The Ministry of Labour (MOL) aims to protect the health and
safety of workers on the job through the enforcement of the Ontario
Occupational Health and Safety Act (the
"Act"). In order to remain in compliance
with the Act, employers are required to post, in their workplace, a
copy of the Act and any explanatory material prepared by the MOL,
outlining the rights, responsibilities and duties of workers. The
Act and any such explanatory materials must be posted in both
English and the majority language of the workplace in question. An
employer who employs or contracts for the services of one or more
workers and is not otherwise exempt from the Act must comply.
The MOL recently released explanatory material in the form of a
Safety Poster that all employers covered under the Act must now
post in their workplace. Though the MOL wants to ensure that
employers have sufficient time to become aware of this new
requirement, they have stated that inspectors will begin
enforcing compliance with this new requirement on October 1,
2012.
The MOL outlines the purpose of the Safety Poster on its
website:
"The poster summarizes workers' health and safety
rights and responsibilities and the responsibilities of employers
and supervisors. It also reminds employers that they must not take
action against workers for following the act or for raising
workplace health and safety concerns, and seeking enforcement of
the OHSA. The poster encourages workers to get involved in health
and safety and explains when and why to contact the Ministry of
Labour".
This Safety Poster was developed upon the recommendation of an
expert advisory panel appointed by the MOL in March 2010 to review
Ontario's occupational health and safety system. The panel
found that many workers in Ontario had little or no understanding
of the Act, including their rights and obligations as workers. As a
result, the panel made 46 recommendations to the MOL, including the
recommendation that the MOL create a health and safety poster
outlining workers' key health and safety rights in the
workplace.
The Safety Poster is available on the MOL website and has been
reproduced in 17 languages. It may be downloaded and printed in pdf
format from their website [click here]. The MOL requires that the
poster be posted in a print size of at least 8.5 x 11
inches.
Ontario employers should post the above Safety Poster in a
visible location in their workplace right away so as to ensure they
are in compliance with the Act come October 1, 2012.
[Ontario Employment Law, Ontario Health & Safety Act, OHSA,
Employers, Ministry of Labour]
The content of this article is intended to provide a general
guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought
about your specific circumstances.
Specific Questions relating to this article should be addressed directly to the author.
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