OSHA's 'Workers Rights'
W.R. Grace & Co. was forced into bankruptcy after more than 135, 0000 asbestos injury claims were filed against the chemical maker. Grace agreed to settle the personal injury suits by paying as much as $1.8 billion. This settlement will eliminate Grace's liability for its asbestos products, leaving future lawsuits to be settled through a trust fund. Insurance providers and other companies facing related asbestos claims will share the cost of financing the trust.
Grace still faces federal criminal charges in connection with its ore mine near Libby, Montana, where 1,200 workers and residents were allegedly injured or killed as a result of asbestos- related diseases.
The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) protects workers from asbestos exposure in the workplace, or in connection with their jobs. OSHA also requires employers to provide a workplace that is free of serious recognized hazards.
OSHA lists several workers' rights to suggest ways for workers to learn of possible dangers in the work place before it's too late. The following can be found in further detail at:
1. TRAINING FROM YOUR EMPLOYER
-Get training from your employer on chemicals you are exposed to during your work and information on how to protect yourself from harmful workplace injuries. Employers must establish a comprehensive, written hazard communication program (Chemical Hazard Communication)
-Your employer must label chemical containers, make material safety data sheets with detailed hazard information available to employees, and train you about the health effects of the chemicals you work with and what the employer is doing and what you can do to protect yourself from these hazards.
-Get training from your employer on a variety of other health and safety hazards and standards that your employer must follow. These include lockout-tagout, bloodborne pathogens, confined spaces, construction hazards and a variety of other subjects.
2. INFORMATION FROM YOUR EMPLOYER
-Request information from your employer on safety and health hazards in your workplace, chemicals used in your workplace, tests your employer has done to measure chemical, noise and radiation levels, precautions you should take and procedures to be followed if you or other employees are involved in an incident or are exposed to hazardous chemicals or other toxic substances.
-Request copies of appropriate standards, rules, regulations and requirements that your employer should have available at the workplace.
-Employers must inform you of the existence, location and availability of your medical and exposure records when you first begin employment and at least annually thereafter. Employers also must provide these records to you or your designated representatives within 15 working days of your request.
-Observe any monitoring or measuring of toxic materials or chemicals, as well as harmful physical agents, such as noise, and see the resulting records. If the exposure levels are above the OSHA limit, the employer must tell you what will be done to reduce the exposure -- the right to observe monitoring exists only where monitoring is performed pursuant to a standard that provides employees with the right to observe.
As an experienced Missouri personal injury attorney, I am happy to discuss your case with you and answer any questions you may have. If requested, I will immediately and aggressively take action in your defense.
The call and consultation are free. I can be reached 24 hours a day at 314.322.8515 or toll free at 1.800.500.INJURY (4658). Call me personally and I will answer all the questions and concerns you may have. There is no fee unless we recover for you.
If you don't want to call or you can't call, you can email me at john@pagecagle.com. I look forward to speaking with you and helping you through these trying times. You can also visit www.injuredclient.com for more information.
