Keeping workers safe is a priority of every organization. Occupational health and safety (OHS) requirements are an important aspect of an organizations operations, but they are too often misunderstood. The rules and regulations of workplace health and safety can seem daunting, expensive, and time-consuming.

Non compliance can be prohibitively expensive. OHS compliance not only ensures a reduction in liability, but it can also reduce the chance of a serious workplace incident or injury.

Arcus has developed a cost effective and seamless program to enable Clients to comply with OHS regulations.

OHS Compliance in Canada

OHS laws and standards are set by the federal government of Canada for federally-regulated employers, and by each province or territory for the non-federally regulated employers in that jurisdiction. While the laws across the country may appear to have common elements, it is important to note that compliance requirements can be local and unique to each jurisdiction.

There are thirteen jurisdictions in Canada – the provinces and territories, plus some industries that are federally regulated — each having its own occupational health and safety legislation, outlining the general rights and responsibilities of the employer, the supervisor and the worker.

Understanding Ontario’s Health and Safety Requirements

As an employer, preventing workplace injuries and promoting a safe and healthy workplace is not only important but mandatory. Under the Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA), employers have a legal obligation to properly inform, instruct and supervise employees and protect them.

Below is an overview of requirements based on the number of employees in your organization:

1-5 employees:

Understand / Identify:

General duties as an employer
Occupational hazards and health hazards.
Hazardous products used in the workplace and obtain current Safety Data Sheet (SDS) as per WHIMS regulation.
Reporting workplace incidents, occupational illness, critical injury and death.

Requirements

Develop and review once a year. Occupational hazards and health hazards in the workplace requires processes in place to control hazards.

An annual review, a workplace violence policy and program must be developed. If fewer than six workers are regularly employed at the workplace, the policy may not have to be in writing but a Ministry of Labour, inspector can potentially order the policy to be in writing.

Display

The health and safety at work poster in the workplace must be posted in English and the majority language of the workplace.
A copy of the Occupational Health and Safety Act must be available to workers.
A Workplace Safety Insurance Board poster (if your workplace is covered by WSIB) must be displayed.
Lists of all Safety Data Sheets (SDS) for any hazardous product that are used in the workplace as per WHIMS regulation must be displayed.

Share

A First Aid kit and the appropriate materials based on the number of employees in the workplace.

Training

All workers and supervisor on the basic occupational health and safety awareness and make sure to keep records of completion.
If Occupational hazards and health hazards in the workplace have been identified, the employer must train staff accordingly.
For workplaces that are registered with WSIB, the First Aid regulation 1101 of the Workplace Safety Insurance Act (WSIA) mandates employers to have a worker trained with the Emergency First Aid CPR.
Ensure that a worker who is exposed or likely to be exposed to a hazardous product receives instruction and training as per WHIMS regulation and review it yearly. Arcus offers guidance for WHIMS training in an online or in-person setting.
Workers must be provided with instructions and information on preventing violence and harassment in the workplace.

Non-mandatory:

Prepare and review a policy on workplace violence and provide workers with instructions and information on preventing violence in the workplace every year. If fewer than six workers are regularly employed at the workplace, the policy does not necessarily have to be written. However, a Ministry of Labour, inspector can order the policy to be in writing.

Additional resources:

Your guide to the Occupational Health and Safety Act.

6-19 employees

Obligations

Report occupational hazards and health hazards.
Hazardous products used in the workplace and obtain current Safety Data Sheet (SDS) as per WHIMS regulation.
Steps to report occupational illness, workplace incidents, critical injury and death.
Review the risk of workplace violence that may arise from the nature of the workplace and ensure procedures to identify risks that may expose a worker to physical injury.
- Advise the joint health and safety committee or health and safety representative of the assessment results as part of the workplace violence prevention program.
Workers must select a Health and Safety Representative who do not exercise managerial functions. Duties include inspection of the workplace at least once a month listing actual and potential workplace hazards and associated recommendations, engage in investigations of work refusals and consult on health and safety-related testing in the workplace.

Review yearly

Occupational health and safety policy and programs.
Occupational hazards and health hazards in the workplace identified must have processes to control these hazards in a health and safety program.
A workplace violence and harassment policy and program.

