A province-by-province reference for the worker-count thresholds that decide what a Canadian employer must put in place: when a joint committee is required, when a worker representative is enough, and when a written program or policy is expected.
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| Jurisdiction | Regulator | Main statute / regulation | Joint committee | Representative | Written program / policy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Federal | Employment and Social Development Canada, Labour Program | Canada Labour Code Part II; Canada Occupational Health and Safety Regulations | Policy committee: 300+ employees (s.134.1). Workplace committee: 20+ employees per workplace (s.135) | Under 20 employees (s.136) | Hazard prevention program, sized to the workplace and its hazards (Code s.125(1)(z.03)); the prescribed program is in COHSR Part XIX (s.19.1) |
| British Columbia | WorkSafeBC | Workers Compensation Act; OHS Regulation | 20+ workers (WCA s.31) | 10–19 workers (WCA s.45) | Formal program: 20+ workers with at least one moderate- or high-hazard workplace, or 50+ workers. Smaller employers need a less formal program (OHSR 3.1, 3.2) |
| Alberta | Jobs, Economy, Trade and Immigration | Occupational Health and Safety Act (SA 2020, c O-2.2); OHS Code (AR 191/2021) | 20+ workers (Act s.13(1)(a)) | 5–19 workers (Act s.14(1)(a)) | Health and safety program: 20+ workers (Act s.16) |
| Saskatchewan | Ministry of Labour Relations and Workplace Safety | Saskatchewan Employment Act, Part III; OHS Regulations, 2020 | 10+ workers of one employer (SEA s.3-22(1)) | 5–9 workers in prescribed workplaces (OHS Regs 4-8(1); SEA s.3-24) | Prescribed workplaces with 10+ workers (OHS Regs 3-11(2); SEA s.3-20) |
| Manitoba | Manitoba Labour and Immigration | Workplace Safety and Health Act (C.C.S.M. c. W210); Workplace Safety and Health Regulation, M.R. 217/2006 | 20+ workers (Act s.40(1)(a)) | 5+ workers where no committee is required (Act s.41(1)(a)) | Written program: 20+ workers (Act s.7.4(1)) |
| Ontario | Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development | Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA) | 20+ workers (s.9(2)(a)) | 6–19 workers (s.8(1)) | Written OH&S policy, reviewed yearly, with a program to implement it: 6+ workers (s.25(2)(j), s.25(4)) |
| Quebec | CNESST | Act respecting occupational health and safety (CQLR c. S-2.1), as amended by the 2021 modernization Act (SQ 2021, c. 27) | 20+ workers in an establishment during the year (s.68). Not required if 20 is reached for fewer than 21 days in the year | Under 20 workers: in the cases set by regulation (s.88). Where a committee exists, at least one representative is designated (s.87) | Prevention program: 20+ workers in an establishment during the year (s.58); under 20 in the cases set by regulation (s.58) |
| New Brunswick | WorkSafeNB | Occupational Health and Safety Act (SNB 1983, c O-0.2) | 20+ employees (s.14(1)) | 5–19 employees: safety policy that may provide for a representative (s.17(1)); if it does, employees elect one (s.17(3)) | Written safety policy and written program: 20+ employees in the province (s.8(1), s.8.1(1)). Safety policy: 5–19 employees at a place of employment (s.17(1)) |
| Nova Scotia | Labour, Skills and Immigration | Occupational Health and Safety Act (SNS 1996, c 7) | 20+ persons regularly employed (s.29(1)) | 5+ persons where no committee is required (s.33(1)) | Written policy: 5+ employees (s.27(1)). Written program: 20+ employees (s.28(1)) |
| Prince Edward Island | Workers Compensation Board of PEI | Occupational Health and Safety Act (RSPEI 1988, c O-1.01) | 20+ persons (s.25(1)) | 5+ workers where no committee is required (s.26(1)) | Written policy: 5+ workers (s.24(1)). Written program: 20+ workers (s.23(1)) |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | Government Services, Occupational Health and Safety Division | Occupational Health and Safety Act (RSNL 1990, c O-3) | 20+ workers (s.37) | Fewer than 20 workers (s.41(1)) | Program: 20+ workers (s.36.1(1)). Policy: fewer than 20 workers (s.36.2(1)) |
| Yukon | Workers’ Safety and Compensation Board | Workers’ Safety and Compensation Act; Workplace Health and Safety Regulations | 20+ regularly employed workers (per WSCB) | 5–19 regularly employed workers (per WSCB) | Health and safety management system: 20+ regularly employed workers (Act, per WSCB) |
| Northwest Territories | Workers’ Safety and Compensation Commission (WSCC) | Safety Act (RSNWT 1988, c S-1); Occupational Health and Safety Regulations, R-039-2015 | 20+ workers likely to work more than 90 days (Regs s.37(a)) | Fewer than 20 workers (Regs s.39) | Program: 20+ workers (Regs s.21(1)(a)) |
| Nunavut | Workers’ Safety and Compensation Commission (WSCC) | Safety Act (Nunavut); Occupational Health and Safety Regulations, R-003-2016 | 20+ workers likely to work more than 90 days (Regs s.37(a)) | Fewer than 20 workers (Regs s.39) | Program: 20+ workers (Regs s.21(1)(a)) |
Yukon figures are from the Workers’ Safety and Compensation Board website. Nunavut figures are from the official consolidation of 28 September 2021; ask the WSCC about later amendments. Quebec figures are from LégisQuébec, current to 12 August 2026.
Most thresholds count the workers regularly employed at one workplace. Some count the employer’s whole workforce, for example Alberta’s committee and program thresholds, the federal policy committee and New Brunswick’s written policy and program. Industry-specific rules (construction, mining, forestry) can differ. Workers’ compensation coverage is separate from these duties.
Our consultants (CRSP Certified · COR & ISO 45001 Lead Auditors) can adapt this to your workplace or review your safety program with you.
This resource is general guidance, not legal advice. Confirm every requirement against the current regulation in your jurisdiction before relying on it.