Employee Responsibilities and Rights

Employee responsibilities for safety include the following:

• Use all safety equipment, personal protective equipment, or other tools necessary for their protection
• Follow all procedures (as directed by the employer under OSHA) necessary for their protection
• Report unsafe or unhealthy working conditions to officials
• Comply with all standards, rules, regulations, and orders issued by OSHA

Employees have the following rights:

• To work in conditions that do not pose a risk of serious harm
• To complete training that is made understandable through the language and vocabulary appropriate to the worker
• To be provided with training that fully outlines the risks of the job and hazard-prevention methods
• To have access to all records about work-related injuries and illnesses
• To be able to file a complaint with OSHA without the risk of reprisal
• To exercise their rights without fear of retaliation from the employer

Employees should also remember that OSHA provides workers with the right to the following:

• Request that OSHA inspect their workplace
• Use their rights under the law without retaliation and discrimination from employers or fellow employees
• Receive accurate information and proper training regarding hazards, methods to prevent injury or illness, and the OSHA standards that apply to their workplace
• Receive copies of results for tests conducted to identify hazards in the workplace
• Review records of work-related injuries and illnesses
• Receive copies of their medical records

To learn more about Fall Protection visit our Construction Fall Protection Online Training web page.