Organization's Role in Public Safety

• Mission is to promote a fair, healthy, safe, stable, cooperative, and productive work environment that contributes to the social and economic well-being of all Canadians.
• Responsible for developing, administering, and enforcing legislation, regulations, standards and policies related to occupational health and safety and fire protection.
• One of the primary goals of the Canada Labour Code is to prevent workplace accidents and injury, including occupational diseases, which could adversely affect employees' health.
• The Canada Labour Code governs federally regulated employees and employers. They are employed in key sectors of the economy, notably air, rail and highway transport, pipelines, banks, broadcasting and telecommunications, uranium mines, marine transport and related services. Some 40 Crown corporations and agencies, First Nations reserves, and the entire federal public service are also subject to the Code.

Key Public Safety Activities

1. Occupational Health and Safety
• Canada Health and Safety officers ensure compliance with the Canada Labour Code. The Health and Safety officers conduct workplace inspections, investigate hazardous occurrences and respond to employee complaints of "danger" in the workplace. They work with the policy and workplace health and safety committees to help resolve health and safety issues in the workplace. They also assist employers and employees with making their work site healthier and safer by providing advice on health and safety matters.
• Canada Health and Safety officers also administer the Non Smokers' Health Act and Regulations, which, except in designated smoking areas, prohibits smoking in all work places under federal jurisdiction.
2. Fire Protection
• Fire Protection Services staff enforce the fire safety regulations and fire protection requirements of the National Building Code of Canada and the National Fire Code of Canada. As well, they review design drawings and specifications; inspect buildings under construction; conduct engineering surveys; inspect existings building; investigate fires; prepare annual fire loss reports; and provide educational and counselling services aimed at reducing fire risks. These services are provided to federal departments and agencies, First Nations, and certain Crown corporations.
3. Income Protection
• Employees of the public service of Canada, including those of Crown corporations and agencies, are eligible for the benefits provided by the Government Employees' Compensation Act with respect to personal injury resulting from an accident or an occupational disease in the course of their employment.