The good people of the United States have taken great strides in protecting workers, particularly compared to many other nations. Yet, we continue to see too many workplace injuries. What’s the reason for this conundrum?
Sadly, psychological factors often come into play, according to the U.S. Occupational Safety & Health Administration. When a coworker incurs an on-the-job injury, often the employer tells the person to not engage in activities or repetitive motions that will impede healing or even worsen injuries.
However, many employees often feel a very strong sense of responsibility to their employer. So even when told to take it easy, a worker may jump in and help a coworker out of a sense of obligation. That raises an interesting question: What are an employer’s responsibilities in assuring an injured worker knows they should remain on light duty?
According to OSHA’s website, an employer needs to ensure workers are not under emotional pressure to keep working, which may cause a more severe injury. Employers do have an obligation to encourage workers to report pain incurred while on the job. The overall ethos of a workplace can and does contribute to workplace injuries. Know your rights. If you think you’ve not been treated equitably in this area, you may need an attorney to sort it out.