Your obligations under the Health and Safety Awareness and Training

The Ministry of Labour (MOL) has made Health and Safety Awareness training mandatory for workers and supervisors in Ontario’s workplaces.

As an employer, you must ensure that all your workers and supervisors complete a basic occupational health and safety awareness training program.

Training obligations:

• ensure that all your employees complete the Worker Health and Safety Awareness in 4 Steps as soon as reasonably possible;
• Complete the online eLearning module (45-60 minutes). A certificate will be issued upon completion.
• OR download the PDF version of the workbook. Once completed and signed the workbook becomes the proof of completion

Ensure that all supervisors complete the Supervisor Health and Safety Awareness in 5 Steps within one week of working as a supervisor;

• Complete the online eLearning module (45-60 minutes). A certificate will be issued upon completion.
• OR download the PDF version of the workbook. Once completed and signed the workbook becomes the proof of completion

Record keeping obligations:

• keep a record of the training completed by your workers and supervisors (Record Keeping Template);
• upon request provide a worker or a supervisor with written proof of completion for up to six months past their last day of employment.

What is covered in the training for Workers?

• the duties and rights of workers under OHSA;
• the duties of employers and supervisors under OHSA;
• common workplace hazards and occupational illnesses;
• the role of joint health and safety committees (JHSCs) and of health and safety representatives under OHSA;
• roles of the ministry, Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB), and Health and Safety Associations; and
• information and instruction requirements set out in the Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS) Regulation.

What is covered in the training program for supervisors Training for Supervisors?

• the duties and rights of workers under OHSA;
• the duties of employers and supervisors under OHSA;
• how to identify, assess and manage workplace hazards, the role of joint health and safety committees (JHSCs), and of health and safety representatives under OHSA;
• roles of the ministry, Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB), and Health and Safety Associations; and
• sources of information on occupational health and safety.

Besides these requirements, you continue to have on-going duties under the OHSA to inform workers about workplace-specific hazards. This includes the general duty to “provide information, instruction and supervision to a worker to protect the health or safety of the worker”.

Some of our members have experienced technical problems while completing the eLearning modules. Below is an excerpt from the Ministry of Labour after we raised the issue with the Ministry Staff.

"Videos in the eLearning modules are hosted on YouTube and on a Ministry of Labour server. If you experience issues with any of the YouTube videos (initial video format), please select the Alternate Video Format button - you will be redirected to that video hosted on the Ministry of Labour server. This will not impact your progress in the eLearning module. Please note: navigation is temporarily disabled when the videos are active. Once the videos are watched in their entirety navigation is restored. Attempting to ‘fast-forward’ through the videos may result in the module not functioning as designed.

Please ensure that any ‘Pop-up’ blocking functionality is disabled in your web browser, as this can negatively impact the downloading of the eLearning certificate.

A constant internet connection is required to complete the occupational health and safety eLearning modules for worker and/or supervisors."