Workers in California who feel threatened by dangerous conditions in their work environments are entitled to lodge complaints with the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). If they believe that their employers are disregarding safety regulations and exposing them to known hazards, they may request OSHA investigations. Disgruntled McDonald’s employees reportedly filed complaints against the company, claiming current safety standards are contributing to workers’ injuries.
OSHA is currently investigating complaints that were filed on behalf of 28 employees from different cities. Fast Food Forward, a group that endeavors to obtain improved working conditions and higher wages for workers in the fast food industry, filed the complaints. Workers claim that they are forced to work with hazardous equipment, while safety regulations are disregarded by their employers.
In some cases in which workers suffered injuries such as burns, they were allegedly told to treat the affected areas with condiments, such as mayonnaise or mustard, rather than with suitable medical ointments. A survey, unrelated to this claim, was conducted on almost 1,500 workers in this industry and revealed that 80 percent of fast food workers were victims of workplace injuries in 2014. Of those who suffered burn injuries, 33 percent claimed to have been refused medical treatment and ordered to apply condiments to their burns.
Some California workers who are exposed to unsafe work environments choose to retain the services of experienced workers’ compensation attorneys to protect their rights. Timely action may prevent workers’ injuries that may occur if hazards are not addressed. If, however, a worker has suffered an on-the-job injury, he or she may pursue a workers’ compensation claim for benefits to cover medical expenses and lost wages.
Source: uncovermichigan.com, “OSHA Launches Investigation into McDonald’s“, Angie Gunthert, March 17, 2015
