Local 1102 - RWDSU

Since the passage of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, safety and health conditions in our nation's workplaces have improved and injury and illness rates have dropped. But each year more than 6 million American workers are injured or become sick on the job and as many as 50,000 American workers die from occupational illness with nearly 6,000 are killed on the job.

Through the Local 1102 Empowerment Program we hope to increase the awareness of Union members and their families about health and safety. Knowledge about workplace health and safety issues can be the first step in helping to create better working conditions. Through knowledge there is power! If your workplace has a health and safety committee, get involved. When members are active, informed and unified, our Union is strong and successful.

After years of persistence, the labor movement has achieved certain basic legal and contractual health and safety rights for workers.

Under the federal Occupational Safety and Health Act, you have a legal right to a workplace free of recognized health and safety hazards.
Under regulations of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), you have a legal right to any information that your employer has about any exposure you may have had to hazards such as toxic chemicals or noise. You also have a right to any medical records your employer has concerning you.
Under Occupational Safety and Health Administration regulations, you have a legal right to complain to your employer about dangerous conditions.
Under the Occupational Safety and Health Act, you have a legal right not to be discriminated against for exercising your health and safety rights. "Discrimination" includes any adverse action by an employer- from being harassed to being fired.
Under regulations of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, you have a legal right to information and training about hazardous materials you work with, including Material Safety Data Sheets.
Under regulations of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, you have a legal right to information about injuries and illnesses experienced by you and your co-workers.
Under the National Labor Relations Act, you have a legal right to refuse to work or to walk off the job because of workplace hazards. This right only applies to "concerted activities" which are actions by two or more workers. Such a refusal to work because of workplace hazards must be based on a good-faith belief that the condition is hazardous. Even if you are wrong about the danger, your actions are protected.
Under Occupational Safety and Health Administration regulations, you have a legal right to refuse work that places you in imminent danger of death or serious physical harm, and there is not time to contact OSHA. Before you refuse unsafe work, you should request that your employer eliminate the hazard and you should make it clear that you will accept an alternate assignment. Unlike the National Labor Relations Act, the OSHA rule protects actions by a single worker as well as "concerted activities." The OSHA regulation only protects you if the danger can be proven to exist; if you refuse to work because you believe a condition is hazardous, but are proved wrong, OSHA does not protect you.