Workplace Health and Safety: What Every Worker Should Know

Your first job can be exciting, but getting paid is not the only thing that matters. You also have the right to work in a place where health and safety are taken seriously.

South African workplace health and safety laws place responsibilities on both employers and workers.

Why is workplace safety important?

Workplaces can have different risks. A construction worker may deal with heavy machinery, while someone working in an office may deal with electrical equipment, slippery floors or poor working conditions.

Even a small safety problem can become a serious accident if nobody reports it.

What are workers expected to do?

Workers have responsibilities when it comes to workplace health and safety.

• Take reasonable care of your own health and safety.
• Take reasonable care of other people who may be affected by your actions.
• Follow reasonable health and safety rules and instructions.
• Use safety equipment correctly.
• Report dangerous situations to the appropriate person.
• Report accidents, incidents and injuries as required.
• Co-operate with health and safety procedures.

What should you do if you see something dangerous?

Do not simply ignore it.

For example, imagine you see an electrical cable lying across a walkway. Someone could trip over it or be injured.

Tell your manager, supervisor, health and safety representative or another responsible person as soon as possible.

What if you have an accident at work?

If you are injured at work or involved in a workplace incident, report it to your employer as soon as possible and follow the workplace reporting procedure.

Even if an injury seems small, reporting it can be important. A small incident may reveal a bigger safety problem that needs to be fixed.

Do not be afraid to report safety problems.

As a young worker, you may feel nervous about telling your manager that something is unsafe.

You might think:

• “I am new here.”
• “I don't want to cause trouble.”
• “Maybe someone else will report it.”
• “My manager might think I am complaining.”

But reporting a genuine safety risk is not being difficult. It can help protect everyone at the workplace.

What about protective equipment?

Some jobs require protective equipment such as gloves, safety shoes, helmets, goggles or protective clothing.

If your job requires safety equipment, learn how to use it correctly and follow the safety instructions provided by your employer.

Job seeker tip: During a job interview, it is perfectly reasonable to ask about workplace safety, especially if the job involves machinery, construction, chemicals, driving or other risks.

Remember: You are responsible for taking reasonable care of yourself and others at work. If you see a serious safety problem, do not ignore it. Report it through the correct workplace channels.