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This presentation will explain your rights and responsibilities on the job
and will tell you what Ontario’s Occupational Health & Safety Act (OHSA)
expects from your employer, your supervisor and you. These are things you
need to know and understand so that you can be safe at work today and
everyday.
Everyone in the workplace, from the employer to the newest worker, has
different but important duties to keep the workplace safe. Because
employers have the most authority in the workplace, they have the greatest
responsibility but it’s important for your own safety that you understand
everyone’s health and safety duties, including yours.
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Preventing injuries and illness starts here, with the things that you learn in this
presentation but it doesn’t end here. One of the employer’s duties under the OHSA is to
give you specific information and instructions about how to stay safe on your job.
What you learn from this information will help you start to understand those instructions.
We hope you will use what you learn here every day of your working life.
Under Ontario law, all workers and supervisors must take health and safety awareness training.
Individual departments/ supervisors/ managers are still
responsible for providing workplace-specific training and procedures.
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OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH & SAFETY LAW
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In Canada, Occupational Health and Safety laws have been put in place
either federally or provincially, to protect the health and safety of all
workers.
Basically, the occupational health and safety
responsibilities of these governments are to:
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Enforce applicable legislation
Conduct workplace inspections and investigations
Distribute information on legislation
Resolve health and safety disputes, and
Promote training, education and research
Want to challenge the test?
Think you are familiar enough with the
information provided in the 5 modules?
Then challenge the test!
http://www.ryerson.ca/irm/training/ehs_orien
tation.html
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Each province and territory in Canada has health and safety legislation, which
include both “Acts” and “regulations”.
Occupational Health and Safety “Acts” are known as minimal requirements
outlined by a province or territory to employ workplace health and safety
practices. In addition to each Act are “regulations” that complement and provide
further laws specific to high-risk sectors. Because each province and territory has
its own legislation, occupational health and safety responsibilities will vary
slightly from province to province.
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What Ontario legislation applies to workplace health & safety?
The Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA) is Ontario's cornerstone legislation for
workplace health and safety. Other contributing legislation includes the Workplace Safety
and Insurance Act (WSIA), Part II of which deals with the prevention of occupational injury
and disease and the Human Rights Code, which often has to be considered in dealing with
OHS issues. Both OHSA and WSIA are available along with all of Ontario's other Acts and
regulations at the e-Laws website.
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In general, what does the OHSA require?
The main purpose of the Act is to provide a legal framework and establish
minimum standards for the health and safety of workers on the job. It sets out
duties for all workplace parties and rights for workers. Along with its
accompanying regulations, establishes processes for dealing with workplace
hazards and provides for enforcement of the law where compliance has not been
achieved voluntarily. Fundamental to the successful working of OHSA is the
workplace Internal Responsibility System (IRS).
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Who is covered by the OHSA?
OHSA applies to almost every worker, supervisor, employer and workplace in
Ontario, including workplace owners, constructors and suppliers of equipment or
materials to workplaces covered by the Act. OHSA does not apply to:
 Work done by the owner or occupant, or a servant, in a private residence or on
the connected land[Section 3(1)];
 Workplaces under federal jurisdiction, although federal authorities accept that
outside contractors and their employees, while in federal workplaces, are under
provincial jurisdiction.
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What are “Federal” workplaces and how are they regulated?
Workplaces under federal jurisdiction are regulated by the Canada Labour Code,
which is administered by Human Resources and Skills Development Canada.
The OHSA does not apply to:
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post offices
airlines and airports
banks
some grain elevators
telecommunication companies, and
interprovincial trucking, shipping, railway and bus companies.
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What regulations have been made under the OHSA?
Regulations made under OHSA may be sector,
work or hazard specific.
Sector-specific regulations apply to a particular sector.
There are sector-specific regulations for:
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Industrial Establishments
Construction Projects
Mines and Mining Plants
Health Care and Residential Facilities
Certain types of hazardous
work are covered by their
own regulations:
 Diving Operations
 Window Cleaning
 Offshore Oil and Gas
Production
 Confined Spaces
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What regulations have been made under the OSHA
Health hazards are either covered by the sector regulations or separate hazardspecific regulations, including:
 Designated Substances Regulation
 Designated Substance - Asbestos on Construction Projects and in Buildings and
Repair Operations
 Regulation respecting the Control of Exposure to Biological or Chemical Agents
 Regulation respecting X-Ray Safety
 Needle Safety
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There is also a fourth set of regulations that do not fall into these categories Some
clarify requirements in OHSA, such as defining "critical injury", or specifying that
the employer must pay for JHSC member certification training.
