Health and Safety A- Z
Topic: Worker
Summary
You are a worker if you are paid to perform work or supply services or if you are a student doing unpaid work as part of an approved secondary or post-secondary program. In other words, you are a Trent
University “worker” if you are a student doing a placement at Trent (paid or unpaid), a University employee or you provide a service to the University under contract (i.e. a contractor).
As a worker you have a right to know about hazards in the workplace, to refuse unsafe work, and to participate in the process of identifying and addressing hazards. You also have responsibilities, which includes using the protective equipment given to you and following the work procedures outlined by your supervisor. You must let your supervisor know about any hazards (eg. broken equipment, unsafe practices) you may come across, as well as any accidents or injuries you might experience at work.
Open and clear communication is an important part of health and safety. Workers at Trent University are encouraged to discuss safety-related questions or concerns with their supervisor. Workers can also bring questions, concerns and suggestions to their representative on the Joint Health and Safety Committee.
Workers are required to complete a minimum of two health and safety courses:
Worker Health and Safety Awareness in 4 Steps (most workers) OR Supervisor Health and Safety Awareness in 5 Steps (if you are a supervisor), and
Workplace Violence and Harassment.
Both of these courses are available on the Blackboard Learning System.
Many workers will require additional, hazard-specific training.
For more information see:
Occupational Health and Safety Act
Ministry of Labour: Rights and Duties, FAQ’s
Additional Resources:
Last Revised: November 20, 2015