Duties and responsibilities as an employee in the workplace?

In terms of the Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHS Act) # 85 of 1993 section 14: General duties of employees in the workplace:

1. Take care of your own health and safety, as well as that of other people who may be affected by his or her actions or negligence to act. This includes playing at work which may be considered a serious contravention in terms of the OHS Act.
2. Cooperate with the employer where the OHS Act imposes a duty or requirements on the employee.
3. Give information to an inspector from the Department of Labour if required by the inspector to supply information.
4. Carry out any lawful instruction which the employer or authorised (e.g. Safety representative, Manager, Supervisor) person prescribes with regard to health and safety in the workplace.
5. Comply with the rules and procedures that the employer gives in terms of Workplace health and Safety.
6. Wear the prescribed safety clothing or use the prescribed safety equipment where it is required to be worn.
7. Report any unsafe or unhealthy conditions to the employer or health and safety representative as soon as possible.
8. If in involved in an incident (accident) that may influence your health or cause an injury, report that incident to the employer, and authorised person or the health and safety representative as soon as possible, but no later than by the end of that days shift.
   Training requiring the Safety reps please follow link – Training courses and curriculums
   Rights of the Employee
   The Occupational Health and Safety Act has extended employees’ rights to include the following:
   Right to information – All employees must have access to:
9. The occupational health and safety act and regulations – this is most commonly in the form of the posters displayed in the workplace. For a free quote please contact us.
10. Health and safety rules and procedures of the workplace.
11. Health and safety standards which the employer must keep at the workplace.
12. The employee may request the employer to inform him or her about health and safety hazards in the workplace.
13. The precautionary measures which must be taken.
14. The procedures that must be followed if an employee is exposed to substances hazardous to health.
15. The employee may request that his or her private medical practitioner investigate the medical and exposure records.
16. If the employee is a health and safety representative, he or she may investigate and comment in writing on exposure assessments and monitoring reports.
    Right not to be victimised
    An employer may not dismiss an employee from his service, reduce an employee’s salary or reduce an employee’s service conditions because:
17. The employee supplied information, which is required of him or her in terms of the Act, to someone who is charged with the administration of the Occupational Health and Safety Act.
18. The employee complied with a lawful notice. (E.g. a prohibition, contravention notice, etc.)
19. The employee did something which in terms of the Act should have been done.
20. The employee did not do something which in terms of the Act is prohibited.
21. The employee has given evidence before the Labour Court or a Court of Law on matters regarding health and safety.
    If you have any Occupational Health and Safety concerns please contact us so we can assist and empower you comply with the legislation on info@topcompliance.co.za