Overview

The Industrial Health and Safety Program is large and diverse, responsible for enforcing Ontario’s workplace health and safety laws in 29 sectors. This includes most workers at provincially regulated workplaces in Ontario.

Regulations

In addition to the Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA), these regulations may apply:

In general, hazards and workplaces not covered by a specific regulation are covered by the general duty clause 25(2)(h) of the OHSA. Employers must take every precaution reasonable to protect workers from hazards.

Sector-specific regulations

Farming is covered by the regulation for farming operations (O. Reg. 414/05). Certain activities may be covered by other sector-specific regulations such as Ontario’s regulation for construction projects (O. Reg. 213/91) or regulation for mines and mining plants (Reg. 854).

Hazard-specific regulations

There are several hazard-based regulations that may also apply beyond the sector-specific regulations.

Violence and harassment

All employers covered by the OHSA must comply with the requirements for workplace violence and harassment. These are set out in sections 32.0.1 to 32.0.8 of the OHSA. See the Ministry of Labour guide, Workplace Violence and Harassment: Understanding the Law.

For more information, including new workplace harassment provisions, see the Ministry of Labour topic webpages for Workplace Violence and Workplace Harassment. Employers can use the ministry’s Code of Practice to Address Workplace Harassment under the Occupational Health and Safety Act.

Agriculture services

This includes companies that perform or provide soil preparation, planting, crop dusting and spraying, tree surgery and removal, farm machinery, equipment and supplies, veterinary services or agricultural management.

Key hazards

Other legislation and regulations

Roll Over Protective Structures (Reg. 856) may apply.

Automotive

This includes companies that manufacture motor vehicles and motor vehicle chassis (including truck cabs), such as motor vehicle, truck body and trailer and automotive parts.

Key hazards

Ceramics, glass and stone

This includes companies that produce various forms of glass, concrete and non-metallic mineral products. Examples include clay product and refractory manufacturing, cement product manufacturing, ready-mix concrete, and lime and gypsum product manufacturing.

Key hazards

Chemical, rubber and plastics

This s sector is made up of manufacturing facilities that produce:

  • industrial organic chemicals and products (such as aliphatic acids, alcohols, glycols)
  • industrial inorganic chemicals and products (such as acids, alkalis, compressed gases and other inorganic compounds)
  • synthetic resins (such as powders, granules, flakes or liquids)
  • paints and varnishes (includes other chemical industries primarily engaged in manufacturing chemicals not elsewhere classified)
  • refined petroleum products including fuels and blended oils and greases
  • rubber products (such as in the tire and rubber industry)
  • pesticide, fertilizer and other agricultural chemicals
  • soap, cleaning compounds and toilet preparation
  • pharmaceuticals and medicine
  • plastic film and sheets

Organic and inorganic chemicals

Industrial organic chemicals are organic compounds such as methane, ethanol, gasoline and toluene. They are carbon-based and contain a carbon to hydrogen bond. They are often used as solvents, propellants and fuel, and in the manufacturing of plastics and other polymers. Petrochemicals are organic.

Industrial inorganic chemicals include all compounds that are not organic, such as titanium dioxide and chlor-alkali products. Carbon may be included but only when there is no carbon to hydrogen bond (for example carbon dioxide, carbon black, cyanide). Inorganic compounds have unlimited uses in manufacturing and industrial processes. Examples include pickling and plating operations, welding, soldering, metallurgical processes, swimming pool maintenance and abrasive blasting.

Key hazards

Other legislation and regulations

These regulations may also apply:

Construction premises

This sector includes companies that perform:

  • installation and maintenance of refrigeration and air conditioning
  • commercial refrigeration work
  • environmental control work
  • dry and wet heating and gas piping work
  • process piping work
  • insulation work
  • thermal insulation work
  • duct work
  • mechanical specialty work
  • other industrial construction and other services incidental to construction

This sector also includes offices of the premise, maintenance garages, warehouse and equipment storage/yards and transportation of equipment and machinery to projects from the yard.

