Every worker in Ontario has the right to a safe workplace. That right is not simply aspirational — it is backed by legislation, inspection powers, and the right to refuse work that poses a danger to health or life. Understanding these rights, and the role unions play in enforcing them, is one of the most practical things any worker can do.

The Occupational Health and Safety Act

Ontario's primary workplace safety legislation is the Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA), which has been in force since 1979. The Act establishes duties for employers, supervisors and workers, and creates an enforcement mechanism through government inspectors. At its core, the OHSA is built on three worker rights: the right to know about workplace hazards, the right to participate in identifying and correcting them, and the right to refuse unsafe work.

The right to refuse unsafe work is among the most significant protections the OHSA provides. A worker may refuse to perform work they believe is likely to endanger themselves or another worker. The refusal must be reported to the supervisor, and an investigation must follow. If the hazard is not corrected and the worker remains unsatisfied, the matter is referred to a Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development inspector.

Importantly, the OHSA prohibits reprisals against workers who exercise their rights under the Act. An employer cannot discipline, suspend or dismiss a worker for refusing unsafe work, for participating in a health and safety committee, or for reporting a hazard.

Joint Health and Safety Committees

In workplaces with twenty or more workers, Ontario law requires the establishment of a Joint Health and Safety Committee (JHSC). A JHSC consists of worker and management representatives — at least half of whom must be workers — who meet regularly to identify hazards, review injury records, make recommendations and conduct workplace inspections.

In unionised workplaces, the union typically selects the worker co-chair and worker members of the JHSC. This gives the union a formal, legislated role in monitoring workplace conditions and pushing for improvements. JHSCs have the power to recommend changes to work processes, equipment and training, and employers are required to respond in writing to JHSC recommendations, explaining what action they will take or why they disagree.

JHSC members are entitled to paid time to attend meetings and to conduct inspections. They can also obtain information about injury statistics, hazardous materials and the results of workplace testing. This access to information is one of the tools that makes JHSCs effective where they function well.

Common Workplace Hazards

Workplace hazards in Ontario span a wide range of industries and job types. Construction remains the sector with the highest rate of serious injuries and fatalities, driven by falls, struck-by incidents and exposure to hazardous materials including asphalt and silica dust. Manufacturing workers face machine guarding hazards, noise-induced hearing loss and chemical exposures. Office workers and healthcare employees are increasingly recognised as facing ergonomic hazards — repetitive strain injuries and musculoskeletal disorders that develop over years of poorly designed workstations or heavy patient handling.

Workplace violence and harassment have received growing attention in recent years. Ontario's OHSA was amended to require employers to develop policies and programs to address workplace violence, including specific provisions for workplaces where violence is a known risk — healthcare settings, social services and retail.

The Role of Unions in Safety

Unions have been central to workplace safety improvements in Ontario since long before the OHSA existed. Collective agreements often go beyond minimum statutory requirements, specifying additional training, reduced exposure limits or improved equipment standards. Safety language won through bargaining cannot be unilaterally changed by the employer — it requires negotiation.

Unions also represent workers in WSIB (Workplace Safety and Insurance Board) claims. The workers' compensation system provides income replacement and medical coverage for workers injured on the job, but navigating claims can be difficult. Union representatives help members document their injuries, challenge decisions they believe are incorrect, and access the appeals process when claims are denied.

Research consistently shows that unionised workplaces have lower injury rates than comparable non-unionised workplaces. Studies attribute this partly to better training and enforcement of safety standards, and partly to the culture of collective accountability that unionisation creates — workers are less likely to accept dangerous conditions when they can raise concerns collectively without fear of individual retaliation.

Filing a Safety Complaint

Any worker in Ontario can file a complaint with the Ministry of Labour about a workplace health and safety concern. Complaints can be made by phone, online or through a union representative. Ministry inspectors have the authority to enter workplaces, inspect equipment, review records, issue compliance orders and, in serious cases, stop work entirely until hazards are corrected.

Workers who face reprisals for raising safety concerns can file a complaint with the Ontario Labour Relations Board. The Board can order reinstatement, back pay and other remedies for workers who have been punished for exercising their rights under the OHSA.

For full details on Ontario's workplace safety rights, visit the Occupational Health and Safety Act page on the Ontario government's website.