WEEK 2 Flashcards
What is an Act?
A federal, provincial, or territorial law that constitutes basic regulatory mechanism for occupational health and safety.
What is a regulation?
Explain how general intent of the act will be applied in specific circumstances
What are guidelines and policies?
More specific rules that are not legally enforceable unless referred to in a regulation or act.
What are standards and codes?
Design-related guides established by agencies.
All OH&S legislation includes?
- An act
- Powers of enforcement
- Workers’ right to refuse unsafe work
- Protection of workers from reprisals
- Duties and responsibilities assigned to employers and others
What are duties of employers in OH&S legislation?
- Ensuring equipment is provided and properly maintained.
- Appointing a competent supervisor.
- Providing information in medical emergency.
- Informing supervisors and workers of possible hazards.
- Posting OH&S Act in the workplace.
- Preparing and maintaining health and safety policy and reviewing it annually.
What are the duties of supervisors in OH&S legislation?
- Ensuring workers comply with OH&S Act and regulations.
- Ensuring workers use or wear safety equipment, devices, or clothing.
- Advising workers of possible hazards.
- Providing written instructions if applicable.
- Taking every reasonable precaution to ensure protection of workers.
What are the duties of workers in OH&S legislation?
- Complying with OH&S Act and regulations.
- Properly using safety equipment and clothes provided.
- Reporting hazards, such as defective equipment, to supervisor.
- Reporting any contraventions of the act or regulations.
What are the penalties for employer noncompliance?
- Fines up to $500,000 to an employer
- Ontario: maximum fine to a person is $25,000 plus two months’ jail time
- Bill C-45 (enacted under the Criminal Code): no limit on the fine to an employer, and/or up to life imprisonment to a person
What are the 3 basic rights to workers?
- right to participate
- right to refuse unsafe work
- right to know
Explain the Joint Health and Safety Committee.
- Any workplace with 20 or more employees in Ontario must has a JH&SC.
- Each JH&SC must train and certify at least one management member and one worker member.
What are the 4 principle functions of JH&SC
- identify potential hazards
- evaluate these potential hazards
- recommend corrective actions
- follow up implemented recommendations
When do workers have the right to refuse unsafe work?
if work is normal condition of employment;
or if worker, by his or her refusal, places another life in jeopardy.
The workplace hazardous materials information systems (WHMIS) is based on what 3 elements?
- workplace and supplier labels (Designed to alert the worker that the container contains a potentially hazardous product.)
- material safety data sheets (MSDSs): (Outlining a product’s potentially hazardous ingredients and procedures for safe handling of the product.)
- employee training: (WHMIS training)
What are the 6 classes of materials?
- class A: compressed gas
- Class B: flammable and combustible material
- Class C: oxidizing material
- Class D: Poisonous and infectious material
Division 1-contain a fatal poison
Division 2-causing other toxic effects
Division 3-Biohazardous infectious material - Class E: Corrosive Material
- Class F: Dangerously Reactive material
