Workplace Health & Safety

Workplace health and safety should never be overlooked. It could mean the difference between serious injury or even death. Part II of the Canada Labour Code provides both workplace parties—those being employers and employers—a role in identifying and settling health and safety concerns.

The Canada Labour Code is designed to, “Strengthen employers’ and employees’ self-reliance in dealing with occupational health and safety issues and thereby making workplaces safer,” (Government of Canada, 2021). Employees and employers play equal roles in promoting and ensuring a safe workplace.

Employees

Employees play a dedicated role in preventing workplace injuries and diseases. Each employee must take caution at all to ensure their own health and safety as well as, their colleagues.

Employee rights under the code include the right to know, the right to participate and the right to refuse.
Employees must abide by code duties regarding personal and colleagues’ health and safety.
As a pregnant or nursing employee, there are additional code rights.

Employers

Employers play a significant role in preventing work-related accidents and injuries, as well as, promoting safe and healthy workplaces. Employers must ensure and abide by the following:

Make certain that employees have the necessary information, training, and supervision to perform their jobs safely.
Manager, supervisors, health and safety committees and representatives must also understand their roles and responsibilities under the code.
Additional obligations and responsibilities include investigations, inspections, accident reporting and the Hazard Prevention Program.

Workplace health and safety are extremely important to The Insurance Market. Both parties in the workplace—employers and employees—should always execute their duties and responsibilities with caution to prevent injury, accident, disease, and/or death.

For more information about Workplace Safety, read this Government of Canada resource.