Canada Worker Health and Safety
Overview
Please review the information below and then return to the Worker Health and Safety Awareness course.
Applicable Laws
The Saskatchewan Employment Act, PART III Occupational Health and Safety
The Occupational Health and Safety Regulations (Chapter S-15.1 Reg 10)
Government Office
WorkSafe Saskatchewan
Telephone: 1-800-667-7590
To report a dangerous work situation: 1-800-567-7233
http://www.worksafesask.ca/
Rights
Of the Worker:
- The right to know the hazards at work and how to control them
- The right to participate in finding and controlling workplace hazards
- The right to refuse work that you believe is unusually dangerous
Duties
Of the Worker:
- Take reasonable care to protect the safety and health of the worker and others who may be affected
- Refrain from causing or participating in harassment or a violent act towards another worker
- Cooperate with any other person exercising a duty imposed by SK law
- Comply with SK law
Of the Supervisor:
- Ensure the health and safety at work of all workers who work under the supervisor’s direct supervision and direction
- Ensure that workers under the supervisor’s direct supervision and direction comply with SK law
- Ensure that all workers under the supervisor’s direct supervision and direction are not exposed to harassment or violence at the place of employment
- Cooperate with any other person exercising a duty imposed by SK law
- Comply with SK law
Of the Occupational Health and Safety Committee:
- Participate in the identification and control of health and safety hazards in or at the place of employment
- Cooperate with the occupational health and safety service, if any, established for the place of employment
- To establish, promote and recommend the means of delivery of occupational health and safety programs for the education and information of workers
- To maintain records with respect to the duties of the committee
- To investigate health and safety matters
- To receive, consider and resolve matters respecting the health and safety of workers
Workplace Safety and Health Committees
Employers with 10 or more workers must establish an occupational health committee
- There must be at least 2 members and no more than 12
- It must consist of worker representatives and employer representatives
- At least half the members must be worker representatives who are not connected with management
- There must be 2 co-chairs, one selected by the worker representatives and the other selected by the employer representatives
Employers with fewer than 10 workers can designate an occupational health and safety representative
Right to Refuse Procedures
A worker may refuse to perform an act if the worker has reasonable grounds to believe that the act is unusually dangerous to the worker’s health or safety or the health or safety of any other person at the place of employment, until sufficient steps have been taken to satisfy the worker or the occupational health committee has investigated and advised the worker otherwise.
Employers cannot take discriminatory action against a worker who refuses work.