All workplaces are subject to safety regulations that are intended to protect workers from preventable harm. Some workplaces, such as construction sites, deal with far more regulations than others, due to the high risk of harm they pose to their workers. Unfortunately, not every employer follows the rules, leading to safety violations that can result in serious harm. But what happens when someone is hurt due to a workplace safety violation, and what should you do about it if it happens to you?
What is a Workplace Safety Violation?
Workplace safety violations occur when employers violate one or more of the regulations that dictate how to safely engage in a particular type of business. A workplace safety violation can be the result of willfully going against the law, where an employer actively ignores regulations for the sake of saving money or time. It can also be the result of simple negligence, either not realizing they are breaking the law or not putting in the work to ensure they are complying with the law.
What Does a Safety Violation Look Like?
Safety violations can take many possible forms. Some common types of workplace safety violations include:
- Failing to provide adequate protective gear
- Failing to perform regular safety inspections
- Failing to post signs warning of known hazards
- Failing to adequately secure ladders or scaffolding
- Failing to use lockout/tagout systems for energized equipment
- Failing to install fall protection
- Failing to clean spills or debris in a timely fashion
- Failing to instruct workers on proper safety protocols
What Happens if Someone is Hurt Due to a Safety Violation?
When someone is injured due to a workplace safety violation, it can result in severe consequences for the victim. Even in mild cases, a workplace injury can result in missed days of work, substantial medical bills, and days or weeks of pain. In the case of more severe injuries, someone may wind up with a long-term disability that impairs their ability to work and hinders their ability to engage in normal daily tasks.
What Should You Do If You Are Injured On the Job?
If you or someone you love has been injured as a result of a workplace safety violation, you should speak to a personal injury lawyer as soon as possible. A lawyer with experience handling workplace injury cases, including construction injuries, can help you to explore your legal rights and create a legal strategy that works for you. The sooner you call, the sooner we can get to work to get you the compensation you deserve.
If you or a loved one have been injured due to someone else’s negligence, you should seek out the personal injury lawyers at Zlotolow & Associates. Our seasoned New York personal injury attorneys bring more than two decades of trial experience to your case. We serve all five boroughs of New York City, as well as Nassau and Suffolk County. Our aggressive personal injury attorneys always demand maximum compensation. We have helped thousands of clients recover through settlements and courtroom verdicts.
