Occupational Health and Safety Act
The Occupational Health and Safety Act sets out the rights and duties of all parties in the workplace. Its main purpose is to protect workers against health and safety hazards on the job. Service managers and housing providers should be aware of the duties and responsibilities of employers (section 25), workplace supervisors (section 27), owners of workplaces (section 29, and corporate officers and directors (section 32). As persons with some degree of control over the workplace or the materials and equipment in the workplace or the direction of the work force, these individuals have a general duty to take all reasonable precautions to protect the health and safety of workers, as well as a number of specific duties found in the Act and its regulations. Certain health care and residential facilities (such as hospitals, nursing homes, psychiatric facilities, homes for the aged, and halfway houses) are subject to specific requirements (see Regulation 67/93). Service managers and housing providers should be aware of the requirement of establishing a Health and Safety Committee as required by subsection 8(2) of the Act.
Important changes to the Act regarding asbestos testing, treatment and removal procedures and protocols effective November 1, 2007 should also be examined closely by service managers and housing providers.
SHSC has compiled a summary of these legislative changes and their possible impact upon social housing services.
Additional information is available from IHM and Pinchin Environmental.
Link: Occupational Health and Safety Act (www.e-laws.gov.on.ca)
See Also: Health & Safety