WORKPLACE OVERSIGHT

Workplace Responsibilities
The constructor must ensure that
1. the measures and procedures
required by the current Occupational
Health and Safety Act and Regulations
for Construction Projects are carried
out on the project;
2. employers and workers on the project
comply with the Act and Regulations;
3. the health and safety of workers on
the project are protected.
Employer
The employer must ensure that
• 1. the equipment, materials, and protective devices that
are prescribed are provided;
• 2. the equipment, materials, and protective devices
provided are maintained in good condition and used as
prescribed;
• 3. the measures and procedures required by law are carried
out in the workplace;
• 4. information, instruction, and supervision are provided to
protect the health and safety of workers;
• 5. the appointed supervisor is a competent person (see
next page);
• 6. every precaution reasonable in the circumstances for the
protection of the worker has been taken;
• 7. additional duties imposed upon the employer in the Act
under section 25 and 26 are also followed.
Supervisor
• The supervisor must ensure that workers
• 1. work in the manner and with the protective
devices, measures, and procedures required by the
Act and Regulations;
• 2. use or wear the equipment, protective devices,
or clothing that the employer requires to be used
or worn;
• 3. are advised of any potential or actual danger to
their health or safety;
• 4. are given written instruction for their protection,
where written instruction is prescribed;
• 5. have been afforded every precaution reasonable
in the circumstances.
Worker
The worker must do the following:
1. Work in compliance with the provisions of the OHSA and the
Regulations.
2. Use or wear the equipment, protective devices or clothing
that the employer requires to be used or worn.
3. Report any problem with equipment that may endanger
workers to the employer or supervisor.
4. Report any contravention of the OHSA or Regs and any hazard
on the project to the employer or supervisor.
5. Never work in a manner that may endanger themselves or
others.
6. Never engage in any prank, contest, feat of strength,
unnecessary running or rough and boisterous conduct on the
project.
Health and safety representative
Worker
The health and safety representative performs site
inspections, helps to mediate disputes over unsafe conditions,
assists in investigating serious accidents, and confers with
supervisors, workers, and MOL inspectors whenever
necessary. A health and safety representative will be effective
only when they have the full cooperation and respect of
management and the workforce.
Requirements
1. At a project or other workplace where no committee is required under the
Occupational Health and Safety Act and where the number of workers regularly
exceeds five, the constructor or employer must cause the workers to select at least
one health and safety representative from among the workers at the workplace who
do not exercise managerial functions.
2. The selection must be made by workers or by the trade union or unions when
represented by them.
3. The employer and workers must provide the health and safety representative with
any information and assistance necessary to carry out inspections on the project.
Guidelines
1. The health and safety representative should have
current first aid and cardiopulmonary
resuscitation (CPR) certificates. This training is part
of the Accident Prevention Educational Program
for Electrical Construction and Maintenance
Workers.
2. The representative must be familiar with
requirements of the current Occupational Health
and Safety Act and Regulations for Construction
Projects.
3. The representative should be familiar with the
procedures involved in a refusal to work where
health and safety is in danger.
Joint Health and Safety Committee (JHSC)
A JHSC is required
• at a workplace where 20 or more workers are regularly employed and
work is expected to last three months or more
• at a workplace, other than a construction project, where a designated
substances regulation applies
• at a workplace where an order dealing with toxic substances has been
issued
• at a workplace where the MOL orders one.
Worker Trades Committee (WTC)
The JHSC must establish a WTC consisting of workers
employed in each of the trades at the workplace, to
assist it on all projects employing more than 49 workers
and lasting more than three months.
The purpose of the WTC is to
• identify health and safety problems
affecting individual trades
• notify the site supervisor and the JHSC of
their findings
• make written recommendations to the JHSC
• meet as often as required by the JHSC
• assist the JHSC, when requested, in
addressing health and safety problems
relating to trade work or to trade
technology.
Ministry of Labour inspectors
A Ministry of Labour inspector ca exercise fairly broad
powers to inspect, ask questions, and give orders. If the
inspector approaches a worker directly, the worker should
answer questions and cooperate. The supervisor must be
informed of any orders given or recommendations made.