Where can I find out about employer duties under Canadian Occupational Health and Safety legislation?
A. Many basic elements (e.g., rights and responsibilities of workers, responsibilities of employers, supervisors, etc.) are similar in all the jurisdictions across Canada. However, the details of the OHS legislation, employer and worker responsibilities, and how the laws are enforced vary from one jurisdiction to another. In addition, provisions in the regulations may be “mandatory”, “discretionary” or “as directed by the Minister”. There are some employer duties that are common to most jurisdictions. Generally, they are an employer’s responsibility to: – establish and maintain a joint health and safety committee, or cause workers to select at least one health and safety representative – take every reasonable precaution to ensure the workplace is safe – train employees about any potential hazards and in how to safely use, handle, store and dispose of hazardous substances and how to handle emergencies – supply personal protective equipment and ensure workers know how to use the equipmen
