What is OSHA (and Does It Matter if My Employer Violates Its Rules)?

When we meet with a construction worker who has been injured on the job, we want to know which company or contractor had a responsibility to keep him safe.

Construction accidents happen when safety rules are broken. Who makes the rules? More often than not, the construction worker can’t answer that question. Before he was injured, he only focused on getting the job done.

Construction companies and contractors follow many rules that control what should happen at a construction site. Some of these rules are created in a company’s safety manual. Others are outlined in contracts between a general contractor and subcontractors.

There are also rules created by the Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA), which is managed by the U.S. Department of Labor.

What is OSHA?

OSHA was passed by Congress in 1970. OSHA’s mission is to ensure safe and helpful working conditions for working men and women. OSHA sets and enforces standards by providing training, outreach, education, and assistance to companies.

Since 1970, OSHA has issued more than 100 safety and health standards that companies across the U.S. must follow. Most workers in America are covered under OSHA.

What happens if my employer violates an OSHA Standard?

First, if you see any OSHA violations or unsafe working conditions, report them to your employer immediately. You can also file a complaint with OSHA and request that OSHA performs an inspection.

You can file an OSHA compliant anonmously. If you are fired or demoted because of the report, contact OSHA immediately. OSHA offers whistleblower protections for employees who report OSHA violations to their employers.

For every violation, OSHA prepares a report detailing the specific standards that were violated, including other violations that were found during its inspection.

By reporting an OSHA violation, you’re helping everyone at the construction site stay safe. If the violation goes unreported, the government will never know that your employer put you and your coworkers in unsafe working conditions.

Even if your employer doesn’t comply with OSHA, your anonymous reports will help hold your employer accountable if a bad construction accident does happen.

What happens if my employer doesn’t comply with OSHA?

If an employer is particularly irresponsible, it will be placed on its Severe Violator Enforcement Program (SVEP). The SVEP inspects employers who have demonstrated indifference to their OSHA obligations by willful, repeated, or failure to reduce violations.

OSHA requires employers to train construction workers on how to safely perform their job. However, there are many OSHA standards that an employee may not know. That’s why it’s important to contact a construction accident lawyer if you’re seriously injured. Your lawyer will investigate the accident to find out if a corporation violated OSHA.

Injured in a construction site accident? We’re here for you

If you or some you know was seriously injured in a construction accident, our Chicago lawyers are ready to help. We can help determine whether any companies or contractors failed to comply with OSHA standards, which put you at risk for your injuries.

Contact us today to have one of our attorneys review your construction case for free. Call us 24/7 at (312) 578-9501 or fill out a contact form on our website. We will get back to you as soon as possible.