Concerned about Your Safety and Health at Work? Learn About Your Rights
Learn about your rights if you think something is wrong at your job
Your Rights to a safe West Virginia workplace
Under federal law, you’re entitled to a safe workplace. OSHA requires your employer to provide you a workplace free of known health and safety hazards. If you have concerns, you have the right to speak up about them without fear of retaliation. OSHA also give you the right to:
- Work on machines that are safe
- File a confidential complaint with OSHA
- Be provided required safety gear, such as gloves, respirator or a harness and lifeline for fall protection
- Be protected from toxic chemicals and substances
- Request an OSHA inspection and speak to the inspector
- Report an injury or illness and get copies of your medical records
- See copies of the workplace injury and illness log
- Review records of work-related injuries and illnesses
- Get copies of test results done to find hazards in your West Virginia workplace
When to File a Complaint about an Unsafe Working Condition in West Virginia
Regardless if you work in an office, a coal mine, or at natural gas drilling site, if you believe your working conditions are unsafe or unhealthy, OSHA gives you the right to file a confidential complaint and ask for an inspection. OSHA recommends you bring the condition to your employer’s attention first, if possible and safe to do so. However, you are not required to do this and can go straight to OSHA if you prefer.
How to File a Safety and Health Complaint with OSHA
Worker Protection from Retaliation
It’s illegal for your employer to fire, demote, transfer or retaliate in any way against you for exercising your rights under the law, including your right to file an OSHA complaint. If you believe you have been retaliated against in any way, file a whistleblower complaint within 30 days of the alleged retaliation.
If you have filed a whistleblower claim and feel that your employer has retaliated against you for filing the claim, it’s important to speak with an experienced West Virginia Workplace Injury Lawyer like those at West Law Firm as soon as possible to discuss your rights and options.
How to File a Whistleblower Complaint with OSHA
Contact OSHA Before an Injury
If you have a question about a health and/or safety issue at your West Virginia workplace or would like to discuss your rights or learn more about OSHA, OSHA invites you to contact them. OSHA states that it will keep your information confidential.
OSHA can be reached toll free at 1-800-321-6742 (OSHA), send questions or comments by email , or find your nearest OSHA office by using the map at this link of OSHA Regional and Area Offices.
After an Injury, Contact an Experienced West Virginia Workplace Injury Lawyer
We hope this article helps keep you safe at work. However, if you have already suffered a serious injury on the job, we invite you to call one of our experienced West Virginia workplace accident lawyers for a Free and Confidential consultation.
West Law Firm’s toll free number is 1-877-943-9378 (WEST). At West Law Firm, there’s also never a fee unless and until we recover financial compensation for you.
Brooks West is a personal injury lawyer, founder, and President of West Law Firm. He has been helping those wrongfully injured in West Virginia for almost two decades. The results and service he provides his clients have earned him membership in the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum and the AV Preeminent Rating from Martindale-Hubbell. Brooks is most proud of the many 5-star reviews he has received from satisfied clients.
Lance Bork 
