Saying No to Unsafe Work
You’re the newbie. You’re excited to start your new job, and want to impress your coworkers and your boss. You have a dilemma, you believe a task your boss asked you to do is unsafe. You definitely don’t want to make your boss mad, but you don’t want to get injured either. How do you say no?
Don’t worry, we’ve got your back. Start by chatting with a trusted co-worker. Their advice could make the talk with your boss easier. Talk to your supervisor first and only speak to their boss if they don’t deal with your concerns.
Make sure your attitude is respectful and positive when you talk to your supervisor. It shows you take the situation seriously. Reinforce that you want to do the job right by doing it safely. Some ways to start this conversation are:
“I want to make sure I’m doing this job right. What should I do to stay safe while doing it?”
or
“I want to get this job done right but I think it might be dangerous because… What do you think?”
or
“I’d like to do this job but I’ve never done it before. How do I do it safely?”
What if your boss disagrees?
If your boss still insists you do the unsafe work, here’s what you can say:
“I’ve been taught that it’s against the law for me to do a task that I think is dangerous. I really like my job, but I can’t do this task until…
- I’m trained to do it safely;
- the equipment is working properly; or
- we’re both sure I can do it without getting hurt.
Remember, stay cool and talk to your boss with respect. If they still insist you do a task that you believe is unsafe, don’t. Your boss can’t fire you for refusing unsafe work, that’s the law. Your life is more important than any job!
