We at Golitko & Daly know that safety standards are key to having a strong workforce, and we take violations seriously. Our mission is to help workplace injury victims in Indiana with their claims. Having construction accident attorneys on your side is crucial for receiving just compensation, whether it’s in the form of damages following an injury or denied workers’ compensation.
OSHA and IOSHA both create safety standards and help ensure workplaces follow these standards. So what can people in the workforce do if they feel their workplace is unsafe?
About OSHA and IOSHA
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is a government agency that ensures that workplaces of all kinds are safe and comply with current safety standards.
IOSHA stands for the Indiana Occupational Safety and Health Administration, which is the state’s own wing of OSHA. IOSHA consists of two different divisions, the Industrial Compliance Division and the Construction Safety Division. While the Construction Safety Division is focused solely on construction safety, the Industrial Compliance Division addresses industrial, commercial, and agricultural occupations in the both the public and private sector.
Commonly Violated OSHA Safety Standards
According to the United States Department of Labor, the following are the most violated OSHA safety standards impacting construction workers:
- Fall protection
- Scaffolding
- Respiratory protection
- Electrical wiring
- Electrical systems
- Powered industrial trucks
- Ladders
If you notice a potential hazard at your workplace that your employer is negligent to address, be sure to check OSHA (osha.gov) or IOSHA (in.gov/dol/iosha.htm) safety standards. If there is a violation, it’s important to get in touch with OSHA or IOSHA.
Filing an OSHA or IOSHA Complaint/Inspection Request
If you notice any sort of violation of OSHA or IOSHA standards, contact these groups directly to file a complaint or request an inspection. Visit the OSHA and IOSHA websites for more information about filing a formal or informal complaint.
The official OSHA website notes that if your issue is urgent or immediately life threatening, you should call OSHA at 1-800-321-OSHA. Those in the state of Indiana should call 317-232-2693 to get in touch with IOSHA.
Protection for Those Who Make OSHA/IOSHA Inspection Requests
In order to protect whistle blowers, OSHA and IOSHA take steps to protect the identity of the person filing an OSHA request. This helps ensure that the employee is not subject to retaliation from their employer simply for requesting an inspection or making valid complaints about worker safety.
How Our Legal Team Can Help You
When an employer violates an OSHA or IOSHA safety standard, they put employees and even innocent bystanders at risk. If you were injured on the job due to a safety violation, we will help you take the employer to task for negligence. We’ll also fight for those who were denied workers’ compensation benefits. We are here for you.
Learn More About Work Injury Legal Matters
If you or someone that you love has been injured at an industrial workplace, please schedue a free legal consultation with our team. We encourage you to contact our workplace injury attorneys today if your accident was the result of negligence or if you have been wrongly denied workers’ compensation benefits.