Weekly Updates and News Weekly (4/15/19)
This week’s contents:
Topic of the Week Health & Safety – How does the law protect you at work
- Which federal law protects me against health and safety hazards at work?
- How do I know if I am covered by OSHA?
- What are OSHA’s requirements for employers?
- Can my employer fire or punish me for reporting an injury or illness?
Which federal law protects me against health and safety hazards at work?
OSHA, short for the Occupational Safety and Health Act, is the main federal law regulating workplace safety. Put simply, OSHA gives you as an employee the right to have a safe and hazard free workplace. OSHA accomplishes this by randomly inspecting workplaces and by taking complaints directly from workers. Workers in certain states are also protected by state OSHA laws.
Here are some of the specific rights that OSHA guarantees:
- You have the right to notify your employer or OSHA about workplace hazards. You may ask OSHA to keep your name confidential.
- You have the right to request an OSHA inspection if you believe that there are unsafe and unhealthful conditions in your workplace. You or your representative may participate in the inspection.
- You can file a complaint with OSHA within 30 days of discrimination by your employer for making safety and health complaints or for exercising your rights under the OSH Act.
- You have a right to see OSHA citations issued to your employer. Your employer must post the citations at or near the place of the alleged violation.
- Your employer must correct workplace hazards by the date indicated on the citation and must certify that these hazards have been reduced or eliminated.
- You have the right to copies of your medical records or records of your exposure to toxic and harmful substances or conditions.
- Your employer must notify all employees of their right to report work-related illnesses or injuries. This obligation may also be satisfied by posting the OSHA Job Safety and Health poster.
How do I know if I am covered by OSHA?
OSHA covers almost all employees in the private sector. The main groups not covered by OSHA are government employees (the public sector), independent contractors, and those who work on family farms. State and local government agency employees are not covered by OSHA but have OSHA protections if they the state that they are working in has an OSHA- approved state program. These states include Connecticut, Illinois, Maine, New Jersey, New York, and the Virgin Islands. As for federal employees, OSHA protections apply to all federal agencies.
What are OSHA’s requirements for employers?
OSHA imposes many requirements on employers. Among the most important are the duties of the employer to:
- Provide a workplace free from serious recognized hazards and comply with OSHA regulations.
- Examine the workplace to ensure that equipment and practices conform to OSHA requirement.
- Make sure employees are properly using tools and equipment and make sure that the equipment itself is safe.
- Inform employees about potential hazards.
- Train employees in dealing with hazards.
- Report any fatal or serious injuries to OSHA within 8 hours.
- Provide employees with a reasonable procedure for reporting work-related injuries or illness.
- Keep records of workplace injuries and make these records available upon request to employees and former employees.
Can my employer fire or punish me for reporting an injury or illness?
No. OSHA rules explicitly prohibit an employer from firing or retaliating against an employee because they reported an injury or illness. An employer may fire or punish you for violating safety rules, or for violating reasonable reporting procedures. But the fact that you reported an injury or illness cannot be the reason for the punishment.
In order for OSHA to issue a citation against an employer for retaliation, the following must be true:
- The employee reported a work-related injury or illness;
- The employer took adverse action against the employee (action that would deter a reasonable person from reporting an injury or illness); and
- The employer took the adverse action because the employee reported a work-related injury or illness. (this can be proven by circumstantial evidence, as hard evidence may not exist in some cases.)
Thought of the Week
“”
–
Weekly Comic by Jerry King
Blog of the Week
Top Five News Headlines
List of the Week
from Workplace Fairness
Top Searches in Health & Safety this week:
- Smoking rights in the workplace
- Workers compensation: What to do
- Workplace health and safety protections
- Infectious diseases in the workplace
Weekly Updates and News Weekly: Archive
Select a date from the list below.
