In any type of work we do, mutual respect and accomplishment of goals must be sought. Employers as well as employees must understand that there are certain rules that have to be followed so that good relations can be maintained between them both. Moreover, if workers know that they are entitled to fight for their rights, they must accomplish certain duties, so that any injuries at work may be avoided.
Fighting for your rights also implies a level of responsibility on the worker's part. It is not only a matter of claiming for compensation through a lawsuit. Workers must know that they must always strive to carry out their work safely without compromising their abilities. It is their duty to cooperate with management in promoting safety awareness and an open communication on safety issues. Also, they must report to management any operation conditions they believe can provoke an accident or represent a major hazard for employees. If they notice that there is an imminent danger to them, the public or the environment, they should interrupt their activities for their own safety. Moreover, they should raise the alarm if someone else might get affected.
In same manner, workers must be well-informed about their rights, at least, the ones pertaining to their job environments. First, they should always receive all the necessary information related to the hazards and risks in their workplace. They must be informed about chemical names and compositions of dangerous substances, its properties, and the risks of their manipulation. They must also be provided with emergency plans in case of a major accident, along with their emergency duties if it happens.
Moreover, when making decisions related to the risks and hazards at work, both employees and employers must be taken into account. Both sides are relevant in this matter. They deserve to be included in hazard and risk assessment, examination of major deviations in the operating conditions, and failure assessment.
When an accident occurs, everybody is affected. That is why the cooperative work must be stimulated and for the company's own benefits, try to keep employers and employees in a motivating and positive environment. Taking the right safety measures will prevent everybody from getting involved in future legal and endless battles. Remember, legal and fair means that as workers, we must also be committed to their job and security of the company.