Your workplace simply must have safe working conditions. Unfortunately, this doesn’t happen everywhere. The numbers of injuries and fatalities that still occur in modern working conditions are almost impossible to believe. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), a worker died every 99 minutes from work-related injuries in 2023. According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), almost 5,300 fatal work injuries occurred in 2023 in the United States. BLS reports another 2.6 million non-fatal injuries and illnesses occurred in the workplace in 2023.
The right to safe working conditions is protected under federal as well as state law. Yet, frequently, employers do not fulfill their obligations to provide a safe working environment for their employees. If you suffered injuries due to unsafe working conditions, learn how our Minnesota unsafe working conditions lawyers can help you understand all your legal rights.
Recognizing Unsafe Working Conditions
Unsafe working conditions include situations where a worker is exposed to the imminent threat of injury, death, or dangerous physical conditions at the workplace. Some of the common types of unsafe working conditions include the following.
Faulty Tools and Equipment
Defective or poor-quality work equipment can lead to workplace accidents and result in serious injuries or fatalities. Equipment that has worn out and not been replaced in a timely manner can also cause accidents.
Inadequate Safety or Protection
Some industries – such as the construction, fire department, or mining industry – are inherently dangerous and require proper safety gear for the workers. If the employer does not provide adequate or quality safety gear, the worker may remain exposed to the threat of serious injuries. Our Minnesota construction accident lawyers understand the signs to look for regarding unsafe working conditions at a construction site.
Unsafe Working Premises
Lack of fire safety systems, a contaminated or toxic atmosphere, workplace congestion, poor-quality furniture, poor housekeeping, or an unhygienic workplace can lead to workplace injuries. Employers should have a system in place that allows employees to report working conditions and equipment that is not in good condition. As an employee, you should keep track of any reports you make regarding unsafe conditions. If an accident later occurs, your records could be an essential piece of evidence in showing that the employer ignored problems, enhancing the unsafe working conditions.
Unsafe working premises can include things like not having safety guards and railings along stairs and elevated walkways. If areas where employees must work are constantly wet and slippery, employers should provide flooring that offers traction or find a way to remove the moisture. Employers must keep exits and walkways leading to the exits free of boxes and other obstacles that could make it difficult for employees to escape the building in case of an emergency.
Inadequate Training
Employers have a responsibility to provide proper training to their workers for using specialized tools or equipment. Injuries resulting from improper training can make an employer liable for any resulting injuries or losses to workers.
Inadequate Warning Systems
Employers must have warning systems in place that protect employees from imminent threats. If fire alarms, heat detectors, machine malfunction alarms, collision avoidance warning systems, carbon monoxide detectors, and similar systems are not installed or not working, this could represent an unsafe working condition. It’s important that the employer provides constant maintenance, testing, and training on the use of and response to an alarm. Alarm systems should provide both an audible warning and a visual warning.
Unsafe Working Conditions and Federal Law
Workplace safety is taken seriously by the government. The law provides for employer obligations and employee rights to ensure workplace safety. Workplace injuries include conditions caused, aggravated, or accelerated by employment activities. At the federal level, OSHA mandates certain workplace standards. OSHA provides employees certain rights relating to:
- One-time injuries at the workplace
- An illness developed due to unsafe working conditions, including constant exposure to chemicals or toxic substances
- Recognized hazards that have the potential to cause injury or death.
OSHA provides these rights to employees to ensure workplace safety:
- Right to be provided protective equipment free of charge
- Right to receive training on health and safety standards
- Right to get information about the workplace, including the right to know about probable chemical hazards, right to exposure data, and right to get copies of workplace injury
- Right to file a complaint with OSHA and right to request an on-site OSHA inspection
- Right to refuse the performance of a job duty if the working conditions are unsafe.
OSHA requires employers to:
- Display an OSHA job safety notice at the workplace
- Provide a workplace free from dangerous working conditions that can lead to injury or death
- Provide safety training if necessary
- Keep a record of injuries, deaths, and hazardous material exposure at the workplace.