- December 28, 2020
- December 14, 2020
- December 7, 2020
- November 23, 2020
- November 16, 2020
- November 9, 2020
- November 2, 2020
- October 26, 2020
- October 12, 2020
- October 5, 2020
- September 28, 2020
- September 21, 2020
- September 14, 2020
- September 7, 2020
- August 31, 2020
- August 24, 2020
- August 17, 2020
- August 10, 2020
- July 27, 2020
- July 20, 2020
- July 13, 2020
- July 6, 2020
- June 22, 2020
- June 15, 2020
- June 1, 2020
- May 25, 2020
- May 18, 2020
- May 11, 2020
- May 4, 2020
- April 27, 2020
- April 20, 2020
- April 13, 2020
- April 6, 2020
- March 30, 2020
- March 23, 2020
- March 16, 2020
- March 9, 2020
- March 2, 2020
- February 24, 2020
- February 17, 2020
- February 10, 2020
- February 3, 2020
- January 27, 2020
- January 20, 2020
- January 13, 2020
- December 23, 2019
- December 16, 2019
- December 9, 2019
- December 2, 2019
- November 25, 2019
- November 18, 2019
- November 11, 2019
- November 4, 2019
- October 28, 2019
- October 7, 2019
- September 30, 2019
- September 16, 2019
- September 2, 2019
- August 26, 2019
- July 29, 2019
- July 15, 2019
- June 17, 2019
- June 10, 2019
- May 6, 2019
- April 29, 2019
- April 22, 2019
- April 15, 2019
- April 8, 2019
- March 25, 2019
- March 11, 2019
- March 4, 2019
- February 25, 2019
- February 18, 2019
- February 11, 2019
- January 28, 2019
- January 21, 2019
- January 14, 2019
- December 17, 2018
- December 3, 2018
- November 26, 2018
- November 5, 2018
- October 29, 2018
- October 15, 2018
- October 8, 2018
- October 1, 2018
- September 24, 2018
- September 10, 2018
- September 3, 2018
- August 29, 2018
- August 6, 2018
- July 23, 2018
- June 25, 2018
- June 18, 2018
- June 11, 2018
- June 4, 2018
- May 28, 2018
- May 21, 2018
- May 7, 2018
- April 30, 2018
- April 23, 2018
- April 16, 2018
- April 9, 2018
- April 2, 2018
- March 26, 2018
- March 19, 2018
- March 12, 2018
- February 26, 2018
- February 5, 2018
- January 29, 2018
- January 22, 2018
- January 8, 2018
- January 1, 2018
- December 18, 2017
- December 11, 2017
- December 4, 2017
- November 27, 2017
- November 13, 2017
- November 6, 2017
- October 30, 2017
- October 23, 2017
- October 16, 2017
- October 9, 2017
- October 2, 2017
- September 25, 2017
- September 18, 2017
- September 11, 2017
- September 4, 2017
- August 28, 2017
- August 21, 2017
- August 14, 2017
- August 7, 2017
- July 31, 2017
- July 24, 2017
- July 17, 2017
- July 3, 2017
- June 26, 2017
- June 12, 2017
- June 5, 2017
- May 29, 2017
- May 22, 2017
- May 15, 2017
- May 8, 2017
- May 1, 2017
- April 24, 2017
- April 19, 2017
- April 10, 2017
- April 3, 2017
- March 20, 2017
- March 13, 2017
- March 6, 2017
- February 27, 2017
- February 20, 2017
- February 13, 2017
- February 6, 2017
- January 30, 2017
- January 23, 2017
- January 16, 2017
- January 9, 2017
- January 2, 2017
- December 19, 2016
- December 12, 2016
- December 5, 2016
- November 21, 2016
- November 14, 2016
- November 7, 2016
- October 31, 2016
- October 24, 2016
- October 17, 2016
- October 10, 2016
- October 3, 2016
- September 26, 2016
- September 19, 2016
- September 12, 2016
- September 5, 2016
- August 29, 2016
- August 22, 2016
- August 15, 2016
- August 8, 2016
- August 1, 2016
- July 25, 2016
- July 18, 2016
- July 11, 2016
- July 4, 2016
- June 27, 2016
- June 20, 2016
- June 13, 2016
- June 6, 2016
- May 30, 2016
- May 23, 2016
- May 16, 2016
- May 9, 2016
- May 2, 2016
- April 25, 2016
- April 18, 2016
- April 11, 2016
- April 4, 2016
- March 28, 2016
- March 21, 2016
- March 14, 2016
- March 7, 2016
- February 29, 2016
- February 22, 2016
- February 15, 2016
- February 8, 2016
- February 1, 2016
- January 25, 2016
- January 18, 2016
- January 11, 2016
- January 4, 2016
- December 21, 2015
- December 14, 2015
- December 7, 2015
- November 30, 2015
- November 23, 2015
- November 16, 2015
- November 9, 2015
- November 2, 2015
- October 26, 2015
- October 19, 2015
- October 12, 2015
- October 5, 2015
- September 28, 2015
- September 21, 2015
- September 14, 2015
- September 7, 2015
- August 31, 2015
- August 24, 2015
- August 17, 2015
- August 10, 2015
- August 3, 2015
- July 27, 2015
- July 20, 2015
- July 13, 2015
- July 6, 2015
- June 29, 2015
- June 22, 2015
- June 15, 2015
- June 8, 2015
- June 1, 2015
- May 25, 2015
- May 18, 2015
- May 11, 2015
- May 4, 2015
- April 27, 2015
- April 20, 2015
- April 13, 2015
- April 6, 2015
- March 30, 2015
- March 23, 2015
- March 16, 2015
