All workers should feel confident that their workplace is reasonably secure from hazards, but if unsafe work practices jeopardize their health, and an accident happens, the consequences can be life-altering. Thousands of hardworking Americans are injured or killed on job-sites each year, and many of those accidents are entirely avoidable.
Unsafe work practices are responsible for all types of injuries. Poor conditions could cause slips or trip-and-fall accidents, and other mishaps, that can have a lasting impact on an employee’s physical and mental well-being. Both, New York and New Jersey workers’ compensation and personal injury laws provide protections for workers if they are injured due to dangerous working conditions. Contacting an experienced attorney can help you decide if you have a right to compensation.
The Ginarte law firm has more than 150 years of combined experience representing clients, who have been injured due to unsafe work practices, especially on construction sites. If you, or a family member, have been hurt or killed due to the irresponsible actions of an employer or someone else, we can provide quality legal advice. There is no charge for our initial consultation.
Speak With A Knowledgeable Professional
Call 1-888-GINARTE (1-888-446-2783) to speak with one of our attorneys, or fill out our online form. You won’t pay unless we obtain compensation on your behalf.
Types of Unsafe Work Practices
Employers have an obligation to ensure their working environment protect their employees from foreseeable harm. Unfortunately, those rules are sometimes violated. Employers may avoid repairing a dangerous condition out of pure laziness, or because it is expensive to fix. In other cases, a lack of supervision and training may result in accidents that severely injures others.
At some jobs, the risks are obvious. Construction sites are filled with hazards, such as ramps, ladders, scaffolding, heavy equipment, and power tools that could cause devastating injuries. That’s why it’s crucial for employers to have safety procedures in place. Not only that, but they must take steps to make sure all policies are followed.
Examples of unsafe working conditions include:
- Slippery/ debris littered floors
- Improperly secured machinery
- Poorly maintained equipment
- Bad lighting
- Dangerous stairways
- Large obstacles left in the path of workers or blocking exits
- Trailing extension cords
- Not providing safety gear (harnesses, safety masks, hard hats, etc.)
- Failure to secure dangerous chemicals and substances
- Falling objects
- Providing equipment to workers that has been modified from its original form
- Requiring workers to use equipment for something other than its intended use
- Unsecured openings
Other professions have less apparent, but serious, health risks. Assembly workers, typists, and cashiers often suffer from repetitive injuries caused by performing the same task over and over again. Office workers may sustain painful muscle strains and sprains, if employers do not take proper ergonomics into account.
There are also invisible occupational hazards, and those can be particularly deadly. Some materials, such as asbestos, can cause lung and abdominal diseases, when ingested or inhaled. Benzene is associated with leukemia and blood disorders, and many other harmful substances found in workplaces can also cause incurable diseases.
Your Rights To Protection From NY/NJ Unsafe Work Practices
You have the right to report unsafe work practices to your employer, and expect them to be fixed in a timely fashion. You also have the right to contact the Occupational Health and Safety Administration to report an unsafe condition, and request an inspection. Laws also can protect you from retaliation by your employer, if you are fired or demoted for reporting the unsafe work practice.
If the dangerous work practice results in an injury, your employer is not the only one who may be held accountable. Although New York and New Jersey workers’ compensation laws prevent you from suing your employer, they are required to provide compensation to you for your medical expenses and time off from work.
Other possible responsible parties include: owners, general contractors, subcontractors, architects, product manufacturers, and insurance companies.
Contact Ginarte For A No-Obligation Consultation Today
Speak With A Knowledgeable Professional
If you suffered a serious injury caused by an unsafe work practice, call Ginarte Gonzalez Winograd L.L.P., at 1-888-GINARTE (1-888-446-2783) today. Our New York and New Jersey attorneys can also be reached through our convenient online form.
We meet with clients throughout the metro area from offices located in Manhattan, Queens, Newark, Union City, Elizabeth, Clifton, Perth Amboy and New Brunswick.