If the health and safety board of your company hasn’t caught your attention recently, chances are others are overlooking it too. Compliance with mandatory posting requirements is crucial for organizations, and maintaining the information on the board with regular updates ensures that everyone takes a moment to review the latest developments when passing by.
Health and Safety Board Requirements
It is a requirement under the Occupational Health and Safety Act (the Act) that specific information is displayed on the workplace health and safety board.
The Occupational Health and Safety Act
Section 25(2)(i) of the Act clearly states “An employer shall post, in the workplace, a copy of this Act and any explanatory material prepared by the Ministry…”
While there’s no requirement that the posted Act has to be current, it is considered best practice and industry standard to update it every year. The Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training, and Skills Development (MLITSD) makes posting all current legislation mandatory. If you choose to continue to display an older version of the Act, you must ensure that you’ve printed and displayed all legislation that’s been added, changed, or updated since. An MLITSD inspector will issue a ticket if any information is missing.
Because the legislation is always changing and adapting to better protect workers, buying and displaying a current copy of the Act each year is a small price to pay for compliance. It also sends an important message to the workforce, that your organization values safety.
Posters
Along with a current copy of the Act, the health and safety board must display specific informational posters. The following posters must be displayed in the workplace:
Health and Safety at Work: Prevention Starts Here
This poster conveys vital information to employees regarding their rights and duties in the workplace. It features the MLITSD contact number for reporting accidents, critical injuries, fatalities, and instances of work refusal. Displaying this poster is a mandatory requirement in the workplace.
Downloadable Link: Prevention Starts Here
In Case of Injury (1234)
Mandatory for all workplaces under WSIB coverage, this poster details the procedures to follow in the case of a workplace injury. Offering crucial information to employees about their rights and obligations, it also features the MLITSD contact number for reporting accidents, critical injuries, fatalities, and work refusals. Displaying this poster within the workplace is a requirement.
Downloadable Link: In Case of Injury or Illness at Work
Employment Standards Poster
Although it is no longer mandatory to display this poster on the health and safety board or within the workplace, it is still necessary to distribute it to all employees. This ensures that they receive essential information, encompassing their rights and obligations under the Employment Standards Act. While placing it on the health and safety board is not obligatory, it is advised as a helpful reminder for workers.
JHSC Documents
The Joint Health and Safety Committee (JHSC) is expected to post meeting minutes and workplace inspection results.
Other Requirements
The health and safety board must also display the following:
- The names and work locations of JHSC members
- The organization’s health and safety policy
- The organization’s workplace violence and harassment policy
Most organizations also display the names and work locations of certified first aiders.
Summarized Compliance Checklist
To be compliant, your health and safety board must have all of the below:
- A current copy of the Act
- Health and Safety at Work: Prevention Starts Here poster
- In Case of Injury (1234) poster
- The workplace health and safety policy
- The workplace violence and harassment policy
- A list of JHSC members’ names and work locations
- The most recent JHSC minute meetings
- The results of the most recent workplace inspection
- Any relevant, important, or new health and safety information
The Health and Safety Board Should not be Boring!
For a health and safety board to be compliant, it should encompass all mandatory posting requirements. However, the mandatory elements serve as the foundation, not the limit. Consider them as the baseline. The most impactful health and safety boards go beyond the basics, making them engaging and prompting workers to revisit for fresh and compelling information.
- Post monthly health and safety champions or have a spot dedicated to celebrating workers caught in the act of behaving safely
- Consider purchasing brightly colour borders, background paper, and safety photos
- Post a quiz question of the month, and do a prize draw
- Feature monthly safety themes
- Post updates describing how feedback is being implemented
- Hold a monthly safety challenge and post previous winners
- Be sure that all information is relevant and up to date
- The key to keeping your health and safety board exciting is to ensure it doesn’t stagnate. Be sure to change the information frequently to keep people coming back.
Best Safety Training Can Help
Are you missing something? Contact us at Best Safety Training and Consulting. We can help you complete your health and safety board so that it’s compliant.