First and foremost, remember that you should know about the hazards on your job before you do it. On Day One your boss should be telling you what could hurt you, and how to avoid that hurt actually happening. For example, if you’re working around something hot, you may need certain kinds of protective equipment or clothing to wear.

It’s not always easy to talk to your boss about safety. But it’s always important. In fact, you have a duty to immediately report anything that seems unsafe. And remember, it’s your right to refuse work that could hurt you.

Your boss needs to know about workplace hazards. If you see something you feel is dangerous – for example, there’s oil leaking from a fryer - it’s your responsibility to let someone know that. And it’s your employer’s responsibility to investigate and do something about it. The few minutes it takes to talk about it and find a solution is nothing compared to the impact of workplace injury. At the end of the day, you both want the same thing – the work to get done, and to get done safely.