Others extend the application of OHSA; examples are the regulations for farming
operations, or for teachers and for university academics and teaching assistants.
The most far-reaching of these regulations is the Workplace Hazardous Materials
Information System (WHMIS) regulation.
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A hard copy of the most recent Pocket Ontario
OH&S Act & Regulations is kept
at Security -- 111 Bond Street available
24/7/365
Each Union Office and Faculty Deans Office
is provided with a hard copy.
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How are OSHA and its regulations enforced?
The Ministry's goal is for all workplaces to achieve self-compliance with OSHA and regulations through a
well-functioning Internal Responsibility System (IRS). Where this does not happen, progressive enforcement
results. Enforcement begins with the issuing of orders and may proceed to prosecution. Inspectors are the
enforcement arm of the Ministry of Labour; their role includes the following:
 inspection of workplaces
 issuing of orders where there is a contravention of OHSA or its regulations (“orders”)
 issuing Summary Conviction Notices (“Tickets”) for a range of offences on-site
 tickets can also be issued to workers for unsafe acts as well as for supervisors and employers
 investigation of accidents and work refusals
 resolution of disputes
 recommendation of prosecution.
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Ministry of Labour (MOL) Inspectors have broad powers to, among other things,
inspect any workplace, investigate any potentially hazardous situation and work
refusal, order compliance with the Act and its regulations and initiate prosecutions.
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Inspectors have the power to:
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If a MOL Inspector arrives at your work site,
Enter a workplace without notice or warrant
contact IRM (7086) who will liaise with
Request for JHSC worker member be present
the MOL on the University’s behalf.
Question any employee privately or in a group
Make recommendations to meet compliance
After hours contact Security at 416-979-5040
Take photographs
Require hygiene or engineering testing
Review and make copies of workplace documents including training documents
Require a workplace to be undisturbed for the purposes of an investigation, inspection or test
Seize anything that is given to, or in plain view of the inspector, that is thought to be in
contravention of the legislation
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POSTING OF ORDERS AND FIELD VISIT REPORTS
The employer must post a copy of any MOL
order or field visit report – the orders or field reports
are posted on the main university board
at the entrance of 350 Victoria Street
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What are the penalties for not complying with the OHSA and its regulations?
The maximum penalties for a contravention of OHSA or its regulations are set
out in OHSA Section 66.
A successful prosecution could, for each conviction, result in:
 A fine of up to $25,000 for an individual person and/or up to 12 months
imprisonment;
 A fine of up to $500,000 for a corporation.
Criminal charges can be laid against corporation, defined organizations and
individuals (supervisors, managers, directors, members of the board, executives,
etc.)
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Ministry of Labour Inspectors can issue “tickets” for an observed contravention of a
Regulation under the OHSA (similar to a speeding ticket)
• Tickets can be issued at 3 levels within an organization: to the worker, the
supervisor and to the employer;
• Penalties vary between $200 and $300;
• Of primary focus for ticketing are high risk activities, such as failure to guard
machines, lack of guarding around work surfaces or openings, lack of protective
devices for electrical work or when working at heights, lack of personal protective
equipment and unsafe work with lifting devices.
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It is the responsibility of every manager and supervisor to be well informed of the Occupational
Health and Safety laws that are applicable to the workplace over which they have authority.
These general provisions give employers the ‘independence’ to carry out measures and control
procedures that are appropriate for their individual workplaces.
The challenge for employers and supervisors however, is to fully understand health and safety
legislation and to know when they have fulfilled all appropriate regulatory requirements
SIGNIFICANCE
It is important for all owners, employers, supervisors and constructors to be aware of the
regulations that apply specifically to the work being done and that they have an obligation
to know and comply with these regulations.
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WORKERS | SUPERVISORS | EMPLOYERS
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DUTIES
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Follow the law and the workplace health and safety policies and procedures
Always wear or use protective equipment required by the employer
Work and act in a way that does not endanger themselves or another worker
Report any hazard, workplace injuries or incidents to their supervisor
(including threats and attempts of workplace violence)
A supervisor is also considered a worker under OHSA and has the same rights and
duties as a worker.
