Employee Workplace Rights

U.S. Department of Labor/OSHA, OSHA Employee Workplace Rights (OSHA 3021). Washington, DC 1991. 

In 1992 the Health and Safety in Employment Act clarified the requirements for a safe workplace and among other things gave employees the right to know about hazards that may affect them. This included chemical hazards and made it obligatory to have material safety data sheets available in the workplace. 

Some Robens-based OHS legislation provides a process for issue resolution where a workplace has not agreed on its own process. This is often presented in the form of a flowchart. The usual advice to employees if they have an OHS problem is to raise it with their supervisor in the first instance. Where an atmosphere of tmst prevails this is good advice. However, if the employee feels that raising an issue may result in discrimination, the employee may rightly prefer to go through the health and safety representative, or a union. The health and safety representative or a union may resolve the issue with management or it may be dealt with by the health and safety committee. If it cannot be resolved, an OHS inspector may be asked for a determination and issue a notice. Further review by heads of OHS authorities, or courts varies with the particular jurisdiction. In New Zealand, for example, the District Court resolves disputed notices. 

Right to know Phrase that relates to an employee s right to know about the nature and hazards of agents used in the workplace and/or to the right of communities. 

Probably one of the most important safety and healtli standards ever adopted is tlie OSHA hazard communication standard, more properly known as tlie right to know laws. The liazard communication standard requires employers to communicate information to tlie employees on liazardous chemicals tliat e.vist witliiii the workplace. The program requires employers to craft a written luizard communication program, keep material safety data sheets (MSDSs) for all haztirdous chemicals at the workplace and provide employees with training on tliose hazardous chemicals, and assure tliat proper warning labels are in place. 

This coalition of businesses, business groups, and individuals promotes efforts to reduce drug and alcohol abuse in the workplace in order to protect the health and safety of workers as well as business productivity. It also supports drug-testing programs when done under proper guidelines to protect employees rights. 

The HCS, also known as the Employee Right-to-Know Law, is basically concerned with the exposure of workers to hazardous chemicals in the workplace. Under this standard, since 1986, all manufacturers, importers, and distributors of hazardous chemicals have had to label the containers they ship, listing the ingredients and hazards of the material in the containers, and provide Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDSs) to all downstream users, handlers, and storers of these chemicals. 

The right of the federal government and other public and private employers to conduct urine screens (tests for drug taking) of employees as a way to control drug abuse in the workplace... 

OSHA Hazard Communication Standard (29 CFR 1910.1200) The US OSHA s Hazard Communication Standard (HCS) ensures that information about chemical hazards and associated protective measures is provided to workers and employers. This is accomplished by requiring chemical manufacturers and importers to evaluate the hazards of the chemicals they produce or import, and to provide information through labels on shipped containers and MSDSs. Employers with hazardous chemicals in their workplaces must prepare and implement a written hazard communication program, and must ensure that containers are labeled, employees are provided access to MSDSs, and an effective training program is conducted for all potentially exposed employees. The HCS provides workers the right-to-know the... 

At BASF, suppliers and business partners are expected to observe the International Labour Organization s Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights to Work. The Declaration calls on governments, companies, and worker organizations to uphold employees right to organize and bargain collectively and to eliminate child labor, forced labor, and discrimination in the workplace. BASF suppliers found to violate these labor standards can be terminated without notice if necessary (BASF, 2001). 

Social Including, for example, workplace health and safety, employee retention, labour rights, human rights, and wages and working conditions at outsourced operations. 

An essential precondition for safe work is the provision of proper information to workers. The EU directive 98/24/EC requires the employer to provide detailed information on all risks occurring during work with chemical agents. Employees have a right to know all about the risk assessment carried out and the resulting actions and safety measures. This includes information on the identity, hazardous properties, and relevant exposure limits of the chemicals which are used or which may be present at the workplace. The employer must give full access to aU the safety data sheets provided by the supplier. As well as providing the information. 

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