FAQs: Regulatory Requirements for Mandatory Worker and Supervisor Awareness Training

Issued: November 15, 2013
Content last reviewed: May 2016

When did the occupational health and safety awareness training become mandatory?

The training became mandatory on July 1, 2014 when Ontario Regulation 297/13 came into force.

Why is this training mandatory?

The purpose of this training is to improved occupational health and safety for Ontario’s workforce. The training fulfills two key recommendations from the Expert Advisory Panel report: that there be mandatory basic occupational health and safety awareness training for workers and supervisors. The Expert Advisory Panel reviewed the province’s occupational health and safety system and provided recommendations for its improvements.

Do all workers need to complete a basic occupational health and safety awareness training program?

Yes, employers must ensure everyone defined as a ‘worker’ under the Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA) completes a basic awareness training program.

Do all supervisors need to complete a basic awareness program?

Yes, employers must ensure everyone defined as a ‘supervisor’ under the OHSA completes a basic awareness training program.

Supervisors must complete training that covers learning outcomes listed in Ontario Regulation 297/13 for both supervisors and workers (see below for Question: “What information needs to be included worker / supervisor basic awareness training program?”).

When do the awareness training programs need to be completed?

Employers must ensure workers complete the training as soon as practicable. For supervisors, the training must be completed within one week of performing work as a supervisor.

Do the requirements apply to all workplaces?

The requirements apply to all workplaces covered under the Occupational Health and Safety Act, regardless of workplace size or sector.

What information needs to be included in the worker basic awareness training program?

A basic occupational health and safety awareness training program for workers must include instruction on:

The duties and rights of workers under the OHSA
The duties of employers and supervisors under OHSA
The roles of health and safety representatives and joint health and safety committees under OHSA
The roles of the Ministry of Labour, the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) and health and safety system partners (entities designed under section 22.5 of the OHSA)
Common workplace hazards
The requirements set out in Regulation 860 (Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System) with respect to information and instruction on controlled products
Occupational illness, including latency

What are “common workplace hazards”? Are they general hazards or workplace specific?

Common workplace hazards include:

Slipping, tripping or falling,
Working near motorized vehicles,
Using or working near machinery,
Workplace violence, and
Repeating the same movements over and over, especially if you are in an awkward position or use a lot of force.

What information needs to be included in a supervisor basic awareness training program?

A basic occupational health and safety awareness training program for supervisors must include instruction on:

The duties and rights of workers under OHSA
The duties of employers and supervisors under OHSA
The roles of health and safety representatives and joint health and safety committees under OHSA
The roles of the Ministry of Labour, the WSIB and health and safety system partners (entities designed under section 22.5 of the OHSA)
How to recognize, assess and control workplace hazards, and evaluate those hazards
Sources of information on occupational health and safety. What are “common workplace hazards”? Are they general hazards or workplace specific?

Are training materials available from the Ministry of Labour?

Yes, the ministry has developed products, such as printed workbooks and eLearning modules, which are available and can be used to comply with the new requirements. These materials are available on the Ministry of Labour website.

The worker and supervisor workbooks, and accompanying employer guides, are available through ServiceOntario. These materials are available in English, French, Traditional Chinese, Simplified Chinese, Hindi, Punjabi, Portuguese, Spanish, Urdu and Thai.

Electronic copies the workbooks and employer guides can be downloaded from the ministry’s website in English and French . Other languages including Traditional Chinese, Simplified Chinese, Hindi, Punjabi, Portuguese, Spanish, Urdu and Thai are available on demand from awarenessfeedback@ontario.ca.

Can the Ministry of Labour’s products be used by small businesses which do not have a computer in the workplace?

Yes. The workbooks and employer guides, which cover the same content as the eLearning modules, can be obtained through ServiceOntario.

Do workers have to use the Ministry of Labour’s products to comply with the new regulatory requirements?

No. While the ministry’s products, which are free, can be used by workplace parties to comply with the new requirements, using them is not mandatory.

