How to Refuse Unsafe Work

Workers have the right to refuse unsafe work.

• If you have reasonable cause to believe that performing a job or task puts you or someone else at risk, you must not perform the job or task.
• You must immediately notify your supervisor or employer, who will then take the appropriate steps to determine if the work is unsafe and remedy the situation.
• As a worker, you have the right to refuse to perform a specific job or task you believe is unsafe without being disciplined by your employer.
• Your employer or supervisor may temporarily assign a new task to you, at no loss in pay.

Refusal of unsafe work is one of the four basic rights of all workers

Refusal of Unsafe Work Regulations:

3.12 Procedure for refusal

1. A person must not carry out or cause to be carried out any work process or operate or cause to be operated any tool, appliance or equipment if that person has reasonable cause to believe that to do so would create an undue hazard to the health and safety of any person.
2. A worker who refuses to carry out a work process or operate a tool, appliance or equipment pursuant to subsection (1) must immediately report the circumstances of the unsafe condition to his or her supervisor or employer.
3. A supervisor or employer receiving a report made under subsection (2) must immediately investigate the matter and
   1. ensure that any unsafe condition is remedied without delay, or
   2. if in his or her opinion the report is not valid, must so inform the person who made the report.
4. If the procedure under subsection (3) does not resolve the matter and the worker continues to refuse to carry out the work process or operate the tool, appliance or equipment, the supervisor or employer must investigate the matter in the presence of the worker who made the report and in the presence of
   1. a worker member of the joint committee,
   2. a worker who is selected by a trade union representing the worker, or
   3. if there is no joint committee or the worker is not represented by a trade union, any other reasonably available worker selected by the worker.
5. If the investigation under subsection (4) does not resolve the matter and the worker continues to refuse to carry out the work process or operate the tool, appliance or equipment, both the supervisor, or the employer, and the worker must immediately notify an officer, who must investigate the matter without undue delay and issue whatever orders are deemed necessary.

3.13 No prohibited action

1. A worker must not be subject to prohibited action as defined in section 47 of the Workers Compensation Act because the worker has acted in compliance with section 3.12 or with an order made by an officer.
2. Temporary assignment to alternative work at no loss in pay to the worker until the matter in section 3.12 is resolved is deemed not to constitute prohibited action. [Amended by B.C. Reg. 279/2019, effective April 6, 2020.]

Note:The prohibition against prohibited action is established in the Workers Compensation Act Part 2, Division 6, sections 47 through 50.