Display

A health and safety at work poster in the workplace notice in English and the majority language of the workplace.
Copy of the Occupational Health and Safety Act.
The Workplace Safety Insurance Board poster (if workplace is covered by WSIB).
Safety Data Sheets (SDS) for any hazardous product used in the workplace as per WHIMS regulation.
Health and safety policy.
Workplace violence and harassment policy.
A First Aid kit and the appropriate materials based on your number of employees.
A list of all Safety Data Sheets (SDS) for any hazardous product as per WHIMS regulation.

Training

Workers and supervisor training on the basic occupational health and safety awareness and with records of completion.
Occupational hazards and health hazards in the workplace exist, train staff accordingly.
For employers registered with WSIB, the First Aid regulation 1101 of the Workplace Safety Insurance Act (WSIA) requires that a first aid trained worker be available.
- If there are less than 5 employees on any one shift a worker trained with the Emergency First Aid CPR must be present (which is 6.5 hours training).
- If over 6 employees on any one shift a worker trained in the Standard Emergency First Aid is required (13 hours in length).
Ensure those potentially exposed to a hazardous product receive instruction and training as per WHIMS regulation and review yearly. Arcus offers WHIMS training which includes providing workers with instructions and information on preventing violence and harassment in the workplace.

Additional resources:

Occupational Health and Safety Act.

20-49 employees

Understand/ Identify:

Any hazardous products used in the workplace and obtain current Safety Data Sheet (SDS) as per WHIMS regulation.
Occupational hazards and health hazards.
How to report workplace incidents, occupational illness, critical injury and death.
Workplace risk assessment for violence, type of work/conditions of work and measures and procedures to control any identified risks that may expose a worker to physical injury.
- Advise the joint health and safety committee or health and safety representative of the assessment results.
- Include measures and procedures as part of the workplace violence program.
Must have a Joint Health and Safety Committee (JHSC) with at least one worker and one management member represented.
- The worker’s role is to hold regular meetings and conduct regular workplace inspections, identify workplace risks and makes written recommendations on improvements.
- JHSC recommendations for health and safety must be responded to within 21 days.

Develop and review

Occupational health and safety policy and program.
Occupational hazards and health hazards identified in the workplace must have in place processes to control hazards identified in the health and safety program.
A workplace violence policy and program.
A workplace harassment policy and program.
An emergency response information, if you have an employee with a disability.

Post:

The health and safety at work poster in the workplace must be displayed in English and the majority language of the workplace.
A copy of the Occupational Health and Safety Act.
Names and locations of your workplace joint health and safety committee members.
The Workplace Safety Insurance Board poster (if your workplace is covered by WSIB).
The No-Smoking No-Vaping signs at each entrance, exits and washrooms as per Smoke-Free Ontario Act, 2017 and Ontario Regulation 268/18.
Your health and safety policy.
A workplace violence and harassment policy and program.

Share:

A copy of health and safety policy.
A copy of your workplace violence policy.
A copy of your workplace harassment policy.
A First Aid kit and the appropriate materials based on your number of employees.
A list of all Safety Data Sheets (SDS) for any hazardous product as per WHIMS regulation.

Train

All workers and supervisor must complete training on the basic occupational health and safety awareness and make sure to keep records of completion.
Workers must be trained in identified Occupational hazards and health hazards in the workplace.
Joint Health and Safety Committee members must complete Parts 1 and 2 of mandatory training: Basic Certification and Workplace-Specific Hazard Training and a refresher training is required every three (3) years to maintain certification.
- Keep proof of workers’ JHSC certification.
For workplaces that are registered with WSIB, the First Aid regulation 1101 of the Workplace Safety Insurance Act (WSIA) ensure a first aid trained worker available.
- If less than 5 employees on any one shift a worker trained with the Emergency First Aid CPR (6.5 hours).
- If more than 6 employees on any one shift a worker trained in the Standard Emergency First Aid (13 hours).
Ensure a worker exposed or likely to be exposed to a hazardous product receives instruction and training as per WHIMS regulation and review it yearly. You can access FREE WHIMS training with your CFIB membership through our partner Vubiz.
Provide workers with instructions and information on preventing violence and harassment in the workplace.

