CAW HEALTH, SAFETY AND ENVIRONMENT

As a CAW member, you have three health and safety rights guaranteed by law:

THE RIGHT TO KNOW

You have the right to know about the hazards of your workplace. Your employer has a legal obligation to fully train you in all of the hazards of your job and how to avoid them.

In all Canadian provinces, territories and in the federal jurisdiction, workers are protected by the Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System. This WHMIS law requires your employer to:

• label containers of hazardous materials
• provide Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDSs) with additional information
• provide education and training so that you will understand the hazards of the substances you work with

THE RIGHT TO PARTICIPATE

You are represented by a union health and safety representative and union participation on the joint (union-management) health and safety committee.

These representatives inspect your workplace, investigate accidents, and take up your health and safety concerns with your employer.

THE RIGHT TO REFUSE

You have the right, and indeed the obligation to refuse hazardous work.

When you refuse work which is likely to endanger you, report the problem to your supervisor. If the supervisor does not correct the problem, talk to your union health and safety representative.

If the employer still refuses to correct the problem, a government inspector will be called in.

STRONGER RIGHTS

These rights in law can be made stronger in your collective agreement.

Some CAW locals have strengthened the right to know by bargaining more training on workplace hazards than the basic WHMIS training.

Some CAW locals have strengthened the right to participate by making the joint health and safety committee larger and by bargaining full time union health and safety representatives. Some have bargained the right of the union representatives to shut down unsafe equipment.

Some CAW locals have strengthened the right to refuse by bargaining the right to refuse if a worker is harassed. Others have bargained the right to refuse to pollute the environment.

For Further Information or Publications Write, telephone, or fax:
CAW Health and Safety Department
205 Placer Court
North York, Willowdale
Ontario, M2H 3H9
tel: (416)495-6558 or 1-800-265-5763
fax: (416)495-6554

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