Employee Rights Review- Safety in the Workplace
We all make some personal sacrifices to work, however, it is imperative to know that your safety in the workplace should never be one of them. You should never be exposed to an unsafe work envoronment, nor should ever be expected to work under such conditions.
Article 29 of your Master Agreement covers this topic extensively, let's review what Section 5 has to say:
If you believe that you are being exposed to an unsafe or unhealthful working condition, you have the right to notify your supervisor, director, health official and the Union Section 5 (A).
In the case of immediate threat of life or danger of serious physical harm, it is your duty to immediately report the situation to either your Supervisor or Safety Health Personnel.
The facility Safety and Health personnel will evaluate your reports and must make a formal notification of all hazards to the Union.
The Department must adress these concerns by abiting the unsafe working conditions Section 5 (C).
In the case of an emergency, the first concern of the agency is to the employees and the public, therefor, if an evacuation is neccesary, idepending of the situation, the individuals will ordinarily not be required to re-enter until it is deemed to be safe to do so.
In the case that the abatement of the unsafe working condition is not possible within 30 calendar days, the department must prepare an abatement plan to protect employees from injury as a result of the unsafe working conditions.
In the case that a abatement plan is necessary, the agency must take interim steps prior of it's establishment to protect your safety in the meantime.
Any type of equipement, device, structure, clothing, supply, tool or instrument that is found to be unsafe must be removed as necessary from service Section 5 (H).
If it is determined that there are no reasonable grounds to beleive that such a hazard exists and there is no plan to make an inspection, you or the representative must be informed in writing within 15 days .
For safety violations, the Department must provide you or the representative a report within 15 days after completion, for health violations the agency has 30 days Section 5 (I).
You should never be worried about comming to work due to unsafe working conditions. No matter what your concern is, you have the right to raise your concerns without the fear of reprisal. If you feel that you are being exposed to an unsafe work envorenment, or you feel that the agency has violated your rights, let us know right away, you don't have to navigate the process alone, and we have your back!
Let us know what you think about this article of if you have any other questions regarding it.
Have any other articles you would like for us to review? Let us know so we can cover it on our next post!