Health and safety regulations across the country
Following the introduction of Bill C-45 (also known as the corporate killing or the Westray bill), amendments were made to the Criminal Code in 2004 that expanded the scope of criminal liability for workplace accidents. The legislation makes it easier for managers and supervisors to be held liable if an employee is injured or killed on the job. Along with this federal legislation, various provincial laws provide employers with workplace safety standards.
A guide to Bill C-45
www.justice.gc.ca/en/dept/pub/c45
The Department of Justice Canada site provides “A Plain Language Guide” to Bill C-45. It outlines criminal liability generally and answers questions such as “How are organizations punished for committing a crime?”
Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety
www.ccohs.ca
The Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety site is a good source of information and advice. Click on the “Answers” section in the links at the top of the page to find out information about legislation, health and safety programs and information resources.
Alberta
www.hre.gov.ab.ca/cps/rde/xchg/hre/hs.xsl/307.html
Alberta’s new Occupational Health and Safety Code came into effect on Feb. 1. This Alberta Government Employment, Immigration and Industry site provides links to the legislation, including the 539-page code itself, one to the Explanation Guide and one to a comparison with the 2003 OHS code.
British Columbia
www.worksafebc.com
The WorkSafeBC site provides health and safety legislation information, including links to regulation and policy issues and the Workers Compensation Act.
Manitoba
www.gov.mb.ca/labour/safety
Located within the Manitoba Labour and Immigration site is this section on Workplace Safety and Health. It has quick links to the Workplace Safety and Health Act, as well as bulletins, guidelines and the Safe Work newsletter.
New Brunswick
www.whscc.nb.ca/index_e.asp
New Brunswick’s Workplace Health, Safety and Compensation Commission’s site offers many resources. Click on the “Legislation” tab, then go to the “Topics” section on the left side of the page and click on the “Acts and Regulations” link to access links to provincial acts, including the province’s Occupational Health and Safety Act, as well as the Workers’ Compensation Act and the Workplace Health, Safety and Compensation Commission Act.
Newfoundland and Labrador
www.hoa.gov.nl.ca/hoa/statutes/o03.htm
The province’s full occupational health and safety act is available on this page of the Newfoundland and Labrador House of Assembly site. Click on the links to go to specific sections of the act.
Northwest Territories and Nunavut
www.wcb.nt.ca/your_wcb/legislation.html
The Northwest Territories and Nunavut Workers’ Compensation Board website provides a list of links to various regulations, the Mine Health and Safety Act and the Explosives Use Act.
Nova Scotia
www.gov.ns.ca/enla/healthandsafety
The Nova Scotia Employment and Workplaces site offers links to various safety-related issues. Click on the link on the left side of the page to go to “Legislative Framework,” which provides a link to the province’s Occupational Health and Safety Act. Subheads on this page include links to regulations, codes of practice and guidelines.
Ontario
www.wsib.on.ca/wsib/wsibsite.nsf/public/home_e
The Ontario Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) provides plenty of information on health and safety. Click on the “Resources” link on the menu on the left side of the page and under the Legislation section are links to the Workplace Safety and Insurance Act, First Aid Requirements and the Occupational Health and Safety Act. There are also links to WSIB services, reference materials and related organizations.
Prince Edward Island
www.wcb.pe.ca
The Workers Compensation Board of Prince Edward Island site includes information for employers in a link on the left-hand menu. There is also a publications section that has a reference guide to the Occupational Health and Safety Act.
Quebec
www.csst.qc.ca/portail/en
Quebec’s Commission de la santé et de la sécurité du travail includes links to legislation, publications and recent news.
Saskatchewan
www.wcb.yk.ca
The Yukon Workers’ Compensation Health and Safety Board’s site has a “What’s New” section that includes a link to the new OHS regulations. Links at the top of the home page include one on employer information, which outlines employer obligations and links to PDF forms that employers and employees must fill out in case of injury or illness.
Ann Macaulay is a freelance editor and regular contributor to Canadian HR Reporter. Her Web Sight column appears regularly in the CloseUp section.
A guide to Bill C-45
www.justice.gc.ca/en/dept/pub/c45
The Department of Justice Canada site provides “A Plain Language Guide” to Bill C-45. It outlines criminal liability generally and answers questions such as “How are organizations punished for committing a crime?”
Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety
www.ccohs.ca
The Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety site is a good source of information and advice. Click on the “Answers” section in the links at the top of the page to find out information about legislation, health and safety programs and information resources.
Alberta
www.hre.gov.ab.ca/cps/rde/xchg/hre/hs.xsl/307.html
Alberta’s new Occupational Health and Safety Code came into effect on Feb. 1. This Alberta Government Employment, Immigration and Industry site provides links to the legislation, including the 539-page code itself, one to the Explanation Guide and one to a comparison with the 2003 OHS code.
British Columbia
www.worksafebc.com
The WorkSafeBC site provides health and safety legislation information, including links to regulation and policy issues and the Workers Compensation Act.
Manitoba
www.gov.mb.ca/labour/safety
Located within the Manitoba Labour and Immigration site is this section on Workplace Safety and Health. It has quick links to the Workplace Safety and Health Act, as well as bulletins, guidelines and the Safe Work newsletter.
New Brunswick
www.whscc.nb.ca/index_e.asp
New Brunswick’s Workplace Health, Safety and Compensation Commission’s site offers many resources. Click on the “Legislation” tab, then go to the “Topics” section on the left side of the page and click on the “Acts and Regulations” link to access links to provincial acts, including the province’s Occupational Health and Safety Act, as well as the Workers’ Compensation Act and the Workplace Health, Safety and Compensation Commission Act.
Newfoundland and Labrador
www.hoa.gov.nl.ca/hoa/statutes/o03.htm
The province’s full occupational health and safety act is available on this page of the Newfoundland and Labrador House of Assembly site. Click on the links to go to specific sections of the act.
Northwest Territories and Nunavut
www.wcb.nt.ca/your_wcb/legislation.html
The Northwest Territories and Nunavut Workers’ Compensation Board website provides a list of links to various regulations, the Mine Health and Safety Act and the Explosives Use Act.
Nova Scotia
www.gov.ns.ca/enla/healthandsafety
The Nova Scotia Employment and Workplaces site offers links to various safety-related issues. Click on the link on the left side of the page to go to “Legislative Framework,” which provides a link to the province’s Occupational Health and Safety Act. Subheads on this page include links to regulations, codes of practice and guidelines.
Ontario
www.wsib.on.ca/wsib/wsibsite.nsf/public/home_e
The Ontario Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) provides plenty of information on health and safety. Click on the “Resources” link on the menu on the left side of the page and under the Legislation section are links to the Workplace Safety and Insurance Act, First Aid Requirements and the Occupational Health and Safety Act. There are also links to WSIB services, reference materials and related organizations.
Prince Edward Island
www.wcb.pe.ca
The Workers Compensation Board of Prince Edward Island site includes information for employers in a link on the left-hand menu. There is also a publications section that has a reference guide to the Occupational Health and Safety Act.
Quebec
www.csst.qc.ca/portail/en
Quebec’s Commission de la santé et de la sécurité du travail includes links to legislation, publications and recent news.
Saskatchewan
www.wcb.yk.ca
The Yukon Workers’ Compensation Health and Safety Board’s site has a “What’s New” section that includes a link to the new OHS regulations. Links at the top of the home page include one on employer information, which outlines employer obligations and links to PDF forms that employers and employees must fill out in case of injury or illness.
Ann Macaulay is a freelance editor and regular contributor to Canadian HR Reporter. Her Web Sight column appears regularly in the CloseUp section.
