Module 04: On the Job Success

4.8 Safety on the Job

Four people sit around a boardroom table while on a screen a man in a hard hat stands with his arms raised.

“Between 2009 and 2013, 30 young workers aged 15-24 died in work-related incidents […]. During the same period, more than 30,000 young workers received injuries resulting in lost time at work.” (Ontario Ministry of Labour)
Source © Queen’s Printer for Ontario, 2009 – 2020

Occupational Health and Safety Act

As a worker in Ontario, you have the right to work in an environment free from hazards that may affect your health and well-being. These rights may be governed through provincial or federal legislation, union contracts or a combination of the three.

The main purpose of Ontario’s  Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA) –  is to protect workers from health and safety hazards on the job. It outlines general health and safety regulations workplaces must follow. The OHSA gives every worker the following three fundamental rights:

  • The Right to Know.  You have the right to know about hazards on the job.  Your employer must tell you about anything that can hurt you so that you are able to work safely.
  • The Right to Participate.  You have the right to take part in keeping your workplace safe.  This may include participating in the health and safety committee or attending training and information sessions to help you do your job safely.
  • The Right to Refuse Unsafe Work.  If you believe that something at your workplace is dangerous, you have an obligation to report the unsafe condition to your manager.  If the situation is not corrected, you have the right to refuse to perform the task without being penalized.

For more information on your rights and responsibilities under the Occupational Health and Safety Act, visit the Ontario Ministry of Labour
Source © Queen’s Printer for Ontario, 2009 – 2015.

Browse through the links below so that you are aware of where to go for information related to workplace safety in Ontario.

    Activity

Safety on the Job: Reflection

Reflect on a situation in your own field that might involve a health and safety issue.

  1. What is the health and safety risk?
  2. What immediate action could you take to keep yourself safe?
  3. What action could you take to ensure a health and safety issue is resolved and/or doesn’t re-occur?

 

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