labor lawAdivision of labor law center

Accessories can enhance the usefulness of forklifts, but they can also pose risks if not installed properly. A recent state publication addresses the incorrect operation of forklifts. There are more than 1.5 million forklifts in use in nearly ever industry in the nation. Forklift accidents are one of the most common types of industrial accident in the US, resulting in 10,000 deaths each year.

That’ s the conclusion of a recent North Dakota worker safety report on these handy little trucks, also called Powered Industrial trucks, PITs, and fork trucks. Some of the attachments commonly used in industry include hoppers, drum grippers, boom extensions, rug rams and drum carriers. It is very common to see such attachments, especially in the manufacturing industry.

Employers and worker must be aware of how any accessories modify the forklift’s load capacity and performance.  Accessories may also change the fork truck’s maintenance routine and operating procedures. When an accessory is installed, the manufacturer must approve the changes. Once that is accomplished, the instruction labels and decals will be modified to reflect the truck’s new capacity. The weight an accessory is always counted as part of the forklift’s load, therefore, it reduces the total capacity.

According to North Dakota OSHA standards, the forklift operator’s skills must be evaluated regularly. Every forklift operator, no matter how experienced, should be retrained from time to time. Any time an operator is involved in an accident or has a close call, they should receive additional training automatically.

Although forklifts are easy to operate, they represent a significant danger in the workplace. According to a safety consultant, there are a number of ways to minimize forklift injuries and fatalities. Unbalanced loads cause forklifts to tip over, resulting in many accidents and injuries.

To reduce accidents, the OSHA standards require special training for operators. A good forklift training program will take four factors into consideration. These include the operator’s skills, the operator’s level of prior knowledge, and the type of forklift. The training program should also address any specific hazards found in that particular workplace.

Employers may not realize the true cost of neglecting to instigate a work place safety program. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration, known as OSHA oversees safety in the workplace in North Dakota, and their recent reports do not paint a pretty picture regarding the statistics for work place accidents.

The cost of accidents in the work place can be high for employers. There may be lost work days, which may result in having to bring in extra staff, law suits, and medical bills. Add to that the loss of goodwill that may occur between the workers and their employer and you can see why a comprehensive work safety program could be beneficial to everyone.

The North Dakota worker safety statistics show just how common place work related injuries are. During 2005 there were 270,890 reported back injuries, with over half a million workers suffering from strains, sprains or tears. In total, there were 255,750 reported incidents of workers falling in their place of employment.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that the U.S. Occupational and Health Administration, or OSHA is called to investigate millions of work place injuries across the United States, including North Dakota.

Employer and Worker education is the key to good work place safety practices. Both workers and employers should be made aware of safety procedures on a regular basis. The easiest way to do this is by instigated a worker safety program, and OSHA provides an excellent resource pack to help with this.

The OSHA Workplace Safety Pack includes information on workplace ergonomics as well as three posters. These are the Workstation Safety Tips Poster, the slips, Trips and Falls poster and the Lifting Safely Poster. All the information in this pack is presented in a clear and easy to understand manner.
There were 4,214,200 injuries in the workplace throughout the United States during the year 2005. Tragically, of these 5,702 were fatal injuries. There were 1,234,700 working days lost due to accidents at work.  These figures relate to the private sector only.

While browsing on the internet today, I came across the North Dakota (ND) Labor Laws. These laws are numerous, but they follow along with the other states’ labor laws to a great degree. Many of the ND labor laws are required to be posted in work places across the state, so they have been made into the North Dakota labor law posters. Employers often hang these posters in the employee break room, work areas, or on the walls surrounding the time clock, as these are places where employees will have easy access to them.

The first of the ND labor laws I came across deals with the minimum wage. The minimum wage in the state of North Dakota currently stands at $5.15 per hour. The minimum wage for tipped employees can be $3.45 per hour, but if this wage plus tips does not bring the employee up to the regular minimum wage, the employer must make up the difference.

