Tried And True Attorneys Standing Up For The Injured Since 1965

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Photo of Craig R. Fishman

Tried And True Attorneys Standing Up For The Injured Since 1965

New Jersey’s top public workplace hazards

On Behalf of | Jan 25, 2022 | Workers' Compensation |

Each year, the New Jersey Department of Labor (DOL) issues a report on the top workplace hazards in public jobs. Many jobs require that workers perform their duties in person. Remote work is not an option. But whether, they are working from home or at a job site, there is always the potential for work-related accidents and injuries .

The DOL report covers information for 2021 and the most basic goal of the report is to ensure that people become more aware of the workplace hazards that exist. The Office of Public Employees Occupational Safety and Health (PEOSH), which is part of the DOL, issues the annual report. PEOSH inspects, investigates, consults, and helps to lessen the severity of accidents in the workplace. The DOL hopes that the report will cause workers and employers to be more careful so that everyone’s safety is assured. The DOL’s objective is that the workplace is not only safe but that the people involved also proactively prevent future accidents from occurring.

The list of top safety and health hazards

The top safety and health hazards that made the 2021 list are as follows:

  • No exit route.
  • Electrical problems, which can cause electrocution and electrical fires.
  • Unsafe energy that is not contained properly.
  • Lack of machine guards.
  • Hazards on the ground, such as holes in the floor, no guardrails and wet floors.
  • Inappropriate storage, such as boxes stacked too high or unsteady.
  • Poor communication regarding known hazards.
  • Scant fire-prevention efforts.
  • Improper storage of hazardous materials in confined spaces.
  • Hazards to firefighters (equipment, gear, training).

In addition to the PEOSH list of hazards, the organization also has alerts for additional issues on its website as they arise as well as offering onsite consultations (at no cost to the business).

Getting the help that you need

If you have experienced an accident at work and are no longer able to perform in your current position, the expert advice of a knowledgeable workers’ compensation lawyer may prove to be invaluable. You will most likely need your wages and medical benefits. It may be helpful to have someone by your side who can walk you through the process of applying for benefits and appealing your claim if it is not accepted the first time you apply. The right guidance through the legal system can make everything much easier and you may get the benefits that you need and to which you are entitled.

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