Ontario Health & Safety Board Requirements: 7 Must Must Have Items

March 22, 2015, by Tam Campbell Trant | Work Environment and Policies

The next time you’re walking past your bulletin boards, take a look at what’s posted.  You may see postings about new hires, accomplishments of people receiving service awards or thank you cards.  But are you seeing what you’re supposed to be seeing - by law?

The Ontario government is committed to protecting workers' rights, and their health and safety in the workplace.  As such, there are 7 things that must be posted in your workplace: 

1. Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA)

Employers are required to post a copy of the Occupational Health and Safety Act in their workplaces.  The Act outlines workers rights when it comes to safety, and sets out roles for employers, supervisors and workers so they can work together to make workplaces safer.  

2. “Health & Safety at Work: Prevention Starts Here” Poster

Not only are employers required to post the Occupational Health and Safety Act but also any additional material prepared by the Ministry, which happens to include the poster.  The poster outlines the rights and responsibilities of workers, supervisors and employers, and provides the Ministry of Labour phone number to report critical injuries, fatalities and work refusals.  The poster must be displayed in English and the majority language of the workplace. 

3. “What You Should Know About The Ontario Employment Standards Act, 2000” Poster

Employers are required to display the most recent version (Version 5.0 June 2014) in at least one visible place at work – your bulletin board is a great place.  The poster outlines employees' rights and employers' responsibilities at work.  Without this poster, a company would ultimately be in violation of the Employment Standards Act and could result in an employment standards officer taking enforcement action. 

4. “In Case of Injury (Form 82)” Poster

Under a regulation of the Workplace Safety and Insurance Act, 1997 (WSIA), employers are required to display the poster in their workplace. Again, the bulletin board works well. 

5. Your Company’s Health and Safety Policy

Employers are required to prepare a written Occupational Health and Safety policy and to review it at least once a year.  The company must also develop and maintain a program to implement that policy.  And, it must be posted. 

6.  Workplace Violence and Workplace Harassment Policies

For companies with more than 5 employees, or if ordered by an inspector, the OHSA also requires employers to prepare workplace violence and workplace harassment policies, and to review these policies at least once a year.  As with the Health & Safety policy, a company must develop and maintain programs to implement those policies.  These policies must be in writing and must be posted in the workplace. 

7. Joint Health and Safety Committees Members

In workplaces with 20 or more employees, the employer is required to establish a Joint Health and Safety Committee.  The employer must then post the names and work locations of the committee members in a conspicuous place (the bulletin board works well!).  

Are you missing any of these documents or posters, or do you need help writing any of your policies?  If so, it’s important that you go to: http://www.labour.gov.on.ca/english/atwork/posting_training.php 

Keep putting up those postings about new faces joining your teams and the accomplishments of your employees, but just make sure your bulletin boards are compliant - or it could cost you. 

Other Items of Interest:

Being Audited by an Ontario Employment Standards Officer? Here’s What You Need to Know