| OSHA is the Occupational Safety and Health | | | | unavoidable dangers, employees are entitled to |
| Administration - an agency which is part of the | | | | work in an environment which is as safe as |
| United States Department of Labor. It was | | | | possible. A workplace injury can have dire |
| created in 1970, when Congress passed the | | | | consequences for an individual, particularly if they |
| Occupational Safety and Health act, which was | | | | are a family's sole provider. Even a minor injury |
| then signed into law by President Nixon. OSHA is | | | | can cause a temporary loss of income that can |
| responsible for creating and enforcing regulations | | | | have serious repercussions for people who rely on |
| which ensure that employees have a workplace | | | | a steady payroll check to get by. Such situations |
| free of extraneous hazards that could cause | | | | are made even more frustrating and traumatic if |
| injury, sickness, or death. OSHA's jurisdiction | | | | an employer tries to deny compensation to an |
| covers most of the private sector, including | | | | employee injured due to a workplace's failure to |
| workplaces in industrial, construction, and | | | | meet OSHA standards. |
| corporate areas. | | | | While workers must take seriously their |
| Some regulations enacted by OSHA have been | | | | responsibility to remain vigilant in the work place, |
| particularly monumental in protecting the rights | | | | and keep in mind their own safety and the safety |
| and well-being of workers. Permissible exposure | | | | of their co-workers, there is no excuse for a |
| limits (PELs) make sure that employees are not in | | | | negligent employer. If you believe the actions (or |
| excessive contact with potentially harmful dusts | | | | inactions) of your employer are creating a |
| or chemicals, and address about 600 materials. | | | | hazardous work environment, or if you have been |
| Hazard Communication regulations assure that | | | | injured on the job, it is important to make sure |
| workers are properly educated about the risks of | | | | the situation receives due attention. Legal |
| volatile products they may come into contact | | | | professionals can help make sure you understand |
| with in their place of employment. It is sometimes | | | | your rights and the potential for workers' |
| referred to as the "Right to Know" standard. | | | | compensation. You can learn more about |
| Personal protective equipment requirements | | | | regulations or see how to file a complaint online at |
| (PPEs) are fairly self-explanatory. Gloves, goggles, | | | | osha.gov. |
| respirators, ear protection, and other specialized | | | | For more information, visit the website of |
| gear must be provided when necessary. | | | | Philadelphia workers' compensation lawyers |
| While some occupations and workplaces have | | | | Lowenthal & Abrams, P.C. |