How to determine your safety requirements
The number of employees you have will determine the safety requirements for your workplace.
Requirements are broken down into three categories: 1 - 5, 6 - 20, and 20+ employees
Each category builds on the previous, with 20+ employees requiring 1 - 5, 6 - 20, PLUS 20+
Review all services offered
1-5 Employees
- Know your responsibilities
- The Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA) is intended to establish an internal responsibility system (IRS) within workplaces. The OHSA outlines the responsibilities of employers, supervisors, workers, constructors, and workplace owners
- Maintain your equipment
- Employers must ensure that all equipment and machinery are in safe working condition and that employees are trained on their safe use. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions and maintenance schedule. Complete daily pre-use inspections.
- Maintain your business premises
- This includes regular inspections, prompt repairs of unsafe conditions, and implementing procedures to prevent accidents and injuries.
- Train, instruct, and supervise your workers
- Providing adequate training on safe work practices and ensuring competent supervision to enforce those practices is crucial.
- Develop safe work procedures and practices and ensure they are readily available to your workers.
- Make proper equipment and safety gear available to your workers and ensure these are used by your workers and used appropriately
- Complete a job hazard analysis to determine the equipment and personal protective equipment required when completing the work
- Tell every worker about any health and safety hazards in the workplace
- This information should be shared during the worker orientation.
- Visitors must also be made aware of hazards in your workplace.
- Assess your workplace for hazards and address each hazard you identify
- Early identification of workplace hazards is essential for maintaining a safe, healthy, and productive environment. Hazards not only lead to injuries or illnesses but can also disrupt operations and diminish employee morale. Recognizing and managing these risks is a critical responsibility in all sectors.
- Develop a process for investigating each injury or near miss that occurs in your workplace
- Must have procedures in place to report and investigate accidents and incidents, ensuring that lessons are learned and preventative measures are taken.
- Tell every worker about their rights
- Inform employees about workplace hazards, their rights, and their responsibilities under safety legislation is essential. This can be accomplished during worker orientations.
- Post a copy of the OHS Act
6-20 Employees
Requirements for 1-5 Employees
- Develop a written OHS policy and review it each year
- Clearly state the organization's commitment to OH&S and its goal of creating a safe and healthy work environment.
- Define the scope of the policy, specifying which aspects of the workplace it covers (e.g., physical hazards, ergonomic issues, psychological well-being).
- Mention that the policy aligns with relevant legislation and regulations.
- Must be reviewed and signed yearly.
- Employee selected safety representative
- Identify and Report Hazards: The HSR works with workers to identify potential health and safety hazards in the workplace.
- Communicate with Management: The HSR brings worker concerns and reports about hazards to the attention of management.
- Participate in Inspections and Investigations: The HSR may participate in regular inspections and investigate incidents.
- Make Recommendations: The HSR can make recommendations to the employer to address health and safety issues.
- Encourage Reporting: The HSR encourages workers to report hazards and concerns to their supervisor.
- Advocate for Worker Safety: The HSR serves as an advocate for worker safety and well-being.
20+ Employees
Requirements for 1-20 Employees
- Establish an occupational health and safety program
- Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment: Systematically identify potential hazards in the workplace and assessing the associated risks.
- Hazard Control Measures: Implement measures to eliminate or control identified hazards, such as engineering controls, administrative controls, and personal protective equipment (PPE).
- Training and Education: Provide workers with the necessary training and education on health and safety procedures, hazard recognition, and the use of PPE.
- Emergency Preparedness: Develop and implement emergency response plans to address potential workplace emergencies, including fire, medical emergencies, and hazardous material spills.
- Reporting and Investigation: Establish a system for reporting incidents, near misses, and workplace hazards, and investigating incidents to identify root causes and prevent recurrence.
- Record Keeping: Maintain records of training, inspections, investigations, and other relevant information.
- Program Evaluation and Improvement: Regularly evaluating the effectiveness of the program and making improvements as needed.
- Establish a joint OHS Committee (JOHSC)
- A JOHSC includes employers and employees who work together to identify and address workplace health and safety hazards. A committee is required for workplaces with 20 or more regular employees, while those with 5–19 must select a Health and Safety Representative, who cannot be part of management. The employer and employees are ultimately responsible for occupational health and safety decisions, with the committee or representative advising on issues and raising employee concerns to management for resolution.