The Ontario Ministry of Labour is consulting on proposed changes to the safety regulation that applies to most businesses in Ontario: the Industrial Establishments regulation under the Occupational Health and Safety Act. Offices, factories, shops and restaurants – and many other workplaces – are caught by this regulation.
One proposed change is particularly notable: it would require employers to assess the risks of hazards that arise from the workplace, at least annually, and provide the results in writing to the joint health and safety committee. The risk assessment requirement would be an “if you do nothing, you will be in breach” obligation, which requires employers to take a positive step in order to comply. That requirement would not apply to workplaces at which fewer than 20 workers are regularly employed.
The amendments would also require employers to develop and maintain written measures to control the risks identified in the risk assessment and, where practicable, eliminate the hazards. There are relatively few requirements on industrial employers under the OHSA to put things in writing, but this will be one such requirement.
The risk assessment would open up a new liability risk for Ontario employers: employers who neglect to do the risk assessment may be charged and fined for failing to do it; employers who conduct the risk assessment may have the MOL argue that they did not adequately address the risks identified. Mining employers already have similar risk assessment obligations.
The MOL, on its website, states that the government is proposing a number of other amendments to the Industrial Establishment regulations:
“• Update existing requirements regarding guardrails, fall protection, protection against drowning, signallers, eyewash fountains and deluge showers to reflect current workplace practices, processes and technologies; . . .
• Add new requirements for scaffolds and suspended access equipment, similar to existing requirements currently set out in O. Reg. 213/91 (Construction Projects);
• Add new, specific requirements for storage racks and for high visibility safety apparel for signallers to improve worker health and safety and to improve clarity and transparency regarding compliance expectations; and
• Make additional amendments for clarification and to increase alignment between OHSA regulations.”
The MOL is receiving comments on these proposed new requirements until April 6, 2018. The comment link is at the bottom of the MOL’s web page on the proposed amendments.
