Does Texas Have a State Level Occupational Inspection Agency?

The Dallas Morning News recently determined that workers in Texas are 12 percent more likely to die on the job than in any other state.

Additionally, RawStory says, “One of the driving forces of Texas’s economy, construction, is also one of its deadliest.” Construction workers in the Lone Star State are 22 percent more likely to be killed on a jobsite as compared with other states.

RawStory says there are many reasons for this:

• Many undocumented workers are untrained for the job.
• Texas is one of the most difficult states to organize a union in.
• Texas does not have a state-level occupational safety inspection agency. It relies on the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) to oversee workplace conditions, which is run by the federal government. Since Texas does not assist with inspecting jobsites, OSHA is frequently undermanned. This means it cannot inspect all workplaces adequately.

Are Second-Tier Subcontractors Dangerous for Workers?

• Second-tier contractors also contribute to the safety problems. Texas laws generally do not provide safety and payroll protections beyond the first tier of contractors. First-tier subcontractors are the people hired by the general contractor. However, first-tier subcontractors will hire subcontractors (second-tier) that are given less protection under state law.

Unfortunately, 580 workers have died over the past decade because of how dangerous it is to work in Texas.

If you have been injured while working on a jobsite, you may have claims to workers’ compensation.

The Law Offices of Aaron Allison – Austin Workers’ Compensation Attorney

Source: http://www.rawstory.com/rs/blog/2014/08/17/construction-workers-22-percent-more-likely-to-die-on-the-job-in-texas-than-any-other-state/