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Safety and Security

Environmental Health & Safety

UFV is committed to creating a workplace where you are safe from injuries, accidents, or occupational health problems. Our health and safety program aligns carefully with the Workers Compensation Act and the Occupational Health and Safety Regulation.

As a UFV worker, you can expect a health and safety program that:

  • invests resources and planning to provide safe working conditions;
  • makes sure you and your supervisor are well-trained in how to work safely;
  • is always learning and improving in the pursuit of best practices;
  • works hard to prevent, monitor, and respond by providing protective equipment, regular inspections, and investigation of reported incident.Playing your part in pursuing health and safety

Playing our part in pursuing health and safety

If you're a member of the UFV community, then you have a key part to play in your own health and safety and in the safety of those around you.

Supervisors have the important role of making sure the employees they oversee have all the information, equipment, and training they need to stay safe. Supervisors also ensure their teams are following safety procedures consistently.

Employees are responsible to follow established safe work procedures, use protective equipment properly, and report any work situation that is hazardous.

As an employee, you have the right to refuse unsafe work without any penalty. You also have the right to invest work hours in learning about the hazards of your job, and being trained in health and safety practices. 

Safety programs at UFV

Safety basics

Workspace set up, remote work safety, and wellness programs

Working alone

Procedures you and your supervisor will follow to keep you safe when you work alone

WHMIS training

Instructions for accessing WHMIS training and Material Safety Data Sheets

Lab safety

Chemical, bio, and radiation safety programs at UFV

Equipment & trades safety

Equipment, construction materials, and contractor safety programs

Working at heights

Specific fall protection systems when working at heights

Workplace inspections

Information on workplace inspections

Extreme heat

Information to help you stay safe during extreme heat conditions


Refusal of Unsafe Work

Workers have the right to refuse unsafe work.

If you have a reasonable cause to believe that performing a job or task would create an undue hazard to the health and safety of any person, you have the right not to perform that job or task. Your supervisor is required to immediately investigate any Refusal of Unsafe Work and complete the Refusal of Unsafe Work Investigation Report.

Refusal of unsafe work process

  1. Initial Refusal of Unsafe Work and Informal Investigation
    • Worker reports the refusal to a supervisor immediately
    • Supervisor and reporting worker investigate
    • Supervisor may reassign worker to other tasks during the investigation
  2. Formal Investigation of Unsafe Work
    • Refusal of unsafe work is not resolved
    • Supervisor will contact EHS@ufv.ca who will have the JOHSC cochair assign a worker representative
    • Investigation will include, the worker, JOHSC worker representative, supervisor, and employer support from Safety & Security
  3. WorkSafeBC Involvement
    • If the unsafe work is not resolved the worker and employer are to report the refusal of unsafe work to WorkSafeBC

Please note: If the employer is working through the steps to resolve a work refusal, a written notice must be provided to any worker assigned or permitted to do the work subject to the work refusal using the Refusal of Unsafe Work Investigation Report.

Refusal on unsafe work investigation report

Refusal of unsafe work flowchart PDF

Refusal of unsafe work program

For questions and support, contact Safety & Security at ehs@ufv.ca

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