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RIGHT TO KNOW
• Workers have the right to know about hazards in their workplace. This includes
being informed about hazards by the University and their supervisors, and the
right to ask questions without fear of reprisals about hazards in their job.
• Examples of questions include:
– What are the hazards of this job?
– Is there any special training required?
– Do I have the right protective equipment?
– If I have questions about safety, who do I ask?
• You should know where your nearest first aid station is located and how to
contact trained first aiders
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RIGHT TO PARTICPATE
Workers can participate in workplace
health and safety by reporting hazards
they see to their supervisor, asking
questions about hazards and how to work
safely, and being safety role models for
others.
RIGHT TO REFUSE UNSAFE WORK
A worker has the right to refuse unsafe
work if he or she has reason to believe
the work is dangerous, meaning the
work he/she is doing, the area in which
he/she is working, or a machine/
equipment/tool he/she is using may
endanger him/her or another worker.
Workers can also participate as Health and
Safety Representatives and as members of
a Joint Health and Safety Committee
(JHSC)
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Process at Ryerson
 A worker may exercise the right to refuse work if they believe a hazardous situation exists,
including where the worker has reason to believe that workplace violence is likely to
endanger himself or herself.
 The worker’s supervisor must promptly investigate the work refusal in the presence of the
worker and one of the following persons:
 a Ryerson JHSC worker representative, or
 a worker who is selected by a trade union that represents the worker.
 If the worker continues to refuse work after the investigation, the Director, IRM must be
notified.
 If the situation cannot be resolved by the Director, IRM, the matter will be referred to the
Ministry of Labour.
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 Prior to the investigation by the Director, IRM or the Ministry of Labour, no worker is
allowed to use or operate any equipment, machine, or device, or work in the area to be
investigated unless, in the presence of a worker representative, a health and safety
representative, or a worker who is selected by a trade union, the worker has been advised
of the work refusal and the reasons for the work refusal.
 A Ministry of Labour inspector will investigate the refusal to work in consultation with:
 the employer or a person representing the employer,
 the worker,
 a Ryerson Health and Safety Committee worker representative, or
 a worker who is selected by a trade union that represents the worker.
 After completing the investigation, the Ministry of labour inspector will provide all
involved persons with a copy of the decision in writing
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HAVE A CONCERN?
If you have any concerns regarding health and safety in
the workplace, you should report it first to your
supervisor who will try to resolve the matter.
The Departmental Safety Officer (DSO), the JHSC Member and IRM may also be
contacted for assistance.
The University will investigate cases of
workplace violence as outlined in the
University’s Workplace Violence
Prevention and Response Program.
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NO REPRISALS
for following the law!
It’s against the law for your employer or your supervisor to fire or
punish you for doing what the OHSA expects you to do, or because
you asked them to do what the OHSA expects them to do.
It’s even against the law for your employer or supervisor to threaten to fire or punish you for these things.
The OHSA is very clear on this. If you feel that your employer is taking action against you for raising a health
and safety concern, you can discuss it with a union official if you are a member of a union, or bring a
complaint to the Ontario Labour Relations Board. If you’re not sure what to do, you can call the Ministry’s
toll-free number for information.
The Office of the Worker Adviser also provides free advice and representation to non-unionized workers who
are in this situation. You can call their toll-free number for help: 1-855-659-7744.
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Ministry of Labour inspectors can’t be in all workplaces at all times. But the
Ministry wants to hear if there’s a problem on the job that isn’t fixed.
So it has a toll-free number that you can call.
Calling that number connects you to the Health and Safety Contact Centre that
takes calls 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
If you don’t want to give your name when you call the Health and Safety
Contact Centre, you don’t have to. Here is the number: 1-877-202-0008
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• Inform and educate workers about hazards in their workplace and how to work safely
• Appoint competent supervisors who know the work, know the hazards present and know the
applicable laws and regulations
• Create written health and safety polices (reviewed annually), develop programs and
procedures to implement this policy, post the policy in the workplace and make sure they are
being followed
• Ensure workers follow the law and the procedures and policies at your workplace
• Take steps to eliminate hazards in the workplace and where elimination is not possible, to
control them
• Provide personal protective equipment (PPE) and ensure its proper use and maintenance
• Take every precaution reasonable to ensure the safety of workers AND THE PUBLIC (known
as the “general duty” clause)
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Some basic duties of the supervisor are:
• Inform and educate workers about
hazards in their workplace and how
to work safely
• Ensure workers follow the law and
any workplace procedures and
policies
• Make sure workers wear and use the
right personal protective equipment
• Take every precaution reasonable to
ensure the safety of workers and the
public
Every supervisor is also a worker with the same
rights and responsibilities as any other worker.
