Starting today, Newfoundland and Labrador workplaces will adhere to updated occupational health and safety standards, following amendments to the Occupational Health and Safety Act passed last spring in the House of Assembly. The revised legislation increases the worker threshold for required occupational health and safety programs and committees from ten to twenty employees at a worksite.
Under the new guidelines, employers with fewer than 20 workers are mandated to establish an occupational health and safety policy and appoint a representative. In smaller settings, where fewer than six workers are present, the employer must designate an individual responsible for workplace health and safety.
Officials state these adjustments will simplify compliance for smaller businesses without compromising employee welfare. Furthermore, these changes aim to align Newfoundland and Labrador’s occupational health and safety committee requirements more closely with those of other Canadian jurisdictions and the federal government.
The province assures that existing occupational health and safety committees in workplaces with 10 to 19 workers are not required to disband under the new rules. The legislation underlines that while meeting minimum standards is crucial, the ideal scenario involves a collaborative effort between management and staff to foster a safe working environment.
For more information, the full text of the amended Occupational Health and Safety Act can be accessed online.
