Meeting legislative requirements are an important part of running a business. There are different acts of legislation that apply to your company. Some of these include labour relations, fire codes, employment standards, WHMIS legislation and technical safety standards.
When it comes to Health & Safety in Ontario, employers have a duty to carry out the requirements of the Occupational Health & Safety Act and Regulations (OHS Act), as well as the Workplace and Insurance Act (WSI Act).These Acts provide the framework for making workplaces healthy and safe.
You and your employees are in the best position to identify and solve Health & Safety issues. You need to work as a team with equal responsibilities. The OHS Act calls this the Internal Responsibility System (IRS).The IRS is a system of cooperation in which the duties of owners, management and supervisors along with the rights and responsibilities of workers are joined to ensure shared responsibility for a healthy and safe workplace.
This quick reference tool is designed to help you understand some of the general duties that you and your employees have, in order to meet minimum legislative requirements.
Employers and Managers are responsible for the Health & Safety of employees. As an employer you need to demonstrate that you have taken every precaution reasonable to anticipate and prevent injury. Employees are also responsible for working in a healthy and safe way. The below list of duties is a good place to start when establishing a Health & Safety system, a system that encourages participation from everyone. By implementing general duties and responsibilities as outlined in the OHS Act, you should be able to establish an effective Health & Safety system.
The integration of Health & Safety into your normal business practices is the most practical way to prevent injuries and illnesses in the workplace.
Below is an easy to use preliminary checklist. By selecting "yes," "no," or "not sure" you will be able to see at a glance legislative issues you may need to address. If you have any "no's" or "not sure's" contact your OSSA consultant for assistance.
| Item | Yes | No | Not sure |
|---|---|---|---|
| Are you familiar with Health & Safety legislation that applies to your workplace? | |||
| Do you have a copy of the Occupational Health & Safety Act and Regulations posted in the workplace? | |||
| Do you have a Health & Safety policy that is signed, dated and posted in the workplace? | |||
| Do you have the WSIB poster "In Case of Injury at Work" posted in the workplace? | |||
| Do you have at least one first-aider with valid certification on the job at all times? | |||
| Do you have a first aid kit that is adequately stocked ,inspected and accessible to workers? | |||
| If you have 6-19 employees do you have a Health & Safety Representative? | |||
| If you have 20 or more employees, do you have a Joint Health & Safety Committee? | |||
| Are monthly workplace inspections being done by your Health & Safety Rep or Joint Health & Safety Committee (JHSC)? | |||
| Do you have procedures for investigating and reporting accidents and illness to the WSIB and the MOL? | |||
| If you have a JHSC,do you have at least 2 members of your JHSC who have received Certification training? | |||
| Do you have a WHMIS program? | |||
| Have your employees received relevant WHMIS training? | |||
| Are current Material Safety Data Sheets available for all the hazardous products in your workplace? Do you know your legal obligations under the Occupational Health and Safety Act? | |||
| Do your employees know your legal obligations under the Occupational Health & Safety Act? | |||
| Do you have an Emergency Response Plan to deal with fire, chemical spills and any other emergency? | |||
| Have you evaluated all the risks and hazards in your workplace in order to provide adequate training and supervision? | |||
| Is appropriate personal protective equipment provided and maintained? | |||
| Are your employees aware of the Three Basic Rights under the Occupational Health & Safety Act? | |||
| Do you have a program for controlling hazards in your workplace? | |||
| Do your employees have the proper personal protective equipment for the jobs they do? | |||
| Are your employees trained on the proper use and care of the personal protective equipment? |
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