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OSHA Awards Washington Trucker with Lost Wages

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OSHAThe Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) recently ordered the Auburn, Washington based fleet, Oak Harbor Freight Lines, to pay one of their truck driver’s lost wages. According to OSHA, in 2010, the truck driver notified his carrier that he was sick and taking a prescribed cough medicine. This cough medicine would make it unsafe for him to safely drive his truck. The company then suspended the driver without pay for refusing to drive.

OSHA believes that this trucking company retaliates against workers who refuse to drive for safety reasons, putting them in direct violation of the Surface Transportation Assistance Act. This Act protects all drivers from retaliation by employers when they refuse to drive for safety reasons.

In addition to paying the truck driver back wages, OSHA ordered the trucking company to stop issuing “occurrences” to their drivers, which punishes them for not driving. This directly encouraged truck drivers to break safety regulations, for fear of losing their jobs, being suspended, or receiving disciplinary action.

“Punishing workers for exercising their right to refuse driving assignments is against the law. A company cannot place its attendance policies ahead of the safety of its drivers and that of the public.”

— David Mahlum, OSHA’s acting regional administrator in Seattle

Unfortunately, many trucking companies throughout the State of Washington do penalize their drivers for refusing to drive. This is not only dangerous, but it is also against the law. They may encourage long hours of driving, penalize drivers for delivering cargo late, or even facilitate the falsifying of driving logs. Truckers are then put in a precarious position—risk safety violations or lose your job.

Contact Seattle Employee Rights Attorneys

If you feel that your employer has violated your rights, an experienced Seattle employee rights attorney at Phillips Law Firm can help. If you are interested in learning more about your legal options, call us at 1-800-708-6000. Our Seattle employee rights lawsuit attorneys are waiting to assist you 24/7, offering a free case evaluation. Remember our no fee promise. If we do not recover anything for you, you do not owe us an attorney fee.

The employee rights lawyers at Phillips Law Firm have successfully represented individuals and their families in Seattle, Tacoma, Vancouver, Bellevue, Everett, Kent, Auburn, Renton, Federal Way, Bellingham, Marysville, Lakewood, Redmond, Shoreline, and throughout the State of Washington. 

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Injured in the Cold While on the Job?

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Cold Weather On-The-Job-InjuriesIf your job is outdoors, the cold weather can be downright dangerous and can cause serious on-the-job injuries. While all Seattle employers should be vigilant about protecting their workers from freezing temperatures, sadly many do not. The Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) has outlined several ways employers can protect their employees from the effects of the cold, yet many Seattle-based employers do not follow these tips. The results can be devastating for employees and their families.

OSHA’s Recommended Tips to Protect Workers in Cold Environments:

OSHA’s Cold Stress Card is a reference card with recommendations to prevent and combat cold-weather injuries. Some of their tips include:

  • Surveying the workplace for conditions that may be dangerous
  • Learn the signs of cold-induced illnesses and injuries
  • Train workers to recognize those signs
  • Encourage all workers to wear proper clothing for cold, windy and rainy weather—especially layers of clothing
  • Allow workers to take frequent short breaks in warm dry shelters
  • Schedule work for the warmest portion of the day
  • Avoid overworking employees
  • Allow workers to work in a buddy system so they can monitor each other for warning signs
  • Drink warm sweet beverages
  • Eat warm foods
  • Monitor workers who have health conditions or heart conditions closely in cold weather

Prolonged exposure to cold temperatures, especially below freezing ones, can cause serious health problems, including frostbite, trench foot, and hypothermia. Immersion in cold water or extremely prolonged exposure can even result in death. It is important for all employers, managers, and workers to know the warning signs of cold weather illness, including:

  • Uncontrolled shivering
  • Slurred speech
  • Clumsy movements
  • Fatigue
  • Confused behaviors
  • Numbness or tingling of extremities
  • Pain and swelling in feet or hands
  • Weak pulse
  • Shallow breathing
  • And more

Contact Seattle Worker’s Compensation Attorneys

If you have been injured on the job and have questions regarding your worker’s compensation, an experienced Seattle worker’s compensation attorney at Phillips Law Firm can help. If you are interested in learning more about your legal options, call us at 1-800-708-6000. Our Seattle worker’s compensation attorneys are waiting to assist you 24/7, offering a free case evaluation. Remember our no fee promise. If we do not recover anything for you, you do not owe us an attorney fee.

The workers’ compensation lawyers at Phillips Law Firm have successfully represented injured individuals and their families in Seattle, Tacoma, Vancouver, Bellevue, Everett, Kent, Auburn, Renton, Federal Way, Bellingham, Marysville, Lakewood, Redmond, Shoreline, and throughout the State of Washington.

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