Occupational Health Hazards and Illnesses
- Content last reviewed: December 2015
Occupational illness normally develops over a period of time because of workplace conditions. Such conditions might include exposure to disease-causing bacteria and viruses, for example, or to chemicals or dust.
Under the Occupational Health and Safety Act, occupational illness is defined as a condition that results from exposure in a workplace to a physical, chemical or biological agent to the extent that the normal physiological mechanisms are affected and the health of the worker is impaired.
Publications
Biological
- C. difficile
- Emergency Management
- Ebola Virus Disease
Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care - Ebola Virus Disease
Public Health Ontario - Flu and Your Workplace
- Guidelines for Workplaces: Identifying and Handling Anthrax and Other Biological Agent Threats
- Infection Prevention and Control
- Emergency Planning and Preparedness - MERS-CoV (Novel Coronavirus)
Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care - Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV)
Public Health Ontario - Mould in Workplace Buildings
- Preventing Infectious Diseases on Construction Projects
- Workplace Health and Safety Guideline--Legionella
Chemical
- Abrasive Blaster Dies of Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
- Alert: Asbestos Hazard in Vehicle Brake Repairs
- Alert: Carbon Monoxide Hazards from Using Gas-Powered Pressure Washers in Parking Garages
- Alert: Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Associated With Propane-Powered Floor Burnishers
- A Guide to the Regulation Respecting Asbestos on Construction Projects and in Buildings and Repair Operations
- Determination of Occupational Exposure Limits for Certain Refined Hydrocarbon Solvent Vapour Mixtures
- Lead On Construction Projects
- Silica On Construction Projects
- Alert: Thermal Spray Aluminum Coating Process
- What Vehicle Body Repair Shops Need to Know
- Workplace Beryllium Exposure
- You and Chemicals in the Workplace
Physical
- Amendments to Noise Requirements In the Regulations for Industrial Establishments & Oil and Gas-Offshore
- Heat Stress
- Radiofrequency and Microwave Radiation in the Workplace
Reports, Consultations
Contact Us
Health and Safety Contact Centre
Toll-free: 1-877-202-0008
TTY: 1-855-653-9260
- Report incidents, critical injuries or fatalities.
If this is an emergency call 911 immediately. - Workplace health and safety inquiries.
- Report unsafe work practices.
Other ways to contact us
Safe At Work Ontario
Laws
Regulations
- Controlled Products Regulations (SOR/88-66)
- Ingredient Disclosure List (SOR/88-64)
- Hazardous Materials Information Review Regulations (SOR/88-456)
- Hazardous Products Act (R.S.C., 1985, c. H-3)
- Ontario Regulation 490/09 Designated Substances
- Ontario Regulation 278/05 Designated Substance – Asbestos on Contruction Projects and in Buildings and Repair Operations
- Ontario Regulation 67/93 Health Care and Residential Facilities
- R.R.O. 1990, Regulation 833 Control of Exposure to Biological or Chemical Agents
- Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS)
Health and Safety Websites
- Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety (CCOHS)
- Health and Community Care
- Health and Safety Ontario (HSO)
- Workplace Safety & Prevention Services - Occupational Hygiene
- Infrastructure Health and Safety Association (IHSA)
- Occupational Health Clinics for Ontario Workers (OHCOW)
- The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
- Public Service Health and Safety Association (PSHSA)
- Safe Communities Foundation
- Workplace Safety & Prevention Services (WSPS)
- Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB)
- Workers Health and Safety Centre
- Workplace Safety North (WSN)
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