Workplace 4 Steps Awareness:

In Canada, workplace safety is a top priority for employers and employees alike. Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) regulations are in place to ensure that employers provide a safe working environment for their employees. Employees who work in Ontario and have a job that falls under the Occupational Health and Safety Act are legally required to undergo Health & Safety.

OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY DEFINITION

What is Occupational Health and Safety?

To maintain a safe work environment, all employees must be familiar with their rights and responsibilities in the workplace. Workers must also know that their employer is bound by law to follow a set of regulations that promote safety in any establishment.

Occupational Health and Safety is geared towards workers and aims to familiarize them with safety regulations and protocols that they and their supervisors must observe. In addition, topics such as common on-the-job hazards are covered to ensure employees are better prepared for the dangers associated with their line of work.

Which are the main responsibilities?

Employer Responsibilities

Some of the key employer responsibilities under OHS regulations include:

• Providing a Safe Workplace - Employers are responsible for ensuring that the workplace is free from hazards and that all equipment and machinery are safe to use. This includes providing appropriate protective equipment and ensuring that employees are properly trained on its use.

• Developing and Implementing a Hazard Prevention Program - Employers must develop and implement a program to identify and control hazards in the workplace. This includes conducting regular hazard assessments, implementing controls to prevent harm, and evaluating the effectiveness of these controls.

• Providing Training and Education - Employers are responsible for providing employees with training and education on workplace hazards, controls, and safe work practices. This includes providing training for new employees, as well as ongoing training for existing employees.

• Reporting and Investigating Incidents - Employers are responsible for reporting and investigating workplace incidents, including accidents, injuries, and illnesses. This includes taking corrective action to prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future.

• Coordinating with Joint Health and Safety Committees - In workplaces with more than 20 employees, employers are required to establish Joint Health and Safety Committees (JHSCs). Employers must coordinate with the JHSC to identify hazards and develop solutions to prevent harm.

•  Consequences of Non-Compliance - Failure to comply with OHS regulations can result in serious consequences for employers. This includes fines, penalties, and even criminal charges in severe cases. In addition, non-compliance can lead to workplace accidents and injuries, which can have significant financial and reputational costs for the employer.

Employee Responsibilities

Some of the key employee responsibilities under OHS regulations include:

• Reporting Hazards and Safety Concerns - Employees are responsible for reporting any hazards or safety concerns they identify in the workplace to their employer or supervisor. This includes identifying potential hazards, such as faulty equipment or unsafe working conditions, and reporting any injuries or illnesses that occur on the job.

• Using Protective Equipment and Devices - Employees are responsible for using any protective equipment or devices that their employer provides. This includes wearing personal protective equipment, such as hard hats or safety glasses, as well as following safe work procedures.

• Cooperating with Joint Health and Safety Committees - In workplaces with more than 20 employees, Joint Health and Safety Committees (JHSCs) must be established. Employees are responsible for cooperating with the JHSC and participating in workplace inspections and hazard assessments.

• Following Safe Work Practices - Employees are responsible for following safe work practices and procedures, as well as using equipment and machinery in a safe and responsible manner. This includes attending all required training sessions and seeking clarification if they do not understand the proper procedures.

Failure to comply with OHS regulations can result in serious consequences for employees. This includes disciplinary action or even termination if an employee repeatedly fails to follow safe work practices. In addition, non-compliance can lead to workplace accidents and injuries, which can have significant physical, financial, and reputational costs for the employee.

OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY LEGISLATION

What is federal legislation?

In Canada, OHS regulations are established by the federal and provincial governments. The Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety (CCOHS) is a national agency responsible for the promotion and maintenance of OHS standards across the country.

The federal government has established OHS regulations under the Canada Labour Code (CLC) Part II (Source: Government of Canada, Canada Labour Code, URL: https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/L-2/page-1.html). These regulations apply to federal employees and industries that operate across provincial or international borders.

Some of the key provisions of the CLC Part II regulations include:

The regulatory requirements apply to all workplaces covered under the Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA), regardless of sector. All employers must ensure workers and supervisors complete, or have completed, an awareness training program that meets the regulatory requirements. This is mandatory whether they work on a construction project, in a retail store or factory, hospital or long-term care facility, mine or mining plant, or farming operation, etc.

What is the provincial and territorial legislation?

The following is a brief overview of the provincial and territorial OHS legislation across Canada:

British Columbia

The Workers Compensation Act outlines the requirements for workplace safety in British Columbia. The Act establishes the Workers' Compensation Board of British Columbia, which is responsible for administering the province's workers' compensation system. (Source: WORKSAFE BC, Workers Compensation Act, URL: https://www.worksafebc.com/en/law-policy/occupational-health-safety/searchable-ohs-regulation/workers-compensation-act)

Alberta

In Alberta, the Occupational Health and Safety Act governs workplace safety. The Act outlines the duties of employers, supervisors, and employees, as well as the role of government agencies in ensuring workplace safety. (Source: Government of Alberta, Occupational Health and Safety Act, URL: https://www.alberta.ca/ohs-act-regulation-code)

Saskatchewan

Saskatchewan's OHS legislation is outlined in The Saskatchewan Employment Act. The Act outlines the responsibilities of employers, employees, and government agencies in ensuring workplace safety, as well as the requirements for reporting accidents and injuries.

