Under the Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA), workers have three fundamental rights designed to protect them from workplace injuries: the Right to Know about hazards, the Right to Participate in health and safety activities (e.g., JHSC), and the Right to Refuse unsafe work. These rights ensure workers can identify, address, and refuse dangerous work without fear of reprisal.
- The Right to Know
Workers must be informed about potential hazards, materials, and equipment in the workplace. This includes training, proper instruction, and access to safety information, such as through the Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS).
- Action: If a worker is not properly trained to do a task, they have the right to ask questions or refuse until training is provided.
- The Right to Participate
Workers have the right to participate in identifying and resolving workplace health and safety concerns. This is achieved by:
- Being a member of a Joint Health and Safety Committee (JHSC).
- Acting as a worker health and safety representative.
- Reporting hazards to supervisors.
- The Right to Refuse
Workers have the right to refuse work they believe is dangerous to themselves or others. It is used when the first two rights have not ensured safety.
- Process: The worker must report the refusal to a supervisor, who must investigate in the worker’s presence.
- Protection: It is against the law for employers to threaten or punish (reprisal) a worker for exercising this right.
Workplace health and safety
Workplace health and safety | ontario.ca
Learn about the Occupational Health and Safety Act and supporting regulations and how they protect workers.