Workers Rights
Sometimes workers struggle with their employer’s commitment to health and safety, and from time to time can feel pressured to risk their own or the safety of others to complete a job.
If you find yourself in a situation at work where you are being put at risk, we would advise the following actions:
- Discuss your concerns with your employer.
This could be your Manager or if your company has one, the Safety Manager. Explain the specific safety issues you are encountering and provide any suggestions on how you think the situation could be improved.
- If you have already tried this with no result; then be aware that under the Health and Safety at Work Act, you have the legal right to refuse to do work that is likely to cause serious harm.
You can't refuse to do work that is inherently hazardous if all practicable steps have been taken to prevent harm from that hazard. If after attempting to resolve the issue in good faith with your employer the matter remains unresolved, you may continue to refuse to do the work and it becomes an Employment Relations issue. The Employment Relations Authority of the Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment is the appropriate authority to mediate the matter.
Site Safe also provides the option of a Safety Consultant visiting the site, taking a look at your concerns and providing advice on how to resolve your safety issues. We are not an enforcement agency so any service provided would be strictly advisory.