Rights & Responsibilities

Legal Rights

Legal Responsibilities

Employees

• Provision with accurate information and training (OSHA) 

• Safe working environment (OSHA) 

• Compensation for occupational illnesses (FECA) 

• Self monitoring radiation exposure (OSHA, NRC)

• Given protective gear (OSHA)

• Seeking worksite inspections (OSHA)

• Filing workplace safety lawsuits (OSHA, FECA)

• Protection from retaliation for reporting (OSHA)

• Following safety protocols (OSHA)

• Working efficiently (Employment Contracts)

• Reporting workplace hazards (OSHA)

Employers

• Taking action against employees for disobeying safety protocols (OSHA)

• Unaccountable for employees' recklessness (OSHA)

• Providing employees with training, protection, and safe workplaces (OSHA)

• Giving accurate information about work-related substances (OSHA)

• Allowing authorized personnel to ensure safe working environments (OSHA) 

• Compensating employees for occupational diseases (FECA) 

• ​​​​​​​Labeling materials (OSHA)

"As a general dentist, part of my job is utilizing various x-ray machines that emit radiation. The employer is responsible for a few things:

            1) Before hiring, making sure I am licensed by The Department of Public Health which confirms my extensive education to deal with such machines.

    2) After hiring, I am provided with annual training for radiation safety along with ensuring that these machines are certified and are being inspected on a regular basis.

    3) My employer has to provide me with a device to use, that measures the amount of radiation I am exposed to on a quarterly basis. If that device exceeds a certain limit, I am not allowed to use these machines until I am back to normal. If my employer does not follow these guidelines, I have the right to report, sue and get compensated for any harm I am exposed to.

Additionally, my responsibility is to:

1) follow the guidelines 

2) complete my trainings

3) Use the protective equipments to keep me and my patients safe.

Otherwise, if I do not commit to these responsibilities, my employer has the right to fire me and take further actions. All of these rights and responsibilities were a lesson learned from the tragedy of the Radium Girls."