Refusing Assignments: - local70

REFUSAL RELATED TO OCCUPATIONALHEALTH & SAFETY SITUATIONS• In Ontario, the OHSA establishes the right to refuse unsafe work without fear ofreprisal. According to Section 43 of the Act, the circumstances in which a workercan refuse include circumstances where the worker has reason to believe that:▫▫▫▫▫Any equipment, machine, device or thing the worker is to use or operate is likely toendanger himself, herself or another workerThe physical condition of the workplace or the part thereof in which he or she worksor is to work is likely to endanger himself or herself; orThe physical condition of the workplace is in contravention of this Act or theregulations and such contravention is likely to endanger himself, herself or anotherworker.Workplace violence is likely to endanger himself or herself; orAny equipment, machine, device or thing he or she is to use or operate or thephysical condition of the workplace or the part thereof in which he or she works or isto work is in contravention of this Act or the regulations and such contravention islikely to endanger himself, herself or another worker.• Section 43 also sets out the procedures to be followed when a worker refusesunsafe work.ONA, A Guide for ONA Members,“My Right to Refuse Unsafe Work”, Oct. 2010:112