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
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
Coal Mines (CBDC) Occupational Safety and Health Regulations, SOR/90-97
Part II, Safe Occupancy of the Work Place
Part VIII, Entering a Closed Mine
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
Section 9.2, Safety Procedures
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 3.3, 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
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
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
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
Occupational Health and Safety Program
Occupational Safety General Regulations, N.S. Reg. 44/99
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
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
Part IV, Health And Safety Committees
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
Section 5, Generality of duties not limited
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
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 24, Health and safety programs
Occupational Health and Safety Regulations, O.I.C. 2006/178