Table of Contents

Occupational Health and Safety Programs and Policies - General Requirements

Last Updated: June 2018

Prepared by CCOHS

This reference document lists sections in Canadian federal, provincial and territorial legislation dealing with general occupational health and safety duties, training requirements, policies and programs. This document is to be used as a guide to the general legislative schemes across Canadian jurisdictions. It is not a comprehensive listing of all the duties and requirements under the law. It does not contain references to industry and trade specific health and safety requirements. As well, it does not cover emergency situations and protective equipment requirements.

For a more in-depth and comprehensive understanding of the legislative requirements please review the CCOHS Canadian enviroOSH Legislation plus Standards service. Where additional information is required, the Canadian Governmental Occupational Health & Safety Departments (http://www.ccohs.ca/oshanswers/information/govt.html) should be contacted.

This list is prepared by CCOHS as part of the Canadian enviroOSH Legislation service . This service is a comprehensive and easy to search compilation of the full text of Canadian health, safety and environmental legislation and critical guidelines and codes of practice from all jurisdictions. All the legislation is compiled into one convenient location and is regularly updated with amendments highlighted.

Subscribers to this service and paid learners of the CCOHS e-courses have access to the full text of the legislation listed in this document. To become a subscriber please contact Client Services .

OSH Answers

Basic OH&S Program Elements

Guide to Writing an OHS Policy Statement

Canada

Canada Labour Code, Part II, R.S.C. 1985, c. L-2

Duties of Employers

Section 125, Specific duties of employer

Section 125.1, Further specific duties of employer

Duties of Employees

Section 126, Health and safety matters

Policy Health and Safety Committees

Section 134.1, Establishment mandatory

Canada Occupational Health and Safety Regulations, SOR/86-304

Part XIX, Hazard Prevention Program

Aviation Occupational Safety and Health Regulations, SOR/2011-87

Part 5, Hazardous Substances

Coal Mines (CBDC) Occupational Safety and Health Regulations, SOR/90-97

Part II, Safe Occupancy of the Work Place

Section 35, General

Part VIII, Entering a Closed Mine

Sections 167 - 168

Maritime Occupational Safety and Health Regulations, SOR/2010-120

Part 7, Hazard Prevention Program

Oil and Gas Occupational Safety and Health Regulations, SOR/87-612

Part IX, Electrical Safety

Section 9.2, Safety Procedures

Part XI, Hazardous Substances

Sections 11.3 - 11.5, Hazard Investigation

Sections 11.19 - 11.20, Employee Education

On Board Trains Occupational Safety and Health Regulations, SOR/87-184

Part VII, Hazardous Substances

As made under the Nuclear Safety and Control Act,

Radiation Protection Regulations, SOR/2000-203

Obligations of Licensees and Nuclear Energy Workers

Section 4, Radiation Protection Program

Section 7, Provision of Information

Section 8, Requirement to Use Licensed Dosimetry Service

Section 9, Collection of Personal Information

Section 10, Nuclear Energy Workers

Alberta

Occupational Health and Safety Act, S.A. 2017, c. O‑2.1

Section 37, Health and safety program

British Columbia

Workers Compensation Act, R.S.B.C. 1996, c. 492,

Occupational Health and Safety Regulations, B.C. Reg. 296/97

Part 3, Rights and Responsibilities

Occupational Health and Safety Programs

Section 3.1, When program required

Section 3.2, Small operations

Section 3.3, Contents of program

Manitoba

Workplace Safety and Health Act, R.S.M. 1987, c. W210

Workplace Safety and Health Program

Section 7.4, Establishment of workplace safety and health program

Duty to Provide Required Information

Section 7.5, Definition: required information

Workplace Safety and Health Regulation, Man. Reg. 217/2006

Part 2, General Duties

General Safety Duties

Section 2.1, Safe work procedures

Section 2.2, Consultations required

Section 2.3, Duty of employer to provide information

New Brunswick

Occupational Health and Safety Act, A.N.B. 1983, c. O-0.2

Duties of employers, owners, contractors, sub-contractors, employees and suppliers

Sections 8 - 8.2, Establishment and filing of safety policy

Newfoundland and Labrador

Occupational Health and Safety Act, R.S.N.L. 1990, c. O-3

Section 36.1, Health and safety program

Section 36.2, Health and safety policy

Occupational Health and Safety Regulations, 2012, N.L.R. 5/12

Part III, General Duties

Section 12, Occupational health and safety program

Section 13, Occupational health and safety policy

Northwest Territories

Safety Act, R.S.N.W.T. 1988, c. S-1

Health and safety

Section 7, Safety Program

Occupational Health and Safety Regulations, R-039-2015

Part 3, General Duties

Section 21, Occupational Health and Safety Program

Nova Scotia

Occupational Health and Safety Act, S.N.S. 1996, c. 7

Occupational Health and Safety Policy

Section 27

Occupational Health and Safety Program

Section 28

Occupational Safety General Regulations, N.S. Reg. 44/99

Part 2, General

Section 7, Compliance with policies, procedures, plans and codes of practice

Section 7A, Communicating and updating policies, procedures, plans and codes of practice

Section 7B, Consulting with Committee on policies and procedures

Nunavut

Safety Act, R.S.N.W.T. 1988, c. S-1

Health and Safety

Section 7, Safety program

Occupational Health and Safety Regulations, R-003-2016

Part 3, General duties

Section 21, Occupational health and safety program

Ontario

Occupational Health and Safety Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. O.1

Part III, Duties of Employers and Other Persons

Section 25, Duties of employers

Section 26, Additional duties of employers

See also:

Guide to the Occupational Health and Safety Act, March 2015

Prince Edward Island

Occupational Health and Safety Act, S.P.E.I. 2004, c. 42

Program

Section 23, Occupational health and safety program

Policy

Section 24, Occupational health and safety policy

Quebec

Act Respecting Occupational Health and Safety, R.S.Q., c. S-2.1

Part III, Rights and Obligations

Section 49

Sections 50 - 61

Part IV, Health And Safety Committees

Sections 78, 86

Regulation respecting prevention programmes, c. S-2.1, r.13.1

Chapter III Prevention Programme

Saskatchewan

Saskatchewan Employment Act, S.S., 2013, c. S-15.1

Part III, Occupational Health and Safety

Section 3-20, Duty to provide occupational health and safety programs

Section 3-27, Duties of committees

Occupational Health and Safety Regulations, 1996, R.R.S., c. O-1, r. 1

Part I, Preliminary Matters

Section 5, Generality of duties not limited

Part III, General Duties

Section 17, Supervision of work

Section 18, Duty to inform workers

Section 22, Occupational health and safety program

Mines Regulations, 2003, R.R.S., c. O-1, r. 2

Part I, Preliminary Matters

Section 4, Application of OHS regulations to mines

Yukon

Occupational Health and Safety Act, R.S.Y. 2002, c. 159

Safety Committees, Representatives, and Officers

Section 12, Workplaces having 20 or more employees

Section 13, Workplaces having less than 20 employees

Administration

Section 23, Research

Section 24, Health and safety programs

Occupational Health and Safety Regulations, O.I.C. 2006/178

Part 10, Construction and Building Safety

Section 10.02, Duties