Your employer must take practical and effective steps to set up a safe environment and protect you from hazards that come up in the workplace. However, when they cut corners—such as neglecting routine maintenance or failing to provide employees protective gear—and you get hurt, you may be eligible to demand benefits through the workers’ compensation system. Should your claim be successful, you may qualify to receive an intermittent or a lump-sum financial award to help replace lost wages, cover medical costs, and connect you to job retraining programs.
At Shook & Stone, we understand how scary and frustrating it can be to be a casualty of a preventable job-related accident. We have helped numerous individuals who were hurt because their employer did not take workplace safety in Las Vegas seriously. Our dedicated workers’ comp attorneys have longstanding careers that show a steadfast commitment to the injured and the communities they live and work in.
What Does a Business Need To Do To Protect Its Workforce?
As outlined in Nevada Revised Statutes § 618.375, your employer needs to implement safety protocols and actively maintain a safe environment for you and your colleagues. For example, a facility dealing with pressure vessels and pipe-fitting should make sure its welders have the proper safety equipment—gloves, face helmets, and eye shields—to protect them from getting burned or damaging their corneas. Likewise, a business that collects and disposes of hazardous waste should equip its workers with hazmat suits, gloves, helmets, and ways to breathe air safely.
An employer’s responsibility to protect those they employ also extends to notifying them when they have been exposed to potentially toxic materials. As part of this obligation, Nev. Rev. Stat. § 618.380 states that employers should clearly inform their workers:
- Which poisonous substances they were exposed to
- When the exposure occurred
- What steps or specific plans the company is taking to correct this
When your employer does not make workplace safety a priority and instead chooses to prioritize profits over people, a Las Vegas attorney could help you hold them accountable and seek compensation for the impacts of this oversight.
What To Do When Your Company Puts You in an Unsafe Situation
Every organization should prioritize the well-being of its workers and protect them from known harm. Unfortunately, organizations with financial constraints and unrealistic deadlines may create dangerous conditions and risk severe injuries or violations. When your employer violates the safety guidelines issued by the Occupational Safety Hazard Association (OSHA), your first step may be to file a complaint with the Nevada OSHA. Under Nev. Rev. Stat. § 618.445, it is illegal for management to punish you, dock your pay, fire you, or take other adverse employment actions for filing this complaint about issues you thought were problematic.
When you get hurt because of a safety issue at your Las Vegas workplace, Nev. Rev. Stat. § 616.010 empowers you to report your injury and start the process of applying for fault-free benefits. Depending on how much your condition impacts your ability to function, you may receive compensation, such as wage replacement checks for a total or partial disability.
Contact Shook & Stone’s Committed Workplace Safety Attorneys in Las Vegas
Being unable to earn a living because of an injury sustained in an unsafe work environment can significantly impact your sense of purpose and threaten your sense of security. When your employer is not taking your job-related concerns seriously, and you get hurt, partnering with a seasoned workers’ comp lawyer could help connect you with the tools you need to get compensation.
At Shook & Stone, we leverage our knowledge and skills to effect change and hold organizations accountable for not prioritizing workplace safety in Las Vegas. Call our law firm today to meet with our rigorous and compassionate attorneys during a free consultation.