If you suffered injuries due to unsafe working conditions or if your employer failed to provide you with safe working conditions, our Minnesota unsafe working conditions lawyers can help your case.
Unsafe Working Conditions Not Regulated By OSHA
It’s important to note that some unsafe working conditions do not fall under the guidance of OSHA. Certain conditions could meet the legal definition of creating an imminent danger for employees, meaning they could cause death or injury. Employers must protect employees against situations that present an imminent danger, even if OSHA doesn’t specifically have regulations that prohibit these situations.
Minnesota Occupational Safety and Health Administration (MNOSHA)
In Minnesota, employers have a duty to provide a safe workplace for their employees. The Minnesota Occupational Safety and Health Administration also protects employees from discrimination for raising or reporting a workplace safety issue. MNOSHA ensures workplace safety in two ways:
MNOSHA Compliance
It requires employers to comply with the federal OSHA requirements as well as other compliance requirements under MNOSHA.
MNOSHA Workplace Safety Consultation
Under this program, MNOSHA works with employers and employees to guide them on improving workplace safety.
Steps to Take After Suffering a Workplace Injury
If you suffered injuries at your workplace, consider taking the following steps:
- Seek immediate medical attention. You must inform your doctor that the injury is work-related. This will later help you with your injury claim.
- Report your injury to your employer in writing with all the relevant details. The employer should provide you with a First Report of Injury (FROI) form.
- Preserve and take note of all important records and documents, including medical records, date of the injury, and effect on your daily life.
- Communicate with your employer regularly to provide important updates regarding your injury.
- Consider contacting our Minnesota unsafe working conditions lawyers to help you better understand all your legal options.
Determination of Liability
Multiple parties can be held responsible for a workplace injury. These include the following:
- Employer: The employer has the first and foremost duty to ensure employee safety at the workplace.
- Manufacturers of faulty equipment: If the injury occurred because of faulty equipment, the manufacturer can be held liable.
- Contractors and subcontractors: If the employer hired some contractors to work on the project and they created unsafe working conditions for the employee, they can be held responsible.
- Property owner or manager: If the injury was a result of unsafe premises, then the property owner or manager can be held accountable.
Visiting with our attorneys can help you better understand which of these parties may have a legal responsibility to compensate you for your injuries and losses.
Compensation for a Workplace-Related Injury
Every workplace-related accident will have its own set of facts and circumstances. You may be entitled to receive the following types of compensation if you suffered an injury due to unsafe working conditions:
- Reimbursement of lost wages
- Medical bills
- Compensation for the loss of a body part
- Medical benefits for present and future expenses
- Vocational rehabilitation
- Retraining.
Types of Claims for Injuries Due to Unsafe Working Conditions
In addition to a workers’ compensation claim, the victim of a workplace-related injury may file the following types of claims:
- Personal injury claim for injury caused due to negligence
- Premises liability claim for injuries caused because of faulty office space, building, or premises
- Product liability defective product claim for faulty or defective equipment.
Learn How Our Minnesota Unsafe Working Conditions Attorneys Can Help
Filing a claim for an injury or death due to unsafe working conditions can be a challenging and complex task. Employers have access to the best resources to defend themselves, multiple parties can be involved, and the victim may be entitled to compensation from more than one party. What do our workers’ compensation lawyers do? We help you navigate the challenging process of receiving the benefits you deserve. We can also defend you when your employer is fighting against your claim, yet created working conditions that were not safe, leaving you with ongoing medical care costs, lost wages, and significant pain. We can protect you against manipulative tactics insurance companies use against victims like you.
If you suffered injuries due to unsafe working conditions, consider contacting our legal team to understand how our Minnesota unsafe working conditions attorneys at Tyroler Leonard Injury Law can help you secure your legal rights. Call us today at (651) 259-1113.