Additional resources:

Your guide to the Occupational Health and Safety Act.

50+ employees:

Overview

Any occupational hazards and health hazards.
Any hazardous products used in the workplace and obtain current Safety Data Sheet (SDS) as per WHIMS regulation.
How to report workplace incidents, occupational illness, critical injury and death.
Assess risk of workplace violence associated with the type of work or conditions and develop measures, procedures to control any identified risks that may expose a worker to physical injury.
- Advise the joint health and safety committee or health and safety representative of the assessment results.
- These measures and procedures must be part of the workplace violence program.
Joint Health and Safety Committee : must be at least 4 employees on the committee and half must be represented by employees who do not exercise managerial functions.
- Hold meetings and conduct regular workplace inspections, identify workplace risks and makes written recommendations to you to address these risks so that together you can improve the health and safety of workers.
- If the JHSC makes recommendation regarding health and safety, the employer must respond to it in writing within 21 days.

Develop

An occupational health and safety policy and program.
Occupational hazards and health hazards identified in the workplace must have processes to control hazards.
A workplace violence and harassment policy and program.

Post:

The health and safety at work poster in the workplace must be displayed in English and the majority language of the workplace.
A copy of the Occupational Health and Safety Act.
Names and locations of workplace joint health and safety committee members.
The Workplace Safety Insurance Board poster (if covered by WSIB).
health and safety policy.
A workplace violence and harassment policy.

Distribute:

A copy of health and safety, workplace violence and harassment policy.
A First Aid kit and the appropriate materials based on number of employees.
A list of all Safety Data Sheets (SDS) for any hazardous product as per WHIMS regulation.

Train:

All workers and supervisor must complete training on the basic occupational health and safety awareness and make sure to keep records of completion.
Train staff in Occupational hazards and health hazards identified in the workplace
The Joint Health and Safety Committee members must complete the Parts 1 and 2 of mandatory training: Basic Certification and Workplace-Specific Hazard Training and a refresher training is required every three (3) years to maintain certification.
- Keep proof of workers’ JHSC certification.
For workplaces registered with WSIB, the First Aid regulation 1101 of the Workplace Safety Insurance Act (WSIA) requires a first aid trained worker to be available.
- If less than 5 employees on any one shift a worker trained with the Emergency First Aid CPR which is 6.5 hours in length.
- If the employer has more than 6 employees on any one shift a worker trained in the Standard Emergency First Aid (13 hours in length).
Ensure that a worker who is exposed or may be exposed to a hazardous product receives instruction and training as per WHIMS regulation and review it yearly.
Provide workers with instructions and information on preventing violence and harassment in the workplace.

Additional resources:

Your guide to the Occupational Health and Safety Act.

Services

Arcus offers clients a unique combination of fact-based industry knowledge and superior functional expertise. Our consultants have an average of over 22 years experience, twice the industry average. Find out more about our growth, change management and operations services. At Arcus we believe that a strategy is only as good as the results it delivers. Strategic outcomes are most predictable and effective when companies develop a portfolio of initiatives that are aligned with core competencies and aligned activities enable the company to offer a superior value proposition. Please contact Arcus for case studies and to discuss how we can help you.

Service coverage

The variety, breadth, and depth of the projects where Arcus can be a resource are made unique by each client’s specific needs. By providing a very small sample of projects we’ve completed, we can help you understand how and when to use our services. Visit the links below to find out more about a specific problem or opportunity you would like to address.

Below is a sample of the range of services that Arcus has provided to clients.

A survey of 2,350 consumers and 1,320 business leaders for feedback on sustainability trends
Architecting a multi-year change strategy for a Fortune 500 company
Mentoring a CEO on organizational change
Excellence transformation of a leading B2B services company
Creating a new sales deployment model for a healthcare company
Developing a position evaluation and compensation model for a professional medical association
Improving services to customer segments by deepening their understanding of customer attitudes

“Arcus manages to consistently deliver tangible results on market research and strategy projects. They combine deep business expertise, powerful research capabilities, and innovative thinking to deliver substantial value.”

– Vice President, Nikon