OHS (Occupational Health and Safety)
Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) is the multidisciplinary field concerned with the safety, health and welfare of people at work, encompassing legislation, standards and programs that protect workers.
What Is OHS?
Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) - also known as EHS when environmental aspects are included - is the body of law, standards and practices designed to protect workers from workplace hazards. In Canada, OHS legislation is primarily provincial, with each province and territory maintaining its own OHS Act and regulations.
Core Principles
- Duty to provide a safe workplace: Employers must take every reasonable precaution to protect workers.
- Worker rights: The right to know (about hazards), the right to participate (in safety activities) and the right to refuse unsafe work.
- Internal Responsibility System (IRS): Everyone in the workplace shares responsibility for health and safety.
Key OHS Program Elements
- Hazard identification and risk assessment
- Safe work procedures and JHAs
- Incident investigation and corrective actions
- Worker training and competency verification
- Emergency preparedness and response plans
- Regular inspections and audits
Build Your OHS Program Digitally
Make Safety Easy provides the digital backbone for your entire OHS program: inspections, incidents, training, JHAs, toolbox talks and compliance dashboards - all accessible from the field.