All Members of Canadian Union of Skilled Workers should be aware of a new Regulation under the Ontario Occupational Health and Safety Act ("OHSA") that requires mandatory training for Workers and Supervisors. The CUSW Health, Safety and Wellness Committee encourages all Members complete this online training and maintain a record as detailed below.

The most significant parts of the Regulation will come into force on July 1, 2014. The Ontario Regulation requires Employers to provide basic occupational health and safety awareness training to Workers and Supervisors. As such, it is essential that we collaborate with our Employers as they take the necessary steps to ensure compliance. These activities have been ongoing for the last number of months for those Members active in our Workplaces. Here is an overview of the training requirements:

The training program for Workers in Ontario must include instruction on the following topics:

1. The duties and rights of workers under the OHSA.
2. The duties of employers and supervisors under the OHSA.
3. The roles of health and safety representatives and joint health and safety committees under the OHSA.
4. The roles of the Ontario Ministry of Labour, the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board and entities designated under section 22.5 of the OHSA with respect to occupational health and safety.
5. Common workplace hazards.
6. The requirements set out in Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS) with respect to information and instruction on controlled products.
7. Occupational illness, including latency (i.e. that some occupational illnesses may not be immediately apparent or known).

The training program for Supervisors in Ontario must include instruction on the following topics:

1. The duties and rights of workers under the OHSA.
2. The duties of employers and supervisors under the OHSA.
3. The roles of health and safety representatives and joint health and safety committees under the OHSA.
4. The roles of the Ontario Ministry of Labour, the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board and entities designated under section 22.5 of the OHSA with respect to occupational health and safety.
5. How to recognize, assess and control workplace hazards, and evaluate those controls.
6. Sources of information on occupational health and safety.

The Ontario Ministry of Labour provides detailed information and background on the new regulation on their web site. The Ministry also has free online training resources available for Workers and Supervisors available at https://www.labour.gov.on.ca/english/hs/sawo/pubs/fs_trainingreg.php.

The new training obligations are meant to provide a basic level of training to Workers and Supervisors so that all of the Workplace Parties better understand their obligations and responsibilities under the OHSA. The CUSW Health, Safety and Wellness Committee encourages all Members to complete the online training provided by Ontario Ministry of Labour and provide the Certificate of training to both your Employer and CUSW to be included in your personal skills profile.