The Rights of Arizona Construction Workers

It’s no secret that construction work can be extremely dangerous. And it is for this reason that the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) gives construction workers special rights and imposes a number of safety and health obligations on construction industry employers. Below is an overview of the rights of Arizona construction workers.

• Construction workers have the right to access medical and exposure records.
• Construction workers have the right to review records pertaining to workplace injuries and illnesses.
• Construction workers have the right to view an employer’s workplace rules, standards, regulations, and requirements.
• Construction workers have the right to receive the results of workplace hazard testing.
• If a construction worker has reason to believe that his or her employer is in violation of OSHA regulations, then he or she may request an OSHA workplace inspection for hazardous conditions and standards violations. The worker may have his or her name withheld from an employer if requested.
• Construction workers have the right to be protected against retaliation for filing an OSHA complaint.

Employer requirements

As noted above, not only do construction workers in Arizona have special rights, but their employers must do the following:

• Provide employees with a safe work environment.
• Provide construction workers with safety equipment.
• Monitor employees to ensure proper use of equipment.
• Develop policies for employee training, container labeling, and material safety data.
• Provide training in multiple languages, if necessary.
• Make available a list of worker rights and responsibilities.
• Keep workers informed of OSHA workplace standards.
• Allow employees access to exposure and medical records.

OSHA inspections

One right afforded construction workers in Arizona is the ability to file OSHA complaints. A construction worker may file such a complaint if noted hazards are not remedied by an employer within a reasonable time following an initial report. OSHA may perform an inspection whenever a workplace shows evidence of dangerous hazards or violations. If a construction worker has an agent (typically selected by a union), then he or she may be present during the inspection. However, employers may not participate in the agent selection process. OSHA representatives have the authority to perform partial inspections of concerning areas or complete inspections of the workplace. Upon completion of an inspection, the OSHA representative typically discusses his or her observations with the employer and construction worker’s agent, detailing any corrections deemed necessary.

Arizona Workers’ Compensation Attorneys

The construction industry can be tough, and Arizona construction workers need equally tough legal representation. Whether you are contemplating an OSHA complaint, dealing with a workplace injury, or have had an Arizona workers’ compensation claim denied, it is highly recommended that you contact an experienced Arizona workers’ compensation attorney as soon as possible, as you may be entitled to compensation. For a free consultation, please contact Arizona Injury Law Group, Attorneys at Law, PLLC, at 602-346-9009.