Workplace safety for employees, rights and protections.
If you are a business owner pay attention to this blog. The Occupational Health and Safety Act requires as part of its 10 and 30 Hour safety training to include Worker Rights and Protections. OSHA protects employees from employers failing to protect employees facing an uncontrolled hazard in the work place.
Why do I say business owners pay attention? OSHA requires the employer to provide a safe work place. Say an employee points out an uncontrolled hazard in the work place. If the employer’s first reaction is What? Nonsense! Get back to work! Wrong response.
If the employer promptly fixes the issue and the hazard is eliminated this is a win for the employer and employee. If the employer does not remedy the hazard and takes steps against the employee OSHA may become involved to protect the employees right to a safe work place.
Avoid the potential for an OSHA workplace complaint being filed by the employee. Knowing the employee has a right to a workplace free of known safety hazards should motivate you to keep a work place safe. AND, if an employee points out a safety hazard, thank them and take prompt steps to correct the situation. This situation is way more beneficial to an injury or OSHA involvement.