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What are my legal obligations as a business owner in Georgia in terms of providing a safe workplace for my employees?

Picture of Chris Battis By   ·  1 minute read

As a business owner in Georgia, you have a legal obligation to provide a safe workplace for your employees. This obligation is imposed by both state and federal law, including the Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA), which requires employers to provide a workplace free from recognized hazards that are likely to cause serious physical harm or death to employees.

To satisfy your obligations, you should take the following steps:

  1. Conduct a Risk Assessment: You should conduct a hazard assessment to identify potential risks in your workplace that may cause harm to your employees. You must ensure that this assessment matches with the type of work and type of employees working for the business.
  2. Implement Safety Measures: Once you have identified potential risks, you must take reasonable steps to address them. This may include implementing safety measures such as providing personal protective equipment, instituting safety protocols, and properly training your employees.
  3. Provide Training: You are also required to provide your employees with appropriate training on how to safely do their jobs.
  4. Keep Accurate Records: OSHA requires employers to keep accurate records of workplace injuries and illnesses. You should maintain accurate records of any workplace accidents or injuries to help ensure that you are meeting your obligations and taking measures to mitigate further occurrences.

Limitations or exceptions to this advice could include the fact that specific industries may have additional safety and health regulations that must be followed. Additionally, some businesses may be exempt from OSHA requirements if they have a small number of employees or if they operate in a low-risk industry.

If you have any questions or concerns regarding workplace safety, you may consider seeking the services of a licensed attorney who specializes in employment and labor law. A qualified attorney can help ensure that you are fulfilling your legal obligations to keep your employees safe while also minimizing your risk of liability for workplace injuries or accidents.