Occupational Safety and Health in Canada

To Whom Does This Apply?

Eligible Area

Canadian provinces and territories.

Eligible Activities

These are businesses and organizations whose main activities include:

• railways, road transport, ferries, canals, tunnels, and bridges that extend beyond the border of a province or Canada;
• air transport, aircraft operations, and aerodromes;
• shipping and shipping services;
• telephone, telegraph, and cable systems;
• radio and television broadcasting;
• banks;
• pipelines;
• most grain elevators; flour and seed mill, feed warehouses and grain-seed cleaning plants;
• uranium mining and processing; and
• most federal Crown corporations, such as Canada Post Corporation and Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation.

Note: Part II of the Canada Labour Code does not apply to certain undertakings regulated by the Nuclear Safety and Control Act.

Summary

Part II of the Canada Labour Code provides an employee with three fundamental rights:

• the right to know;
• the right to participate; and
• the right to refuse.

Purpose of Part II of the Canada Labour Code:

• Under subsection 122.1, the purpose of the Canada Labour Code, Part II is to prevent accidents and injury to health arising out of, linked with or occurring in the course of employment to which this Part applies.
• Under subsection 122.2, preventive measures should consist first of the elimination of hazards, then the reduction of hazards and finally, the provision of personal protective equipment, clothing, devices or materials, all with the goal of ensuring the health and safety of employees.

Safety and Health Committees and Representatives Regulations

Work Place Health and Safety Committees
Work place health and safety committees must be established in work places where there are 20 or more employees. At least half of the committee members must be employees who do not have managerial functions.

Policy Health and Safety Committees
Policy health and safety committees must be established where an employer has 300 or more employees. The intent of this committee is to take a more strategic approach to health and safety in an organization by dealing with global issues.

Health and Safety Representatives
In work places where there are fewer than 20 employees or in work places exempted from the committee requirement, there must be a health and safety representative.

• Ocupational Health and Safety
• Canadian Legislation Relating to Joint Occupational Health and Safety Committees

DISCLAIMER
Information contained in this section is of a general nature only and is not intended to constitute advice for any specific fact situation. For particular questions, the users are invited to contact their lawyer. For additional information, see contact(s) listed below.

Alberta Contact(s):
Regional Workplace Equity Officer
Labour Program
Human Resources and Social Development Canada
Room 280
Harry Hays Building
220 - 4th Avenue South East
Calgary, Alberta  T2G 4X3
Fax: 403-292-4678
Toll-free (publications): 1-866-713-4397

British Columbia Contact(s):
Kelowna District Office
Labour Program
Human Resources and Social Development Canada
2nd Floor
471 Queensway Avenue
Kelowna, British Columbia  V1Y 6S5
Telephone: (250) 762-3018

Manitoba Contact(s):
Regional Office
Labour Program
Human Resources and Social Development Canada
Suite 750
266 Graham Avenue
Winnipeg, Manitoba  R3C 0K3
Telephone: (204) 983-3493
Fax: (204) 983-2117

New Brunswick Contact(s):
Regional Office and the Labour Services Centre
Labour Program
Human Resources and Social Development Canada
1st Floor
1045 Main Street
P.O. Box 1166
Moncton, New Brunswick  E1C 8P9
Telephone: (506) 851-6640

Newfoundland & Labrador Contact(s):
Regional Office and the Labour Services Centre
Labour Program
Human Resources and Social Development Canada
E110B
Prince Charles Building
120 Torbay Road
P.O. Box 8548
St. John's, Newfoundland & Labrador  A1B 3P3
Telephone: (709) 772-5022

Northwest Territories Contact(s):
Regional Workplace Equity Officer
Labour Program
Human Resources and Social Development Canada
Room 280
Harry Hays Building
220 - 4th Avenue South East
Calgary, Alberta  T2G 4X3
Fax: 403-292-4678
Toll-free (publications): 1-866-713-4397

Nova Scotia Contact(s):
Regional and Halifax District Offices
Labour Program
Human Resources and Social Development Canada
8th Floor
99 Wyse Road
P.O. Box 1350
Dartmouth, Nova Scotia  B2Y 4B9
Telephone: (902) 426-4995
Toll-free (information): 1-800-251-1623

Nunavut Contact(s):
Regional Workplace Equity Officer
Labour Program
Human Resources and Social Development Canada
Room 280
Harry Hays Building
220 - 4th Avenue South East
Calgary, Alberta  T2G 4X3
Fax: 403-292-4678
Toll-free (publications): 1-866-713-4397

Ontario Contact(s):
Southwestern District Office
Labour Program
Human Resources and Social Development Canada
Suite 505
Dominion Public Building
457 Richmond Street
London, Ontario  N6A 3E3
Telephone: (519) 645-4047
Toll-free (information): 1-800-567-3862

Prince Edward Island Contact(s):
Regional Office and the Labour Services Centre
Labour Program
Human Resources and Social Development Canada
85 Fitzroy Street
P.O. Box 8000
Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island  C1A 8K1
Telephone: (902) 566-7171

Quebec Contact(s):
Montreal District Office
Labour Program
Human Resources and Social Development Canada
3rd Floor
715 Peel Street
Montréal, Quebec  H3C 3H6
Telephone: (514) 283-2214
Toll-free (information): 1-800-954-2633

Saskatchewan Contact(s):
Regional and Regina District Offices
Labour Program
Human Resources and Social Development Canada
Main Floor
2045 Broad Street
Regina, Saskatchewan  S4P 2N6
Telephone: (306) 780-5408

Yukon Contact(s):
Kelowna District Office
Labour Program
Human Resources and Social Development Canada
2nd Floor
471 Queensway Avenue
Kelowna, British Columbia  V1Y 6S5
Telephone: (250) 762-3018