Employee responsibilities

An employee is a person who accepts work to be performed. And remember—it does not matter in what form the employee receives remuneration for the work performed. It does not matter whether they are Dutch or an immigrant. If they have accepted the work to be performed, they are an employee.

Keep your workplace tidy.

Order in the workplace is very important. In English, there is even a term, “good housekeeping,” which describes order in the workplace. Collect trash and waste materials in one place away from traffic routes and dispose of them in a container when you have a moment. Finish your work a few minutes early and clean up your workstation. This will prevent trips and falls in the workplace, which can be very dangerous – from a sprained ankle to death… You are not the only one who can trip over your own trash or tools scattered around; clutter in the workplace can be dangerous for everyone in the vicinity. If you work with hazardous materials and substances, clutter in the workplace further increases the risk of poisoning.

Always use personal protective equipment (PPE) and take proper care of it.

Personal protective equipment is extremely important. We have devoted a separate chapter to it. Always use it when the situation requires it or when it is required and marked with mandatory signs. Repair or replace worn or damaged clothing. Wash dirty pants, shirts, and vests to look neat. No one wants to work with people who smell bad. Dirty clothing also makes it difficult to identify you in the workplace. Sometimes you can see construction workers with clothes so dirty, including reflective clothing, that they lose their properties. This is extremely dangerous and irresponsible and can lead to collisions, e.g., with a machine whose operator cannot see you.

Always use the right tools for the job.

Always hammer nails with a hammer, not with whatever you find at hand. We know of cases where, when a nail needed to be hammered in urgently, employees grabbed whatever they had at hand, such as a pipe wrench, a piece of brick, or even a screwdriver battery, which can be “helpful” in such situations. NEVER DO THIS. The end does not justify the means! Do not put yourself and your colleagues in danger! Use a hammer to hammer nails. Use appropriate chemicals for stuck and rusty screws. Never extend the arm of a regular wrench. This may cause the screw to break off instead of loosening the nut. If necessary, use a wrench with a long arm or one that is designed to be extended. You can tell by the information on the handle of the wrench, which indicates the force that can be applied to it, e.g., 5kN. Use a socket wrench or socket to loosen stuck nuts. A flat or adjustable wrench will always “slip” and prevent the nut from being loosened. For more information on tools and how to use them, see the Hand Tools section..

Never repair or modify machines or power tools yourself.

According to the saying, “What the factory gave you, you don’t touch,” factory technology is something that must not be changed. If a tool has factory covers and handles, they must be installed. They must not be removed. Tools must not be used without covers if the manufacturer has provided them. If a tool has a 2A fuse, this is the fuse that must be installed in the socket. A “popping” fuse in a plaster mixer does not mean that the mixer has a weak fuse, it means that you have poured in too much plaster. Do not “overload” fuses, i.e. do not insert larger fuses. Do not “wire” them, i.e. do not short-circuit the fuses and do not insert nails in their place. This may result in burning of the winding, short-circuit and, consequently, electric shock. Do not repair damaged power tools yourself. After repair, each power tool must be checked to ensure that it meets the relevant standards (e.g., IPX waterproof standards) and must have a certification sticker stating that the tool can be used in industrial conditions. This can only be done by a service center. This also applies to frayed power cables. Do not connect them using an electrical connector or insulate them. This will not provide adequate protection against moisture, short circuits, punctures, and electric shock. A frayed cable must be replaced with a new one by an authorized service center. Every tool must be recertified after repair, i.e., approved for use in industrial conditions. Use only tools that are certified and have the appropriate markings.

Eliminate threats at their source.

Don’t ignore the source of danger! Remove it immediately, if possible. Let’s look at a situation where there is a piece of pipe lying on your path. It’s easy to trip over it and fall. The consequences of such a seemingly minor accident can vary. From minor bruises to open fractures and even death. Think about yourself and your colleagues. Pick up that piece of pipe and throw it in a container. It is the source of the hazard! By doing so, you have removed the source of the fall hazard. Remove or secure various hazards in the best possible way. However, there are hazards that are not “standard” hazards in your workplace. They can appear suddenly, e.g., you find a barrel of chemicals in an excavation, or an unexploded ordnance, or there is a leak from a mysterious pink pipe on the premises—in such cases, you are required to stop work immediately and inform your supervisor. Therefore, if the hazard is standard, i.e., one that could occur under normal circumstances, remove it. If it is not standard, notify your supervisor. You will learn more about the source of the hazard in a separate chapter.

Point out unsafe work practices to others and praise those who work safely.

Our surroundings often pose a threat to us, even though we work safely. Our colleague working next to us may mock safety rules and endanger both themselves and us. Point this out to them and instruct them on how they should work. Notify your supervisor that your colleague is a danger to themselves, you, and the environment. This is not snitching. It is ensuring safety at work for both your colleague and yourself.

Always participate in mandatory VCA training

Safety procedures can be discussed at different times, by different people in different places. This usually takes place during job training, before starting work, or when discussing the job with the employer. A specific example of training is the so-called „Toolbox meeting”. This is training organized at the workplace. The employer will inform you that it will take place before you start work. The topics of toolbox meetings are arbitrary, but always related to your work. For example, a representative of a manufacturer of a new type of concrete may present what personal protective equipment you should use when working with a given type of concrete. The site manager may want to convey important safety information, such as the introduction of a crane on the site and its range of operation. Attendance at toolbox meetings is usually recorded. Those who are absent, who have left the training to go to a nearby shop for warm rolls, may even face a financial penalty. Remember! Safety training cannot be held “on the side.” There can be no situation where we talk about safety at a company dinner in a restaurant. After all, no one will take it seriously….