Today’s labor laws in the United States are largely a result of organized labor movements, in which American workers in various industries came together to fight for certain rights and improvements in working conditions.
Most workers are aware that they have certain legal rights, but many are not sure exactly what those rights are, or how to ensure that their rights are being upheld.
What Are Workers Rights? 
Workers’ rights are a collection of labor laws that deal with the basic legal rights of all workers in the United States, as well as the relationship between all workers and their employers.
There are many different labor laws which pertain to various aspects of employment including payment, the right to unionize and the right to safe working conditions.
In this article, we discuss a worker’s right to a safe work environment and safe working conditions on the job.
You Have The Right To A Safe Workplace
The Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 was created to protect the safety of workers by establishing laws designed to prevent workplace accidents and injuries.
The Act also established the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), which is an organization responsible for creating and enforcing the labor laws that relate to the overall safety of workers throughout America.
In addition to other rights, all employees in the United States of America have the right to:
- A safe working environment
- Report unsafe conditions without retaliation from their employer
- Report an injury suffered on the job
- Request a confidential OSHA inspection of their workplace
To learn more about your rights as a worker you can visit the United States Department of Labor (DOL) online portal for workers’ rights by clicking here.
I Do Not Feel Safe At Work. What Should I Do?
Labor laws are in place to ensure that employers provide safe working conditions for their employees, however sometimes hazardous conditions still exist.
If you do not feel safe at your workplace, then you should know that you have the right to take action. In fact, there are specific labor laws designed to allow workers to take action to ensure a safe work environment without retaliation from their employers.
If you feel that you may be in danger of suffering a serious injury or death due to a hazardous condition in your workplace, then you have the right to refuse work. If this is the case, then you should contact OSHA by calling 800-321-6742 to report the issue.
If the condition is not causing imminent danger but has the potential to cause injury, then you should ask your employer to resolve the issue as soon as possible. If your employer refuses to fix the problem then you should report the issue to OSHA. You can also request that OSHA inspects your workplace if you feel that unsafe conditions exist.
Injured By A Hazardous Condition?
Unfortunately, hazardous conditions in the workplace often result in injuries being suffered by workers. If you’ve been injured on the job due to an unsafe condition, then you should report your injury to your employer as soon as possible, in writing, and notify your employer of the unsafe condition which caused your injury.
Additionally, you should file for workers’ compensation as soon as possible no matter what caused your injury. All workers who become injured on the job in the State of New York have the right to workers’ compensation which can help pay for certain expenses associated with a work-related injury.
For more information about how you can protect yourself after a workplace injury contact our experienced attorneys. We offer free consultations and are dedicated to helping injured workers recover compensation for their injuries. You can review our firms successful outcomes on our verdicts and settlements page.