Health and Safety Boards: Is Yours Compliant?
If you can’t remember the last time you looked at your company’s health and safety board, it’s likely that no one else is looking at it either. Organizations must meet mandatory posting requirements to remain compliant, and keeping information updated, fresh, and relevant will ensure that no one ever walks by the health and safety board without stopping to check out what’s new.
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, Training, and Skills Development (MLTSD) 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 MLTSD 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 provides important information to workers about their rights and responsibilities at work. It includes the MLTSD phone number for reporting accidents, critical injuries, fatalities, and work refusals. It must be posted in the workplace.
In Case of Injury (1234)
This poster is required in all workplaces covered by the WSIB. It outlines the steps to take in the event of a workplace injury. This poster provides important information to workers about their rights and responsibilities at work. It includes the MLTSD phone number for reporting accidents, critical injuries, fatalities, and work refusals. It must be posted in the workplace.
Employment Standards Poster
This poster is no longer required to be posted on the health and safety board, or in the workplace. But it must be given to all employees so that they receive the important information it contains, including their rights and requirements under the Employment Standards Act. Including it on the health and safety board is recommended as a reminder to 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.
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
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.
The Health and Safety Board Should not be Boring!
A compliant health and safety board must have all mandatory posting requirements. But the mandatory requirements aren’t all that can be included! Think of the mandatory posting requirements as the foundation. The most effective health and safety boards are interesting, and keep workers checking back for new 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
Best Safety Training can provide you with everything you need to get your health and safety board compliant, including the 2020 Act. Need an Act right away? We still have 2019 Acts available.
Save on shipping! If you’re in one of the following cities, we will hand-deliver your Act order… FOR FREE! St. Thomas, London, Dorchester, Aylmer, Tillsonburg, Chatham, Ingersoll, Woodstock, Stratford
Let the Best Safety Training company take care of your training needs.