Unit 1 — Workplace Safety and Equipment Management
Section 1 — Safety and Trade Practices
1.2 Occupational Health and Safety Act
1.2.1 — Introduction to the OHSA
The Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA) is the primary legislation
governing workplace safety in Ontario. Similar legislation exists in other provinces and
territories, though the specific names and provisions may differ.
The OHSA establishes a framework of rights, responsibilities, and enforcement mechanisms
designed to prevent workplace injuries and illnesses before they occur.
📋
Rights
Clear entitlements for every worker
⚖️
Responsibilities
Duties shared across all workplace parties
🔍
Enforcement
Inspection, orders, and penalties
1.2.2 — Structure of the OHSA
The OHSA consists of a main body that establishes purpose, definitions, and duties,
supplemented by regulations that address specific industries and hazards.
01
Purpose & Application
Scope of the legislation and who it covers
02
Key Definitions
Precise meaning of critical terms used throughout
03
Rights & Duties
Obligations of employers, supervisors, and workers
04
Enforcement & Penalties
Inspections, orders, and consequences for non-compliance
Key Regulations for HVAC & Refrigeration
851
Industrial Establishments
Most industrial workplaces, including refrigeration & HVAC facilities
213/91
Construction Projects
Installation or major renovation work
632/05
Health Care & Residential Facilities
Hospitals, nursing homes, and similar facilities
297/13
Confined Spaces
Any confined space entry work
67/93
Working at Heights
Fall protection requirements
Supporting Navigation Tools
📑 Table of Contents
🔎 Index
📐 Conversion Tables
1.2.3 — Real-World Safety Incident
Understanding what happens when OHSA requirements are ignored makes the legislation
more meaningful. The following case illustrates the real cost of inadequate safety planning.
A worker attempted to access a fixed vertical roof ladder by first climbing to the top cap
of a 6-ft step ladder. The worker fell and suffered critical injuries.
The employer was fined $62,500 for failing to provide a safe means of
roof access, contrary to OHSA s.25(2)(h).
OHSA Violation
s.25(2)(h) — Failure to take every reasonable precaution to protect workers
Why This Matters for HVAC Technicians
HVAC techs access rooftops constantly. Safe access — proper stairs, tied-off extension
ladders, platforms, and guardrails — is an OHSA requirement, not optional.
- What was wrong with the access method used here, and what alternatives could have been provided?
- As an HVAC apprentice, what would you do if a coworker says "just use that ladder, it's fine" to reach a rooftop unit?
1.2.4 — Key Provisions of the OHSA
The OHSA distributes safety responsibility across all levels of the workplace.
Each party — employer, supervisor, worker, and constructor — carries specific legal duties.
- Maintain equipment, materials, and protective devices in good condition
- Provide information, instruction, and supervision
- Ensure required protective equipment is used
- Inform workers about hazards and provide training
- Take every reasonable precaution to protect workers
- Ensure workers comply with the OHSA and regulations
- Ensure required equipment and protective devices are used
- Advise workers of potential and actual hazards
- Take every reasonable precaution to protect workers
- Use equipment and protective devices as required
- Report hazards and contraventions to employer or supervisor
- Report missing or defective protective equipment
- Avoid activities that may endanger themselves or others
- Never remove or disable a protective device without authorization
- Responsible for overall health and safety coordination on construction projects
- Ensures all employers and workers on site comply with the OHSA
1.2.5 — The Internal Responsibility System
The OHSA is built on the principle that everyone in the workplace shares
responsibility for health and safety. Those working in a workplace are
best positioned to identify and address hazards — this is the core idea behind
the Internal Responsibility System (IRS).
The Three Fundamental Worker Rights
1
Right to Know
Workers must be informed about workplace hazards and receive training on safe
work procedures. This includes access to Safety Data Sheets and information
about required PPE.
2
Right to Participate
Workers may participate in identifying and resolving health and safety concerns
through Joint Health & Safety Committees, Health & Safety Representatives,
and workplace inspections.
3
Right to Refuse Unsafe Work
Section 43
Workers may refuse work they believe is unsafe. The refusal process is formal:
report to supervisor → supervisor investigates with a worker representative →
if unresolved, the worker may continue to refuse → a Ministry of Labour
inspector may be called.
Important: The worker must remain available at the workplace
during the investigation. The refusal must be based on a reasonable belief
that the work is unsafe.
Worker Safety Representation
Workplaces with 20 or more workers
- Equal representation from workers and management
- Meets at least once per quarter
- Conducts workplace inspections
- Investigates work refusals and incidents
- Makes recommendations to improve health and safety
- At least one member per side must be certified
Workplaces with 6 to 19 workers
- Selected from among the workers
- Represents workers in health and safety matters
- Conducts workplace inspections
- Investigates work refusals
- Makes recommendations to the employer
1.2.6 — Enforcement of the OHSA
Ministry of Labour inspectors have broad authority to enter workplaces and enforce
compliance. Non-compliance carries serious financial and legal consequences.
Inspector Powers
- Enter workplaces without notice
- Examine equipment and materials
- Interview workers and employers
- Review records and documents
- Issue orders requiring compliance
- Stop work that poses imminent danger
📄
Order to Comply
Corrective action required within a specified timeframe
🛑
Stop Work Order
All work prohibited until hazards are fully addressed
Penalties for Violations
Individual
$100,000
max fine + up to 1 year in jail
Corporation
$1,500,000
max fine per offence
Causing Injury or Death
Enhanced
additional penalties apply
1.2.7 — Navigating the OHSA
Legal documents follow a predictable hierarchy. Understanding this structure
lets you find and interpret requirements quickly and accurately.
Parts
Major divisions of the Act
▼
Sections
Numbered consecutively — e.g., Section 25
▼
Subsections
Numbers in parentheses — e.g., 25(1)
▼
Clauses
Lowercase letters — e.g., 25(1)(a)
▼
Sub-clauses
Roman numerals — e.g., 25(1)(a)(i)
Research Tools
💡
Pro Tip
When reading any section of the OHSA, note the full reference (e.g., s.25(2)(h)) —
this is exactly how violations are cited by inspectors and in court. Getting
comfortable with this notation now will serve you throughout your career.