Other resource papers in this series
Understanding the Ontario Health and Safety System: Health and Safety Associations
Understanding the Ontario Health and Safety System: Research Centres
Authors: Erinn McCreath Frangakis, Joyce Guo, Catherine Brookman, Jack P. Callaghan
Printable version: Understanding the Ontario Health and Safety System: Government Bodies (PDF)
Occupational health and safety in Ontario is protected by the Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA). The main purpose of the OHSA is to protect workers from health and safety hazards by establishing rights and duties for all workplace parties. The Ministry of Labour, Training and Skills Development (MLTSD)1 works with the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB)2, six Health and Safety Associations (HSAs)3, and other partner institutions, including the Centre of Research Expertise for the Prevention of Musculoskeletal Disorders (CRE-MSD)4, to form the Ontario Health and Safety System.
This paper will outline the roles of the two main organizations with legislative mandates within the Ontario Health and Safety System: The Ministry of Labour, Training and Skills Development (MLTSD)1 of the Ontario Government, and the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB)2, an arm’s length agency which reports to the MLTSD.
Ministry
of
Labour,
Training
and
Skills
Development
(MLTSD)1
At
a
Glance:
The
MLTSD1
is
a
regulatory
body
and
one
of
its
primary
responsibilities
is
reducing
the
number
of
injuries
and
illnesses
that
occur
at
work
by
ensuring
that
workplaces
comply
with
the
OHSA
so
that
everyone
can
return
home
safely.
MLTSD’s1
role
in
Ontario’s
Health
and
Safety
System
is
to
enforce
and
regulate
health
and
safety
in
the
workplace.
This
involves
ensuring
that
both
workers
and
employers
comply
with
the
OHSA
by
providing
policy,
prevention
and
enforcement
activities.
These
activities
can
help
individuals
understand
health
and
safety
requirements
and
their
relevance
in
the
workplace.
The
MLTSD1
Health
and
Safety
Inspectors
are
responsible
for
inspecting
workplaces
to
ensure
that
they
are
meeting
provincial
regulations.
These
inspectors
may
visit
the
workplace
at
any
time
to
determine
if
there
are
contraventions
(i.e.
violations).
If
there
are
contraventions,
the
inspector
may
issue
an
order
so
the
contravention
is
addressed.
This
may
result
in
a
stop
work
order
if
the
inspector
feels
that
the
hazard
is
imminent.
If
the
contravener
does
not
follow
the
order,
regulatory
prosecution
against
the
objecting
party
[employer
or
worker]
may
occur.
During
inspections,
inspectors
may
provide
workplace
parties
with
compliance
assistance,
such
as
referring
them
to
their
relevant
Health
and
Safety
Association3
(see
Paper
2
–
Health
and
Safety
Associations)
for
information
about
specific
areas
of
occupational
health
and
safety.
The
MLTSD1
provides
guidance
and
direction
on
proactive
training
such
as
Health
and
Safety
Awareness
Training,
Working
at
Heights
Training,
Workplace
Violence
and
Harassment
Training,
and
Joint
Health
and
Safety
Committee
Certification
Training.
Workplace
Safety
and
Insurance
Board
(WSIB)2
At
a
Glance:
Previously
known
as
the
Worker’s
Compensation
Board
(WCB),
the
WSIB2
is
a
provincial
agency
established
by
the
Workplace
Safety
and
Insurance
Act
(WSIA)
that
provides
insurance
to
Ontario
businesses,
which
helps
protect
Ontario’s
economy.
The
WSIB2
promotes
health
and
safety
and
provides
compensation,
benefits,
and
return-to-work
programs
for
injured
workers.
It
also
maintains
a
large
database
for
all
occupational
injuries
in
Ontario.
With
a
few
exceptions,
businesses
are
legally
required
to
register
with
the
WSIB2
within
10
days
of
hiring
their
first
employee.
Businesses
exempt
from
this
requirement
are
outlined
on
the
WSIB2
website
(see
Do
you
need
to
register
with
us?
for
more
details).
Businesses
that
pay
WSIB2
premiums
are
classified
as
Schedule
1
employers,
whereas
those
who
do
not
pay
premiums
are
considered
Schedule
2.
