Health & Safety is a Shared Responsibility
Creating a safe and healthy workplace is a team effort, and everyone has a part to play. From employers to supervisors to workers, understanding your responsibilities helps prevent injuries, supports wellness, and builds a strong safety culture.
What Employers Need to Do
Employers set the tone for workplace health and safety. That means actively creating and maintaining a program that addresses both physical and psychological hazards, while leading by example. This includes:
- Providing health and safety training for all workers
- Ensuring managers and supervisors are trained and supported
- Watching for unsafe conditions or behaviours, and fix them right away
- Supplying adequate first aid equipment and services
- Reporting work-related injuries or illnesses, including physical injury, occupational disease, and mental health condition to WorkSafeBC
- Investigating any incidents that cause harm to a worker or damage to equipment
- Offering modified, suitable work options to support workers recovering from workplace illness, injury, or disease
- Providing psychological support and critical incident response when needed
- Ensuring contractors and subcontractors have valid WorkSafeBC coverage
What Supervisors Are Responsible For
Supervisors help protect the health and safety of their teams. If you’re in charge of a group of people or an area of work, your responsibilities include:
- Addressing unsafe behaviours or work conditions as soon as you see them
- Letting workers know about any hazards they may encounter at work, including physical or psychological hazards
- Making sure personal protective equipment (PPE) is warn and used properly when necessary
What’s Expected of Workers
Workers have a responsibility to protect themselves and their coworkers by working safely and following procedures set out for them by the employer, such as:
- Reporting any unsafe conditions, equipment, or behaviours to their supervisor
- Using PPE correctly and keeping it in good condition
- Taking part in inspections and investigations when asked
- Reporting all workplace injuries and illnesses to their supervisor
- If off work due to injury or illness, working with the employer (and sometimes healthcare providers) on a plan to return to work as safely and quickly as possible
Workers also have certain workplace health and safety rights – including the right to refuse unsafe work, know about specific hazards related to their job, and participate in health and safety within the workplace.
When All Do Their Part, Everyone Benefits
A safe and healthy workplace doesn’t happen by accident. It takes teamwork, accountability, and care. When each person knows their role and follows through, everyone wins!
More Information and Resources
Customizable Templates
Additional Information
Online Courses
Need Help?
We’re here to support you at any stage of the process. Contact us for guidance, templates, or one-on-one support tailored to your business.
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