Minnesota residents who work in jobs in which they are routinely exposed to harsh chemicals or other substances known to be hazardous to their health deserve to know that their employers are taking appropriate steps to keep them safe from these materials. This safety can take the form of providing training for all workers, establishing clear safety practices and guidelines and monitoring the adherence to safety protocols.
One thing employers are required to do is to follow the rules set forth by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. In this year alone, some of the rules put in place to protect workers have either been eliminated. Decisions on the implementation or future of others have been delayed. Now another rule that relates to the levels of silica in a workplace may also be in jeopardy. This rule was put in place by OSHA but is being challenged by the current presidential administration.
It seems that a new era of business first and workers last is ushering in. People employed in construction and other industrial jobs may need to be more alert on their own to their health and any illnesses they may develop. Silica exposure has been linked to lung diseases as well as kidney disease.
When a Minnesota resident has concerns about an occupational illness or disease, talking to an attorney may help to provide insight into the laws and the options for seeking compensation.
Source: Think Progress, “Trump rushes to gut regulations at the expense of worker safety,” Mark Hand, September 28, 2017