Final answer:
Employers must provide a safe work environment and train employees on how to report work-related injuries, in line with OSHA standards. They're also required to contribute to workman's compensation insurance and follow specific safety protocols, like providing safety training in accessible language and not retaliating against workers who exercise their legal rights.
Step-by-step explanation:
Employers are tasked with the responsibility to provide a safe working environment and ensure that their employees know how to report injuries and illnesses. Workman's compensation insurance is a system in place that provides benefits to workers who are injured on the job. Employers contribute to this insurance based on a percentage of the salaries paid. To comply with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) standards, employers must also:
- Provide safety training in a language and vocabulary workers can understand.
- Keep accurate records of work-related injuries and illnesses.
- Perform necessary workplace tests, like air sampling.
- Supply personal protective equipment at no cost.
- Provide medical tests, such as hearing exams, as required by OSHA.
- Ensure OSHA postings and summaries of injuries and illnesses are visible to employees.
- Notify OSHA promptly about severe injuries and fatalities.
It is essential that employers do not retaliate against employees exercising their rights under OSHA, which includes reporting injuries or unsafe conditions. Workers must receive appropriate training, access to records, and the ability to file complaints without discrimination.