Health and Safety at the University of Ottawa

Did you know that in Canada, 3 people will lose their life each working day as a result of work injuries?

Know your 3 basic rights:

• The right to know
• The right to refuse
• The right to participate

The Ontario Ministry of Labour's "Occupational Health and Safety Act" sets out the rights and duties of every worker and employer. Its main purpose is to protect workers against health and safety hazards on the job. If at any time you believe that your work could be unsafe, you have the right to stop working! Your employer cannot reprimand you or withhold your pay.
For more information, please see the Right to Refuse Unsafe Work flow chart.

You also have access to training from the nationwide "Passport to Safety" program, that will enable you to acquire basic health and safety knowledge regarding occupational hazards, as well as your rights and responsibilities in the workplace. For information on how to obtain your Passport to Safety certificate, please see the Passport to Safety factsheet from the Office of Risk Management, Environmental Health and Safety.

In Canada, someone is injured on the job every 9 seconds!

If hazardous materials are used in your workplace,

• the hazardous materials must be in containers bearing labels
• you have the right to see material safety data sheets to supplement the label with detailed hazard and precautionary information
• you must receive training under WHMIS (Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System). It's the law!

If you have any question or concern about your health and safety at work, contact us right away!

CUPE 2626