Workers Compensation Lawyers on Unsafe Workplaces
A worker safety advocacy group, which releases an annual list of companies that are most unsafe for workers, has said two of the largest and most profitable companies in the United States – Tesla and Amazon – are also guilty of providing some of the most dangerous conditions for workers. The National Council for Occupational Safety and Health releases a list of most dangerous companies to work for each year, and this year, both the nation’s top companies made the list.
To make it on this list, company’s workers must have been exposed to hazards that are avoidable. These companies also typically have a prior history of such dangerous workplace safety violations and have received multiple citations from state and federal officials for committing these safety violations.
Dangerous Work Environments
The report cites that seven workers have died in Amazon’s warehouses over the last five years, with three of the fatalities occurring just within five weeks at three separate locations. The group blames Amazon’s has a work environment where workers are required to fulfill unrealistic job expectations and are constantly monitored to make sure they do so, adding to the pressure. The group gave the example of Amazon’s interest to fit their employees with ultrasonic wristbands that would buzz them if they took a step in the wrong direction.
Tesla got a highly critical evaluation from the advocates as well, with them calling the automaker “a company of the future under working conditions of the past.” The group estimates that Tesla has an injury rate that is 31 percent higher than the industry average with serious injuries at more than 80 percent higher.
Injured Workers’ Rights
Injured workers in California have legal rights and options. If you have been injured on the job, make sure you file a complaint with your employer or supervisor as soon as possible. This should document when, how and where you got injured and what type of treatment you sought for it. Make sure you get the medical attention and care you need right away. Workers’ compensation benefits typically pay all medical costs incurred by workers as a result of the workplace injury as well as a portion of their lost income.
In addition to receiving these benefits, workers may also be able to file for “third party compensation.” Such lawsuits are filed against parties other than the employers whose negligence or wrongdoing may have contributed to the injuries. If workplace violations were a factor, that could play a role in the compensation process as well.
Contacting a Workers’ Compensation Lawyer
Remember, workers also have the right to report a workplace violation to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). Your employer cannot fire you or retaliate against you for doing so, and that’s the law. If you have been injured or the job, or if you have lost a loved one who died on the job, our Los Angeles workers’ compensation lawyers can help you secure fair and full compensation for your tremendous losses. We understand the hardships injured workers face and have helped many employees and their families get back on their feet by helping them through the workers’ compensation system. Contact us to speak with one of our experienced workers’ compensation attorneys.
