Being concerned about workplace safety is important. Procedures can always be improved and there are new ways of looking at safety. Every organization, whether it is in any field, from construction to web design, should have a priority to make the place of work safe. In Arizona, it’s important for an employer to provide all workers with a safe environment to perform the responsibilities of their position. This can range from maintaining temperature conditions to making sure heavy equipment is handled with extreme caution. Often standards are held in compliance by inspections.
The Arizona Division of Occupational Safety and Health (ADOSH) is responsible for completing inspections of the work place in Arizona every year. What do they do? According to information provided in their 2013 Annual Report, inspections are completed for a variety of reasons. Those could result from a complaint, referral, a work-related accident, a planned effort or a follow-up to a previous violation.
ADOSH is special because it is the only program from OSHA whose independent body is separate from the OSHA program. ADOSH completed 1,218 inspections in 2013, up from 1,117 inspections in 2012. Last year, there were 796 serious, willful, and repeat violations that were issued. This is a matter that is very serious for those who are injured by something that could be preventable. Penalties in 2013 were over $763,000.
Those who are hurt can have different options for help with living expenses, including workers’ compensation. For more information, it’s important to be up-to-date on the latest workers’ compensation policy in Arizona. ADOSH provides inspections to help keep workers safe. Workers’ compensation helps them get back on their feet after an injury.
Source: ICA.state.az.us, “The Industrial Commission of Arizona Annual Report for 2013,” Accessed on September 13, 2014
