Chicago OSHA Violations Lawyer
Congress created the Occupational Safety and Health Administration in the early 1970s, as part of a series of environmental protection and other reforms. OSHA has the power to inspect workplaces, issue citations for safety issues, and fine employers who do not comply with the rules. However, OSHA has fewer than 2,000 inspectors to cover eight million worksites in the United States. So, this agency is stretched very thin.
In contrast, the resourceful Chicago OSHA violation lawyers at Connolly Injury Law have the ability to collect evidence which supports your claim and the legal skills to put the pieces of this evidence together. Furthermore, we have the dedication to see things through to the end and a commitment to our clients. All these traits add up to maximum compensation for your serious work-related injury.
Common OSHA Citations
Over the past fifty years, OSHA inspectors, and perhaps more importantly the threat of an Osha inspection, have reduced the number of fatal workplace accidents from 11 deaths among every 100 workers to less than 3 deaths per 100 workers. Most OSHA citations are for one of the following deficiencies:
- Fall protection, mostly on construction sites,
- Failure to communicate a known hazard to workers,
- Inadequate respiratory protection,
- Unsafe ladders, scaffolding, or other equipment,
- Inadequate hazardous materials oversight,
- Unsafe work vehicles,
- Lack of face or eye protection, and
- Unsafe machinery.
Sometimes, OSHA inspectors perform surprise checks. Usually, however, their inspections are scheduled or responsive. Many employers know how to put on a good face for inspectors. When the inspector leaves, worker safety takes a back seat to profit margin and other priorities. Responsive inspections happen after someone files a complaint. At that point, it’s probably too late to prevent serious injuries.
How Citations Affect Your Workers’ Compensation Claim
At a minimum, job injury victims are usually entitled to compensation for their economic losses. Frequently, a relevant OSHA safety citation could mean additional compensation for injured workers.
The economic loss compensation usually includes money for lost wages and medical bills. If the injury causes a permanent disability, workers’ compensation usually provides a lump sum payment. The amount normally depends on the severity and nature of the disability. If the work-related disability is only temporary, like a broken arm, most victims receive two-thirds of their average weekly wage until they can safely return to work.
Normally, workers’ compensation insurance benefits cover all reasonably necessary medical expenses. This broad category includes pretty much every bill from the first moment of emergency care to the last day of physical therapy.
An unaddressed OSHA citation could indicate employer recklessness. Employers are reckless if they knowingly send workers to hazardous areas. Examples include demolition workers without adequate protection from asbestos and construction scaffolds without safety rails. Workers’ compensation does not cover such injuries, and it was never meant to cover them. These benefits only apply to purely unintentional injuries.
If workers’ comp does not apply because of an OSHA safety citation or other evidence of recklessness, a Chicago OSHA violations lawyer can obtain additional compensation for a victim’s noneconomic losses, such as pain and suffering.
Reach Out to a Diligent Cook County Workplace Injury Lawyer
Job-related injury victims are entitled to significant compensation. For a free consultation with an experienced OSHA safety violations attorney in Chicago, contact Connolly Injury Law. Attorneys can connect victims with doctors, even if they have no insurance or money.
