Safety & Health

Most safety and health issues are governed by the Federal government under the Occupational Safety and Health Act.  Connecticut has significant State Laws in regard to the Safety and Health of Employees in the work place.

·        Employees have the right to information concerning carcinogenic substances in the work place. Employers must post a list of all carcinogenic substances, which it uses or produces for purposes of research, experimentation or treatment.  This list must be available for viewing by current and prospective employees and must be updated within 90 days of the effective date of any changes.

·        Employees also have the right to information concerning hazardous and toxic substances in the workplace.  An employer must inform a job applicant or prospective employee of any chemicals, toxic substances, radioactive materials or other substances, which it uses, or produces.

·        Each employer shall, at its own expense, when required by the Labor Commissioner, provide lung function tests to each employee who, in the course of employment, comes into contact with chemicals, materials, gases or other substances, which have been identified, as toxic and hazardous under Federal Occupational Safety and Health Standards.

·        Non-smoking employees have the right to work in smoke-free areas.  Upon request, an employer must establish one or more work areas sufficient to accommodate nonsmokers.  Employers are permitted to designate an entire business facility as a non-smoking area.

·        Employees may not be required to work seven and one-half or more consecutive hours without either an unpaid meal break or thirty minutes between the first two and last two hours of the shift or a paid break of thirty minutes during the entire period.

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