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CIC Assignment #2a

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18 views

CIC Assignment #2a

Uploaded by

jesspen16
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Workplace Safety Information Sheet

The definition of ‘worker’ under the Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA) includes unpaid
secondary school students who are participating in a work experience authorized by their school
board.

Workers that are new to their job, including young workers, are three times more likely to be
injured in the first month than at any other time.

It is really important to know the hazards in your workplace!


The main purpose of the Ontario’s Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA) is to protect
workers from health and safety hazards on the job. It sets out duties for all workplace parties
and rights for workers. It establishes procedures for dealing with workplace hazards and
provides for enforcement of the law if an employer doesn’t comply voluntarily.

As a cooperative education student, you are classified as a worker under the OHSA. You will
have a supervisor and/or employer. As a worker you have several rights:
 The “right to participate” to be part of the process of identifying and resolving health and
safety concerns
 The “right to know” about any hazards to which you may be exposed.
 The “right to refuse work” that you believe is dangerous.

Some people worry that they will get in trouble and there will be negative consequences if they
refuse to do work that they feel is unsafe. The Act prohibits reprisals (punishment) being taken
against workers who exercise these rights.

You also have to take responsibility for your personal health and safety, which means you
should not behave or operate equipment in a way that would endanger yourself or others.
Always remember to use any equipment, protective devices or clothing required by the
employer. Report any known workplace hazard or violation of the Act to the employer or
supervisor.

Employers have responsibilities too! Some of the general duties require an employer to:
 Take all reasonable precautions to protect the health and safety of workers
 Ensure that equipment, materials and protective equipment are maintained in good
condition
 Provide site- and equipment- specific Mandatory Worker Awareness Training

Hazards
A hazard is anything in the workplace that could hurt you or the people you work with. Some
common hazards in the workplace include:
 Repetitive motion
 Slips, trips and falls
 Motorized vehicles
 Working near machinery
 Chemicals, fumes, dust
 Disease-causing bacteria, viruses
 Workplace violence
The WSIB, or the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board promotes workplace health and
safety. It also provides an insurance system that repays workers and learners who are injured
on the job. Even though you are not getting paid, you will be eligible to receive benefits and
services through the WSIB...as long as you report any injury that you sustain!

Coverage is provided by the Ministry of Education under the Workplace Safety and Insurance
Act (WSIA), 1997, for students, including adult learners, who are participating in various work
education programs. To ensure that you have this coverage, the Work Education Agreement
(WEA) form must be completed by the parties.

The Coverage is only provided to students that are working at their placements for the
designated hours. However, risks could be in play before or after the student’s designated
hours at the placement. That is why students and their parents should consider purchasing
student accident insurance. For example, the coverage provided by the Ministry of Education
under the Workplace Safety and Insurance Act for students participating in work education or
experiential learning programs does not generally cover students while they are travelling to and
from the work placement.

Modifications were made to Ontario's Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA) in 2010. The
changes are commonly referred to as "Bill 168". Bill 168 further protects workers from workplace
violence and workplace harassment in every workplace covered by the OHSA.

What is workplace violence?


Bill 168 defines workplace violence as:
 The exercise of physical force by a person against a worker, in a workplace, that causes
or could cause physical injury to the worker.
 An attempt to exercise physical force against a worker, in a workplace, that could cause
physical injury to the worker.
 A statement or behaviour that is reasonable for a worker to interpret as a threat to
exercise physical force against the worker, in a workplace, that could cause physical
injury to the worker.

(Bill 168 Chapter 23 Statutes of Ontario, 2009)

Workplace harassment often involves repeated words or actions, or a pattern of behaviours,


against a worker or group of workers in the workplace that are unwelcome.

This may include:


 Making remarks, jokes or innuendos that demean, ridicule, intimidate, or offend
 Displaying or circulating offensive pictures or materials in print or electronic form.
 Bullying
 Repeated offensive or intimidating phone calls or e-mails
 Inappropriate sexual touching, advances, suggestions or requests

Workers must report potential workplace hazards to employers. Under the legislation, workers
have the right to refuse work if they have grounds to believe they are in danger of workplace
violence. No reprisals by employers allowed.
Employers must prepare policies regarding workplace violence and workplace harassment.
They must develop and maintain programs to implement their policies and let workers know
about these policies and programs.

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