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Every employee has some basic rights that exist to protect their health and safety – employers must comply with these legal regulations in order to support their workers in a variety of office and industrial settings. The first health and safety right that employees have is the right to refuse work that may be unsafe and potentially injurious to their health and well-being. One example of an unsafe work situation is working construction on rooftops without proper harnesses and other safety equipment. No employer may force a worker to undertake risky labor practices for any reason. A secondary health and safety right that workers are entitled to is the right to be educated about the correct safety techniques. This type of education should be given by a trained instructor with licenses and certifications that prove their level of expertise regarding workplace safety. Examples of training received for safety purposes includes training on forklifts, training with power tools, or training lifting heavy boxes to avoid back strain and other physical injuries. In an office, workers may receive training while using potentially dangerous office equipment, such as high ladders or cutting machines. The best workplaces will place a high premium on protecting workers through proper education and training – these workplaces may require their staff to become certified as trained, licensed users of machines and other equipment. Access to safe equipment is a tertiary health and safety right that all employees will have – this means employers are obligated to buy or lease safe machinery, harnesses, safety goggles, fireproof work-wear, and other related items. While the expense of outfitting staff with health and safety equipment that is up to government standards may be significant, it is a drop in the bucket compared to the cost of expensive litigation and the turmoil caused by workplace accidents, which may be minor, moderate, or even fatal. Workplace training instructors or hired consultants may be on hand to give management guidance on the best options for a particular workplace. Equipment must fit the employee correctly, regardless of their size, gender, or disability. The last crucial health and safety right that workers may ask for is the right to be told about dangers in the workplace; no employer is permitted to deceive workers regarding the potential health and safety threats of doing certain jobs. Management must strive for an atmosphere of transparency and accountability, and good communication between workers and higher-ups must be practiced with regard to proper health and safety practices. Usually, government rules will create a template for providing the right protection to workers. When these regulations are not in place, it is much harder to support the rights of workers, who should be entitled to a safe place to do their jobs. As you can see, the government plays a pivotal role in how health and safety rights are enforced. Find out more – Accident At Work