Safety is a daily priority, something not to be put off for even one moment. During the month of June, there is an added focus on raising awareness of job safety. As National Safety Month, now is a very good time to talk about safety failures and opportunities.
Established by the National Safety Council (NSC) in 1996, National Safety Month is an annual observance designed to raise awareness about safety risks and promote safer behaviors in the workplace, on the road, and in communities.
It is also the right time to ensure that employees know that if they are hurt on the job, legal help is available to them. You have the right to seek compensation for your medical costs and lost time at work. At Ara Work Injury Law, we provide free consultations to our clients, facilitating a way for you to have an advocate by your side after an accident happens.
Common Workplace Safety Failures in Florida
Workplace injuries happen for many reasons, including failure to plan, train, or provide safe equipment. Some of the most common safety failures we see fall into these areas:
- Lack of fall protection for construction workers
- Inadequate training for new hires and seasonal staff on safety procedures and rules
- Faulty or missing personal protective equipment (PPE)
- Heat-related illness from prevention strategies, including exposure to the hot, humid Florida climate without an acclimation period
- Poor maintenance of equipment or workspaces
- Ignoring safety protocols or OSHA regulations
During National Safety Month in Florida, consider your current work environment. Is your employer skipping steps or avoiding repairs to save money? They could be putting you at risk. Workplace safety in Florida should be a critical factor in every job.
Industries at Higher Risk in Florida
Some of the most common employer safety violations in Florida happen in the following industries.
- Construction and roofing: In this industry, the risks of falling due to improper safety equipment are high. There is also the risk of weather-related exposure during hot summer days. Malfunctioning equipment and a lack of safety protections are also common factors resulting in violations.
- Agriculture and landscaping: Those who work outside are at a higher risk of being involved in heat-related injuries, as well as equipment-related failures.
- Hospitality and tourism: Heat stress for workers in Florida is a very real concern, even in hospitality positions. Those who work in hotels, theme parks, and restaurants, where they are constantly exposed to the outdoors, are at a high risk.
- Healthcare and nursing home workers: OSHA violations in Florida within the healthcare and nursing industry are also commonly avoidable. Lifting injuries and the lack of PPE are often reasons these injuries happen.
If you work in these or other industries in Florida where there is a lack of oversight, now is the time to take action. Anyone injured at work in Florida has the right to seek compensation for their losses. Our legal team can help.
Employer Responsibilities Under Florida Law
Every employee in Florida should know how to report a workplace injury. You also should know what your legal rights are under the law. If your employer tells you that you cannot file a claim, contact our Florida workplace injury attorney for immediate help. Let us be there to help you. The following are some of the most important responsibilities employers have to employees under Florida workers’ compensation laws.
Duty to Provide Safety
Your employer has a duty to provide a safe work environment. The law makes it clear that employers must create a safe place for employees to work by understanding risks and creating strategies to mitigate them. This may involve identifying existing risks, developing a plan to mitigate them, and then ensuring that necessary safety services are in place.
OSHA and State Laws
OSHA provides a set of laws that apply to all workplaces nationwide. The focus here is typically on ensuring that exposures to health and injury are minimized based on industry requirements. The state of Florida’s laws provide even more requirements, all of which are based on the industry and work environment. Your employer is responsible for knowing what all applicable rules are for their industry and ensuring safety.
Reporting Injuries
Employer safety violations in Florida also relate to the process of providing care after an injury happens. Employees must report their injuries immediately, and employers must do the same, alerting workers’ compensation insurance companies of what occurred. When employees file a claim, it must be managed in an efficient and timely manner.
Training and Supervising
Employers are also tasked with ensuring that those working in hazardous jobs receive proper training on how to perform their tasks safely. They must be able to train and supervise workers properly to reduce the risk of injury.
What Workers Can Do If They Are Injured
If you are facing a serious construction worker injury in Florida or you suffered heat exhaustion from working outside, you need to know what to do to protect your rights:
- Report the injury to your supervisor immediately. Ask where to get care.
- Seek out treatment from an authorized workers’ compensation doctor. Inform the doctor that your injuries are due to a work-related accident.
- Understand your rights. Document all time lost at work and all costs paid out-of-pocket because of your injury. Wage replacement typically begins after missing seven days of employment due to your injury.
It is also crucial to know when to consult a Florida workers’ compensation lawyer. A lawyer is an asset to you. We work closely with you to understand what happened and why it occurred. That allows our team to make sure your employer takes your claim seriously.
Schedule a Free Consultation with a Florida Workplace Injury Attorney Now
For National Safety Month in Florida, protect yourself. Contact Ara Work Injury Law for a free consultation if you were hurt on the job. Call us at 561.934.3272 or 561.9343.ARA, and let us take a closer look at your case.
