In most countries, workers union representatives fight for the rights of their workers but there are

also laws that govern such rights and provide a guidelines which should be followed. These laws
usually cover areas like compensation, privacy, and safety of the employees. The occupational
health and safety rights of workers are usually included in the common law and are divided into
subcategories which highlight specifics. However, in most cases, workers can only use common
law under special circumstances – these exclude injuries that occur at the workplace.

The occupational health and safety rights of workers remain the best defense workers have
against injustices at the workplace. Some of the main areas it covers include the roles the
employers and workers play at the workplace, ideas on how to solve problems, the role of
inspectors and “involvement” of workers during consultations. In general, these laws protect
both the employer and employee thereby ensuring that good working relationship is maintained.

For David Rowland, Head of Marketing at Effective Software, health and safety is the
responsibility of everyone in an organisation. This may seem tough, but the payoffs are huge:
increased productivity of workers, increased bottom line, and greater consumer confidence.

Some of the obligations given to the worker under these laws include taking care of oneself and
avoiding reckless endangerment of an individual or others, respecting the employer and
cooperating with him/her and reporting any health and safety concerns including any hazardous
events that put the employees at risk.

The law also covers several rights the worker has such as having welfare facilities at the
workplace; these include bathrooms and toilets, first aid facilities and lunchrooms. The worker is
also entitled to the right training programs and information that can help them accomplish their
tasks well. Other rights of the worker under this law include ensured health and safety, having a
health and safety representative from the same work group, having safety equipment especially
when it comes to handling and/or operating heavy machinery and having the representative
present at any meetings concerning health and safety with the employer or an inspector. A
worker can also refuse to work under unsafe conditioned or request the representative to give a
directive against unsafe work conditions.

The occupational health and safety of workers also offer protection to workers who may face
threats when they speak against health and safety concerns. As a worker, you can elect your
health and safety representative and call for discussions with your employer concerning
designation of work groups.

Apart from helping workers and employers, the health and safety workers act also gives
governors the authority to come up with befitting rules and regulations. It also allows ministers
to provide guidance to the people impacted by the laws by providing them with education and
other factors that can help them understand and keep the rules.

The act also deals with other sectors that have an indirect impact on the health and safety of
workers. Areas like the dangerous goods act, road and safety act, and racial and religious
tolerance act all affect the health and safety of work although indirectly. This act covers the most
important areas of a worker’s life. The right to participate, the right to know and the right to deny
working in an unsafe environment are all covered in this act. It is, therefore, your responsibility
as a worker or employer to familiarize yourself with the different aspects of the act to avoid
problems relating to it.