Since the introduction of the Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA) in 1970, employee health and safety in the workplace has become a hot topic for employers who now must, by law, ensure that their employees are protected from workplace dangers. Employers must ensure that the work environment is free from:
• Exposure to toxic chemicals
• Excessive noise levels
• Mechanical dangers
• Extreme temperatures
• Unhygienic conditions
To develop a safe working environment, employers must adopt certain OSH working practices. These include ensuring employees are trained to use the machinery and equipment that workers use to carry out their role, having clear established guidelines for processes and procedures and providing personal protective equipment for the workers.
While the OSHA has led to a decrease in the numbers of people who suffer from a workplace injury, there is still room for improvement. According to the latest statistics (from 2017) from the Department of Labor, there were over 2.8 million non-fatal workplace injuries reported in private industry alone. This equates to 2.8 cases per 100 workers.
If you have sustained either an injury or illness while fulfilling your work obligations, it is important that you take the following steps.
• Seek medical treatment
Of course, your first step should be to seek medical treatment for your injury. You must ensure that you seek qualified medical advice as what you may think is a minor injury can cause lifelong issues if not treated properly. If you are able, it is a good idea to take pictures of the circumstances of the accident or injury occurring. This will document the equipment being used and the conditions you were working in. Make note of witnesses and colleagues who attended you.
• Officially report the accident
It is vital that you officially report the accident. There are two reasons for this. The first is to enable the employer to improve current health and safety practices to ensure that the accident doesn’t happen to someone else. The second reason is that if you later decide to make a claim for compensation through a firm such as the-compensation-experts.co.uk, the facts of your claim cannot be disputed.
Most organizations have procedures for reporting workplace accidents, you need to make sure that you are compliant, and follow their guidance so that you have fulfilled your obligations. Make sure that the accident is recorded in the accident log; reporting an accident is an important duty.
• Journal your symptoms, losses and costs
You must keep a journal of your symptoms, not just a record of the immediate aftermath of the injury. Doctors and hospitals do not always keep thorough notes of every symptom, they tend to deal with the ones that are immediately significant. The passage of time can bring out additional problems that relate to the initial injury and memories can fade. You should also journal any financial losses your injury has caused you.
If you have suffered an injury from your workplace, you risk not only losing income but your long-term health. Employers have a duty of care for their employees, and so it is vital that you take these steps to protect your position.