Rights and duties of workers

All workers have the right to a safe and dignified workplace, but they also have a responsibility to comply with a number of requirements. That is why below we will leave you the differences between rights and duties of workers , let’s start!

Workers rights

1. The right to know about hazards in your workplace and how to deal with them.

• What hazards exist in the workplace? What are the safety procedures that reduce the risk of injury? Where are the emergency supplies? What are the emergency procedures?
• You have the right to know the answers to these questions BEFORE you start work.
• You have the right to know how to do your job safely and properly.
• Your supervisor must make sure you know all the hazards in your workplace and how to deal with them.
• You have the right and responsibility to receive proper training to handle any risk of injury.

2. The right to participate in making your workplace safe.

• Do you see something unsafe in your workplace? Do you have suggestions on how to make your workplace safer? Are you concerned for your health and safety, or that of a co-worker? Tell your supervisor. You have the right to participate to ensure that your workplace is safe.
• In a smaller workplace, you can become the Safety Representative. In a larger workplace, you can join the SSO Committee as a worker representative.

3. The right to refuse unsafe work.

• Do not do any work if you are not sure how to do it safely and properly.
• If your employment situation puts you or others in unusual danger, you have the right to refuse that job. Tell your supervisor.

Steps to decline unsafe work

• STEP 1: Stop working and report to your supervisor immediately
• STEP 2: The investigation begins immediately with you, your supervisor, and another worker.
• STEP 3: You have the right to have a union representative, an OHS member or a co-worker of your choice accompany you during the investigation.
• STEP 4: You have the right to view the investigation from a safe place.
• STEP 5: Your supervisor notifies you of the results of the investigation and the steps taken to correct the hazard.
• STEP 6: You accept and return to work or
• STEP 7: If you believe the unusual hazard still exists, notify WSCC for further investigation.

Duties of workers

1. Training and education

Your employer must ensure that you know how to safely perform any task at your job and must provide you with the appropriate training. They should explain your job duties and show you how to do them. In short, you should be able to explain and show how to do your homework to your supervisor.

2. When You Are Not Sure, Request Training

It is important that each worker understand their duties. Your employer may not know that you need more training. If you feel that you or someone you work with needs more training to do a job safely, let your supervisor know. Do not perform any tasks until you receive the appropriate training.

3. Follow procedures

Learn and apply safety rules and procedures. You are responsible for following all steps of the safety procedures at your job. This includes checking to make sure personal protective equipment (PPE) is working properly; know how to use it; and making sure to use it. Do not leave your work area unless your employer tells you to. Other work areas may have hazards you don’t know about, like power lines, slippery floors, or toxic chemicals.

4. Report incidents, unsafe conditions, and unsafe work practices

If you see or have an incident, if working conditions become unsafe, or if you see unsafe work practices, report it to your supervisor immediately.

5. Know your workplace emergency response plan

Employers need to make sure everyone knows what to do in an emergency; be it a fire alarm, power failure or other situation. Employers must provide an emergency response plan that you should have easy access to and that you are familiar with.