in the work place what are our rights as far as in the circumstance of tornado warning and sightings less than a mile away from your possition, do you have the right to take cover in designated area or is it insubordination to leave your work area before your forman literally sights the actual tornado heading toward your facility?is it really a judgment call for some one else to make when your city and county sirens are being sounded and on national broadcasting is saying to take cover?
2006-08-30 07:00:19 · 8 answers · asked by regina V 1 in Politics & Government ➔ Law & Ethics
i was at work the other night (2nd shift)and at about 7p.m.there was a tornado warning for our immediate area.1 tornado had touched down less than a mile away from my job and as broadcasted on the national weather service was to be headed our way.I asked my supervisor why he hadn't sounded our alarm and instructed us to take cover in the basement of our plant (our designated area) mind you the city and county sirens were being sounded,his response was "I won't sound off until and unless I visually see a tornado headed towards our facility"then suggested,If any one left there work station to go to the basement instead of continuance of production it would be considered insubordination and that person would be fired.what are my rights?Is it his or any one elses right to make a judgement call as to whether or not I live or die?Do I have any rights or is this in violation of human right to live?
2006-08-30 16:54:54 · update #1
Everyone has to answer to someone higher. What your supervisor did was very irresponsible. He played God, no-one has the right to do that, regardless of the position he holds. Power goes to some peoples heads, and if he has shown this total lack of common sense, then he will do it again. I am sure you are not the only person who feels this way.
It will be too late when your building is demolished and everyone killed to make this man accountable for his stupid decisions. You need to take this matter to his superior. I am sure there is a policy in your workplace that gives you directions on how to place a grievance. There are also laws to protect you from discrimination, so you making a formal complaint is your right.
There is also a law about Duty of Care. This man showed total lack of his Duty of Care to protect the lives of the men he was responsible for. Occupational Health and Safety Issues are taken very seriously indeed. These Laws were put into place because insurance companies were paying out millions and millions in preventable workplace injuries.
This man may be your supervisor and has the last say. But he also has to abide by the strict guildelines of safety issues in the workplace or he will be liable. He has certain responsibilites that go along with the power he holds and I think he may have forgotten that.
2006-09-04 10:25:08 · answer #1 · answered by rightio 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I believe you are supposed to follow any directions given in your Employees Handbook- they usually give you the best (and safest) directions to leave your work, help anyone else you may work with, etc. It is probably wise to have these directions memorized (or at least handy), especially if you live in a place where tornados strike frequently. I know I used to live in Iowa, and have lived through 1 serious tornado in my city.
However, it is not insubordination to protect the lives of yourself and or your family. It is not anyone else's judgement call to make. I would perhaps consult with a supervisior before something like this happens, and you must rush home to your child/pet/spouse. I'm sure your work would be very understanding that it is your right to do so. However, they are probably correct in asking you to take cover in a designated area and be careful. They are only concerned with your safety.
2006-08-30 07:08:34 · answer #2 · answered by Leigh 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They would be stupid to fire you for protecting yourself from a tornado. If the city/county tornado alarms went off, that means it is time to take cover immediately. Your foreman is quite the dumb a** for making a statement like that. I hope, for your sake, you disregarded what he was saying and headed for the basement along with the other employees. If he wants to risk his life, that is his problem. Let him stand there and wait until he physically sees the tornado before he decides to take shelter.
2006-09-07 04:04:48 · answer #3 · answered by proud mom of 2 girls 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
In my mind I would think you had every reason to do so since the radio made a determination of where this T was headed and the local warning sirens were going off. Once in the face of cooperate movers and shakers I'm sure he would've backed off the firing thing. Unfortunately you would still have to deal with him, as he probably would not have been fired either.
2006-09-05 21:37:32 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
In my own personal feelings I don't think you were wrong.I would have told my super to kiss my you know what I think your life is worth more than production. I think it's against the law to make a person work in a unsafe environment that doesn't fit your job description. He or she was telling you to put your life in danger so they could make rate for production. Secretly he went to the basement for cover.
2006-09-05 20:23:38 · answer #5 · answered by collinssherreha 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
hi well if u have a tornado heading your way you have the right to take cover you also have the right not to go to work if the weather is extremely risky. if they have a problem you are allowed to sue.
2006-08-30 07:07:26 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
i would think if there is a tornado literally less than one mile from your location, then everyone should have the right to take cover
2006-08-30 07:06:31 · answer #7 · answered by s_e_e 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
we have no rights
2006-09-06 11:50:49 · answer #8 · answered by jerry 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