Employees' Rights and Duties

  1. Law
  2. Tennessee Code
  3. Employer and Employee
  4. Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1972
  5. General Provisions
  6. Employees' Rights and Duties

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Rights and duties of employees include, but are not limited to, the following:

  1. Each employee shall comply with occupational safety and health standards and all rules, regulations and orders issued pursuant to this chapter that are applicable to the employee's own actions and conduct;
  2. Each employee shall be notified by the employee's employer of any application for a temporary order granting the employer a variance from this chapter or standard or regulation promulgated pursuant to this chapter;
  3. Each employee shall be given the opportunity to participate in any hearing that concerns an application by the employee's employer for a variance from a standard promulgated under this chapter;
  4. Any employee who may be adversely affected by a standard or variance issued pursuant to this chapter may file a petition with the commissioner;
  5. Any employee who has been exposed or is being exposed to toxic materials or harmful physical agents in concentrations or at levels in excess of that provided for by any applicable standard shall be provided by the employee's employer with the opportunities provided in § 50-3-203;
  6. Subject to regulations issued pursuant to this chapter, any employee or authorized representative of employees shall be given the right to request an inspection and to consult with the commissioner at the time of the physical inspection of any workplace, as provided in part 3 of this chapter;
  7. No employee shall be discharged or discriminated against because the employee has filed a complaint, instituted, or caused to be instituted a proceeding or inspection under or related to this chapter, or testified, or is about to testify, in a proceeding or because of the exercise by the employee on behalf of the employee or others of any right afforded by this chapter;
  8. Any employee who believes that the employee has been discriminated against or discharged in violation of subdivision (7) may, within thirty (30) days after the violation occurs, file a complaint with the commissioner alleging the discrimination. The commissioner shall act promptly on the complaint to determine whether to seek imposition of the sanction provided in § 50-3-409;
  9. Any employee or representative of employees who believes that any period of time fixed in the citation given to the employee's employer by the commissioner for correction of a violation is unreasonable has the right to contest the time for correction by filing a notice with the commissioner within twenty (20) days of the date the citation was issued;
  10. Nothing in this chapter or this section shall be deemed to authorize or require medical examination, immunization or treatment for those who object to the medical examination, immunization or treatment on religious grounds, except where the medical examination, immunization or treatment is necessary for the protection of the health or safety of others; and
  11. Any affected employee shall be notified by the employee's employer and shall be given the opportunity to participate in negotiations on alleged violations of occupational safety and health standards.


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