Small Businesses with more than 20 workers
Once your business grows beyond a few employees, you may need to formalize some of your processes—including health and safety. You may not actually be with all of your employees everyday, so you need to have other systems in place to make sure they all know how to perform their jobs safely.
This information is intended to be a guide. All employers must know and understand the occupational health and safety laws that govern their work. To ensure that you are compliant, review the Occupational Health and Safety Act and related regulations.
Health and Safety Laws
It's important to know and understand Ontario's health and safety laws before you and your workers start work. The Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development (MLITSD) enforces the Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA) and related regulations in Ontario. This legislation is designed to protect workers and employers and to help ensure that everyone goes home safely at the end of the day.
Check out the Occupational Health and Safety Act section and become familiar with the laws that relate to the type of work you do.
Training Requirements
Regulation 279/13: Occupational Health and Safety Awareness and Training under the OHSA requires an employer to ensure that all workers and supervisors complete a basic occupational health and safety awareness training program. The MLITSD offers two free courses to satisfy this requirement. They can be completed by downloading a workbook and employer guide or by following the eLearning module:
While these courses will satisfy the minimum legal requirements, employers may wish to provide more comprehensive training to protect their employees:
In addition to basic awareness training, employers, supervisors, and workers may require more specific training depending on the type of work they do and the type of hazards they may face. For example, construction workers who may use a method of fall protection must complete an approved Working at Heights training course (O. Reg. 279/13, s.7).
To see what type of training you need, review IHSA’s Training Requirements Chart (W001). If your company operates under federal legislation, review IHSA's CLC Training Requirements Chart (W008).
Once you've determined the training you and your workers need to be compliant with Ontario's laws, visit IHSA's Training page to register for courses. IHSA offers hundreds of training programs across the province, so you're sure to find what you need.
Your company may also require a Joint Health and Safety Committee (JHSC). For more information on training requirements for JHSC members, see the Joint Health and Safety Committee Training section below.
Joint Health and Safety Committee Training
According to Ontario law, a workplace with more than five workers must have a designated Health and Safety Representative (HSR). An effective HSR helps identify and control hazards on site. However, if the workplace has more than 20 workers, there must be a Joint Health and Safety Committee (JHSC) instead of an HSR (OHSA, s.9). A JHSC is made up of management and labour members who work together to identify and resolve health and safety issues at the workplace.
For those who want to become a Certified Member of their company’s JHSC, they MUST take Joint Health and Safety Committee (JHSC) Certification – Part One, as well as the JHSC Certification – Part Two course that applies to their sector:
This training must be renewed every three years by completing the JHSC Certification – Refresher course.
WHMIS
If you work with hazardous material, you need to complete training in the Workplace Hazardous Material Information System (WHMIS). IHSA offers this course in a classroom setting or online.
Workplace Violence and Harassment
The OHSA requires all workplaces with more than five workers to have a written workplace violence and harassment policy (OHSA, s.32.0.1) and a program to implement it. IHSA offers a Violence and Harassment in the Workplace Toolkit as well as an eLearning training course, Workplace Violence and Harassment: What Employers Should Know, which can help you develop your policy and program.
Health and Safety Policy and Program
The OHSA requires all workplaces with more than five workers to have a written health and safety policy and a program to implement that policy (OHSA, s.25(2)(j)). Visit IHSA's Policy and Program Templates page for step-by-step instructions on developing an effective policy and program for your business.
Standard Operating Procedures
As part of your health and safety program, it is important to develop standard operating procedures (SOPs). These are written documents that provide detailed explanations of how a policy or a task will be implemented. To be effective, SOPs must communicate information such as who will perform a task, how it will be preformed, what materials are necessary, where the task will take place, etc. As the employer, it is your responsibility to develop SOPs and communicate them to your workers.
By definition, SOPs are not generic. They depend on the nature of your work and on the equipment you use. They are also specific to your workplace or jobsite. With a good SOP, anyone who is qualified to do the work should be able to follow the step-by-step instructions and complete the task. The SOP provides structure and direction to help make sure that you get consistent results.
For sample SOPs that you can customize to suit your needs, visit IHSA’s Safe Work Practices /Safe Job Procedures web page.
Best Practices
Check out IHSA's Eight Best Practices for Independent Operators and Small Businesses.
Occupational Health
While it’s important to prevent workplace injuries and fatalities, it’s just as important to reduce the likelihood of workers developing occupational diseases, disorders, and illnesses. However, this is often overlooked. Don’t forget to visit IHSA's Occupational Health page, which hosts a wealth of resources related to preventing exposure to biological, chemical, and physical hazards.
Small Business |
Legislative Requirements and Best Practices 20-Plus Workers