On this episode of the IHSA Safety Podcast, IHSA’s Deb Moskal and Doug Heintz discuss the role of health and safety representatives (HSRs) in Ontario small businesses. Deb and Doug explain when a workplace requires a health and safety representative, how they are selected, and their functions according to workplace health and safety legislation.

There are similarities between federal and provincial legislation regarding health and safety representatives, but there are also differences. Within provincial legislation, a health and safety representative is required in a workplace with six to 19 employees, with no requirement for a joint health and safety committee (JHSC). From a federal perspective, a health and safety representative is required for less than 20 employees in a workplace, with additional requirements depending on the nature of the work.

The process for selecting and electing a health and safety representative is the same for both provincial and federal legislation. The Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA) does not set specific formal qualifications or certifications for a health and safety representative, but there are several key requirements:

· The individual must be a worker at the workplace, but not an employer, supervisor, or manager.

· They are typically elected by workers through an open and transparent election process.

· They must be willing to learn about health and safety issues, regulations, and workplace hazards.

The duties of a health and safety representative include, but are not limited to, identifying any actual or potential workplace hazards, inspecting the workplace at least once a month, and making recommendations to the employer about health and safety concerns or initiatives.

Free Resources

Guideline for Health and Safety Representatives

JHSC/Health & Safety Representative

Legislative Requirements and Best Practices

Health and Safety Representative eCourse

JHSC Certification Training

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On this episode of the IHSA Safety Podcast, IHSA’s Maren Gamble discusses the importance of understanding legal and other requirements when building an occupational health and safety management system (OHSMS). Employers, supervisors, and workers need to understand their obligations under Ontario's Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA) or the Canada Labour Code Part 2.

To determine which requirements should be addressed, Maren suggests brainstorming with the right stakeholders, such as Joint Health & Safety Committees, project managers, supervisors, frontline staff, health & safety staff, HR staff, worker trades committee, and union representatives, if applicable.

Maren states that the process of determining these requirements can be approached systematically—a good starting point would be to consider every project and identify what applies. For example, if a company works under provincial legislation and is covered by the Workplace Safety and Insurance Act (WSIA), they should consider the Green Book, First Aid regulations, and others. Another consideration would be company requirements, such as audits, participation in the WSIB HSEp rebate program, and other mandatory measures. This systematic approach helps in creating a comprehensive inventory of requirements for any project.

IHSA offers resources such as the Construction Safety App, Training Requirements Chart, COR/HSEp requirements, manuals, and safety talks to help employers address their requirements effectively.

Free Resources

IHSA Construction Safety App

Training Requirements Chart

Construction Health and-Safety Manual

IHSA safety talks

COR requirements

HSEp requirements

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During the winter months in Canada, the weather can get extremely cold, and workers in industries such as construction, transportation, and electrical utilities oftentimes endure frigid temperatures and face the risk of experiencing cold stress.

On this 100th episode of the IHSA Safety Podcast, Jasmine Kalsi, IHSA's Occupational Hygienist, revisits the topic of cold stress, a highly important topic that was discussed in depth on Episode 76 of the IHSA Safety Podcast. Cold stress occurs when the human body's core temperature drops below 37 degrees Celsius, which can result in cold-related illnesses, tissue damage, and even death.

We invite you to listen to this relaunched episode of Episode 76, which provides additional resources on cold stress as well as guidance for Ontario employers on how to manage the risks of working outside in the winter to ensure worker safety.

IHSA offers a range of free resources on cold stress such as safety talks, advisories, articles, and a dedicated topic page on winter hazards.

Free Resources

Winter Weather is Upon Us

Safety Talk on Cold Stress

Winter Hazards Topic Page

Episode 76: Working Outside in the Canadian Winter

The Four Ps of Safe Winter Driving

Give Cold Stress the Cold Shoulder

Best Practices for Building and Working Safely on Ice Covers in Ontario

OHCOW Cold Stress Calculator

CCOHS Cold Environments – ACGIH Wind Chill Temperature Index

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