Workers in Ontario covered under the Occupational Health and Safety Act have a right to refuse, reasonably believed unsafe work that is not essential to the job. For instance, if working at high heights is essential to complete the tasks of the job, this cannot be reused if there is adequate safety equipment and regulations in place.
Under the Occupational Health and Safety Act, workers have a right to refuse unsafe work on the basis of:
1. equipment, machinery or devices that the worker is required to operate that is likely to endanger the worker or other around
2. the physical condition of the workplace itself posing a danger to the worker of any others around, which includes the likelihood that workplace violence will occur
3. any equipment, machine or device is not up to code under the Occupational Health and Safety Act
If a worker has a reason to believe that work required is unsafe due to any of the above, the worker must report this to their employer or supervisor, and that supervisor/manager must start an investigation immediately. The investigation must be done in the presence of a health and safety committee member that represents employees, if applicable, or the workplace health and safety representative. Further, during the investigation, the worker must be in a safe place as close as possible to the workstation, and available to the employer or supervisor for investigatory purposes. The worker also must receive regular pay during the investigation.
Upon the conclusion, if the investigation, the worker must be given the results, and any remedies implemented, if applicable. If the worker then still has a reason to believe the work is unsafe the employer, the worker, or a person on the behalf of the employer or worker must contact an inspector from the Ministry of Labour. The worker must remain at work during normal working hours in a safe place, and available to the inspector for investigatory purposes. Other workers must not be given the work or task refused unless the worker has been advised of the reason for refusal in the presence of a health and safety committee member that represents workers, or a health and safety representative.
The above guidelines are meant to educate workers on their basic right to refuse work believed to be unsafe. Refusals that are done in good faith cannot be subject to any reprisals from an employer, and workers have a duty to report any unsafe work immediately. For a comprehensive view of protection granted under refusal of unsafer work, refer to section 43 – 53 of the Occupational Health and Safety Act (Ontario).