19/09/2018
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Occupational health and safety changes
An improved OHS system to better protect workers and ensure they have rights came into effect on June 1, 2018.
Overview
Every year, hardworking people are killed or injured on the job. A strong health and safety workplace culture is essential to preventing work-related injuries, illnesses and deaths.
updated Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) Act sets the minimum standards for workplace health and safety and outlines the roles and responsibilities of employers and workers.
The new OHS laws came into effect on June 1, 2018. These are the first significant updates in over 40 years.
Learn the new rules
Resources on specific changes to OHS laws will be added as they're available. Please check back for updates.
Highlights of OHS changes - May 2018 (PDF, 479 KB)
Sign up for or watch a recording of an OHS webinar
Subscribe to regular updates through the OHS e-newsletter
Take the health and safety committee training course
OHS requirements on farms and ranches
Basic rights of workers
As of June 1, workers have three basic rights:
the right to refuse dangerous work
the right to know
the right to participate
Right to refuse dangerous work
Workers have the right to refuse dangerous work and are protected from reprisal for exercising this right:
workers must continue to be paid while a work refusal is being investigated
employers must ensure workers understand the hazards at the workplace, know what needs to be reported and have the support to exercise their right
employers must investigate the matter in cooperation with the joint worksite health and safety committee or health and safety representative, if applicable
employers cannot take or threaten discriminatory action against a worker for exercising their rights and duties under the legislation
other workers may be assigned to the work if they are advised of the refusal, reason for it and are made aware of their own right to refuse work after the employer determines there is not a risk
Right to know
Workers have the right to know of potential hazards and have access to basic health and safety information in the workplace:
all employers must inform workers about potential hazards
all worksite parties must ensure information on health and safety hazards is available onsite
Right to participate
Workers have the right to be:
involved in health and safety discussions
participate in health and safety committees
