Did you know that the two highest rates of injury in BC occurs in the hospitality and construction industry?
At your workplace there is a committee called the "Joint Occupational Safety & Health Committee" or JOSH. On this committee there are reps appointed by your union from your membership from most departments.
This committee has the power to bring up issues and vote on how to fix them in a timely matter in your workplace. This power comes from a governmental organization called "WorksafeBC" that also inspects workplaces to make sure they are safe.
These guides below will help you understand:
- What your four basic rights of Health and Safety are at work?
- What is unsafe work and how to refuse unsafe work?
- How to report issues that need to be fixed/addressed?
- When are the JOSH meetings? What do Representatives do on the committee and how would I become a Representative?
1. What your four basic rights of Health and Safety are at work?
Every worker has the right to a healthy and safe workplace.
1. Right to know
Your employer must tell you about work place dangers and provide appropriate safety training and orientation.
2. Right to refuse unsafe work
You can refuse to do any work you think reasonably might endanger yourself or others.
3. Right to report
If you report unsafe working conditions to your boss and no action is taken, you have the right to report those conditions to WorkSafeBC, your employer, and/or your Union.
4. Right to no retaliation
Employers cannot fine you, punish you, or fire you for refusing unsafe work or reporting unsafe working conditions.
2. What is unsafe work and how to refuse unsafe work?
Unsafe work is defined as, "Any work that a worker believes is unsafe to themselves or another worker".
Refusing Unsafe Work
If you have reasonable cause to believe that doing something at work will create an undue hazard to the health and safety of any person, you should stop work immediately. You have the right to refuse unsafe work, which is detailed in section 3.12 of the Workers Compensation Act.
How to refuse unsafe work:
1. Report the unsafe condition or procedure to your supervisor or manager.
- As a worker, you must immediately report the unsafe condition to your supervisor or manager.
- As a supervisor or manager, you must investigate the matter and fix it if possible. If you decide the worker's concern is not valid, report back to the worker.
2. If not resolved: supervisor/manager should inform a Worker Representative on the Local Safety Committee.
- If a worker still views work as unsafe after a supervisor or manager has said it is safe to perform a job or task, the supervisor/manager must investigate the matter in the presence of a worker representative of the joint health and safety committee.
- This investigation must be made in the presence of the worker who made the report.
3. If not resolved: supervisor/manager and worker must contact WorkSafeBC
- If a worker still views work as unsafe, the supervisor/manager and worker must contact WorkSafeBC. A prevention officer will then investigate and take steps to find a workable solution.
3. How to report issues that need to be fixed?
If you have an Issue in the workplace:
Examples: tripping/slipping hazard, need for training, broken equipment that creates a potential health hazard, lack of proper equipment, poor air quality, ergonomic issues, etc.
1. Report Ideas, Issues, and Concerns
- Inform any member of Management and your Joint Health and Safety Representative of issue.
- You have the right to ask for them to follow up with you with the result and/or when they think it could be fixed by.
- Your joint health and safety rep can bring your concerns and ideas to the Joint Health and Safety Meeting, which meet monthly.
2. If not resolved: Bring Forward Issues
- If your joint Health and Safety Committee has not been able to resolve an issue within a reasonable amount of time, they have the right to contact the BCGEU Health and Safety Rep at [email protected] or WorksafeBC for advice and resolution.
If you are injured at work:
If you are injured at work or have symptoms of a work-related illness. It is important to create a paper trail of evidence that you were injured.
1. Seek first aid attention.
2. Report your injury to your supervisor without delay.
3. Complete any paperwork given to you by the first aid attendant or your supervisor in a timely fashion. This may include, when applicable, the WorkSafeBC compensation and other disability management processes that may be initiated as per Company policy.
4. Actively participate in the accident investigation to potentially reduce future risks.
5. Seek medical attention if required, and inform your doctor that you injury is work-related.
4. When are the Joint Occupational Safety & Health (JOSH) meetings? What do Representatives do on the committee and how would I become a Representative?
At your workplace there is a committee called the "Joint Occupational Safety & Health Committee" or JOSH. On this committee there are representatives appointed by your union from your workplace from most departments.
This committee has the power to bring up issues and vote on how to fix them in a timely matter in your workplace. This power comes from a governmental organization called "WorkSafeBC" that also inspects workplaces to make sure they are safe.
- If you have concerns, issues, or ideas on how to improve the health and safety of your workplace, bring it to any rep on the committee for them to bring up at the meeting.
- It is your right to know what happens at these meetings. Ask your rep after the next meeting what was discussed and decided.
- Hard Rock JOSH Meetings occur on the first Wednesday of each month at 2:30pm.
- River Rock JOSH Meetings occur on the third Wednesday of every month at 1:00pm.
To become a representative, you can nominate yourself for appointment on your local health and safety committee. You will receive 8 hours of paid training per year in order to help you in your duties. All duties, and meetings, are paid time. Contact us for more information: [email protected]
