In recent years, the Ontario government has imposed several new mandatory training requirements on employers carrying on business in Ontario.
As an employment lawyer who advises employers of all sizes, I see that employers are finding it increasingly difficult to keep up to date on these obligations.
This blog summarizes some of the mandatory training requirements that are set out in the Occupational Health and Safety Act, and the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act.
Occupational Health and Safety Act
As of July 1, 2014, most employers have been required to provide mandatory health and safety awareness training to employees.
An employer must appoint a “competent” supervisor who is, among other things, familiar with the Occupational Health and Safety Act and the regulations that apply to the work.
For most employers with 20 or more employees, certain members of a joint health & safety committee must be “certified” and only certain training companies like FAST Rescue are qualified to provide this training.
Employers are generally required to provide training to a worker exposed or likely to be exposed to a hazardous material or to a hazardous physical agent.
A new regulation requires employers to ensure that workers on construction projects successfully complete a working at heights training program if they may use specified methods of fall protection.
Accessibility for Ontarians With Disabilities Act
Pursuant to the Customer Service Regulation, employers with 20 or more employees are required to provide training about the provision of its goods or services to persons with disabilities.
Pursuant to the Integrated Accessibility Standards, employers with 50 or more employees must receive training on the Human Rights Code as it pertains to persons with disabilities and this Standard.
