Ontario workers: you have the right to refuse unsafe work

Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development and Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB)campaign image of a raised hand creating awareness about workplace safety.

If your working conditions are dangerous or unsafe, you can refuse it.

The Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development and the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board are launching campaigns to help keep young workers safe.

As young workers across our province start their summer jobs – many for the first time – it is our shared responsibility to ensure each and every one returns home safely to their family at the end of the day.

New and young workers between the ages of 15 and 24 are three times more likely to be injured in the first month on the job than at any other time in their lives.

Construction worker operator of Asian appearance in the cab of a construction crane.

Feeling Unsafe at Work?

Browse the Workplace Safety & Prevention Services (WSPS) Resources

The Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development and the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board is raising awareness about the importance of working safely to protect Ontario’s young workers.

Browse these resources to learn how to keep your most vulnerable workers safe.

Browse Resources

View these resources from the Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development:

Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development and Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) campaign image of an employee with a hardhat, creating awareness about workplace safety.
Are you starting your first job?
Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development and Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) campaign image of an employee carrying their boxed items after being fired, creating awareness about workplace safety.
Did you know? In Ontario, you cannot be fired for refusing to do unsafe work.
Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development and Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) campaign image of a food service worker, creating awareness about workplace safety.
Workers in their first month on the job are 3x more likely to suffer an injury.
Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development and Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) campaign image of a forklift operator, creating awareness about workplace safety.
Young workers: you cannot be fired for refusing to do unsafe work
Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development and Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) campaign image of a forklift operator, creating awareness about workplace safety.
Feeling unsafe at work?
Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development and Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) campaign image of an employee using a chainsaw on a tree, creating awareness about workplace safety.
New and young workers are 3x more likely to be injured during their first month at work.
  • Facebook – If your working conditions are dangerous or unsafe, you CAN REFUSE IT.
  • LinkedIn – The health and safety of Ontario’s workers is always the Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development’s top priority – that’s they and the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) are launching campaigns to help keep young workers safe.
  • Instagram – Don’t just wing it when it comes to workplace safety – you’re only human.
  • Twitter – If you have any questions, or witness unsafe working conditions, contact the health and safety call centre at: 1-877- 202-0008.