Health and Safety at Work

The Workers Compensation Act and Occupation Health and Safety Regulations are the laws that cover health and safety at work in BC. These laws give workers and employers in BC basic rights and responsibilities. It is important to know these rights to make sure that your workplace and the activities you do there are safe.

Hazards in the workplace

Health hazards

Health hazards can cause health problems. The five types of hazard are: chemical (e.g., battery acid, solvents); biological (e.g., viruses, bacteria); physical (e.g., noise, radiation); ergonomic (e.g., repetitive tasks, lifting); and stressors (e.g., harassment, discrimination).

Safety hazards

Safety hazards can result in physical injuries from, for example, slipping and tripping, fire and explosive dangers, moving equipment parts, vehicles, falling materials, manual operations, and workplace violence.

Your employer must perform a job hazard analysis, complete a report, and make sure you know about the report. It is important during workplace hazard inspections that you share any information, concerns, and recommendations you have.

Workplace First Aid and WorkSafeBC Claims

Your employer must identify what first aid may be needed in your workplace and make sure it is available.

If you are injured or become sick at work, you must report this to WorkSafeBC. Either:

Call Teleclaim: If you’ve missed work due to your injury, call WorkSafeBC’s Teleclaim at 1-888-WORKERS (1-888-967-5377). They will give you a user ID and password, so you can check your claim online. Translation services are available in various languages.

Submit Online: If you’ve missed work and already have a user ID and password, you can submit your claim online through the WorkSafeBC website at worksafebc.com. You can also log in later to track your claim’s status.

When you report a workplace injury to WorkSafeBC, you need to provide details about the injury, any lost wages, and information about healthcare providers (e.g. doctors/emergency room) you’ve seen for the injury. If you haven’t missed work, it is important to report your injury to your employer as soon as you can.

Workplace Violence

Workplace violence can be the result of interactions with both coworkers and with outside individuals (non-employees).

Violence

Violence is physical abuse and includes sabotage, pranks, swearing, pushing, harassment, and more. In BC, if you are working alone, your employer must identify and manage possible hazards, plus create a safety check plan. There are additional, special requirements if you are working in late-night retail and motor vehicle fuel sales.

Bullying and Harassment

Bullying and harassment are serious forms of workplace violence. If you experience or see bullying and harassment you can feel fear, stress, and job dissatisfaction. It is important that you report it if you either experience it or witness it.

Bullying and harassment includes:

Yelling
Hazing = making you do something that humiliates, degrades, abuses, or endangers you
Spreading rumours = telling stories about you
Calling you names

Bullying and harassment does NOT include:

Having differences of opinion
Offering work related feedback, guidance, or advice
Managing a worker’s performance
Taking reasonable disciplinary actions

THE FOUR BASIC RIGHTS

The Right to Know

Your employer must tell you about any workplace hazards so you have the information to do your job safely. You should receive training and supervision, if necessary. You should also know how to report if you are hurt and make a claim with WorkSafeBC if something happens.

The Right to Participate

All employees have the right to participate in health and safety activities. If your workplace has more than 20 employees, this can include joining the Joint Health and Safety Committee.

These committees do monthly inspections and aim to prevent future accidents by providing workplace health and safety recommendations to the employer.

The Right to Refuse Unsafe Work

Workers have the right to refuse work they feel is unsafe. You do this by telling your supervisor, safety representative, or union. If you express a concern, your employer must investigate, and if a problem is found, it must be addressed.

‘If you still feel unsafe or worried, contact WorkSafeBC at 1-888-621-7233. If you call WorkSafeBC, it is confidential; your employer will not know, and you cannot be fired.

The Right to No Discrimination

You cannot be fired if you say no to unsafe work. Your employer must give you other work until the problem is resolved. You cannot be fired or disciplined for participating in health and safety activities. If you are discriminated against for any of these reasons, you must immediately tell your union representative and/or WorkSafeBC.

If you want more information about health and safety at work, go to worksafebc.com or contact your Migrant Worker Support Worker

Email: adam.ravalia@wmsociety.ca Tel: 604.935.6686

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