OSH Answers Fact Sheets

Do workers have rights? Yes. Every person employed in Canada has the right to a safe work environment. In each jurisdiction, the Occupational Health and Safety Act (or equivalent) is based on the internal responsibility system (IRS). The internal responsibility system requires that everyone at or associated with the workplace takes responsibility for their own health and safety and the health and safety of those around them. This shared responsibility for health and safety includes employers,...

What does a teacher do? A teacher is a person who helps students to acquire knowledge, prepares lesson plans, and educates students at all levels. Their general tasks may include to: Prepare lesson plans, teach students, assign homework, grade tests, and documents progress. Carry out the supervisory duties and instructional programs as assigned by the principal. Co-operate with the principal and other teachers to establish and maintain a safe environment in the classroom or at the...

When should I hire a health and safety training provider? Health and safety training is a core element of any  health and safety program . You may require outside assistance for the development and delivery of training for many reasons, including if in-house expertise for a specific topic is not available or if you do not have staff capable of training others within your organization. Health and safety legislation often requires mandatory training on certain health and safety topics,...

Why have an emergency plan? A definite plan to deal with major emergencies is an important element of occupational health and safety (OHS) programs. Besides the major benefit of providing guidance during an emergency, developing the plan has other advantages. You may discover unrecognized hazardous conditions that would aggravate an emergency situation and you can work to eliminate them. The planning process may bring to light deficiencies, such as the lack of resources (equipment, trained...