Schedule
2
businesses
typically
include
publicly
funded
organizations
such
as
governments,
and
federally
regulated
industries
such
as
shipping
companies
(note
that
some
publicly
funded
organizations
and
federally
regulated
industries
are
included
in
Schedule
1
as
well).
Schedule
2
employers
are
still
legally
required
to
report
all
accidents
to
WSIB2,
but
they
are
responsible
for
the
full
cost
of
all
approved
claims.
For
Schedule
1
employers,
compensation
is
funded
by
the
WSIB2
premiums
paid
by
businesses
in
Ontario.
The
WSIB2
provides
compensation
to
workers
who
have
a
work-related
injury
on
a
“no
fault”
basis,
meaning
that
compensation
will
be
given
no
matter
who
is
at
fault
for
the
injury.
If
a
claimant
is
unhappy
with
the
decision
of
the
WSIB2
on
their
injury
claim,
they
can
make
an
appeal.
Employers
in
both
Schedules
must
report
workplace
incidents
to
WSIB2
within
three
days,
and
employees
must
file
a
claim
within
six
months.
Since
all
workplace
accidents
must
be
reported
to
the
WSIB2,
the
WSIB2
is
also
a
statistical
hub
for
occupational
injury
data.
Every
year,
the
WSIB2
releases
its
By
the
Numbers
Report5
that
is
available
to
the
public.
This
report
compiles
data
from
total
injury
claims
throughout
the
year
and
presents
highlights
based
on
categories
such
as
age,
sector,
body
region,
and
industry.
This
annual
data
is
especially
helpful
with
finding
trends
in
injury
claims
throughout
the
years.
Conclusion
Provincially regulated workplaces in Ontario are legally required to abide by the OHSA and WSIA. The MLTSD1 ensures that companies continue to follow these regulations so that all individuals in a workplace are safe. If an injury or illness occurs in the workplace, the WSIB2 is the insurance organization which will provide workers with the help they need to return to work. All workplace incidents must also be reported to the WSIB2. These two bodies work together with Research Centres (see Paper 3 – Research Centres), such as CRE-MSD4, and Health and Safety Associations3 (see Paper 2 – Health and Safety Associations) to prevent and reduce the number of workplace injuries and illnesses that occur. To track safety statistics and determine the trends across the years, one can visit WSIB’s2 By the Numbers Report5.
Key messages
- The MLTSD1 ensures that all provincially regulated workplaces meet the standards set forth by the Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA).
- The MLTSD1 works to eliminate workplace fatalities, injuries and illness through policy, prevention and enforcement activities.
- The WSIB2 provides insurance to businesses as well as benefits and return-to-work plans to support injured workers.
- The WSIB2 promotes health and safety and provides a statistical database for workplace injury claims.
Implications for the prevention of MSD
- By following the directions of the MLTSD1 inspector and the referring Health and Safety Associations3, many jobs that lead to musculoskeletal disorders (MSD) can be modified to protect the worker. CRE-MSD4 resources such as the MSD Prevention Guideline for Ontario can help prevent MSD.
- The WSIB2 helps prevent further injury by providing benefits and return to work programs.
References
- Ontario Ministry of Labour, Training and Skills Development: https://www.ontario.ca/page/ministry-labour-immigration-training-skills-development
- Workplace Safety & Insurance Board of Ontario: https://www.wsib.ca/en
- Ontario’s Health and Safety System: https://www.ontario.ca/document/healthy-and-safe-ontario-workplaces-strategy/ontarios-occupational-health-and-safety-system
- CRE-MSD: /centre-of-research-expertise-for-the-prevention-of-musculoskeletal-disorders/node/1
- WSIB By the Numbers Statistical Report: https://safetycheck.onlineservices.wsib.on.ca/safetycheck/?lang=en
Last updated: September 2021
Disclaimer: Position papers are funded by the Centre of Research Expertise for the Prevention of Musculoskeletal Disorders, which receives funding through a grant provided by the Ontario Ministry of Labour, Training and Skills Development. The views expressed are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of the Centre nor of the Province.