The overtime law in North Dakota is the same as most of the other states. Anyone working over 40 hours in any given work week will received one and one half times the normal rate for every hour over 40. There are several exceptions to the overtime law.

ND labor laws also allow for meal breaks. When an employee works over 5 hours in a row, they are eligible for a 30 minute “meal break”. This break does not have to be a paid break if the employee is relieved of duties completely. Coffee and bathroom breaks are not required by law, but when an employer offers them they must be paid.

These are just a few of the many ND labor laws. If you want a complete listing, they are easy to find online. If you are just interested in most of the labor laws of the state, find copies of the North Dakota labor law posters. In the event you need both federal and state labor laws that are in effect in the state of North Dakota, you can always find a copy of the Complete North Dakota Labor Law Poster.

I had no trouble finding the North Carolina (NC) Labor Laws online. They are similar in nature to many of the other states’ labor laws. When it comes to NC labor laws, there are some that are required to be posted somewhere within the business. Many times an employer will post the North Carolina labor law posters in an employee break area or on the wall around the time clock, as these areas are easily accessible by employees.

The first of the NC labor laws I found deals with workers’ compensation. When an employee is injured on the job, all he or she needs to do is inform the supervisor on duty. He or she will then be eligible for whatever medical attention is necessary. It is important for the employee to inform the supervisor within 30 days of the injury, as after that time benefits may be lost.

There is also an Equal Opportunity law in the state of North Carolina. Employers are not permitted to discriminate for a number of various reasons, such as race, color, gender, disability, and religion.

NC labor laws that cover minors who are employed within the state are numerous. They determine what jobs a minor can hold, how many hours and which hours they can work, and how many days during one week they can work.

Other labor laws were created by the federal government, but are followed throughout the state. These laws include the minimum wage, overtime pay, employee polygraph protection act, and several others.

I hope that you have found this overview of the NC labor laws useful. When you are in need of specific details about the NC labor laws, you should find copies of the North Carolina labor law posters. In the event that you are in need of federal and state labor laws, it may be helpful to find a copy of the North Carolina Complete Labor Law Poster.

I find that employers and employees alike are often interested in learning more about the labor laws that may apply to them. My research shows that North Dakota labor laws contain a number of important provisions that you might want to be aware of if you live or work in the state.

One area of the North Dakota labor law that may be of interest is the law regarding the payment of wages and work hour issues. North Dakota has a minimum wage equal to the federal minimum wage of $5.15. Tipped employees may be paid a lower hourly wage of $3.45 per hour, but their total hourly earnings with tips included must be equal to or greater than the minimum wage. Wages in the state must be paid at least once a month. Employees who are separated from their job for any reason must be paid by the next regular pay day. Also, any unused vacation time must be paid with an employee’s final paycheck. Finally, any employee who works five or more hours must be given a 30 minute unpaid, uninterrupted break if there are two or more employees on duty at any given time.

Residents of the state should also be glad to know that North Dakota labor law contains a number of anti-discrimination protections. Employers in North Dakota may not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, pregnancy, marital status, status with regard to public assistance, or “participation in lawful activity off the employer‘s premises during non-working hours which is not in direct conflict with the essential business related functions of the employer.” Sexual harassment is also strictly prohibited under state law.

Child labor laws are another topic many people have questions about. North Dakota labor laws require work permits for minors under 16, but not for 16 and 17 year olds. Work hour restrictions are also placed on 14 and 15 year olds, along with restrictions on the types of jobs they may hold. No such restrictions are placed on 16 and 17 year old minors under state law, though there are federal provisions that may apply.

These are just a few topics covered under the North Dakota Labor Laws. Other laws cover topics such as labor unions and labor disputes, the licensing of employment agencies, and so on. An up-to-date listing of North Dakota’s labor laws, as well as relevant federal laws, may be found on the North Dakota Complete Labor Law Poster.