FRIENDLY REMINDER: This is mandatory for ALL practitioners and staff in Ontario. For other provinces, please contact your provincial Ministry of Labour for proper advice.
Dear Members,
The Ministry of Labour in Ontario have announced a new regulation entitled Occupational Health and Safety Awareness and Training Regulation (O. Reg. 297/13) (O.Re. 297/13) under the Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA). This has come into force as of July 1, 2014.
The regulation requires the completion of mandatory basic occupational health and safety awareness training, and specifically:
- Sets out the minimum content of both the worker and supervisor awareness training programs including instructions on:
- the rights and/or duties of workers, supervisors and employers under the OHSA,
- the role of joint health and safety committees and health and safety representatives, and
- common workplace hazards and occupational illnesses;
- Requires that employers ensure that workers complete the training program as soon as practicable and supervisors complete the training within one week of performing work as a supervisor; and
- Requires employers to maintain a record of training, and provide workers and supervisors with proof of completion, on request, for up to six months after the worker or supervisor stops performing work for that employee
Every workplace need to specifically prepare both a Health and Safety Policy and Workplace Violence and Harassment Policy. All the training materials and guidance tools to help workplaces comply with the regulation can be found at Ontario.ca/learntoworksafe.
If you have any further questions or would like clarification on the basic awareness training requirements, please contact the Helpline:
- email: awarenessfeedback@ontario.ca
- Contact Centre: 1-877-202-0008
CMAAC has provided sample templates below.
Download Mandatory Poster HERE
(Sample) Health and Safety Policy