Manitoba

The Workplace Safety and Health Act outlines the requirements for workplace safety in Manitoba. The Act establishes the Workplace Safety and Health Division, which is responsible for enforcing workplace safety regulations.

Ontario

In Ontario, workplace safety is governed by the Occupational Health and Safety Act. The Act outlines the duties of employers, employees, and government agencies in ensuring workplace safety, as well as the requirements for reporting accidents and injuries. (Source: Government of Ontario, Occupational Health and Safety Act, URL: https://www.ontario.ca/laws/statute/90o01)

Quebec

Quebec's OHS legislation is outlined in the Act Respecting Occupational Health and Safety. The Act outlines the responsibilities of employers, employees, and government agencies in ensuring workplace safety, as well as the requirements for reporting accidents and injuries.

New Brunswick

In New Brunswick, workplace safety is governed by the Occupational Health and Safety Act. The Act outlines the responsibilities of employers, employees, and government agencies in ensuring workplace safety, as well as the requirements for reporting accidents and injuries.

Nova Scotia

Nova Scotia's OHS legislation is outlined in the Occupational Health and Safety Act. The Act outlines the responsibilities of employers, employees, and government agencies in ensuring workplace safety, as well as the requirements for reporting accidents and injuries.

Prince Edward Island

In Prince Edward Island, workplace safety is governed by the Occupational Health and Safety Act. The Act outlines the responsibilities of employers, employees, and government agencies in ensuring workplace safety, as well as the requirements for reporting accidents and injuries.

Newfoundland and Labrador

The Occupational Health and Safety Act governs workplace safety in Newfoundland and Labrador. The Act outlines the responsibilities of employers, employees, and government agencies in ensuring workplace safety, as well as the requirements for reporting accidents and injuries.

Yukon

In the Yukon, workplace safety is governed by the Occupational Health and Safety Act. The Act outlines the responsibilities of employers, employees, and government agencies in ensuring workplace safety, as well as the requirements for reporting accidents and injuries.

Northwest Territories

The Occupational Health and Safety Act governs workplace safety in the Northwest Territories. The Act outlines the responsibilities of employers, employees, and government agencies in ensuring workplace safety, as well as the requirements for reporting accidents and injuries.

Nunavut

In Nunavut, workplace safety is governed by the Occupational Health and Safety Act. The Act outlines the responsibilities of employers, employees, and government agencies in ensuring workplace safety, as well as the requirements for reporting accidents and injuries.

OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY TRAINING

What is Occupational Health and Safety training?

Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) training is the process of educating workers, supervisors, and managers on workplace safety practices and procedures. This type of training is essential for creating a safe work environment, preventing accidents and injuries, and ensuring compliance with OHS legislation.

What is Worker Health and Safety Awareness in 4 Steps?

Worker Health and Safety Awareness in 4 Steps is a free course offered by the Ontario Ministry of Labour in Canada. It is designed to provide workers with basic knowledge and understanding of workplace health and safety. However, it does not offer any accreditation or certificate upon completion.

Do workplaces have to use the ministry programs to comply with the regulation?

No. Even though the ministry programs can be used by workplace parties to comply with the regulatory requirements, it is not mandatory to use them to comply with the regulation. Workplaces can develop their own training programs or use externally provided training, if the training meets the minimum content requirements set out in Ontario Regulation 297/13.

(Source: Government of Ontario, A guide to Occupational Health and Safety Act requirements for basic awareness training, URL: https://www.ontario.ca/document/guide-occupational-health-and-safety-act-requirements-basic-awareness-training)

Who is responsible for Occupational Health and Safety?

Under OHS legislation, employers have a legal obligation to provide their workers with the appropriate training on workplace safety practices and procedures. This includes ensuring that workers are aware of the hazards associated with their job and are provided with the necessary training to mitigate those hazards.

Employers must also ensure that supervisors and managers are trained in OHS practices and procedures so that they can effectively oversee the safety of their workers.

Who needs Occupational Health and Safety?

All workers, supervisors, and managers should receive OHS training. This includes both new hires and existing employees, as well as temporary and part-time workers. Employers should ensure that all workers receive the appropriate level of training based on their job duties and the hazards associated with their job.

Can you do Occupational Health and Safety online?

This course requires only theoretical training and evaluation, making it suitable for both classroom and online formats. Online training adheres to the same standards as classroom training, ensuring that it is recognized and accepted. In fact, online training can be more convenient and efficient, as it eliminates the need for in-person attendance and allows for flexible scheduling.

Moreover, classroom trainings often have certain requirements imposed by the Ministry of Labour, such as a minimum duration of 8 hours, which may not always be necessary for the content being covered. Online training can be more efficient in this regard, as a well-designed 2-hour course can cover all the necessary material effectively.

