Roles and Responsibilities Under the Law
The purpose of workplace health and safety legislation is to protect you, the worker, against hazards on the job.
Understanding Your Rights
Right to Know
You have the right to know about unsafe materials and/or dangerous machinery in your workplace. You must be on the lookout for hazards present on your worksite, and should be taught how these hazards can affect you and your co-workers. The first step is to get proper health and safety training, including learning how to identify workplace hazards and knowing the proper course of action when there is an accident or spill.
Right to Participate
You should report any unsafe practices or conditions you see. For example, if you notice that an electrical power cord is frayed, notify your supervisor as soon as possible to fix it before an accident or fatality occurs. In Canada, there are many workplaces which have committees devoted to health and safety. Learn who you can get help from if you have questions about the safety of your working conditions.
Right to Refuse Unsafe Work
You have the right to refuse unsafe work. If you think that the work you do or the piece of equipment you use is unsafe, you can stop this work immediately by citing your legal right to refuse unsafe work. Once you refuse to continue, procedures exist for rectifying the situation. Contact your supervisor or health and safety representative to find out how to correct the unsafe situation. Don't continue to work until you have been advised that the situation has been corrected.
Asking questions
Everyone needs to have his or her tasks explained. Your employer should first explain your job duties then, show you what to do. If you have a good understanding of these tasks, you should be able to explain the tasks back to your supervisor.
Remember, if you don't understand the instructions, it is okay to ask questions. Understanding instructions means that you will have a much greater chance of doing the work properly and safely.
Learn how to work safely - Apply these rules:
- Don't perform any task until you have been properly trained.
- If you feel that you have been getting too much information, too fast, ask your supervisor to slow down and repeat the instructions.
- Don't leave your work area unless you've been told to do so. Other work sites may have special hazards you don't know about. Examples might include overhanging power lines, slippery floors or toxic chemicals.
- If you are unsure of something, ask someone first. A supervisor or co-worker might help you prevent an accident from happening.
- Don't hesitate to ask for more training.
- Wear the proper personal protective equipment for the task. For example, if you are using safety shoes, hard hat or gloves, be sure that you know when to wear protective gear, where to find it, how to use it and how to care for it.
- Find out what to do in an emergency situation, whether it is a fire alarm, power failure or other situation.
- Report any accidents to your supervisor immediately.
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