Factors that contribute to an unsafe work environment

You deserve to be safe at work. Therefore, your employer should take precautions and implement safety standards that shield you from workplace hazards. Yet, all too often employers fall short of their obligation, putting innocent, hardworking people like you at risk of serious harm. Making matters worse is the fact that it’s oftentimes difficult to identify issues that contribute to an unsafe work environment. That’s why in this post we want to look at some of those factors that increase the safety risks at work. Hopefully then you’ll have a better idea of what to look out for when on the job and can better know when your employer’s negligence has resulted in your workplace injury and any corresponding harm that results.

Factors that contribute to an unsafe work environment

There are several issues that can contribute to workplace dangers. Here are some that you’ll want to be aware of moving forward:

1. Improperly maintained equipment: When workplace equipment is consistently used, it can quickly fall into disrepair, posing a threat to workers. And those machines that are used irregularly can also be problematic. These machines can cause pinch, crush and even shock injuries in the blink of an eye, leaving you with serious, perhaps long-term harm.
2. Exposure to hazardous materials: If your line of work puts you in close proximity to hazardous chemicals, then you can be at a heightened risk of developing a workplace illness, especially if those materials are improperly stored and handled.
3. Poor lighting: If the lighting in your workspace is minimal, it can be hard to see any hazards that may be nearby. This can increase the risk of incidences like trip and fall or slip and fall accidents.
4. Disorganized floor space: Cluttered floors in the workplace can significantly increase the risk of tripping. That might not sound like a major risk, but a trip and fall incident can lead to serious back injuries, such as a herniated disc or even spinal fracture or other broken bones.
5. Extreme temperatures: Many Alabamians find themselves working in the heat, whether that’s engaging in landscaping work during the summer or operating in an overheated factory. Either way, these temperatures can prove dangerous if your employer doesn’t give you adequate rest breaks and provide you with access to water. This could result in heat stroke and other serious conditions that can even prove fatal.
6. Lack of protective equipment: If you’re exposed to various hazards at work, then your employer should provide you with protective equipment to help keep you safe. This can include gloves, eye protection, a helmet and a respirator. If your employer doesn’t provide you with this equipment, then your chances of being injured on the job can increase exponentially.
7. Inadequate training: Your employer should provide you with enough training to allow you to do your job safely. If they don’t, then you might unwittingly put yourself in harm’s way.
8. Long hours: Working long hours can lead to excessive fatigue and tiredness, which increases the risk that you’ll make a costly error that leads to serious harm.

If so, then you need to consider your legal options. While in an ideal world your employer would act to make you whole again, the reality of the situation is that you’ll have to be proactive in protecting your interests.