Every worker in this province has the “Right to Refuse Unsafe Work” and is protected under the relevant WorkSafe BC Regulations should they choose to exercise that right.  The Workers Compensation Act, is clear that Employers must ensure the health and safety of all their workers, they must remedy conditions that are hazardous to the health or safety their workers and they also must make their workers aware of all known or reasonably foreseeable health or safety hazards to which they are likely to be exposed to by the work that they do.

Right to refuse unsafe work should not be taken lightly, nor should it be used carelessly.  Members need to educate themselves on the process and must be able to clearly articulate the hazardous condition in so far as it relates to the work they are required to perform in their respective workplace.  However, it is important to know that if you find yourself in a hazardous situation, or can possibly foresee one, then you need to promptly report this to your Supervisor so the situation can be remedied immediately.

WorkSafe BC language surrounding the “Correction of Unsafe Conditions” (Regs; 3.9, 3.10 and 3.11) is important as it allows workers to ensure harmful conditions are remedied without delay.

For Example: If a member witnesses what appears to be an unsafe or harmful condition or act, they are required to report it to their immediate supervisor and the person receiving the report must then investigate and ensure that corrective action is taken immediately.

Failure of an Employer to follow any of the above is all grieveable and/or reportable to WorkSafe BC.

CUPE National has some excellent on-line resources that members can access free of charge on a variety of Health & Safety topics; Refusing Unsafe Work: A step by step guide, Violence Prevention, and Occupational Mental Health.

Members are encouraged to email their sites CUPE JOHSC reps with any reporting they provide to their immediate supervisors, this will then allow the CUPE Reps to follow up with you as well as the Supervisor confirming the hazard has been remedied.  If members are finding their concerns are not being heard or taken seriously please reach out to an Elected Union official for additional guidance and support.

In Solidarity