Rights & Responsibilities
Safety is not a luxury or an added bonus; it's a legal right.
When it comes to workplace safety, workers, supervisors and employers all play different roles and have different responsibilities. But everyone has rights that they should be aware of, because those rights can be the difference between taking a risk and taking a proper stance on unsafe practices.
Canadian workers have four basic and protected rights which underpin the legislation at both the federal and provincial levels:
- The right to know the hazards present in the workplace
- The right to participate in keeping the workplace safe
- The right to refuse dangerous work
- The right to protection from discrimination for actions taken to protect their health and safety and that of their co-workers.
Under Manitoba Workplace Safety and Health Act and regulation, the basic premise is the responsibility of the employer to “ensure as reasonably practicable the safety, health and welfare of its employees”
The Act also sets of responsibilities of supervisors, workers, suppliers, prime contractors, sub contractors and owners.
In an internal responsibility system, employers and employees share the responsibility for preventing injury and ill-health resulting from conditions in the workplace. A health and safety committee is a joint forum for employers and employees working together to improve workplace health and safety.