The Occupational Safety & Health Administration, or OSHA as most people have come to know it by, is the governmental agency responsible for the application of the Occupational Safety and Health Act. OSHA is an agency under the U.S. Department of Labor and was established with the passing of the OSH Act. The organization covers most private businesses in the U.S. as well as 27 states. One of the main areas of interest for OSHA is the safety of workers. In accomplishing this goal OSHA will perform inspections of work sites for safety and other violations.
Under OSHA employers are responsible for providing a safe and healthful work place and it is OSHA’s job to make sure employers follow through with their responsibility. When performing an on-site inspection OSHA prioritizes imminent dangers, worker complaints and fatalities. Once an inspection has been completed OSHA will inform the employer of any violations. The most common violations range from fall and respiratory protection to machine guarding and electrical protections.
Workers who are injured due to a dangerous work site can not only file for workers compensation but can report the violation to OSHA. A violation of an OSHA standard can be grounds for a negligence claim against an employer even if they had no prior knowledge of the danger. This is because employers covered by OSHA are responsible for complying with OSHA standards and the general duty clause of the OSH Act.
Those who are injured on the job whether by pure accident or due to dangerous working conditions have the right to apply for workers compensation.
