Annapolis Personal Injury Law Blog
Maryland employers have the responsibility to keep workplaces safe and train all incoming employees on safety measures. As new safety guidelines are implemented, employers also have the obligation to provide continued support and training to employees while maintaining safe and productive workplaces. The main goal of the guidelines is to help eliminate workplace injuries. When employers ignore safety concerns, employees often suffer the consequences.
A Veterans Affairs Medical Center in another state has once again been under investigation by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration for workplace safety violations. This time, employees have turned to OSHA after unsuccessfully addressing their concerns with management. Representatives for the VA state that they are currently fixing the issues that have been noted and looking for other possible issues that could pose a future problem.
According to employees, the center’s exit doors swing inward, as opposed to outward, posing a serious threat should a fire occur. In addition, exits are not properly marked. OSHA also noted electrical hazards that could cause electrical shock or fires if not addressed. Cracked or broken concrete attic steps were noted as risks for falls and potentially serious injuries.
Workplace injuries can leave victims unable to perform the job duties with permanent disabilities, or worse. Employers in Maryland have the obligation under state and federal laws to provide safe, hazard-free workplaces, along with the appropriate training. For victims who suffer a workplace injury, seeking legal counsel to help file for workers’ compensation benefits may be helpful to ensure that a claim is handled in a timely manner and an appeal, if necessary, is taken care of immediately.
Source: wsls.com, “Salem VA Medical Center issued ‘serious’ violations“, Jenna Zibton, Nov. 9, 2017
