Every employee has the right to three basic things: the right to know, to participate, and to refuse to work in unsafe conditions. But when your employer fails to adhere to these basic employee rights, you deserve justice.
As an employee, you have a right to know a variety of things. These include the right to know the dangers of the job and any hazardous materials you may be or are likely to be exposed to. In addition, your employer and any supervisors must ensure all workers are aware of the dangers which may occur by people, materials, the work environment, process, and equipment. Part of this is the right to be trained, and to be prepared for all of the possibilities.
Simply put, you have a right to participate in the terms of your employment agreement such as asking questions about issues concerning your health and safety. You also have a right to be included in the process of identifying, assessing, and maintaining workplace safety and health hazards. This may include reporting unsafe conditions or employment violations to employers.
On a fundamental level, you have a right to refuse to work in a dangerous situation which may lead to your injury or the injury of another. This also protects you from retaliation by your employer for refusing to work in unsafe conditions.
