Know your rights: Is your workplace a safe place?

Image source: 3480g.com

You have the right to a safe workplace.  And if your workplace isn’t safe, you have the right to complain about it.  While some jobs may be more hazardous than others, it’s best that you make sure yours is as safe as possible. 

Image source: huffingtonpost.com

This is a very important public service reminder, especially for people who work in construction sites, where statistics have shown a rather high frequency of accidents.  What’s more disturbing about it is that in a survey conducted, one out of every five injuries in a construction workplace is fatal. 

If you work in a construction site, be wary, and always inform your superiors if you see workplace hazards.  Since the main causes for injuries are falls, electrocution, falling debris, and being crushed by machines and fallen structures, be sure that your company employs all the measures it can to minimize these incidents.

While offices may not be as dangerous as construction sites, a number of injuries still happen because of the failure to comply with safety standards.  Employees have the right to ask if there are appropriate warning signs such as “Slippery when wet,” and “Warning: High Voltage.”

And though you have the right to question the safety of your workplace when you see things out of place, always be vigilant.  Preventing an accident should be your first and foremost concern.

Hi there! Eric Wetlaufer at your service. I’m currently a law student at the University of Illinois. As a way of helping out others, I give basic advice on say how to deal with cops when arrested and a few more situations. Learn more about me and basic law here.