Reporting Unsafe Working Conditions

As an employee, it is important to report to your supervisor any unsafe working conditions you come across. While all supervisors are legally obligated to provide all employees with a safe working environment, and take care of any unsafe conditions, they may not be aware of them unless someone tells them. Reporting these hazardous situations and unsafe conditions as soon as possible, will help keep yourself and other employees safe.

What is a hazard? 

A hazard is anything that may cause harm.

What is risk? 

Risk is the chance, high or low, of somebody being harmed by a hazard, and how serious the harm could be.

What are significant risks? 

Significant risks are those that are not trivial in nature and are capable of creating a real risk to health and safety. What is considered as “insignificant” will vary from site to site and activity to activity, depending on specific circumstances.

What responsibilities to employees have? 

Under health and safety laws, employees are responsible for:

  • Taking care of the health and safety of themselves and others.
  • Co-operating with supervisors to help them comply with health and safety legislation.
  • Following any instructions and training supervisors give regarding the measures they have in place to control health and safety risks.
  • Letting supervisors know of work situations that present a serious and imminent risk.
  • Letting supervisors know of any other failings they have identified in their health and safety practices.

Risk management is centered around keeping employees properly protected from harm or injury. Learning how to innovate and balance risk in the workplace has the potential to benefit the greater community. When we begin to live our lives applying safe practices and awareness, we begin to see the benefits of a happier, healthier environment around us.