Ontario asks for feedback on OHSA reporting requirements

Ontario is proposing to streamline written reporting requirements into a single regulation that would apply to all workplaces covered under the Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA). 

And stakeholders are invited to submit comments on the proposed changes by Feb. 12, 2021.

All workplaces covered by the act are required to provide notice and reports to the Ministry of Labour, Training and Skills Development or other specified workplace parties of any fatalities, critical injuries, occupational illnesses and other prescribed incidents or occurrences at the workplace.

Currently, depending on the workplace, the information to be reported may be prescribed in one of eight regulations under OHSA, such as construction projects, mining and window cleaning.

The reporting requirements are similar but different from one another. Some workplaces do not fall under one of these regulations such as farms, schools, amusement parks, police and fire services, says the government. For these workplaces, the onus is left to the employer to determine what information should be reported.

“To assist employers and constructors in meeting their obligations, [the ministry] is proposing to streamline written reporting requirements into a single regulation that would apply to all workplaces covered under the OHSA.”

Stakeholder comments can be sent to [email protected] or by mail to OHSA Incident Reporting Project at the ministry.

In November, Ontario announced that more than 200 provincial officers would conduct workplace visits on pandemic health and safety.

And in July, the province invested $3 million to provide free online health and safety training for jobseekers and workers.