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Worker Orientation

Topic 2 Summary of Rights and Responsibilities for Health & Safety​

Responsibilities of Workers​

  • Take reasonable care to protect health and safety of themselves and others.
  • Carry out his/her work consistent with the established safe work procedures of the company, and the regulations of the Workers Compensation Board.
  • Use, wear and inspect Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) as required by WCB regulations.
  • Report any PPE not in safe working condition.
  • Not engage in any on site behaviour/ conduct that may endanger themselves or their co-workers.
  • Ensure they have the training and qualifications for all tasks they are assigned.
  • Ensure their ability to work is not impaired by alcohol, drugs or other causes.
  • Report to their supervisor/employer any contravention of WCB regulations.
  • Cooperate with any joint health and safety representatives.
  • Understand the right to refuse unsafe work.

Responsibilities of Supervisors​

  • Ensure the general health and safety of all workers under their direct supervision.
  • Have full understanding of all WorkSafeBC health and safety regulations pertaining to their supervision duties
  • Make all workers under their supervision aware of all known or reasonably foreseeable health and safety hazards.
  • Cooperate with any joint health and safety representatives.

Responsibilities of Employers​

  • Ensure the health and safety of your workers on site.
  • Ensure that all workers are aware of health or safety hazards.
  • Take corrective action to fix any workplace conditions that are hazardous to the health and safety of all workers.
  • Establish occupational health and safety policies and programs.
  • Provide and maintain all Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) as required by WorkSafeBC regulations.
  • Ensure all workers have the training and qualifications for the tasks to which they are assigned.
  • Provide all required training to ensure the health and safety of workers.
  • Post all relevant health and safety information and policies in places accessible to all workers
  • Help develop joint health and safety committees as required.
  • Understand the right to refuse unsafe work.

Topic 3 Right to Refuse Unsafe Work and Procedure​

3.10 Reporting unsafe conditions​

Whenever a person observes what appears to be an unsafe or harmful condition or act the person must report it as soon as possible to a supervisor or to the employer, and the person receiving the report must investigate the reported unsafe condition or act and must ensure that any necessary corrective action is taken without delay.

3.12 Procedure for refusal​

  1. A person must not carry out or cause to be carried out any work process or operate or cause to be operated any tool, appliance or equipment if that person has reasonable cause to believe that to do so would create an undue hazard to the health and safety of any person.

  2. A worker who refuses to carry out a work process or operate a tool, appliance or equipment pursuant to subsection (1) must immediately report the circumstances of the unsafe condition to his or her supervisor or employer.

  3. A supervisor or employer receiving a report made under subsection (2) must immediately investigate the matter and

    1. ensure that any unsafe condition is remedied without delay, or
    2. if in his or her opinion the report is not valid, must so inform the person who made the report.

  4. If the procedure under subsection (3) does not resolve the matter and the worker continues to refuse to carry out the work process or operate the tool, appliance or equipment, the supervisor or employer must investigate the matter in the presence of the worker who made the report and in the presence of any other reasonably available worker selected by the worker.

  5. If the investigation under subsection (4) does not resolve the matter and the worker continues to refuse to carry out the work process or operate the tool, appliance or equipment, both the supervisor, or the employer, and the worker must immediately notify an officer, who must investigate the matter without undue delay and issue whatever orders are deemed necessary.