What To Do If Your Employer Hasn’t Followed OSHA Regulations

At Carter Law Offices, we believe that companies should never take advantage of their workers. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) exists to help companies create and manage safe working conditions. Still, unfortunately, some employers fail to take the appropriate steps to keep their teams safe. When essential safety protocols are ignored, the risk of serious injuries and environmental hazards increases.

Established in 1995, our firm brings 45 years of legal experience to protecting the rights of workers across the Kansas City metro area. Our collective mission is to make a positive difference in the lives of the people we serve.

If your company has put you or your coworkers in danger and you are now facing complex OSHA litigation, we bring the big-firm firepower and deep-rooted moral values needed to hold negligent corporations accountable.

Protecting Missouri And Kansas Workers Wrongfully Terminated For Reporting Safety Violations

If your workplace has failed to provide adequate training, safety equipment or a safe work environment, you shouldn’t be afraid to speak up. We fiercely advocate for employees who refused to work in an unsafe environment or raised a safety or regulatory concern with their employer and were retaliated against.

You deserve to work in a healthy environment, and our attorneys are prepared to build a strong case to protect your career and your livelihood.

How The Whistleblower Protection Program Works

OSHA’s Whistleblower Protection Program protects employees who report safety violations. If you file a complaint about your workplace with OSHA or raise internal concerns, your employer may not:

• Fire you or lay you off
• Demote you
• Deny you pay, overtime pay or a promotion
• Intimidate, harass, threaten or mock you
• Isolate you physically or emotionally
• Discipline you in another way

If you have experienced any of these retaliatory actions after speaking up about workplace hazards, you have the right to seek justice and compensation. Our formidable legal team is prepared to hold your employer fully accountable for violating your protections.

Knowing Your Rights: The Strict 30-Day OSHA Whistleblower Clock

While the time limit to file directly with OSHA is only 30 days, as required by section 11(c), workers in Kansas and Missouri still retain the ability to pursue significant claims for wrongful termination or retaliation under Kansas or Missouri law in a court action, where the time limits are longer (usually up to two years).

Frequently Asked Questions

We offer free consultations to help Kansas City workers understand their legal options. Also, we put together a quick list of some of the most asked questions by clients we see at Carter Law Offices.

Can I refuse to perform a task at work if I believe it is completely unsafe?

Yes, but only under highly specific legal conditions. Under the OSH Act, you have the right to refuse dangerous work if you have a reasonable, good faith belief that the task poses an immediate danger of death or serious physical harm, the employer refused to correct it after you brought it to their attention, and there is insufficient time to file a standard OSHA complaint.

What if I didn’t report the safety issue to OSHA directly, but only complained internally to my manager?

The Missouri Whistleblower’s Protection Act (RSMo § 285.575) has significant exceptions; there is no protection for a private employee if the individual complains internally solely to the supervisors who committed the safety violation. There is also no protection if employees who were asked to report a safety violation are also those responsible for tracking the statistics.

We Can Represent You After An Act Of Retaliation

If your employer retaliated by firing, demoting, refusing to pay or otherwise disciplining you after you reported unsafe working conditions to OSHA, call us at 816-283-3500 or send us an email to set up a free consultation. We fight companies that take advantage of their employees, and we can help you today.