When you go to work at your Pennsylvania job, you have the right to be safe and to be prepared for any dangers that may come your way while working. Too many people are injured or killed on the job each year, and employers have a responsibility to you to make sure you are safe. According to the United States Department of Labor Occupational Safety and Health Administration, there are a few things you can expect from your employer and if you are not getting it, you may be in danger.
Your employer should be regularly examining the workplace to determine if it is up to standards set by the government. This is particularly important in industries that are more dangerous, such as construction. Employers should provide a workplace without identified hazards. Posters, labels, signs and color codes should be used to identify potential hazards in the workplace so employees can avoid them.
Employers are also required to provide safety training in a vocabulary and language that you understand. Procedures should be established and updated regularly, and employees should be notified about them immediately. If there are hazardous chemicals in your workplace, your employer should have a written communication program for situations when employees are exposed to the chemicals.
Medical examinations and training are also required under government standards. Records of work-related illnesses and injuries should be kept by the employer, although those with less than ten employees are not required to meet this standard.
If you are an employee and feel your employer is not providing a safe environment for you or your colleagues to work, you have the option to exercise your rights. The employer must not discriminate against you for being the whistleblower.
This is intended for educational purposes and should not be interpreted as legal advice.