Supervisors are responsible for listening to and
addressing health and safety issues as they arise.
A supervisor can contact his/her manager or
EHS to discuss any health and safety issues.
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• Know the OHSA and how relevant Regulations apply to your workplace
• Know the hazards
• Inform workers of potential and actual hazards and how to work safely (especially
new, young workers and persons coming back from an extended period of time off)
• Ensure work is performed safely: plan, monitor, remind and enforce
• Ensure tools and equipment are properly maintained and guarded (where applicable)
• Continually monitor for and anticipate new hazards
• Be a health and safety role model
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• Listen to health and safety concerns from your workers, colleagues, students, public
• Maintain Documentation
– Written safe work procedures
– Safety training: content, attendance
– Resolution of safety concerns
• Discussing with/referring health and safety issues to line management based on the
situation
• Asking for assistance if needed
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Any employee in a supervisory position AND/OR
Any employee that has some supervisory functions AND/OR
Any employee in charge of a classroom, lab, shop or studio
SIGNIFICANCE
In the event of a serious accident, the courts look at the
job functions of your position – You can still be part of an
union and still be considered a “supervisor” under the law.
POSITIONS THAT MEET
“SUPERVISOR” CRITERIA AT
RYERSON
Executive
Deans
Directors (Academic and Administrative)
Chairs
Managers
Coordinators
Faculty (Full time, Part time, Casual)
Instructors (Full time, Part time, Casual)
Technical Officers
Technicians
Lead Hands
Teaching Assistants/Graduate Assistants
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Telling people to work in a safe
and healthy way isn’t all there is
to being a supervisor.
Sometimes people want to take
shortcuts because they think it
will help them get the job done
faster. Sometimes they’re tired,
or they're having a bad day.
There will be days when you’re
tired or having a bad day, too.
But you need to be a role model
for safety at all times.
As a supervisor you need to follow the workplace safety
procedures, wear your personal protective equipment and stay
safe. If you don’t do those things, others will think it’s okay to
not follow the workplace safety procedures. People are
watching you and learning from what you do. How you
supervise the work, the way you think about the work and talk
about it, can affect the safety of the people you supervise.
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You want to help the workers choose the safe path every time. You can help them
by being easy to talk to and answering their questions. But the best thing you can
do is to “practice what you preach.”
That means always complying with the OHSA and following the healthy and safe
work practices in your workplace. It means explaining how to work safely and
correcting unsafe work situations whenever you see them.
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Know the Hazards in YOUR Workplace
One of your jobs as a supervisor is to help plan and organize the work. This is a big
job. To do it well, you need to understand the work and the hazards associated with
it. You also need to know how to eliminate or control those hazards and to make
sure the health and safety program implemented in your workplace is effective in
doing so.
At the root of every work-related death, injury or sickness is a hazard of some kind.
Hazards can take many forms. Sometimes more than one hazard can combine to
make an even bigger hazard.
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Here are some of the most common hazards in Ontario workplaces:
• Repeating the same movements over and over, especially if you are in an awkward position or you use a lot of
force. Think of someone who bends down all day, or someone who lifts heavy things over and over again.
• Slipping, tripping or falling. Think of something as simple as spilled coffee on the floor, a cluttered work area or
a raised platform with no guardrails.
• Motorized vehicles. Think of being hit by a dump truck that is backing up on a construction site, or someone
getting hit by a forklift truck in a warehouse or on a loading dock.
• Using or working near machinery. Many workers have been killed or seriously injured by the equipment they
were operating.
• Workplace violence. It can happen to workers in many situations, such as a retail employee working alone at
night, or a health care worker in a hospital or in the community.
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Dealing with Hazards
• RACE is a commonly used process for
dealing with hazards.
