I get what you mean, and it’s a common thought and strategy. It just doesn’t work as well as one might think. Unless there is a union, employees are at a significant disadvantage. Forming a union would be FAR more effective than quoting OSHA regs.
The main thing is regulatory violations aren’t (usually) criminal so there’s a long administrative process to most enforcement actions. Companies overwhelmingly have the resources to litigate beyond their employees means. So if they have the resources to have legal council or a compliance officer, there likely needs to be a well documented paper trail of concealment or otherwise flagrant disregard or denial of improved conditions.
There not being A/C isn’t enough. Refusing requests to install A/C is better. The company removing workers fans to make a point goes further in a case. Then putting out an internal memo requiring zero ventilation and to lie to investigators is a strong case.
StupidBrotherInLaw@lemmy.world 5 hours ago
The issue here is there are no OSHA codes to cite. The hypothetical the other chap performed was for a different state that actually has heat regulations. Op is in New York, so the only thing covering their situation is the general duty clause which is tough to enforce due to it not citing anything specific.