Know Your Rights
You have rights as a worker. These rights help you take responsibility for staying safe at work.
Know your rights:
Right to Know
What are the hazards? Where are the emergency supplies? What do I do in an emergency?
These are all great questions, and you have a right to know the answers to them BEFORE you start working. If something could hurt you or someone else, you have the right to know about it. That’s the law. Take a stand for your safety and talk to your supervisor.
Right to Participate
You have the right to take an active role in safety at your workplace. Maybe you’d like to be your workplace’s Safety Representative if you work at a smaller workplace. Or you’d like to take part in your Occupational Health and Safety Committee if you work in a larger workplace.
See something unsafe at your workplace? Concerned about your health and safety? Tell your supervisor and participate in keeping your workplace safe.
Right to Refuse
If you think that the task you’re about to do is unsafe, you can refuse to do it.
What’s unsafe work? Any task where you believe there’s an unusual danger to your health and safety or someone else’s. If you feel that you’re in a situation where the risk to your safety is greater than your ability to protect yourself, don’t do it. Talk to your supervisor. You’re boss can’t fire you for refusing unsafe work. That’s the law!
How can I say no?
Joe landed a job that he really needed. It was going to help him buy a new music player and that pair of kicks he’s been dying to have. Joe didn’t tell his supervisor that he never cleaned out a deep fryer before; he thought his boss would get upset about it. Joe’s plan to save for that music player and sneakers is over. He’s too busy recovering from the second degree burns he got when he spilled hot oil from the deep fryer over his legs and feet.
Don’t be Joe.
Although it might be uncomfortable talking to your boss, most employers want to keep their workers safe and healthy. Speak up. Check out our tips on saying no to unsafe work.
