OSHA AND THE RIGHTS OF HEALTH WORKERS DURING PANDEMIC
The global pandemic has exposed the fallacies of different industries across the world. Health sector industries have struggled to keep pace with rising cases of COVID-19 in the US. Along with this comes the discrimination and exploitation against the health workers. The forefront COVID-19 warriors get exposed to hazardous working conditions due to improper medical protection and prejudiced facilities.
Their voices often remain unheard of because of a lack of awareness. OSHA or the Occupational Safety and Health Act protects workers against their exploitative employers. In this global pandemic, nurses often work in an unsafe hospital environment. Retaliation against the employer often results in humiliation, unprecedented disciplinary measures, and even termination. The regulatory organization intervenes in such scenarios to take legal steps against the perpetrators. This article will summarize the role of OSHA in times of pandemic.
1. Defining goals: OSHA creates and redefines safety and health standards within the workplace environment. These protocols get laid down after discussions with several decision-making bodies and government agencies. Like in Minnesota, the statutes and rules are defined in “Chapter 182 Occupational Safety and Health”. If the health workers are subjected to violations of standards like “Employee Right-to-know of Hazardous Substances”, or “Safe-patient Handling” or “Permissible Exposure Limits”, they can register a complaint against their hospital.
• OSHA develops mandatory safety standards for health workers.
• They conduct thorough workspace inspection and levy penalties for possible violations.
• They help in monitoring occupational illnesses.
2. Informing about hazards: To keep returning to work during COVID-19 is often hazardous for nurses. Section 5 of the OSHA Act lays down foundational protocols for hospitals. The Act states that every hazardous segment must be well-defined, recognized within industry standards, and clearly stated. The employer must know about the presence of such elements and must make his employees known. Health workers can lodge complaints when their employers violate these below-mentioned clauses.
• Employers must devise appropriate conditions to protect the rights of nurses in the workplace.
• Employers must strictly ensure that employees are shielded by proper protective gear during the pandemic and otherwise.
• Employers must follow strict protocols applicable to their hospital establishment industry.
3. Propagating education: OSHA promotes education through different online interactive platforms. They cover areas that include protocols about safety standards, workplace violations within healthcare industries, and others. OSHA educates health workers to protect their rights so that returning to work during COVID-19 is never a discriminatory issue. They are also responsible for educating the administrators about set standards of ethics. Employers are taught not to take retaliatory measures against employees with grievances.
• OSHA encourages interactive education of both employers and employees while trying to create a sustainable working environment.
• It keeps records of workplace-related fatalities at the Bureau of Labor statistics.
• Supports innovation in dealing with healthcare hazards at the workplace.
OSHA Act has coverage of more than 50 states in the US. Healthcare industry hazards have reduced significantly with the policy. The agency educates both the employer and employee while preserving their rights. home remodeling budget app best home remodeling app best home remodeling design apps home depot remodeling app what is the best free home design app home remodeling apps exterior home remodeling app real estate home remodeling app home remodeling app free is there an app to redesign your home is there a home remodeling app home renovation services near me home renovation contractors near me best home remodeling contractors near me mobile home remodeling contractors near me modern home remodeling near me professional home remodeling near me how much does it cost to remodel a home how much does it cost to completely remodel a home what is the average cost for home remodeling home remodeling companies hiring home remodeling companies usa home renovation near me home remodeling around me home remodeling jobs near me affordable home remodeling near me home remodeling agency near me home repair and remodeling near me home design and remodeling near me home construction and remodeling near me best home remodeling near me home remodeling businesses near me best home remodeling companies near me exterior home remodeling near me home remodeling companies near me custom home remodeling near me complete home remodeling near me home remodeling construction companies near me home remodeling companies hiring near me who does home remodeling near me how much does a remodel designer cost how to find a home remodel designer how much does a home remodel designer cost home remodeling experts near me entry level home remodeling jobs near me how much does it cost to remodel home exterior how much does an exterior remodel cost how much do exterior renovations cost power home remodeling near me how much does a complete home renovation cost where to learn home remodeling trade school for home remodeling near me general contractors for home remodeling near me how to find a contractor for home remodel how much does a remodeling contractor cost how to choose a home remodeling contractor general contractors home remodeling near me interior home remodeling near me home improvement remodeling near me how much does it cost to remodel home interior how much does it cost to remodel the inside of a house how much do interior renovations cost how much does it cost to gut and remodel house home remodeling jobs hiring near me power home remodeling jobs near me how to get a job in home remodeling how to find home remodeling jobs how to get a job in home renovation home kitchen remodeling near me how to go about remodeling a kitchen
