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Canada Supervisor Health and Safety Home Page

Canada Supervisor Health and Safety
Yukon Resources

Overview

Please review the information below and then return to the Supervisor Health and Safety Awareness course.

Applicable Laws

Workers’ Safety and Compensation Act

Workplace Health and Safety Regulations

Government Office

Occupational Health and Safety Branch
Yukon Workers’ Compensation, Health and Safety Board
401 Strickland Street
Whitehorse, YT Y1A 5N8
General Inquiries: (867) 667-5645; 1-800-661-0443
To report an unsafe workplace or a serious workplace accident: 867-667-5450 or 1-800-661-0443
https://www.wcb.yk.ca/

Rights

Of the Worker:

  • The right to know of any hazards in the workplace
  • The right to participate: to identify and resolve issues
  • The right to refuse dangerous work
  • The right to carry out duties or exercise safety and health rights without being subjected to discriminatory action

Duties

Of the Worker:

  • Take necessary precautions to ensure the worker’s own occupational health and safety and that of others
  • Follow required policies and procedures
  • Use required protective equipment and clothing
  • Refrain from engaging in behavior that might create a hazard
  • Report unsafe acts that might present a risk to health safety; and report absence of or defect in protective equipment or clothing
  • Comply with YT law
  • Cooperate with committees, representatives, and anyone performing a required legal duty 

 

Of the Supervisor:

  • Ensure, as far as is reasonably practicable, the health and safety of workers under their supervision
  • Be competent, because of knowledge, training or experience, to ensure that work is performed in a safe manner
  • Be familiar with applicable YT law
  • Ensure that workers under their supervision are made aware of hazards; use required protective equipment and clothing; and comply with YT law

Joint Committees

Employers with 20 or more regularly employed workers must establish a joint occupational health and safety committee

  • At least 4 members and consist of worker representatives who do not have managerial functions, and employer representatives

Employers with 5 to 19 workers can designate a worker health and safety representative

  • The representative must not exercise managerial functions
  • The representative has the same general duties as joint health and safety committees

Right to Refuse Procedures

A worker may refuse to perform work if they believe on reasonable grounds that the work is unsafe. This right does not apply if the refusal would directly endanger the health and safety of another person and appropriate control measures are in place; or if the conditions are ordinary conditions in that kind of work and control measures are in place. 

The worker must immediately report the refusal and reasons for it to their employer or supervisor. Employers cannot take or threaten reprisal against a worker for refusing.