Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
Workers' resPonsIBIlItIes under the lAW
Workers. have. certain. responsibilities. that. they. should. adhere. to,. but. the. ultimate.
responsibility.for.safety.and.health.and.the.assurance.that.workers.are.performing.
work.in.a.safe.manner.rests.with.the.employer..Workers.should.do.the.following:
.
1.. Comply.with.OSHA.regulations.and.standards.
.
2.. Do.not.remove,.displace,.or.interfere.with.the.use.of.any.safeguards.
.
3.. Comply.with.the.employer's.safety.and.health.rules.and.regulations.
.
4.. Report.any.hazardous.condition.to.the.supervisor.or.employer.
.
5.. Report.any.job-related.injuries.and.illness.to.the.supervisor.or.employer.
.
6.. Cooperate.with.the.OSHA.Inspector.during.inspections.when.requested.to.
do.so.
the rIght not to Be dIscrImInAted AgAInst
Workers.have.the.right.to.expect.safety.and.health.on.the.job.without.fear.of.pun-
ishment.. This. is. spelled. out. in. Section. 11(c). of. the. OSHAct.. The. law. states. that.
employers. shall. not. punish. or. discriminate. against. workers. for. exercising. rights.
such.as
.
1.. Complaining.to.an.employer,.union,.or.OSHA.(or.other.government.agency).
about.job.safety.and.health
.
2.. Filing.a.safety.and.health.grievance
.
3.. Participating.in.an.OSHA.inspection,.conferences,.hearing,.or.OSHA-related.
safety.and.health.activity
the rIght to knoW
The.“right.to.know”.means.that.the.employer.must.establish.a.written,.comprehensive.
hazard.communication.program.that.includes.provisions.for.container.labeling,.mate-
rials.safety.data.sheets,.and.an.employee.training.program..The.program.must.include
.
1.. A.list.of.the.hazardous.chemicals.in.the.workplace
.
2.. The.means.the.employer.uses.to.inform.employees.of.the.hazards.of.non-
routine.tasks
.
3.. The.way.the.employer.will.inform.other.employers.of.the.hazards.to.which.
their.employees.may.be.exposed
Workers. have. the. right. to. information. regarding. the. hazards. to. which. they.
are,. or. will. be,. exposed.. They. have. the. right. to. review. plans. such. as. the. Hazard.
Communication.Program..They.have.a.right.to.see.a.copy.of.a.Material.Safety.Data.
Sheet.(MSDS).during.their.shift.and.receive.a.copy.of.an.MSDS.when.requested..
Also,. information. on. hazards. that. may. be. brought. to. the. workplace. by. another.
employer.should.be.available.to.workers..Other.forms.of.information,.such.as.expo-
sure.records,.medical.records,.etc.,.are.to.be.made.available.to.workers.upon.request.
