Occupational Health and Safety
The BC framework
The Workers Compensation Act and the OHS Regulation set out duties for employers (provide a safe workplace, training, supervision, PPE, written procedures, and to report and investigate incidents) and for workers (follow procedures, use PPE, report hazards, injuries and near misses). Every worker has the right to know about hazards, the right to participate in health and safety, and the right to refuse unsafe work.
Refusing unsafe work
Report the unsafe condition to your supervisor, stay available for reassignment, and let the employer investigate. The employer cannot simply assign the same work to another worker without informing them in writing of the refusal and the reason. If the matter is unresolved, it escalates to WorkSafeBC. The right is not a licence to refuse ordinary job tasks or to refuse work because a client is difficult.
Committees and controls
Joint occupational health and safety committees are required in larger workplaces, with a worker representative in smaller ones; they meet regularly, inspect the workplace and review incidents. Apply the hierarchy of controls: elimination, substitution, engineering controls, administrative controls, then PPE - PPE sits last because it depends on people remembering to use it. Assess risks from workplace violence, bullying, harassment, working alone (check-in procedures), hazardous materials (WHMIS), environmental conditions, ergonomics and fatigue.
Reporting
Serious incidents (fatality, serious injury, major structural failure) must be reported to WorkSafeBC immediately, with an investigation meeting the timelines set in the Regulation (commonly 48 hours). Injuries requiring medical treatment or time loss are also reportable. Keep first aid records and near-miss reports.
Trap: treating PPE as the best control; assuming the client's safety program replaces your employer's duties; and refusing work for reasons unrelated to genuine danger.
Rule of thumb: controls at the top of the hierarchy protect everyone; controls at the bottom depend on memory.