UFV is committed to creating a workplace where you are safe from injuries, accidents, or occupational health problems. Our health and safety program aligns carefully with the Workers Compensation Act and the Occupational Health and Safety Regulation.
As a UFV worker, you can expect a health and safety program that:
- invests resources and planning to provide safe working conditions;
- makes sure you and your supervisor are well-trained in how to work safely;
- is always learning and improving in the pursuit of best practices;
- works hard to prevent, monitor, and respond by providing protective equipment, regular inspections, and investigation of reported incident.Playing your part in pursuing health and safety
Playing our part in pursuing health and safety
If you're a member of the UFV community, then you have a key part to play in your own health and safety and in the safety of those around you.
Supervisors have the important role of making sure the employees they oversee have all the information, equipment, and training they need to stay safe. Supervisors also ensure their teams are following safety procedures consistently.
Employees are responsible to follow established safe work procedures, use protective equipment properly, and report any work situation that is hazardous.
As an employee, you have the right to refuse unsafe work without any penalty. You also have the right to invest work hours in learning about the hazards of your job, and being trained in health and safety practices.
Refusal of Unsafe Work
Workers have the right to refuse unsafe work.
If you have a reasonable cause to believe that performing a job or task would create an undue hazard to the health and safety of any person, you have the right not to perform that job or task. Your supervisor is required to immediately investigate any Refusal of Unsafe Work and complete the Refusal of Unsafe Work Investigation Report.
Refusal of unsafe work process
- Initial Refusal of Unsafe Work and Informal Investigation
- Worker reports the refusal to a supervisor immediately
- Supervisor and reporting worker investigate
- Supervisor may reassign worker to other tasks during the investigation
- Formal Investigation of Unsafe Work
- Refusal of unsafe work is not resolved
- Supervisor will contact EHS@ufv.ca who will have the JOHSC cochair assign a worker representative
- Investigation will include, the worker, JOHSC worker representative, supervisor, and employer support from Safety & Security
- WorkSafeBC Involvement
- If the unsafe work is not resolved the worker and employer are to report the refusal of unsafe work to WorkSafeBC
Please note: If the employer is working through the steps to resolve a work refusal, a written notice must be provided to any worker assigned or permitted to do the work subject to the work refusal using the Refusal of Unsafe Work Investigation Report.
Refusal on unsafe work investigation report
Refusal of unsafe work flowchart PDF
Refusal of unsafe work program
For questions and support, contact Safety & Security at ehs@ufv.ca
