Labor & Industries (L&I), Washington State

Core Rules

Employee Responsibilities WAC 296-800-120

For printing

Employee's Responsibility:

To play an active role in creating a safe and healthy workplace and comply with all applicable safety and health rules

Note: Employees may discuss and participate in any WISHA safety and health related practice and may refuse to perform dangerous tasks without fear of discrimination. Discrimination includes: dismissal, demotion, loss of seniority, denial of a promotion, harassment, etc. (see Chapter 296-360 WAC, Discrimination) pursuant to RCW 49.17.160 for a complete description of discrimination and the department's responsibility to protect employees.

WAC 296-800-12005

Employees must:

• Study and follow all safe practices that apply to their work.
• Coordinate and cooperate with all other employees in the workplace to try to eliminate on-the-job injuries and illnesses.

Helpful Tool: Report of a Workplace Hazard Employees are encouraged to use the Report of a Workplace Hazard form to help carry out the accident prevention program in their workplace. You can find a copy of the form in the Resource Section of this book.

• Apply the principles of accident prevention in their daily work and use proper safety devices and protective equipment as required by their employment or employer.
• Take care of all personal protective equipment (PPE) properly.
• Not wear torn or loose clothing while working around machinery.

Note: Things such as clothing, hair, and jewelry can get caught in machinery and be a hazard on the job.

Employees must:

• Report promptly to their supervisor every industrial injury or occupational illness.
• Not remove, displace, damage, or destroy or carry off any safeguard, notice, or warning provided to make the workplace safe.
• Not interfere with the use of any safeguard by anyone in the workplace.
• Not interfere with the use of any work practice designed to protect them from injuries.
• Do everything reasonably necessary to protect the life and safety of employees.

Helpful Tool: Employees Rights under WISHA Refer to this Helpful Tool to see a brief description of your WISHA rights as an employee. WISHA protects employees' rights to participate in the creation of a safe and healthy workplace without fear of discharge, retaliation, or discrimination. To learn more about employees' WISHA rights, see WAC 296-360-010 and RCW 49.17.160. You can find a copy of this form in the Resource Section of this book.