to additional compensation if your employer negligently created unsafe working conditions and contributed to your injuries. Generally, compensation is only available outside of the workers’ compensation system if an employer was exceptionally negligent or intentionally harmful. The possibility of employer liability will vary between cases.
At Hansford McDaniel LLC, our attorneys exclusively focus on workers’ compensation law. We’re available to discuss the details of your work injury case.
If you are interested in speaking with our legal team, call (770) 741-2825 or complete our contact form to schedule a free consultation with our lawyers.
