Most employers try to maintain a safe working environment for their employees. Indeed, they have a legal duty to keep the workplace reasonably safe. Still, accidents and injuries can happen at any workplace. When they do, the consequences can be devastating for workers and their families. Fortunately, protections are also available to help injured workers after they have been injured in a workplace accident.
The Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 is a federal law that provides important protections for workers. It provides for strict health and safety standards in the workplace and training programs to ensure workplace safety, reducing dangers to workers in the workplace. Most workplace accidents are preventable, but still occur because of falls, chemical exposure, explosions and electrocution injuries. A variety of other workplace injuries can also harm workers who are simply trying to earn a living each day at their job.
Workplace injuries can include: slip and fall injuries; exposure to toxic agents; electrocutions; scaffolding accidents; injuries from falling objects; injuries from falling debris; collapse and crush injuries; injuries from unsafe machinery; and forklift or other equipment accidents. All of these different types of workplace injuries can leave injured workers with medical expenses and lost earnings, as well as other types of harm, such as disability, depending on the circumstances.
Workers’ compensation benefits can help injured workers with the different types of harm they have suffered in a workplace accident. In some circumstances, if a third party was responsible for the harm suffered by the worker, the injured worker may have a personal injury claim for damages as well.
