Oklahoma employees who are concerned about their workplace safety should be familiar with the solicitor’s office at the United Stated Department of Labor. The office assists the DOL by using legal actions to accomplish its objectives. This may entail engaging in litigation or alternative methods to arrive at resolutions. It also includes developing standards and regulations.
According to the deputy solicitor of labor for national operations, the solicitor’s office is dedicated to reaching the goals of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. These goals include enhancing safety in the workplace and encouraging fair and high-quality work environments.
The office has much to do. According the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, in 2015 there were more than 4, 800 fatalities in the workplace. That equates to 13 deaths a day and 93 deaths per week. The data from the BLS also showed that there were 3 million workplace injuries and illnesses in 2015. Cancer, severe burns and amputations were some of the illnesses and injuries that occurred. In addition to the human toll, there are also substantial business costs associated with workplace injuries. In 2015, nonfatal work injuries caused workers to miss 902,000 days of work with an average of eight days of missing work per injured employee. The aim of the solicitor’s office is to ensure that workers have safe workplaces. This will be accomplished by prioritizing the enforcement of the Occupational Safety and Health Act and by targeting employer outreach.
Individuals whose workplace safety has been compromised because of OSHA violations may have legal recourse. As an alternative to obtaining workers’ compensation benefits, an injured worker may consult with a personal injury attorney about other legal options to be recompensed for an accident on the job. The employer may receive citations and fines for federal safety violations as well.