Additionally, online training can be a more cost-effective option for employers compared to organizing in-person classroom sessions.

However, keep in mind that employers are responsible for selecting the appropriate level of training for their workplace, so it's essential to check with your employer to ensure they accept online training for this purpose.           

Is there a free Occupational Health and Safety?

The short answer is: No, not really. While the Ontario Ministry of Labour in Canada offers a free course called Worker Health and Safety Awareness in 4 Steps, it's important to note that this particular course does not provide any accreditation or certificate upon completion.

The long answer:  Occupational Health and Safety  Safety courses can be developed either by the employer themselves, in which case they can be provided to you for free but have a cost of development for the employer; Alternatively, they can be developed by a private company such as ours. 

When a private company develops such a program, many costs are associated with the process (human resources, programs licenses, host and servers, content research, voice-overs, software development, marketing, learning machine system development etc.); therefore, it cannot be free. 

Depending on the website that sells it, its commitment to user experience, and its user panel investments, developing a course will cost upwards of $10,000. 

Websites that claim to offer free training usually do so at the expense of users’ privacy or security as they have to recover their investments somehow. Your data will be sold to other third parties or used to promote related services (such as other programs or systems advertised as needed). 

In more extreme situations, such websites may offer you the content for free but charge you for the certificate or unlocking the testing section, in most cases a price that is 2 or 3 times higher than what other private companies are selling the program for because at that point you have already invested time in completing the program with them. 

Stay away from such websites because when you're not paying for the product, you are the product.

Where can you purchase Occupational Health and Safety online training?

In today’s fast-paced society, online courses have become the cheapest and most convenient solution to get your Safety done. There are many methods and providers of Occupational Health and Safety. With any training, it is essential to select a high-quality education provider and one that will provide the most value (best information retention in employees) for the time and money.

Ensuring your program materials are always up to date is also extremely important as the amount of health and safety regulations and enforcement is steadily increasing and constantly updating.

OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY CERTIFICATE

What do you need to learn?

To obtain an Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) training certificate, you will need to learn various topics related to workplace safety, health, and regulations.

• Workers Rights:
  • Workers' rights and responsibilities in relation to health and safety.
  • The right to know about workplace hazards and how to protect oneself.
  • The right to participate in health and safety activities, such as inspections and joint health and safety committees.
  • The right to refuse unsafe work and the process for doing so.

• Common Workplace Hazards:
  • Identification and understanding of common workplace hazards.
  • Physical hazards, such as slips, trips, and falls, as well as machinery and equipment hazards.
  • Chemical hazards, including hazardous substances and their safe handling.
  • Biological hazards, such as exposure to infectious agents.
  • Ergonomic hazards related to workplace design, equipment, and tasks.

• Occupational Health and Safety Law:
  • Overview of key legislation and regulations governing occupational health and safety.
  • Understanding the Occupational Health and Safety Act (in Ontario, Canada), including workers' rights and responsibilities.
  • Roles and responsibilities of workplace parties, including employers, supervisors, and workers.
  • The importance of reporting workplace accidents, injuries, and hazards.

• Roles and Responsibilities:
  • Employer responsibilities in maintaining a safe work environment and providing necessary training.
  • Supervisor responsibilities in ensuring workers' safety, including effective communication and hazard control.
  • Worker responsibilities in following safe work practices, reporting hazards, and participating in health and safety initiatives.
  • The significance of teamwork, cooperation, and communication among all workplace parties.

How long is the certificate valid?

The length of validity for the Occupational Health and Safety certificate may vary depending on the regulations of each province or territory. It is important to check with the relevant regulatory agency to confirm the specific requirements for certification renewal. In general, refresher training may be required every two to three years to maintain the certification.

How will I receive my training certificate with eSafetyFirst?

The certificate will be automatically available for printing once you complete the course and pass the quiz with a score of 80% or higher.

All our courses will come with a PDF certificate at the end of the program.

This PDF file will have two pages: a standard certificate and a wallet-size training record.

The employer should store certificates, while the employee should carry their wallet cards at all times during work.

Students who prefer to receive wallet cards in a physical format can request and purchase a physical wallet card from eSafetyFirst. This optional item is not included in the course price and will cost an additional $10 for printing and shipping.

If you do not have the time to make your laminated wallet card, you may find it rather convenient to order this card directly from us.

How can I find my certificate if I lost it?

In most cases, this question is addressed to us by individuals who took their training with a different company. As a private company, we can only store and access our customers’ data. Therefore, if you did your training with another company, you need to contact them to receive a copy of your certificate.

If you are a customer of eSafetyFirst.com, then all you have to do is to Login to your account, and you can, at any time, download a copy of the certificate you received from us.

CONCLUSION

Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) is an essential aspect of workplace safety in Canada. OHS legislation, employer and employee responsibilities, training, and certification play crucial roles in ensuring workplace safety. With proper knowledge and training, individuals can promote a safe and healthy work environment, protecting themselves and their colleagues from harm.