• RACE stands for Recognize, Assess,
Control and Evaluate.
• These steps, when done in order, help the
workplace identify and control hazards.
• Supervisors are encouraged to
communicate with workers, the employer,
and the joint health and safety committee
throughout this type of process.
RECOGNIZE where there are potential
hazards in the workplace.
Here's how you do that:
• Watch the work as it’s being done.
• Talk to workers about the work and the
areas where work happens.
• Participate in workplace inspections.
• Look at reports and records that your
workplace has about the work.
• Listen to the concerns workers have about
the work they’re doing.
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ASSESS the hazard. You need to
understand how likely it is that a worker
will get hurt or made sick by the hazard.
CONTROL the hazards by looking for ways to get
rid of the hazard or to make the job safer:
To assess the hazard, you ask these
questions:
• If removing the hazard is not possible, look for
ways to prevent workers from coming in
contact with the hazard, such as separating the
hazard from the worker.
• How does the hazard compare to
legislation, standards and guidelines?
• How can the worker get hurt or sick?
• How likely is the hazard to affect worker
health and safety?
• How badly could the worker get hurt or
sick
• The safest thing to do is to remove the hazard.
• If neither of the above solutions protects the
worker, workers can use protective equipment,
devices and other materials to help keep them
safe. It’s your obligation as a supervisor to
make sure workers use this equipment where
required by the OHSA and Regulations or by
the employer.
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EVALUATE the hazards by
looking for ways to get rid
of the hazard or to make
the job safer:
• Talk about the work to
the workers who report
to you.
• Watch them do their
work.
• Listen to what they say
and look for ways
to improve health and
safety.
The RACE process is one
good way to get a close look
at the work and the hazards
associated with it. You are
always keeping your eyes
and ears open for hazards;
you pay attention to the
way people are doing their
work; and you listen to their
concerns.
If you find a hazard, you know that
you need to do something about it.
You use your experience and the
information and training you got
from your employer to help you
make decisions on what to do. If you
don’t know how to deal with the
hazard, talk to your employer. You
can also involve the health and
safety representative or JHSC if there
is one. And you can refer to external
sources such as legislation,
standards, codes or expert
consultants to help you solve the
problem. If necessary, you can stop
the work until you know it's safe.
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HANDLING PROBLEMS AS THEY ARISE
The RACE process is a way to help you deal with hazards, but it isn't everything. You also need to
monitor the work. This means that you need to take steps to make sure the workers understood the
information you gave them and are following the workplace safety procedures AND are using or
wearing their protective equipment. If you see a worker (Or student, volunteer, visitor, etc) exposed
to a hazard, it’s your job to talk to them about it. You have to make sure the OHSA, any applicable
regulations and the workplace safety procedures are being followed, and you have to enforce those
procedures.
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If someone comes to you with a health and safety concern or to report a close call, you need to listen to
them, because these are warning signs of potentially serious problems ahead. You also need to inform
your employer of these concerns. If you can solve a problem on your own or with the worker, you
should do that. If you need help, you should ask your employer.
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JOINT HEALTH & SAFETY COMMITTEE
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• Required by the OHSA in workplaces with 20 of more workers
• A JHSC is an advisory group of workers and management representatives
• At least 50% of the members must be workers chosen by other workers at the workplace or
by a union
• JHSCs meet regularly (at least 4 times per year), perform workplace inspections, identify
hazards, make recommendations to improve workplace health and safety, and investigate
critical injuries and work refusals
• A hard copy of the members is posted at the entrance to 350 Victoria Street (LIB Building)
Ryerson JHSC members, minutes and information
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What is a "certified" member of a joint health and safety committee?
A "certified" member of a joint health and safety committee is a
member who has received special training in occupational health and
safety and has been certified by the Workplace Safety and Insurance
Board (WSIB). He or she plays an important role on the health and
safety committee and in the workplace, with specific authority and
responsibilities.
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WHAT RIGHTS AND DUTIES DO CERTIFIED MEMBERS HAVE?
Because certified members have special training in workplace health and safety, they have
special responsibilities in the workplace. Where possible, the certified member who
represents workers should conduct the monthly workplace inspections [section 9(24)]. He or
she should also be present, if possible, at the investigation of a work refusal.
A certified member who receives a complaint that dangerous circumstances exist is entitled
to investigate the complaint [section 48(1)].
