Workplace Health and Safety

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Lesson 4: Responsibilities of employees

According to the Act, as an employee, it is your responsibility to be careful not to put other workers or yourself in any danger because of your actions (or lack of action). Your actions, must contribute to the occupational health and safety of your workplace. As an employee, you are responsible for:

• taking reasonable care at all times for your own health and safety and the health and safety of others who may be affected by what you do
• practicing safe work habits
• obeying safety rules and instructions given for your own safety
• using protective equipment if it is provided
• reporting health and safety hazards
• using equipment properly
• knowing what to do in the case of an emergency, such as a fire · cooperating with your employer by being aware of and following the occupational health and safety policy of your workplace
• reporting an accident or injury immediately
• keeping a copy of all forms and certificates associated with an injury at work.

As an employee, you have a responsibility to follow best work practices to protect yourself and others.

Rights of employees

Employees also have certain rights under the Act. These include the right to:

• A safe and healthy workplace
• Compensation (including payment of wages and medical bills) if injury occurs in the workplace or if an illness results from employment
• Assistance with rehabilitation for return to work

 

Cooperation between employers and employees

Occupational health and safety legislation encourages employers and employees to cooperate and work together to ensure safe and healthy work environments. The legislation emphasizes that both groups are responsible for implementing occupational health and safety in the workplace.

Employers and employees can work as partners to ensure health and safety in the workplace by jointly:

• writing an occupational health and safety policy for the workplace
• providing and participating in occupational health and safety training
• setting up an occupational health and safety committee (committee members should include management and staff).

 

Other people’s responsibilities

The Act states that, besides employers and employees, other people or organisations are responsible for ensuring occupational health and safety standards are followed.

For example:

• Manufacturers, importers, finance companies and equipment installers
• The landlord who leases premises
• Visitors to the workplace

Their legal obligations are to:

• provide safe products
• install or erect equipment safely
• comply with safety standards of the worksite.

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