Employers in Oklahoma have to provide safe work environments for their employees at all times. Furthermore, all known hazards should be addressed, and with compliance to the safety regulations as prescribed by the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), devastating workplace accidents may be avoided. The actions of a business owner in another state were recently regarded as despicable by OSHA after an investigation into a workplace accident that led to the death of a worker.
Workplace accidents: Blatant disregard of rules leads to fatality
Fair compensation after workplace injuries may need legal assista
When workers' compensation laws initially became effective, they was touted as an equal exchange between employers and workers. According to the law, workers who suffered workplace injuries are, in general, barred from filing lawsuits against their employers. Employers must provide employees with workers' compensation insurance coverage. Injured workers may pursue claims for benefits for medical care, related costs and lost wages to enable them to provide for their families.
Workplace accidents: Worker injured by falling drywall sheets
Oklahoma construction workers are likely reminded of the safety hazards they face whenever they learn about the death or serious injury of a worker on another construction site. Providing safe work environments and following prescribed safety regulations are the responsibilities of company owners. Unfortunately, many employers give preference to profits over the safety of their workers, and workers are sometimes unable to rely on their employers to protect them from workplace accidents.