Are eLearning Module publicly available?

eLearning modules are available on the MOL website in English and French.

Do employers have to hire training providers to deliver this training?

There is no requirement in the regulation for employers to hire private training providers to deliver basic occupational health and safety awareness training programs.

Approximately how long will the training take?

The Ministry’s basic awareness training is designed to be delivered in approximately one hour.

Do employers need to keep records of completion of training?

Yes, employers are required to keep records that a worker or supervisor has completed an awareness training program.

Do employers need to submit records to the Ministry of Labour?

No, employers are not required to submit records of completion of training to the Ministry of Labour, only to retain these records for compliance purposes.

Will workers and supervisors have to retake the awareness training programs if they change employers?

No, the regulation does not require workers and supervisors to retake awareness training programs if they change employers. However, the worker or supervisor must provide a new employer with proof that training was previously completed, and the new employer must verify that the training covered the minimum content requirements set out in the regulation.

If a worker or supervisor has already completed a program that is comparable to the awareness training requirements, will he or she have to “re-take” the training?

Workers and supervisors who have completed an awareness training program that covers the minimum content requirements set out in the regulation before the regulation came into force will not be required to “re-take” the training.

Do these requirements apply to workers and supervisors on construction projects and farms?

Yes, the requirements apply to all workplaces currently covered under the Occupational Health and Safety Act, regardless of sector.

Were stakeholders consulted on the regulation?

The regulatory proposal was subject to public consultation from December 6, 2012 until February 4, 2013.

Were stakeholders, including small businesses and vulnerable workers, involved in the development of these products?

Yes, stakeholders were consulted on all of the MOL products.

MOL conducted consultations and pilots for the workbooks and the eLearning modules which involved both small and large workplaces.
Over 60 representatives, workers and employers, from small businesses participated in the beta testing for the eLearning module, including migrant workers in the farming sector.
The ministry’s task groups for small business and vulnerable workers were also engaged during the development of these products.

Has the Ministry of Labour developed additional resources for employers?

Yes, the ministry developed additional employer resources and materials to assist with compliance, including:

A Guide to OHSA Requirements for Basic Awareness Training;
Training Program Assessment for Workers and Supervisors;
Record Keeping Template; and
Knowledge Check for Workers and Supervisors.

These materials can be downloaded from the ministry’s website at no cost.

Why can’t you save your progress on the eLearning module?

The modules were designed to be completed in one sitting. This is to ensure the confidentiality and security of users.

How do you get the certificate when using the printed booklet?

The regulation only requires that a record of training be kept and this record can be any form. The certificate is only available to those who have successfully completed the occupational health and safety awareness eLearning training for workers or supervisors. Those who choose to use the printed Worker Health and Safety Awareness in 4 Steps, or Supervisor Health and Safety Awareness in 5 Steps workbooks have the ability to sign their completed workbook, and in this case the signed workbook would act as a record of their training. Retention of training records for the awareness training is the responsibility of the employer.

How did you pick the languages used in the training materials?

After consultation with various stakeholder groups and government agencies the decision was made to make the occupational health and safety awareness training materials available in multiple languages. The languages used reflect current trends in the working population of Ontario.

The poster is available in: English, French, Arabic, Traditional Chinese, Simplified Chinese, Hindi, Italian, Korean, Igbo, Oji-Cree, Polish, Portuguese, Punjabi, Russian, Spanish, Tagalog, Tamil, Urdu, Vietnamese and in Braille.

The Worker Health and Safety Awareness in 4 Steps and Supervisor Health and Safety Awareness in 5 Steps workbooks and associated employer guides are available in English and French on the Ministry of Labours website. Printed copies may be ordered from ServiceOntario.

The eLearning modules are available in English and French.

Electronic copies of worker and supervisor workbooks and employer guides can be downloaded in English and French. Other languages, including Traditional Chinese, Simplified Chinese, Hindi, Punjabi, Portuguese, Spanish, Urdu and Thai are available on demand from awarenessfeedback@ontario.ca.