Are you concerned about the physical and psychological well-being of yourself and you coworkers? Do you want to better understand and shape workplace safety regulations, ensuring that they are consistently followed and every worker is protected?
All workers are guaranteed three key rights under Ontario’s Occupational Health and Safety Act:
The Right to Know about hazards in the workplace.
The Right to Participate in keeping the workplace safe.
The Right to Refuse work that is dangerous for their health and safety.
Your rights, as a unionized worker, extend further. Health and safety is everyone’s responsibility, but union members play a key role in keeping ourselves and everyone else safe. Queen’s has eleven joint health and safety committees (JHSCs) covering Main Campus and West Campus. USW members can volunteer to sit on one of the committees that represent their departments or choose to sit on the USW 2010 Health and Safety Committee and coordinate across the institution.
Union health and safety representatives work to prevent injuries, illnesses, disabilities, and fatalities by promoting positive changes in the workplace. Under Ontario’s Occupational Health and Safety Act, worker representatives have the right to:
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inspect the workplace, identify hazards and make recommendations
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attend inspections conducted by Ministry of Labour inspectors and if an order is made, to receive a copy of the order
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participate in accident investigations where a worker is killed or critically injured
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be present at the start of testing
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be present when a work refusal is investigated
If you are passionate about creating a safer, healthier workplace for the bodies and minds of workers, join the Health and Safety Committee. Your voice and your vigilance can make a difference.
If you would like to sign up, please email contact@usw2010.ca