Employees Health and Safety Responsibilities Reading Answers

Feb 18, 2026

The answers for "Employees' Health and Safety Responsibilities" include 8 questions and are part of the assessment framework for the IELTS General Reading test. Candidates are allotted 10 minutes to complete the reading responses concerning "Employees' Health and Safety Responsibilities." This portion of the IELTS reading exam consists of various question formats, including Choose ONE WORD ONLY.

The answers for "Employees' Health and Safety Responsibilities" offer a comprehensive overview of the passage, explaining that employees have legal rights to a safe workplace, proper safety equipment, rest breaks, and the ability to report hazards without punishment. They also have responsibilities to protect their own and others’ safety, follow health and safety rules, use equipment properly, and report injuries or risks. For additional practice with similar reading assessments, candidates can refer to the IELTS Reading Practice Test section.

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Employees' Health and Safety Responsibilities Reading Answers

As an employee you have rights and you have responsibilities for your own wellbeing and that of your colleagues.

This article explains what these responsibilities are, and how you can meet them.

Your rights

Your rights as an employee to work in a safe and healthy environment are set down in law and generally can't be changed or removed by your employer. The most important of these rights are:

* as far as possible, to have any hazards to your health and safety properly controlled

* to be given any personal protective and safety equipment without being charged for it

* to stop work and leave your work area, without being disciplined, if you have reasonable concerns about your safety

* to tell your employer about any health and safety concerns you have

* not to be disciplined if you contact the Health and Safety Executive, or your local authority, if your employer won't listen to you

* to have breaks during the time you are at work

* to have time off from work during the working week

* to have annual paid holiday.

Your responsibilities

Your most important responsibilities as an employee are:

* to take reasonable care of your own health and safety

* to remove jewellery and avoid loose clothing when operating machinery

* if you have long hair, or wear a headscarf, make sure it's tucked out of the way as it could get caught in machinery

* to take reasonable care not to expose fellow employees and members of the public to risk by what you do or don't do in the course of your work

* to co-operate with your employer, making sure you complete the training that is provided and that you understand and follow the company's health and safety policies

* not to interfere with or misuse anything that's been provided for your health, safety or welfare

* to report any injuries you suffer as a result of doing your job - your employer may then need to change the way you work.

If you drive or operate machinery, you have a responsibility to tell your employer if you take medication that makes you feel sleepy. If you do, they should temporarily move you to another job if they have one for you to do.

Questions 15 - 22

Choose ONE WORD ONLY from the text for each answer.

Health and safety at work

Employees' rights

* are established by 15………………… and include the following. employers should manage any potential dangers to their staff's health and safety.

Answer: law

Supporting statement: "Your rights as an employee… are set down in law…"

Keywords: set down, law

Keyword Location: Paragraph “Your rights”, line 1

Explanation: The passage clearly states that employees’ rights are established by law. Therefore, the blank referring to how rights are established must be filled with “law.”

- Any 16…………… needed for employees to work safely should be free

Answer: equipment

Supporting statement: "…to be given any personal protective and safety equipment without being charged for it"

Keywords: protective, safety equipment

Keyword Location: Bullet point 2 under “Your rights”

Explanation: The summary mentions items needed for employees to work safely that should be free. The text specifies protective and safety equipment provided without charge, so “equipment” is correct.

- employees may inform management of any 17………………. they have relating to health and safety.

Answer: concerns

Supporting statement: "…to tell your employer about any health and safety concerns you have"

Keywords: health and safety, concerns

Keyword Location: Bullet point 4 under “Your rights”

Explanation: Employees are allowed to inform management about health and safety concerns. Hence, the correct word completing the summary is “concerns.”

employees are entitled to some 18……………….while they are working

Answer: breaks

Supporting statement: "…to have breaks during the time you are at work"

Keywords: breaks, during work

Keyword Location: Bullet point 6 under “Your rights”

Explanation: The text states that employees are entitled to breaks while working. Therefore, “breaks” correctly fills the blank.

employees' responsibilities

To take off jewellery and dress appropriately for their particular work.

- to avoid putting colleagues and others at 19…………………

Answer: risk

Supporting statement: "…not to expose fellow employees and members of the public to risk…"

Keywords: expose, employees, public, risk

Keyword Location: Bullet point 4 under “Your responsibilities”

Explanation: Employees must avoid putting others in danger. The passage uses the word “risk,” which matches the summary statement.

- to do any 20………….. that the employer offers.

Answer: training

Supporting statement: "…making sure you complete the training that is provided…"

Keywords: complete, training

Keyword Location: Bullet point 5 under “Your responsibilities”

Explanation: The responsibilities include completing any training offered by the employer. Thus, “training” is the correct answer.

to inform the employer of any 21………………… received while working.

Answer: injuries

Supporting statement: "…to report any injuries you suffer as a result of doing your job…"

Keywords: report, injuries

Keyword Location: Bullet point 7 under “Your responsibilities”

Explanation: Employees must inform the employer of injuries received at work. Therefore, “injuries” fits the blank.

- to make sure the employer knows of any 22 ……………… you are taking that might affect performance.

Answer: medication

Supporting statement: "…tell your employer if you take medication that makes you feel sleepy."

Keywords: take medication, tell employer

Keyword Location: Final paragraph, line 1

Explanation: The text explains that employees must inform their employer about any medication that could affect their performance. Hence, the correct word is “medication.”

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