The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has various standards set to help combat some of the hazards that workers face. Overall, the agency’s standards are meant to hold employers accountable for the working conditions of the employees. When the regulations the agency upholds are violated, the company will have consequences, including violations.
In some cases, bringing the matter to the company’s attention might be all it takes to rectify the situation. If this doesn’t work, you can file a complaint with OSHA online, by mail or over the phone. This might trigger an inspection of the company, so the agency can determine what defects are present and set a plan for rectifying those.
Because OSHA can’t be in every workplace all the time, it relies heavily on employees who file complaints to know when there are issues at a specific company. Fortunately, workers can submit their information anonymously, which is helpful when they think the employer might retaliate against them for their report.
It’s also helpful to remember that retaliation is illegal. You have 30 days from an incident involving discrimination or adverse actions resulting from an OSHA complaint to alert the agency to the retaliatory measures.
Workers who are injured can usually count on workers’ compensation; however, Texas workers’ compensation laws are slightly different than other states because this state allows for employers to self-insure or use alternative coverage options. If you’re injured, you should find out what type of program the employer has, so you know how to address your claim for compensation. Working with an attorney familiar with these cases might be beneficial.