Worker Health and Safety Awareness in 4 Steps
Awareness-level training: certificate of completion included. This course does not certify you to perform regulated work.
About Worker Health and Safety Awareness in 4 Steps Training
Worker Health and Safety Awareness in 4 Steps : Course Details
Duration: 45-60 minutes
Format: Online course with interactive content and assessments
Certification: Certificate of completion provided upon successful course completion
Access: Lifetime access to course materials and updates
Course Modules
- Introduction
- Step 1: Your Rights as a Worker
- Step 2: Responsibilities in the Workplace
- Step 3: Hazards, WHMIS & Reporting
- Step 4: Your JHSC, HSR & the Ministry
- Final Assessment
Who Should Take Worker Health and Safety Awareness in 4 Steps
This worker health and safety awareness training is mandatory for all workers in Ontario:
- All Ontario Workers: Required for every worker under the Occupational Health and Safety Act
- New Employees: Must complete awareness training as soon as practicable after hire
- Construction and Industrial Workers: On-site personnel across all sectors
- Office and Service Workers: Awareness training applies to all workplace types
- Seasonal and Temporary Workers: Required regardless of employment duration
Required under Ontario Regulation 297/13: Occupational Health and Safety Awareness and Training.
Worker Health and Safety Awareness in 4 Steps : Canadian Regulatory Compliance
Ontario Worker Training Requirements
This worker awareness training meets Ontario's mandatory training requirements:
- Ontario Regulation 297/13: Occupational Health and Safety Awareness and Training, mandatory basic worker awareness training
- Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA): Worker rights and duties under Ontario law
- Internal Responsibility System (IRS): Shared responsibility for workplace health and safety
Training Requirements
Every Ontario worker must complete basic health and safety awareness training as soon as practicable after being hired.
What You'll Learn in Worker Health and Safety Awareness in 4 Steps
- Understand your legal duties as a worker under the Occupational Health and Safety Act
- Identify and exercise your three core rights: to know, to participate, and to refuse unsafe work
- Recognize the six categories of workplace hazards and report them correctly
- Apply WHMIS 2015 requirements and interpret Safety Data Sheets (SDS)
- Identify workplace health and safety support organizations in Ontario
Frequently Asked Questions
Is health and safety awareness training legally required for all Ontario workers?
Yes. Ontario Regulation 297/13, made under the Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA), requires every Ontario worker to complete basic OHS awareness training covering eight specific topics, including worker rights, responsibilities, hazard recognition, and how to contact the Ministry of Labour. Employers must provide this training and keep records of completion - workers should retain their certificate as proof. New workers are at significantly higher risk of injury, with many incidents occurring within the first six months on the job, making early training especially critical.
Can my employer fire me for refusing unsafe work in Ontario?
No. OHSA s. 43 gives every Ontario worker the right to refuse work they have reasonable grounds to believe could endanger them or another worker. OHSA s. 50 protects workers from reprisal - your employer cannot discipline, suspend, or dismiss you for exercising this right in good faith. The process requires you to stop work, report to your supervisor, remain available at the workplace while an investigation takes place (with your JHSC member or HSR present), and if the matter is unresolved, the Ministry of Labour sends an inspector whose decision is binding on both parties.
What are a supervisor's legal duties under Ontario's OHSA, and can a supervisor be personally charged?
Under OHSA s. 27, supervisors must ensure workers comply with the OHSA, ensure required protective equipment is worn, advise workers of known hazards, and 'take every precaution reasonable in the circumstances' for worker protection. This duty is assessed objectively - a supervisor cannot ignore a known hazard or rely on a worker's experience as a reason to skip instructions or training. Ontario supervisors can be personally charged and fined up to $100,000 per offence, and courts have sentenced supervisors to jail time for deaths resulting from supervisory failures. Note that anyone directing the work of others - including lead hands and forepersons - may be considered a supervisor under the OHSA regardless of job title.
How do I report a workplace hazard or unsafe condition in Ontario?
Start by telling your supervisor immediately and be specific - describe what you observed, where it is, and why it is dangerous; supervisors are required by OHSA s. 27 to respond and take corrective action. If unresolved, bring the issue to your Joint Health and Safety Committee (JHSC) worker co-chair or your Health and Safety Representative (HSR), who can make a formal written recommendation to the employer. If the hazard still goes unaddressed, call the Ministry of Labour's 24/7 Health and Safety Contact Centre at 1-877-202-0008 - you can report anonymously. Workers are protected from reprisal for reporting hazards under OHSA s. 50.
What are the maximum penalties for Ontario employers who violate the OHSA?
Corporations can be fined up to $1,500,000 per offence - Ontario tripled this maximum in 2023 from the previous $500,000 ceiling - and individual employers face fines up to $100,000 per offence. Where a workplace fatality results from criminal negligence, charges under the Criminal Code of Canada (the Westray amendments, Bill C-45) are also possible. Employer liability under the OHSA cannot be transferred to a supervisor or worker: the OHSA's Internal Responsibility System places the greatest obligations on employers precisely because they hold the most authority over workplace conditions.
