Understanding Saskatchewan's Health and Safety Requirements

As an employer, you play an important role in preventing workplace injuries and promoting a safe and healthy workplace. In fact, under the Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA), you have a legal obligation to properly inform, instruct and supervise your employees and to do everything you reasonably can to protect them.

Requirements that apply to workplaces of all sizes include:

Post the Act & Regulations
All staff must have access to a copy of The Saskatchewan Employment Act and The Occupational Health and Safety Regulations. You can purchase or download the legislation.

Harassment & Violence Prevention
All workplaces must have plans to prevent and address incidents of harassment. The Harassment Prevention Guide explains how to develop a harassment policy; shares best practices for dealing with harassment and offers sample policies, forms and statements.

It is recommended that all workplaces have plans to prevent and deal with violence. In some workplaces is it mandatory to have a violence prevention policy and plan, such as late-night retailers, taxi services, where alcohol is sold and consumed, pharmaceutical dispensing, among others. The Violence Prevention Guide explains how to develop a statement and prevention plan, and offers a sample.

First Aid Services
First Aid includes First Aid training, kits, and facilities.

There are three levels of First Aid training: Basic, Intermediate and Advanced. Certificates are valid for three years. You must post the names of your trained first aiders. An employer must ensure the training is by an agency that complies with the legislation.

There are three types of First Aid kits:

• Type 1 - Personal first aid kits; for workers who work alone, in isolation, or who do not otherwise have readily available access to a workplace first aid kit;
• Type 2 - Basic first aid kits; suitable for most workplaces with a low-moderate risk work environment; and
• Type 3 - Intermediate first aid kits; suitable for workplaces with a higher risk work environment.

Visit Z1220-17 (R2021) | Product | CSA Group to purchase a copy or access a free, view-only copy of the First Aid standard. After you create an account and login, you can either purchase and download the document, or click the blue “View Access” box to read the information on your computer screen.

Visit First Aid in Saskatchewan Workplaces | WorkSafe Saskatchewan and read the First Aid Guide. 

WHMIS
WHMIS is a legal requirement to protect employees who work with any hazardous products on the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety (CCOHS) classes of hazardous materials list. You must maintain Safety Data Sheets for all hazardous materials and these documents are provided by your product supplier. Your employees can complete a free online WHMIS course from VuBiz.

Orientation of new employees
All new hires, including full-time, part-time, temporary, seasonal employees must receive a company-specific orientation. New employee orientations ensure the workers are aware of your company’s expectations for safety and health, the roles of management and staff, and safety and health hazards that may exist. OH&S inspectors can check your records for new worker orientations.

In addition to the above, some specific requirements exist.

High Hazard Workplaces

The Saskatchewan Employment Act and the Occupational Health and Safety Regulations define higher hazard workplaces to include:

1. Types of places of employment:
a) hospitals, nursing homes and home care;
b) metal foundries and mills; and
c) mines.

2. Places of employment at which the following types of work are performed:
a) aerial crop spraying, operation of helicopters, water bombing;
b) auto-body and automotive paint repairing, bumper electroplating, auto rust proofing, auto glass installation, auto vinyl roofing, fibre glassing boats and autos;
c) building construction;
d) camp catering;
e) farming and ranching;
f) forestry work other than pulp and paper production;
g) forwarding and warehousing as a business; h) metal manufacturing and machining, marble works, concrete block and ready mix manufacturing;
i) oil well servicing;
j) oil and gas drilling, well servicing with a rig, water well drilling;
k) processing meat, poultry and fish;
l) road construction and earthwork, urban sewer and water construction, tunneling;
m) trucking; and
n) wholesale baking, dairy products, soft drinks and food preparation and packaging.

If your company is on the above list and has 5-19 workers, you must identify an OHS worker representative to help you identify and resolve safety concerns, and communicate with employees. This individual is to attend Occupational Health Committee training.

If your company is on the above list and has 10 or more workers, you must set up an OHS committee that has between 2 and 12 members. At least half of the committee must be workers and all are to attend Occupational Health Committee training. Meetings minutes must be maintained and posted.

Plus, you must have a written OHS program including:

• Written commission to safety
• Identification and control of hazards and emergencies
• People and resources to deal with emergencies
• Statement of responsibilities
• Scheduling inspections
• Training plan
• Procedures for investigations

More information is available at Elements of an OHS program and Developing a Safety Program.

There are many other compliance measures your business should be considering. You can contact Business Resources for more information and templates, by calling 1-833-568-2342 or sending an e-mail to cfib@cfib.ca.