Consultation: Prevention Starts Here – Health & Safety at Work

• Issued: May 10, 2012
• Consultation ends: June 29, 2012
• Content last reviewed: May 2012
• See also: Prevention

• Workbook [ 607 Kb]
• Employer Guide - HTML | PDF [65 Kb]
• How to submit information to the review

Introduction

The Ministry of Labour is seeking feedback on the draft versions of:

• supervisor health and safety awareness workbook
• employer guide to this awareness workbook

We would like to receive your comments.

Background

In March, 2010, the Minister of Labour appointed an Expert Advisory Panel to review Ontario’s occupational health and safety system. The Panel included representatives of organized labour, employers, and the academic community. Throughout 2010, the Panel consulted extensively with stakeholders across the province to identify structural and operational improvements to the organizations and mechanisms supporting both the prevention of workplace injuries, illnesses, and fatalities, and the enforcement of occupational health and safety legislation.

On December 16, 2010, the Minister accepted the Panel’s report and its 46 consensus recommendations. The 46th and final recommendation in the report listed the Panel’s high-priority recommendations.

Three of the recommendations were directed toward assisting workers and supervisors in their roles related to workplace health and safety, as set out in the Occupational Health and Safety Act. They recommended the development of awareness materials that would become mandatory. The focus of these materials would be on the rights and responsibilities of workplace parties under the Act. It is thought that once workers and supervisors become aware of this information, it may lead them to ask for further health and safety information and instruction specific to their jobs.

A draft poster and worker awareness workbook went out for public consultation from December 16, 2011 to February 17, 2012. Based on stakeholder feedback, revisions are currently being made to these products. Stakeholder feedback from that consultation has also been used to assist in the development of the content for the draft supervisor workbook and employer guide, which is the topic of this public consultation. The visual presentation of both products will be enhanced, based on feedback from both consultations, as they are finalized.

In addition to the worker and supervisor awareness workbooks, the Ministry intends to move forward with the development of e-learning awareness programs, again for workers and supervisors.

It is important to note that this draft supervisor awareness program is for consultation purposes. A regulation would be necessary to require employers to provide awareness programs. Stakeholders will be consulted on the regulatory proposal at the development stage.

How To Submit Information To The Review

Interested stakeholders, including labour organizations, businesses and workers are encouraged to submit their comments to the review by June 29, 2012.

• Responding electronically to questions using the feedback form (printable version also available)
• E-mailing submissions to the Office of the Chief Prevention Officer at: preventionfeedback@ontario.ca
• Faxing submissions to 416-314-5809 or
• Mailing submissions to the Office of the Chief Prevention Officer at:

  Office of the Chief Prevention Officer
  Supervisor Workbook and Employer Guide Review
  Ministry of Labour
  400 University Avenue
  14th Floor
  Toronto, ON M7A 1T7

Please submit your comments by June 29, 2012.

Notice to Review Participants

Submissions and comments provided to the Ministry of Labour are part of a public consultation process to solicit views on the supervisor awareness workbook and employer guide. This process may involve the Ministry publishing or posting to the internet your comments, or summaries of comments. In addition, the Ministry may also disclose your comments to other parties during the consultation period.

Therefore, you should not include the names of other parties (such as the names of employers or other employees) or any other information by which other parties could be identified in your submission.

Further, if you, as an individual, do not want your identity to be made public, you should not include your name or any other information by which you could be identified in the main body of the submission. If you do decide to identify yourself in the body of the submission this information may be released with published material or made available to the public. However, your name and contact information provided outside of the body of the submission, such as found in a cover letter, will not be disclosed by the Ministry unless required by law. An individual who provides a submission or comments and indicates an affiliation with an organization will be considered a representative of that organization and his or her identity may be disclosed.

Personal information collected during this consultation is under the authority of the Occupational Health and Safety Act and is in compliance with section 38 (2) of the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act.

If you have any questions regarding privacy matters, you may contact the Ministry’s Freedom of Information and Privacy Office at 416-326-7786.

Feedback Form

Please feel free to respond to all or some of the questions below. When you are finished commenting click on “submit your response” at the end of this section.

If you choose, you may view the workbook [ 607 Kb] or employer's guide [ 62 Kb] again before completing this form.