As a learner in the province of British Columbia, you have the right to refuse work that you believe is unsafe to your health or jeopardizes your safety.1
If you deem this to be the case at any point during the course of your clinical rotations, you must report the unsafe condition to your supervisor/preceptor. Your supervisor/preceptor will investigate the situation and rectify it if possible.
If your supervisor/preceptor believes the situation has been resolved and you still view the condition as unsafe, excuse yourself and contact the Faculty of Medicine Health & Safety team at fom.safety@ubc.ca.
Unsafe working conditions may arise in non-clinical contexts, like carrying bulky/heavy items over difficult terrain, or using a piece of equipment with a hazard that you haven’t been properly trained on. If you feel unsafe, do not participate! Reference your program policies:
“I’m worried about tripping while I’m carrying all these items – is there a dolly or a cart I can use?”
“I’ve never used this machine before – can an experienced colleague review the safe work procedures with me?”