Key hazards

Other legislation and regulations

Roll Over Protective Structures, Reg. 856 may also apply.

Education

The education sector includes:

  • early education centres
  • elementary, secondary and post-secondary schools
  • colleges
  • universities
  • driving schools
  • other educational services
  • libraries
  • museums

Key hazards

Other legislation and regulations

These regulations may also apply:

Electrical and electronics

These industries include:

  • small electrical appliance
  • major electric and non-electric appliance
  • electronic parts and components
  • lighting fixture
  • electric lamp and shade
  • receiver
  • telecommunication equipment
  • electrical transformer
  • electrical switchgear
  • battery
  • electronic computing and peripheral equipment
  • electronic office, store and business machine
  • other communication and electronic equipment industry

 Key hazards

Farming

This includes operations that primarily produce, cultivate, grow and harvest agricultural commodities. It also includes any practices performed as an integral part of a farming operation.

The Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA) applies to farming operations, subject to certain limitations and conditions as outlined in section 1 of the farming operations regulation (O. Reg. 414/05).

Generally, the OHSA and applicable regulations apply to a farming operation where there are paid workers. The employer and all other workplace parties (such as supervisors, suppliers and workers) must comply with the Act. This includes workers who are residents of Canada and workers employed in Ontario through one of the federal government’s Temporary Foreign Worker Programs such as the Seasonal Agricultural Workers Program.

The OHSA does not apply to a farming operation operated by a self-employed person without paid workers. For more information, please see the Ministry of Labour webpages on farming operations and agriculture.

Subsection 9(2) of the OHSA applies to farming operations that regularly employ 20 or more workers and perform work related to these farming operations:

  • mushroom
  • greenhouse
  • dairy
  • hog
  • cattle
  • poultry

A limitation for joint health and safety committees is found under section 3 of the farming regulation.

See the farming operations regulation (O. Reg. 414/05) for further details and application of the regulation in farming operations.

If construction work occurs, the construction projects regulation (O. Reg. 213/91) may apply (e.g. building a barn on the farm). If there is an industrial establishment, the regulation for industrial establishments (Regulation 851) may apply (e.g., processing of crops in a plant on the farm).

Key hazards

Other legislation and regulations

These may also apply:

Film and television

The film and television sector includes television and film production. It excludes television broadcasting, which is under federal jurisdiction.

For further information about health and safety in the film and television sector, see the Ministry of Labour webpages on the performance industry, and Safety Guidelines for the Film and Television Industry in Ontario.

Key hazards

Other legislation and regulations

Protecting Child Performers Act, 2015 may also apply.

Fire services

This includes municipal and other government firefighting services. A committee appointed by the Minister of Labour under section 21 of the OHSA develops guidance material about health and safety issues in the fire services sector. Read about the fire services section 21 committee and their guidance materials.

Key hazards

Other legislation and regulations

These regulations may apply:

Fisheries

This includes companies that catch fish and other wild animals from their natural habitats and includes other services incidental to fishing such as:

  • hunting or trapping
  • fish inspection
  • bait preparation
  • net mending
  • fish hatchery service
  • fishing consulting service

Key hazards

Food, beverage and tobacco

This includes workplaces that produce and/or manufacture food products, beverages, distillery products, brewery products, wine products and tobacco products. It also includes slaughterhouses and meat, fish and poultry processing plants.

Key hazards

Government

This includes:

  • municipal and provincial public administration
  • municipal and provincial entities (agencies, boards and commissions)
  • courts of law
  • correctional institutions
  • emergency medical services

Fire and police services are stand-alone sectors.

Key hazards

Industrial services

This includes individuals and workplaces that provide a service to support an industry rather than a product. Some examples are elevator and escalator installation/maintenance, display and billboard advertising, power laundries, linen supply and custom welding and metal fabricating.

Key hazards

Live performance

This includes staged entertainment by theatre companies, opera companies and ballet companies. It also involves indoor and outdoor concerts. This sector has an advisory committee that develops guidance material to address workplace health and safety.

