Under the laws put into place by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), employers are required to provide a safe working environment for their employees. Reducing the risk of an on-the-job accident is something taken very seriously by both federal and state agencies. A city in Georgia has recently been given a grant geared toward providing increased safety for its employees.
Recently, the Georgia Municipal Association announced a $2,800 grant to assist the city of Dawsonville with tools to improve job safety for its employees. The city plans to purchase various types of safety equipment with the funds they receive. Since these employees play a critical role in the city, the prevention of an on-the-job accident is top priority for local officials.
The grant was originally introduced in 2000 as an incentive for members to improve the safety of their employees. It provides financial assistance for the purchasing of safety equipment and services as well as additional funding for training. The Safety Grant program allows the cities that participate to stretch their money beyond what is typically in the budget for safety improvements.
Even with the best safety measures in place, an on-the-job accident can occur at anytime. Georgia law requires most business owners to provide workers’ compensation insurance coverage to employees injured in the workplace. Medical bills and the loss of wages that often result from a work related injury can have a devastating financial impact on the victims and their families. These benefits may play a critical role in the financial recovery of those injured. It is important for employees to fully explore their rights to these benefits under current laws to ensure they are compensated fairly.
Source: dawsonnews.com, City of Dawsonville awarded safety grant, David Renner, Jan. 29, 2014