OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH & SAFETY

 

SAFETY RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES IN THE WORKPLACE

In TC, the word duty is used to describe responsibilities. Responsibility is an obligation for carrying out duties properly. Authority is the right to make decisions and direct the work of others

To carry out health and safety duties at a place of employment, everyone must:

  • Know what their duties are

  • Have the authority, resources, and time to carry them out

  • Have required knowledge (education, training, and certification)

DUTIES AND RIGHTS OF WORKERS

Workers also have an important role in making their workplace healthy and safe, workers must

  • Follow safe work procedures

  • Report unsafe acts and workplace hazards

  • Work and act safely and helping others to work and act safely

  • Refrain from causing or participating in the harassment of another worker

  • Report incidents (meaning accidents and dangerous occurrences), injuries, or illnesses

  • Understand and comply with legislation and workplace health and safety requirements

  • Use safety equipment, machine guards, safety devices, and personal protective equipment

  • Co-operate with the occupational health committee and others on health and safety issues

KNOWING YOUR RIGHTS

You have three basic rights

  • The right to refuse work that you believe is unusually dangerous

  • The right to know the hazards at work and how to control them

  • The right to participate in finding and controlling workplace hazards

RIGHT TO KNOW

You have the right to get information about hazards in the workplace. If the company doesn’t tell you, ask! Ensure you know where the potential hazards are at your workplace

RIGHT TO REFUSE

You have the right to refuse to do any specific job or task which you have reasonable grounds to believe is unusually dangerous.  The danger may be to you or to any other person

STEPS FOR REFUSING UNUSUALLY DANGEROUS WORK

If your supervisor asks you to perform a specific job or task that you have grounds to believe is unusually dangerous, follow these steps

  • Tell your supervisor that you are refusing work because of a health or safety concern

  • Do not leave the worksite without your employer's permission

DUTIES OF EMPLOYERS

All employers must meet the minimum requirements for health and safety standards, an employer must

  • Provide a safe and healthy workplace

  • Set-up effective occupational health committees

  • Ensure that legal health and safety requirements are met

  • Make sure medical/first aid facilities are provided as needed

  • Establish and maintain an effective health and safety program

  • Ensure workers are not exposed to harassment in the workplace

  • Oversee the health and safety performance of their managers and supervisors

  • Make sure that managers and supervisors are trained, supported, and held accountable

  • Make sure workers have the training, supervision, and experience to do their jobs safely