The Occupational Health and Safety Act still applies and it states that members have the right to know about any potential hazards, the right to participate through Joint Occupational Health and Safety Committees (JOHSC) and the right to refuse work they believe is likely to endanger their health and safety or that of another worker.
We encourage members to bring issues of concern to the immediate attention of their supervisor, JOHSC representative and the union. In the even of refusing unsafe work please contact your unit chair immediately for support.
Contact your supervisor and union immediately. Fill out a WSIB Exposure form and submit it to WSIB along with any paperwork required by your employer.
The Ontario Occupational Health and Safety Act provides a right to refuse unsafe work. But the Act impose a high threshold for risk, and a general fear of exposure to COVID-19 is unlikely to meet the threshold. Work may only be refused where it is “unsafe” or “dangerous”.
Cleaning protocols are dependent on the nature of your workplace. It would be reasonable to expect that your employer has:
Please fill out a Health & Safety form with your employer. By filling out the form the employer is obligated to follow-up and respond to the concerns within certain timelines.
If your workplace does not have specific forms please inform your supervisor and worker JOHSC member in writing. Writing your concerns in an e-mail creates a record for future reference.
As many workplaces begin to open, we want to remind you, you are entitled to health and safety protocols including adequate personal protective equipment and improved facility cleanliness. Please contact your Joint Health and Safety Committee, and your unit stewards/executive, if you have any health and safety concerns.