Your Rights to Safe Working Conditions as a PCA in Minnesota

Personal care assistants (PCAs) provide essential, physically demanding services to vulnerable individuals who depend on them for daily activities. However, PCAs themselves often work in conditions that place their own health and safety at risk.

You have the right to safe working conditions as a PCA in Minnesota, and if you are hurt on the job, you have the right to seek legal recourse with the help of a Minneapolis Workers’ Compensation for Health Care Workers Lawyer.

Common Workplace Hazards Faced by PCAs

Unsafe working conditions occur when your work environment exposes you to risks that could cause injury, illness, or long-term health problems—risks that your employer has a legal duty to prevent or minimize.

Unfortunately, many PCAs face these hazards daily:

• Lifting and transferring clients without proper equipment or training: Repeatedly moving clients who have limited mobility can lead to serious back injuries, muscle strains, and other musculoskeletal problems.
• Exposure to infectious diseases without adequate protective equipment: When you’re not provided with gloves, masks, or other necessary gear, you are vulnerable to blood borne pathogens and contagious illnesses.
• Unsafe home environments: You may work in clients’ homes with cluttered walkways, poor lighting, or structural hazards like loose flooring that increase your risk of slips, trips, and falls.
• Violent behavior from clients: Some clients may exhibit unpredictable or aggressive behavior, putting you at risk of physical harm.
• Chemical exposure: Regular contact with cleaning products or medications without proper safety information or ventilation can cause respiratory issues or skin conditions over time.

What Safety Protections Are PCAs Legally Entitled To?

As a PCA, you are entitled to meaningful workplace protections under both federal and state law. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) sets baseline workplace safety standards, while Minnesota’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (MNOSHA) enforces additional protections specific to workers in this state.

Under these regulations, you have the right to receive personal protective equipment at no cost to you. You are entitled to information about potential hazards you may encounter, including chemical exposures and injury records.

If you believe your working conditions are unsafe, you can file a complaint with OSHA or request an inspection—and you have the right to refuse work that poses an immediate danger to your health or safety.

Your employer has corresponding legal obligations. They must maintain a workplace free from recognized hazards that could cause death or serious injury. They are required to provide necessary safety training, keep records of workplace injuries and illnesses, and display information about worker safety rights where you can see it.

Speak with a Minnesota Workplace Injury Attorney Today

As a personal care assistant, you provide essential care to those who need it most. But when unsafe conditions put your health at risk, you can suffer from an injury or illness that can change your life. In these situations, you have the right to seek compensation for your medical care, lost wages, and more.

At Kemmitt, Sanford & Kramer, we have spent years advocating for Minnesota workers who’ve been injured on the job. Whether you’ve suffered a back injury from inadequate lifting equipment, contracted an infection due to insufficient protective gear, or experienced any other harm caused by your employer’s failure to maintain safe working conditions, we can help you seek justice.

Contact us at (877) 630–7338 for a free consultation and learn about your options for moving forward.