Legal Question in Business Law in New York

Safety violation?

I have an employee working in our machine shop who does not want to follow our safety rules regarding the removal of all jewerly, specifically his wedding ring. He has stated that he needs to keep it on because it is sacred. Are we within our rights to insist that the employee remove all jewerly, for safety reasons?


Asked on 9/19/06, 8:43 am

2 Answers from Attorneys
Mark S. Moroknek Kelly & Curtis, PLLC.

Re: Safety violation?

Yes. If he should catch it on a machine part and lose his hand, for instance, as once happened in a case of mine, your company would be responsible for not following your own safety rules.

Give him a warning and explain the danger.

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Answered on 9/19/06, 1:42 pm
Stephen Loeb Law Office of Stephen R. Loeb

Re: Safety violation?

He may have grounds not to remove it if he is claiming a religious obligation in wearing the ring. If that is the case, I would have him sign a waiver explicitly spelling out the risks in not removing the ring, acknowledging that he has been fully informed of the dangers and regardless, knowingly and voluntarily disregarded the known dangers at his own peril.

Should you like to discuss this or any other legal matter, you can e-mail me for more information about low cost face-to-face, on-line, or a telephone consultation with a lawyer in our office.

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Answered on 9/19/06, 2:14 pm


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