What Are the Responsibilities of Employers to Keep Workers Safe?

 Posted on September 19, 2023 in Personal Injury

Every hardworking employee in Texas has the right to a safe workplace. But in Texas, workplace injury liability can be complicated, especially for those unfamiliar with the law.

The Texas Occupational Safety and Health Act (TOSHA) and Texas Labor Codes outline requirements that give employees some safety nets for workplace injury claims. For help processing a workplace injury claim you should contact a personal injury attorney. They can help you with the filing of your claim and represent you if necessary.

The Texas Occupational Safety and Health Act (TOSHA)

The Texas Occupational Safety and Health Act (TOSHA) requires employers to provide a workplace free from recognized hazards that are likely to cause death or serious physical harm to employees.

To ensure a safe workplace, TOSHA requires employers to:

• Provide a safe work environment that is free from hazards

• Provide employees with safety training

• Ensure that employees use safe work practices

• Provide employees with personal protective equipment (PPE) when necessary

• Investigate accidents and injuries

• Take corrective actions to prevent future accidents and injuries

If an employer fails to meet their responsibilities under TOSHA, and an employee is injured as a result, the employee may be able to file a workers' compensation claim. Workers' Compensation is a no-fault system, which means to receive benefits the employee does not have to prove that the employer was negligent.

Texas Labor Codes

Texas Labor Code 411.103 also requires specific duties of the employer in the workplace, which include:

• Providing and maintaining a safe and healthful workplace for employees

• Installing, maintaining, and using methods, processes, devices, and safeguards that are necessary to protect the life, health, and safety of employees

• Taking all actions that are necessary to make the workplace safe

How Can a Workplace Injury Attorney Help Me? 

Although companies have an obligation to keep their workers safe, accidents sometimes happen. Workplace accidents can have a serious impact on a worker’s ability to carry out their job functions. In the worst cases, workers are killed or rendered permanently disabled. It may not be immediately clear who is responsible for such injuries - the employer, a third party, or a coworker, for example - and it may, therefore, be difficult to know who to turn to for compensation. 

A personal injury attorney can help you determine whether an insurance policy claim or a personal injury lawsuit is the best path for trying to get the compensation you deserve. 

Contact a Dallas, TX Workplace Injury Attorney

Whenever you are injured on the job you should contact a Fort Worth, TX personal injury lawyer immediately. A lawyer from the Clark Law Group can help you determine whether you have a workers' compensation claim, and can represent you in the claims process. Call 469-906-2266 for a private consultation to discuss your legal options.