In Ontario, the Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA) mandates that every workplace have a health and safety communication board which includes mandatory components, based on the number of employees within the employer's operation.
The mandatory components include provincial posters; a health and safety commitment statement; a workplace violence, harassment and bullying statement; and other various postings and information specific to safety.
The health and safety communication board must be in a conspicuous, common area of the workplace, like the lunchroom, near the washrooms or a spot where employees pass on a regular basis.
What should be on my health and safety communication board?
The following items are the minimum mandatory requirements for all businesses to post on their board:
- In case of injury (form 82) poster
- Health and safety at work: Prevention starts here poster
- Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA)
- Health and safety commitment statement policy
- Workplace violence, bullying and harassment prevention policy
- Names of the first aid providers and their certificates
- Name(s) of the health and safety representatives and/or the joint health and safety committee (JHSC) members
In addition, it is suggested that the following items also be posted on or near your health and safety communication board:
- Emergency contact information
- Evacuation map
- Workplace inspection form
- Safety concern reporting form
- Workplace violence and harassment complainant form
- Incident reporting form
- Incident investigation form
- Incident investigation flow chart
- First-aid logbook
Your health and safety communication board is required by law to have seven items posted on it.
The seven items listed above are the minimum requirement for a health and safety communication board in your workplace. The two required posters are available at zero cost and can be downloaded; hard copies are also available for order.
It is also strongly encouraged to have the other nine items listed. These items can be posted or placed in a protective sleeve and attached to your health and safety communication board.
Your health and safety communication board is an important part of your operation. Failure to have a complete and up-to-date board could result in a work order or fine.
References omitted but are available upon request by sending an email to the editor.
7 mandatory elements of a health and safety communications board
- In case of injury (form 82) poster. You can download and print a small copy of this poster or you can order it in multiple sizes here.
- Health and safety at work: Prevention starts here poster. You can download and print a copy of this poster in several languages or order hard copies here.
- Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA). You can download and print a copy of the act here and the regulations here, but it is recommended that you obtain a copy of the small green book (with regulations) and attach it to the board.
- Health and safety commitment statement. This is your dairy’s commitment to health and safety policy. A clear, concise policy statement should reflect management's commitment, support and attitude to the health and safety program for the protection of workers. Under OHSA, an employer must prepare a written occupational health and safety policy. This policy must be reviewed annually, and each year the policy posted on the board should be replaced with an updated signed copy.
- Workplace violence, bullying and harassment policy statement. You must have a clear, concise workplace violence, bullying and harassment policy statement which is reviewed, signed and reposted annually.
- First-aid providers. Workplaces must have always at least one employee on-site that has a valid first-aid certificate from a Workplace Safety And Insurance Board-approved training organization. The names and certificates of these first aiders must be posted on your dairy’s health and safety communication board.
- Health and safety representatives and/or the joint health and safety committee (JHSC) members. Dairies with one to 19 employees must have at least one health and safety representative. Their name should be posted on the health and safety communication board. This representative cannot be a management team member who can hire, discipline or terminate employees. Dairies with 20 or more employees must have a joint health and safety committee. The names of the committee members should be posted on the board.
