Tort Law: What is It?

Tort law is an area of the law that applies to claims for damages inflicted as the result of negligence. More specifically, a tort case pertains not only to compensatory damages, but can also include punitive damages as well. Compensatory damages are limited to compensation for costs directly incurred by the defendant’s negligence. For example, if you run over your neighbor with your car and the hospital bill is $4,000, the compensatory damages would be $4,000. In some states, your neighbor might also be entitled to recover incidental damages such as lost wages from missing a day at work.

The word “punitive” is sometimes applied to damages above and beyond compensatory damages, and it’s a bit of a misnomer. It is not a punishment in the legal sense, since punishment exists only in criminal law. Rather, it is compensation for pain and suffering. In the above example, your neighbor might have to live with chronic back pain for months or years, and if he were to sue for additional damages on this basis, tort law would apply.

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Personal Protective Equipment

Personal protective equipment is designed to reduce employee exposure to hazards when engineering and administrative controls are not feasible or effective in reducing these exposures to acceptable levels. Employers make the decision whether or not they think their workers need protective equipment on the job. Some of the protective equipment for jobs are face shields, safety glasses, hard hats, safety shoes, goggles, coveralls, gloves, vests, earplugs, and respirators. Employers are required to teach all employees how to use the equipment properly, be aware of when the equipment is appropriate, know the equipment that is necessary, understand limitations, and how to put on and adjust all the equipment. The U.S. Department of Labor has 6 forms of protection that they require for all employments which are protection from head injuries, foot and leg injuries, eye and face injuries, hearing loss, hand injuries, and most importantly body injuries.

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