Duties & Responsibilities
Summary
TLDRIn Ontario, workplace health and safety is governed by the Occupational Health and Safety Act, promoting a shared responsibility system among employers, supervisors, and workers. Employers must establish safety programs, train workers, and manage hazards. Supervisors enforce safety rules and train workers on safe job performance. Workers are expected to follow procedures, use safety equipment, and report hazards. They also have rights to know, participate, and refuse unsafe work without repercussions. A well-functioning internal responsibility system is crucial for preventing injuries, reducing insurance costs, and avoiding legal penalties.
Takeaways
- 📚 The Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA) in Ontario governs workplace safety and is colloquially known as the 'green book'.
- 🤝 The Internal Responsibility System (IRS) is a shared duty among employers, supervisors, and workers to ensure a safe workplace.
- 👷♂️ Employers are responsible for establishing health and safety programs, including rules, training, and providing proper tools and equipment.
- 👨🏫 Supervisors must train workers on safe job practices, enforce safety rules, and take reasonable precautions to prevent accidents.
- 👷 Workers are expected to follow safety procedures, use safety equipment correctly, and report hazards and injuries to supervisors.
- 🤔 Workers have three key rights: to know about job hazards, to participate in health and safety, and to refuse unsafe work.
- 🚫 Workers cannot be threatened or punished for exercising their rights under the OHSA, such as reporting hazards or refusing unsafe work.
- 💸 A poorly managed IRS can lead to increased costs, including higher WSIB insurance premiums and potential fines from the Ministry of Labour.
- 🚨 Workplace injuries and illnesses can result in legal consequences, including jail time for employers, supervisors, or workers.
- 🛠️ To support the IRS, understand and communicate specific duties and responsibilities, and engage in dialogue with workers to ensure understanding and compliance.
- 🔧 Resources and tools for health and safety programs can be found at the WSPS small business center.
Q & A
What is the Occupational Health and Safety Act commonly referred to as in Ontario?
-The Occupational Health and Safety Act is commonly referred to as the OHS Act or simply the Act.
What is the Internal Responsibility System (IRS)?
-The Internal Responsibility System (IRS) is the underlying principle of the OHS Act, which means maintaining a healthy and safe workplace is a shared responsibility among the employer, supervisor, and workers.
Who is considered a worker under the OHS Act?
-A worker is generally any person who gets paid to perform work or supply services, including co-op students, interns, and apprentices.
What are the key responsibilities of an employer under the OHS Act?
-An employer is responsible for establishing the health and safety program, determining safe work rules, training workers, providing and maintaining the right tools and equipment, managing hazards, and appointing competent supervisors.
What duties does a supervisor have regarding workplace safety?
-A supervisor is responsible for training workers on safe job performance, enforcing safety rules and equipment use, and taking every reasonable precaution to ensure safety.
What are the responsibilities of workers in the internal responsibility system?
-Workers are responsible for following safe work procedures and rules, using safety equipment properly, and reporting hazards and injuries to their supervisors.
What are the three rights of workers under the OHS Act?
-Workers have the right to know about potential job hazards, the right to participate in workplace health and safety, and the right to refuse unsafe work.
What are the potential consequences for a business with a dysfunctional internal responsibility system?
-A dysfunctional internal responsibility system can lead to workplace injuries and illnesses, higher insurance costs, Ministry of Labour work orders, tickets, fines, and potential jail sentences for non-compliance.
What should a worker do if they believe work is unsafe?
-If a worker believes work is unsafe, they should report the hazard, refuse to perform the unsafe work, and cooperate with the Ministry of Labour during inspections or investigations without fear of punishment.
How can a business support its internal responsibility system?
-A business can support its internal responsibility system by understanding and documenting specific duties and responsibilities, communicating this information to all relevant parties, and engaging in dialogue with workers to ensure understanding and compliance.
Where can businesses find tools and resources to support their health and safety program?
-Businesses can find tools and resources to support their health and safety program by visiting the WSPS small business center at WSPS.CA.
