The Occupational Safety and Health Administration, or OSHA, is a national agency dedicated to keeping employees — and employers — safe. There are many national rules about what employees and employers can and cannot do, safety standards, and other regulations that must be met. While these standards are universal, some things are left to the state. This includes how to handle violations.
In California, rule violations are handled by both the national OSHA body and the state. What makes the state unique is how it handles workers’ compensation. Under California law, once workers’ compensation has been figured out, employees cannot sue their employers for further payout. However, there may be some workarounds that will help you get more money for your injuries. The Ernst Law Group can help you utilize these and get the compensation you truly deserve.
The Basics of OSHA in California
The first thing to note is that OSHA does not handle every workplace incident. If it did, they would be bogged down for years. Rather, specific kinds of accidents are what they specialize in. In order for OSHA to open an investigation, at least one of these four criteria must be met:
- There is a fatal injury to one or more employees.
- Serious injury or illness at the workplace
- Serious exposure to some harmful substance
- Inpatient hospitalization of at least three employees.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration, or OSHA, is a national agency dedicated to keeping employees — and employers — safe. There are many national rules about what employees and employers can and cannot do, safety standards, and other regulations that must be met. While these standards are universal, some things are left to the state. This includes how to handle violations.
In California, rule violations are handled by both the national OSHA body and the state. What makes the state unique is how it handles workers’ compensation. Under California law, once workers’ compensation has been figured out, employees cannot sue their employers for further payout. However, there may be some workarounds that will help you get more money for your injuries. The Ernst Law Group can help you utilize these and get the compensation you truly deserve.
The Basics of OSHA in California
The first thing to note is that OSHA does not handle every workplace incident. If it did, they would be bogged down for years. Rather, specific kinds of accidents are what they specialize in. In order for OSHA to open an investigation, at least one of these four criteria must be met:
- There is a fatal injury to one or more employees.
- Serious injury or illness at the workplace
- Serious exposure to some harmful substance
- Inpatient hospitalization of at least three employees.
The OSHA investigation is designed to evaluate the safety standards and procedures of the employer. The employer is being examined to see if they have any violations, which will then be cited. The OSHA investigators are only really interested in the employer and whether or not the employer did something to increase the risk of harm to their employees. If the investigation finds violations, OSHA will issue a fine to the employer.
However, if an employer is found to be at fault, there are still strict regulations regarding paying out compensation. However, while you cannot sue your employer, you may be able to sue a third party. If a corporation or other entity is listed in the OSHA report, they may be liable for paying greater compensation to you.
California’s Workers’ Compensation System
The system is set up so that if you’re injured at work, you get paid. It is a system called no-fault, meaning you do not have to prove that anyone did anything wrong at work to benefit from the worker’s compensation program in California. Whether you will be paid or not is completely determined by the following two questions:
- Were you at work?
- Were you injured?
If so, you are entitled to a worker’s compensation claim.
The problem is that workers’ compensation does not provide enough compensation if you’re seriously injured. Workers’ compensation was gutted by the California government nearly a decade ago. You cannot live on the amount of compensation you receive anymore if you are seriously injured and need financial compensation that can care for you for the rest of your life. A case against another responsible party is the only viable option.
If other corporations or individuals contributed or caused your serious injury, you can bring a lawsuit against them. Because of this, the best option for someone who is seriously hurt or is the family of someone who was killed is to file a lawsuit against the responsible parties other than the employer.
Protecting Your Rights
Large workers’ compensation cases tend always to have some type of OSHA investigation. In addition, wrongful death cases will sometimes have an OSHA investigation. We want to help those who have been caught up in these kinds of claims. More often than not, especially in a situation involving wrongful death, the workers’ compensation payout is not enough. That’s where we come in.
There are many different reasons a corporation may be listed on an OSHA report. If faulty machinery or other equipment caused your accident, they could be held liable. In addition, if your direct employer falls under an umbrella corporation, and said corporation puts you in a dangerous situation, they may also be listed on the report. Of course, there are any number of reasons why a person may be listed on the report, as long as they contributed to your accident.
If you’ve been put out of work because of an injury, and your workers’ compensation isn’t covering the bills, you may have a case. Contact the Ernst Law Group today. Our firm specializes in workplace injury cases, representing clients for 40 years. Don’t wait; the statute of limitations to file a claim in California is just a year.
During your FREE initial consultation, we will review your case, including the OSHA investigation, to determine if another party may be held liable for your injury. Call now.
