What is This Thing Called Safety?

Safety is defined as the "condition of being safe from undergoing or causing hurt, injury, or loss." Safe is defined as "free from harm or risk." So, safety implies a condition free from actual harm or the risk of harm or injury.

Occupational Safety and Health regulations, in Canada and the United States, contain requirements detailing responsibilities for workplace safety.

Employers must provide a safe workplace free of hazards that could cause serious harm or death to employees. Employers are required to:

• Comply with all applicable safety regulations and standards
   
• Provide training on specific health and safety standards necessary for the work to be performed
   
• Inform employees of their safety rights
   
• Provide employees with updated operating procedures and work rules

These employer responsibilities represent a partial list of those required by the regulations. A complete list can be obtained from national, provincial, and state Occupational Safety and Health acts.

Workers also have rights and responsibilities under these safety and health regulations.

Workers have the right to request information from the employer specific to the hazards associated with the work they have been assigned. If it is believed that violations of regulations or serious workplace hazards exist in the workplace, workers may file a complaint.

Workers should act in a responsible manner when exercising their job-safety rights. Workers should report to the employer hazardous conditions present at the jobsite and any job-related injury or illness.

Workers are required to work in compliance with the provisions of the published regulations and follow the work rules established by the employer.

Safety must be the top priority for every individual involved on every job.

Responsibilities for safety in the workplace are clear. Union workers demand the highest level of training, the best equipment, tools, and work practices-ultimately demanding the highest obtainable level of safety.

Putting into practice our respective safety-related duties will help promote and ensure a safe workplace and help to achieve our accident prevention goals.