Legal responsibility for identifying and correcting health and safety hazards rests on the shoulders of all workplace parties (employers, contractors, owners, workers, supervisors, self-employers persons and suppliers). The Occupational Health and Safety Act and Regulations require everyone in the workplace to work together to identify and control health and safety hazards.

Since employers have the most control over the conditions of work and how it is done, they have the greatest degree of responsibility for the health and safety of workers.  They must:

• Provide a safe and healthy workplace;
• Establish Occupational Health Committees or representatives and consult and cooperate with them in resolving health and safety concerns;
• Ensure workers are not exposed to harassment;
• Comply with the Occupational Health and Safety Act and Regulations;
• Provide required safe work procedures;
• Ensure equipment is provided and maintained;
• Ensure workers are trained; and
• Ensure supervisors are competent.

Employers are also required to have a copy of the Occupational Health and Safety Act, 1993 and the Occupational Health and Safety Regulations, 1996 readily available to both workers and management.

Supervisors are critical to safe workplaces because they are closest to the actual work being done and can address and resolve worker concerns.  They must:

• Understand the Act and Regulations
• Understand their company's safety program
• Understand the need for and safe use of personal protective equipment
• Understand emergency procedures required under the legislation
• Comply with the Act and Regulations
• Ensure workers they supervise understand and comply with the Act and Regulations
• Support and cooperate with the Occupational Health Committee or Representative

Workers also have an important role in making the workplace safe.  They must:

• Take reasonable care to protect their health and safety and the health and safety of other workers
• Not harass other workers
• Comply with the Act and Regulations
• Use the orientation and training provided to them
• Follow safe work practices
• Use protective equipment provided to them.
• Support and cooperate with the Occupational Health Committee or Representative