Talk about safety

Speaking up shows that you respect your work, so always ask if you’re not clear about how to do something safely.

• What health and safety questions should I ask at my interview?

  • What safety training and orientation will I get before I start work?
  • What safety hazards does the job involve? i.e., hot oil, high noise levels, moving equipment, etc.
  • Will I be trained in how to prevent injuries?
  • What are my health and safety responsibilities?
  • Is there a safety committee? How can I learn more or be a part of it?
  • What’s the procedure if I’m injured at work?

• How do I speak to my manager if I have a health and safety concern?

  Even experienced workers can have trouble speaking up about health and safety, but your manager/supervisor wants you to be safe and injury free, and will respect you for asking.

  Approach your boss respectfully, speak confidently, and listen carefully to the answer. [Insert some text]

• When something feels unsafe

  • I really like… doing this job, working with this equipment… but there is a lot to learn, can you spare a few minutes to go over it again?
  • Hey, I just want to double check—this doesn’t feel totally safe to me. Can you walk me through the safest way to do it?”
  • I think I’ve got the hang of this but can you watch me to make sure I’m not missing anything?
  • I’m still not comfortable with this, can you explain it again?
  • If I get hurt at work, what should I do?

• When you don’t feel properly trained

  • I haven’t done this task before. Can you show me the safest way to do it?
  • I want to make sure I’m trained before I try this—who should I check in with?
  • I’m still learning, and I don’t want to guess when it comes to safety.

• When you notice a hazard

  • I noticed something that might be a safety issue—can I show you?
  • I’m not sure if this is a problem, but I wanted to flag it just in case.
  • Could we take a quick look at this together? I want to make sure no one gets hurt.

• When equipment or PPE isn’t available or working properly

  • I don’t see the right safety gear for this—what should I be using?
  • This equipment doesn’t seem to be working properly. Is there another option?
  • Before I start, can we check if this is the right PPE for the job?

• When you feel pressure to rush or skip steps

  • I know we’re trying to move fast, but I want to make sure I’m doing this safely.
  • Can we slow down for a minute? I want to make sure I understand the safest way to do this.
  • I’d rather take a moment now than risk getting hurt.

• When you want to frame it as being responsible and professional

  • I’m just trying to do this right and keep everyone safe.
  • I want to make sure I’m meeting safety expectations.
  • I figured it was better to ask than assume.