- March 9, 2015
- March 2, 2015
- February 23, 2015
- February 16, 2015
- February 9, 2015
- February 2, 2015
- January 26, 2015
- January 19, 2015
- January 12, 2015
- January 5, 2015
- December 29, 2014
- December 15, 2014
- December 8, 2014
- December 1, 2014
- November 7, 2014
- October 15, 2014
- October 8, 2014
- October 1, 2014
- September 24, 2014
- September 17, 2014
- September 11, 2014
- September 3, 2014
- August 19, 2014
- July 14, 2014
- June 24, 2014
- June 9, 2014
- May 26, 2014
- May 19, 2014
- May 5, 2014
- April 27, 2014
- April 14, 2014
- April 8, 2014
- April 2, 2014
- March 24, 2014
- March 18, 2014
- March 10, 2014
- March 3, 2014
- February 24, 2014
- February 17, 2014
- February 3, 2014
- January 27, 2014
- January 20, 2014
- December 30, 2013
- December 11, 2013
- December 4, 2013
- November 20, 2013
- November 12, 2013
- October 30, 2013
- October 21, 2013
- October 8, 2013
- October 1, 2013
- September 23, 2013
- September 20, 2013
- September 9, 2013
- September 4, 2013
- August 27, 2013
- August 19, 2013
- August 12, 2013
- August 5, 2013
- July 30, 2013
- July 22, 2013
- July 8, 2013
- July 1, 2013
- June 24, 2013
- June 17, 2013
- June 10, 2013
- June 3, 2013
- May 20, 2013
- May 13, 2013
- May 6, 2013
- April 29, 2013
- April 23, 2013
- April 16, 2013
- April 15, 2013
- April 8, 2013
- April 1, 2013
- March 26, 2013
- March 18, 2013
- March 12, 2013
- March 5, 2013
- February 25, 2013
- February 19, 2013
- February 4, 2013
- January 28, 2013
- January 22, 2013
- January 14, 2013
- January 7, 2013
- January 2, 2013
- December 24, 2012
- December 17, 2012
- December 10, 2012
- December 3, 2012
- November 26, 2012
- November 19, 2012
- October 29, 2012
- October 22, 2012
- October 15, 2012
- October 8, 2012
- October 1, 2012
- September 24, 2012
- September 17, 2012
- September 10, 2012
- September 4, 2012
- August 27, 2012
- August 20, 2012
- August 14, 2012
- August 6, 2012
- July 30, 2012
- July 23, 2012
- July 9, 2012
- June 19, 2012
- June 11, 2012
- June 4, 2012
- May 29, 2012
- May 21, 2012
- May 8, 2012
- April 30, 2012
- April 23, 2012
- April 16, 2012
- April 2, 2012
- March 27, 2012
- March 19, 2012
- March 13, 2012
- March 6, 2012
- February 14, 2012
- February 6, 2012
- January 30, 2012
- January 17, 2012
- January 9, 2012
- January 3, 2012
- December 27, 2011
- December 12, 2011
- November 27, 2011
- November 20, 2011
- November 13, 2011
- November 7, 2011
- October 24, 2011
- October 17, 2011
- October 10, 2011
- October 3, 2011
- September 26, 2011
- September 12, 2011
- September 5, 2011
- August 29, 2011
- August 1, 2011
- July 11, 2011
- July 4, 2011
- June 27, 2011
- June 20, 2011
- May 23, 2011
- May 9, 2011
- April 26, 2011
- April 18, 2011
- April 14, 2011
- April 5, 2011
- March 28, 2011
- March 21, 2011
- March 7, 2011
- February 28, 2011
- February 21, 2011
- February 15, 2011
- February 7, 2011
- January 24, 2011
- January 3, 2011
- December 20, 2010
- December 13, 2010
- December 6, 2010
- November 21, 2010
- November 14, 2010
- November 8, 2010
- November 1, 2010
- October 18, 2010
- October 4, 2010
- September 27, 2010
- September 20, 2010
- September 6, 2010
- August 30, 2010
- August 16, 2010
- August 9, 2010
- August 2, 2010
- July 26, 2010
- July 19, 2010
- July 12, 2010
- June 28, 2010
- June 21, 2010
- June 14, 2010
- June 7, 2010
- May 31, 2010
- May 24, 2010
- May 17, 2010
- May 10, 2010
- May 3, 2010
- April 26, 2010
- April 19, 2010
- April 12, 2010
- April 5, 2010
- March 29, 2010
- March 22, 2010
- March 15, 2010
- March 8, 2010
- March 1, 2010
- February 22, 2010
- February 14, 2010
- February 8, 2010
- February 1, 2010
- January 25, 2010
- January 18, 2010
- January 11, 2010
- January 4, 2010
- December 28, 2009
- December 21, 2009
- December 14, 2009
- December 7, 2009
- November 30, 2009
- November 22, 2009
- November 15, 2009
- November 8, 2009
- November 1, 2009
- October 26, 2009
- October 12, 2009
- October 5, 2009
- September 28, 2009
- September 21, 2009
- September 14, 2009
- September 6, 2009
- August 31, 2009
- August 17, 2009
- August 10, 2009
- August 3, 2009
- July 27, 2009
- July 20, 2009
- July 13, 2009
- July 6, 2009
- June 29, 2009
- June 22, 2009
- June 15, 2009
- June 8, 2009
- June 1, 2009
- May 25, 2009
- May 18, 2009
- May 8, 2009
- April 27, 2009
- April 20, 2009
- April 13, 2009
- April 6, 2009
- March 30, 2009
- March 23, 2009
- March 16, 2009
- March 8, 2009
- March 2, 2009