Outlines
🛠️ Workplace Safety in Ontario
In Ontario, workplace health and safety is governed by the Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHS Act), also known as the 'green book.' The Act emphasizes the shared responsibility among employers, supervisors, and workers to maintain a safe workplace, known as the Internal Responsibility System (IRS). Employers are responsible for establishing health and safety programs, including setting rules, training, providing tools and equipment, and managing hazards. Supervisors are tasked with training workers on safe work practices and enforcing safety rules. Workers are expected to follow procedures, use safety equipment correctly, and report hazards or injuries. Additionally, workers have three rights: to know about job hazards, to participate in health and safety, and to refuse unsafe work without fear of reprisal. Non-compliance with the OHS Act can lead to increased insurance costs, fines, and legal consequences, including jail time. To support the IRS, it is crucial to understand and communicate the specific duties and responsibilities of each workplace party and engage workers in maintaining a safe and healthy environment. Resources for health and safety programs can be found at the WSPS small business center.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Occupational Health and Safety Act
💡Internal Responsibility System (IRS)
💡Employer
💡Supervisor
💡Worker
💡Hazard
💡Safety Equipment
💡Health and Safety Program
💡Rights of Workers
💡WSIB
💡Ministry of Labour
Highlights
Ontario's Workplace health and safety is regulated by the Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA).
The OHSA is also known as the 'green book'.
Maintaining a healthy and safe workplace is a shared responsibility under the OHSA.
The Internal Responsibility System (IRS) is the underlying principle of the OHSA.
Employers, supervisors, and workers all have specific duties and responsibilities for workplace safety.
Employers are responsible for establishing health and safety programs.
Supervisors must train workers on safe job procedures and enforce safety rules.
Workers are expected to follow safe work procedures and use safety equipment properly.
Workers have the right to know about potential job hazards.
Workers have the right to participate in workplace health and safety.
Workers have the right to refuse unsafe work.
Workers are protected from threats or punishment for following health and safety laws.
A dysfunctional IRS can lead to increased WSIB insurance costs and legal penalties.
Non-compliance with the OHSA can result in work orders, tickets, and fines from the Ministry of Labour.
Convictions under the OHSA can lead to jail sentences for employers, supervisors, or workers.
Supporting the IRS involves understanding and communicating specific duties and responsibilities.
The WSPS small business center provides tools and resources to support health and safety programs.
Transcripts
Simple safety solutions duties and responsibilities
in Ontario
Workplace health and safety is regulated by the Occupational Health and Safety Act
Commonly referred to as the OHS a or the Act
Some people even call it the green book
under the Act
Maintaining a healthy and safe workplace is a shared responsibility
Among the employer supervisor and the workers themselves
This concept is known as the internal
Responsibility system or IRS, and it's the underlying principle of the Act
It means that we all work together to identify and control hazards and prevent injuries
the employer may be the owner or the person everyone knows as the boss a
supervisor would include a person who has either charge of a workplace or
Authority over a worker and a worker is generally any person who gets paid to perform work or supply
services
But there's an exception
Co-op students interns and apprentices are also considered workers
under the Act each workplace party has very specific duties and responsibilities
The employer is ultimately responsible for establishing the health and safety program
This includes determining the rules for working safely
training workers on the rules and procedures for working safely
Providing the right tools and equipment and ensuring they are maintained
Managing hazards to eliminate or reduce the risk of injuries and illness
Appointing a competent person as a supervisor and take every precaution
reasonable in
General a supervisor is responsible for training workers on how to do their job safely
Enforcing rules including the use of safety equipment and machine guarding and take every precaution
reasonable and
workers have responsibilities to
some of these duties include following Safe Work procedures and rules
using the safety equipment properly and
reporting hazards and injuries to their supervisors this communication helps ensure that
supervisors can respond quickly to potential hazards
Workers also support the internal responsibility system by understanding their three rights
The right to know about the potential hazards of their job
The right to participate in workplace health and safety and the right to refuse
Unsafe work believed to be dangerous to their own health and safety or to that of a co-worker
It's important to remember that a worker cannot be threatened or punished for following the laws.
This includes reporting a hazard
refusing unsafe work or for cooperating with the Ministry of Labour during inspections or investigations.
A dysfunctional internal responsibility system can cost your business, and it's not just about losing a productive employee
workplace injuries and illnesses can result in higher WSIB insurance costs
Not to mention Ministry of Labour work orders tickets and fines that result from
non-compliance with the OHSA
A Conviction can also lead to a jail sentence for the employer supervisor or worker.
No one wants to pay fines or unplanned legal fees.
But more importantly no one wants to be responsible for the injury or death of a co-worker.
So what can you do to support your internal responsibility system?
Start by understanding the specific duties and responsibilities for your workplace.
It may help to put them in writing
then communicate this information to everyone who needs to know and
finally talk with your workers
ask questions, so you know everyone understands the important role they play in maintaining a safe and healthy workplace
For tools and resources to support your health and safety program visit the WSPS small business center at
WSPS.CA
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