Certified members also have the right, under certain circumstances, to order the employer to
stop work that is dangerous to a worker. In most cases, it takes two certified members
representing both management and the workers to direct an employer to stop dangerous
work. In some special cases, a single certified member may have this right.
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APPLICABLE LEGISLATION
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Some examples of Federal | Provincial | Municipal and International Legislation that applies in an
University Environment
Criminal Code of Canada | Environmental Protection Act | Emergency Management Act | Hazardous
Products Act | Human Pathogens and Toxins Act | Nuclear Safety and Control Act | Radiation
Emitting Devices Act | Transportation of Dangerous Goods Act | Accessibility for Ontarians with
Disabilities | Building Code Act | Electricity Act | Fire Protection and Prevention Act | Food Safety &
Quality Act | Health Protection and Promotion Act | Human Rights Code | Occupational Health &
Safety Act & Regulations |Smoke Free Ontario Act | Technical Standards and Safety Act | Workplace
Safety & Insurance Act & Regulations | Noise By-Law | Smoking By-Law | Waste Discharge to
Municipal Sewers By-Laws | Landfill Waste Management By-Laws | International Air Transport
Association | International Atomic Energy Agency | National Institute of Health
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These are just a few of the pieces
of legislation that applies in an
University setting (well over 100
pieces of legislation applies in an
University setting). There are also
international and national
standards and guidelines that can
be used when there is no specific
legislation for the activity being
proposed or when there is a lack
of guidance on HOW to do the
work safely.
Ignorance of the LAW is not a
valid argument if something
SERIOUS happens to you or
someone you supervise
– if you are unsure – ASK.
Better to take the time BEFORE
something happens than have
to explain why you didn’t take
the time AFTER.
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ONTARIO’S H&S SYSTEM PARTNERS
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Ontario Ministry of Labour
Develops, communicates and enforces occupational
health and safety requirements and employment
standards. Develops, coordinates and implements
strategies to prevent workplace injuries and illnesses
and can set standards for health and safety training.
1-877-202-0008
Workers Health & Safety Centre
An occupational health and safety training centre for
workers, representatives and employers.
1-888-869-7950
Occupational Health Clinics for Ontario Workers
Six medical clinics located across Ontario that provide
occupational health services and information.
1-877-817-0336
Health & Safety Ontario
Four health and safety associations that provide sector specific
consulting, training, products and services.
www.healthandsafetyontario.ca
• Infrastructure Health and Safety Association – serves
electrical, construction and transportation sectors. 1-800-2635024
• Public Services Health and Safety Association – serves health,
education and municipal sectors. 1-877-250-7444
• Workplace Safety North – serves mining, pulp and paper and
forestry sectors. 1-888-730-7821
• Workplace Safety and Prevention Services – serves industrial,
farming and service sectors. 1-877-494-9777
Workplace Safety and Insurance Board
• Administers Ontario’s no-fault workplace insurance for
employers and their workers. 1-800-387-0750
www.wsib.on.ca
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Institute for Work & Health (IWH)
• IWH is an independent, not-for-profit research organization
that aims to protect and improve the health of working
people by providing useful, relevant research to workers,
employers, occupational health and safety professionals,
disability management professionals, clinicians, policymakers and more.
Phone: 416-927-2027
Centre of Research Expertise for the Prevention of
Musculoskeletal Disorders (CRE-MSD)
• CRE-MSD conducts research to improve the understanding
and prevention of work-related musculoskeletal disorders
(MSDs).MSDs are painful or disabling injuries to the
muscles, tendons or nerves in the lower back, shoulders,
neck, elbows, wrists or hands.
Phone: 519-888-4567 ext. 35513 Email: cre-msd@uwaterloo.ca
All of the organizations listed are part
of Ontario’s health and safety system.
Another place you can go for information is the Canadian
Centre for Occupational Health and Safety. They have
information fact sheets on their website. If you are having
trouble finding information, you can ask questions by
telephone at 1-800-668-4284, or through their website
at www.ccohs.ca.
The help you can get from these external sources is not just
for you – it’s for sharing with others in your workplace.
That’s what the OHSA expects you to do. You have to do
more than just know things, you have to put what you know
into action. Prevention starts here, but it doesn't end here.
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