Workers often face unavoidable hazards on the job. In many cases, their employers are supposed to give them personal protection equipment (PPE). This keeps the workers relatively safe from hazards that they can’t otherwise avoid.
A problem that sometimes comes up is that the employer will not give the workers the correct PPE. As an employee, you could suffer serious harm as a result. Your employer may claim that they did what they needed to keep you safe, but is that really true?
Exposure risks
One way that this happens is when there are dangerous types of exposure on the job. For instance, maybe there’s a chance of asbestos exposure, so you should have a breath mask or a respirator with a P-100, an N-100 or an R-100 rating. These masks are expensive, however, so your employer just gives you a carpenter’s dust mask or tells you to wear a neck gaiter over your mouth. Even though they technically gave you a form of PPE, you’re still being exposed to asbestos because those masks simply cannot stop the particles.
A similar issue could arise if you are exposed to high levels of noise on the job. The cumulative toll that exposure can have on your hearing – especially after decades of working in such an environment – can be significant. But if your employer gives you hearing protection without the proper rating, you could be damaging your ears even when you think you are protected.
Issues like this can make workers’ comp claims very complicated. Take the time to look into the necessary legal steps.