New worker safety for workers

Workers new to a job are required to receive orientation and training for workplace safety and health. This orientation offers valuable information on worker rights and responsibilities, duties of employer and supervisor, procedure for refusing dangerous work, reporting unsafe work conditions, elements of workplace safety and health program and more.

All workers should know their four basic rights:

The right to know workplace hazards, especially hazards associated with your job.
The right to participate in workplace safety and health programs.
The right to refuse dangerous work.
The right to protection from reprisal from exercising any of your rights.

If you have not received adequate training, speak to your supervisor or safety and health representative.

Learn how to report unsafe work here.

Types of new workers

Newcomers

A newcomer to Canada is any person who is a resident of Canada for less than five years.

They are more susceptible to risks and injuries in the workplace because they lack awareness and understanding of their occupational safety and health rights and responsibilities, as well as their employer’s duties and responsibilities, as mandated in Manitoba’s Workplace Safety and Health Act and Regulation, The Workers Compensation Act (the Act), and other relevant legislation and standards.

Seasonal workers

Seasonal workers are usually employed for a designated period. They may transition to another job after the designated period or be re-employed at a different time by the same employer for another designated period. Seasonal workers can also be temporary foreign workers.

Seasonal workers often work in industries such as construction, manufacturing and the service industry, such as restaurants and hotels. Temporary foreign workers mostly work in the agricultural sector.

Young workers

Young workers are defined as workers 15 to 24 years of age. This group of workers are often eager to please and will rely on and assume that others in the workplace, such as supervisors or managers, will keep them safe. This approach can prove hazardous for young workers and leave them vulnerable to injuries.

In addition to the rights and responsibilities that all Manitoba workers have, young workers have specific employment rules that apply to them. For example, they cannot work in certain industries if they are under the age of 18. For more information on young workers’ rights, visit Employment Standards.

To prepare young workers for employment, workers ages thirteen to fifteen in Manitoba must take the Young Worker Readiness Certificate Course before getting a job to learn their rights and responsibilities.

Tips

Here are helpful questions to ask when you start a new job:

Who do I ask if I have a health or safety question?
What are the company’s safety and health procedures and rules?
What are the hazards of my job?
Do I need to wear safety gear and when will I be shown how to use it?
What do I do if I get hurt?
When will I be trained in emergency procedures?

FAQs

What should I do if I am injured at work?

You should follow your organization’s reporting process if you are injured at work. Your employer is required to report your injury to WCB. However, you can contact WCB directly by submitting a claim.

What should I do if I have a safety concern?

In the event that the concern cannot be resolved with your supervisor, manager or workplace Health and Safety representative, contact the Workplace Safety and Health Branch.

Can I face reprisal for refusing dangerous work or reporting a safety concern?

As outlined in the Manitoba Workplace Safety and Health Act (WSH Act), no worker should face reprisal for exercising their right to refuse unsafe work.

If I am harassed and bullied in the workplace, what can I do?

No worker should experience any form of harassment, bullying and violence in the workplace. Every worker is entitled to protection from harassment as mandated in Manitoba’s Workplace Safety and Health Regulation (WSH Regulation).

No workers should experience violence in the workplace. In the event you experience any of these issues, kindly follow your organizations reporting procedures. It is the employer’s obligation to investigate these issues and ensure that a safe and respectful workplace is maintained. You can contact Manitoba’s Human Right Commission for assistance.