Sweeping OHS Bill passes in Ontario

After months of debate and consultation, Bill 160 has passed in Ontario, Canada after a 79-0 vote in the provincial assembly late last week. The Occupational Health and Safety Statute Law Amendment Act will take full effect when it achieves Royal Assent, as soon as next month.

The Act will create the position of a provincial Chief Prevention Officer as well as a Prevention Council to work with the Ministry of Labour to develop a comprehensive occupational health and safety strategy and determine training standards.

The act will affect almost all businesses across the province, so make sure you are up to speed with all the bill’s implications by checking out OHS Insider’s very handy and comprehensive Ontario OHS Reform Blog, which features detailed information on the nuances on Bill 160.

As the blog notes, establishing provincewide training standards will be central to the Act after it becomes law.… Read more...

Picturing Safety: OSHA celebrates 40 years with photo contest

In celebration of 40 years of making workplaces safer, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has launched a new photo contest to boost awareness of workplace safety issues.

Anyone with a camera is invited to take a photo of a scenario or setting they believe represents an image of occupational health and safety (OHS) and submit it to OSHA. The administration is looking for outstanding portrayals of occupational health and safety in terms of artistic value, and capacity to inspire conversations on OHS issues. Other judging criteria include: the clarity and quality of the photo; the inclusion of worker, employer or workplace imagery; originality; and the suitability of the image for print in OSHA publications. The winners will be determined by a panel of expert judges with backgrounds in photography and labour issues.

In addition to being featured on OSHA’s website, first, second and third-place photographs will be framed … Read more...