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Overview of Occupational Health and Safety Legislation in Canada

• Occupational Health and Safety (OH&S) Legislation specifies standards to protect the health and safety of workers.
• The goal of OH&S Legislation is to ensure a safe and healthy work environment for all workers.
• In Canada, there are two levels of OH&S Legislation: federal and jurisdictional.
• Federal legislation, such as the Canadian Occupational Health and Safety (COHS) Regulations, applies to federal workplaces and any federal work, undertakings, or business.
• Bill C-45, part of the Canadian Criminal Code, defines legal duties for workplace health and safety and imposes penalties for violations resulting in injuries or death.
• Jurisdictional legislation applies to all workplaces within a specific province or territory.
• Each province and territory in Canada has its own Occupational Health and Safety Act (OH&S Act), with specific sections giving direction to employers and employees.
• Regulations are frequently amended to reflect changes in workplaces and processes.
• Some workers, such as domestic workers, federal government employees, workers in federally regulated industries, and certain agricultural workers, may be exempt from jurisdictional legislation.
• It is important for workers to know which legislation applies to them, and it is the employer's responsibility to inform them.
• The content, terminology, and definitions may vary between jurisdictional legislations, but the overall intent is similar.
• Access to up-to-date OH&S legislation and regulations can be found on government websites or obtained from government printers, libraries, or employers.