Every employee has the right to work in a safe environment.
WorkSafeBC (the Workers’ Compensation Board) requires employers to protect the health and safety of their workers and the occupational environment.
Under the BC Workers’ Compensation Act and OH&S Regulation, the workplace health and safety law, you have four workplace health and safety rights.
- The right to know – you have a right to know the hazards present in the workplace
- The right to participate – you have a right to participate in keeping your workplace healthy and safe
- The right to refuse unsafe work
- The right to no discrimination for exercising your health and safety rights
- What does WorkSafeBC say about my employer’s obligations to ensure a healthy workplace?
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“Employers have an obligation under the Workers’ Compensation Act section 21 (previously s.115) to ensure the health and safety of workers at their workplace and places where work is being done. With respect to COVID-19, this obligation includes protecting workers by following the orders of the provincial health officer and guidance provided by the BC Centre for Disease Control and developing control measures to prevent worker exposure.”