For further information about health and safety in the live performance sector, see the Ministry of Labour webpages about the performance industry.

Key hazards

Other legislation and regulations

Protecting Child Performers Act, 2015 may also apply.

Logging and sawmills

This includes companies that cut timber and pulpwood; mills producing lumber and wood basic materials; and companies manufacturing finished articles made entirely or mainly of wood or related materials.

Key hazards

Other legislation and regulations

Roll Over Protective Structures (Reg. 856) may also apply.

Office and related services

This includes companies that provide general management and/or administrative support services such as:

  • strategic organizational planning
  • communications
  • tax planning
  • legal services
  • marketing
  • finance
  • human resources
  • information technology
  • other professional or technical or scientific services

Key hazards

Police services

This includes provincial and municipal police services. Police personnel include but are not limited to first responders, specialized units, dispatchers and civilian staff.

The Ontario Police Health and Safety Committee, appointed by the Minister of Labour under section 21 of the OHSA, develops guidance material on the OHSA and its regulations.

The Ontario Police Health and Safety Committee is made up of professionals in police services from across the province. It includes representatives from the:

  • Police Association of Ontario
  • Ontario Provincial Police
  • Ontario Provincial Police Association
  • Toronto Police Service
  • Toronto Police Association
  • Ontario Association of Chiefs of Police
  • Ontario Association of Police Services Boards
  • Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services
  • Ontario Police College
  • Ontario Police Health and Safety Association
  • Ontario Senior Officers’ Police Association
  • Public Services Health and Safety Association

Key hazards

Primary metals

This includes foundries, steel mills and other metal smelting, refining, casting, extruding and rolling operations. Examples are iron ferro-alloy manufacturing, alumina and aluminum production and processing, and non-ferrous metal (except aluminum) production and processing.

Key hazards

Pulp and paper

This includes companies that manufacture pulp, paper or paperboard, either alone or in combination with newsprint and converted paper products. Examples include pulp, paper and paperboard mills.

Key hazards

Restaurants

This includes restaurants, take-out food shops, caterers, taverns, bars and nightclubs. Family-run businesses and small businesses form a large part of this sector.

Key hazards

Retail

This includes companies that sell merchandise, generally without transformation, and provide services related to the sale of merchandise. Examples include liquor, beer and wine stores, food stores, pet stores and pharmacy and drug stores.

Key hazards

Textiles and printing

This includes the companies that produce leather and textile goods such as:

  • knitted products
  • clothing
  • footwear
  • carpets
  • mats
  • rugs
  • household products of textile materials

Printing includes commercial printing.

Key hazards

Tourism, hospitality and recreational services

This includes companies operating facilities or providing services to meet the cultural, entertainment and recreational interests of customers. Examples are:

  • lodging houses and laundries
  • golf courses
  • hotels and motels
  • amusement and recreation campgrounds
  • personal and household services

Key hazards

Other legislation and regulations

Roll Over Protective Structures (Reg. 856) may also apply.

Transportation

This includes freight trucking, courier services, taxis, school buses, GO Transit, urban transit systems and transit companies.

Key hazards

Utilities

This includes line clearing, telecommunications, utilities, municipal power, private power and water companies. Examples are pipelines, telephone firms and cable television firms.

Hazards

Other legislation and regulations

Roll Over Protective Structures (Reg. 856) may apply.

Vehicle sales and service

This includes retailing of motor vehicles (new and used), complementary services and retailing motor vehicle parts and accessories. Examples are auto body repair shops, tow truck operations, general garage repairs and gas stations.

Key hazards

Wholesale

This includes companies wholesaling and distributing goods such as:

  • food wholesalers
  • paper wholesalers
  • lumber and building material
  • “big box” stores
  • recyclers

Key hazards

Wood and metal fabrication

This sector is large and diverse. It includes producers of:

  • wood and metal furniture and fixtures
  • primary metal and metal fabricating
  • containers
  • building products
  • hardware and tools
  • sporting goods
  • machinery and equipment
  • transportation parts and equipment
  • other heavy equipment manufacturing

Key hazards