Anyone who is familiar with previous posts here know that workers in New York have certain rights and legal protections.. It's important to emphasize that they don't have to keep working in the face of imminent danger until an accident happens. OSHA provides steps for...
Workplace Safety
Outdoor workers’ health and safety in the heat, continued
"Water. Rest. Shade. The work can't get done without them." Thus reads the Occupational Health and Safety Administration's banner atop their online resource for protecting outdoor workers from heat illness. Unfortunately, Utica employers all too often see it just the...
How can employers protect workers’ health and safety in the heat?
The height of summer can be a dangerous time for Utica workers who work outside. There's an unfortunate tendency among employers to expect employees to "tough it out" when the temperatures soar. The reality, however, is that employers need to protect their employees...
What does OSHA say about the dangers of heat illness?
We've spent some time this summer discussing the health and safety of outdoor workers in Utica. And while we've reviewed a lot of information from OSHA about who is at risk and what steps are necessary (especially on the employer's part) to prevent the onset of heat...
Workplace safety and the OSH Act (part 2)
As we began discussing last week, the Occupational Health and Safety Administration offers workers in Utica and throughout the country a number of rights. The agency's goal is to reduce the danger of a worker losing his or her life, or suffering injury, in a...
Workplace safety and the OSH Act (part 1)
All too often, Utica workers who suffer injuries in on-the-job accidents are made to feel as if their injuries are their own problem. Your employer, your insurance, perhaps even your coworkers may try to act as if your work-related accident was your own fault, or that...
Spotlight on workers’ health and safety at fast-food restaurants
Many Utica residents will recall the days when just about every teenager worked a fast-food job for a summer or two, or maybe picked up shifts throughout the school year as a way to save up some extra cash. Today, it's common for adults at just about any stage in life...
Health care workers at risk of diverse, serious injuries
Last week's post here on our Syracuse Workers' Compensation Law Blog discussed a story in which hospital laundry workers were put at risk of exposure to serious illnesses. OSHA took action against the hospital in response. But this story afforded us a brief glimpse of...
OSHA fines New York hospital over contaminated laundry
Businesses have important decisions to make about operating efficiently and protecting the bottom line. But when those decisions put their workers' health and safety at risk, OSHA will draw the line. Our Utica readers need look no further for evidence of this than a...
How does OSHA help?
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration is a federal agency dedicated to the safety of workers and the enforcement of safety regulations. The organization has a presence in all 50 states and covers most private sector employers and workers. OSHA's main goal...