| People generally go to work assuming that their | | | | Work gloves, goggles, jumpsuits, and respirators |
| employer is doing everything they can to provide | | | | are very important in many tasks that involve |
| the safest possible workplace. Unfortunately, due | | | | handling hazardous materials, and if they are not |
| to employer negligence, this is not always the | | | | provided, it puts people in harm's way |
| case. Legally, there are certain guidelines and | | | | unnecessarily. If an employer is not providing |
| procedures that employers must follow to ensure | | | | proper safety equipment and the training |
| worker safety. Even so, employees must take | | | | necessary to use and maintain it in the correct |
| their wellbeing in their own hands and make sure | | | | way, the problem should be reported. |
| that they understand the protections that their | | | | Another important step that workers can take to |
| employers should be providing. | | | | minimize the possibility of being hurt on the job is |
| One extremely valuable resource for workers to | | | | to directly ask their employer what hazards they |
| learn about workplace safety requirements is the | | | | will encounter in their everyday tasks. Proper |
| website of the Occupational Safety & Health | | | | hazard communication is a legal requirement of |
| Administration (OSHA.gov). OSHA is an office of | | | | employers, and employees should be educated |
| the United States Department of Labor and is | | | | about the risks performing their job will entail. Any |
| responsible for creating the regulations and | | | | hazardous materials should be properly labeled, |
| standards that employers must meet in regards | | | | and the company's health and workplace injury |
| to the safety of their employees. The OSHA | | | | records should be made available to all workers. |
| website gives information about regulations for | | | | If a worker has been injured on the job due to |
| particular occupations as well as forms for filing | | | | their employer's negligence, they deserve to |
| complaints, general safety and health topic | | | | receive compensation for the damages and their |
| information, and many pages of free and useful | | | | missed work time. They should not hesitate to |
| information. | | | | seek legal counseling and report the issue to the |
| In construction and other industrial fields, it is | | | | proper authorities. While the employer may be at |
| extremely important for workers to know what | | | | fault for the injury, it is the worker's responsibility |
| safety equipment their employers should provide | | | | to help create a safer environment for their |
| and how that gear should be properly utilized. | | | | coworkers by assuring the problem is corrected. |