Workplace Safety Awareness Training

Every worker in Canada has three basic rights: to know about hazards, to take part in health and safety, and to refuse unsafe work. Awareness training teaches those rights, who is responsible for what, and how to spot common hazards. Provincial rules set out who must be trained:

• Alberta: employers must make sure workers know their rights and duties under the OHS Act, and that they are supervised by a competent person.
• BC: employers must give workers the information, instruction and training they need to work safely. Young and new workers get an orientation before they start, covering hazards, rights, PPE and emergency procedures.
• Ontario: every worker and supervisor must complete basic health and safety awareness training. Supervisors have one week from starting in the role.

• General awareness for any job: Health and Safety in the Workplace, about 30 minutes. Covers the roles of workers, employers and committees, common hazards, basic incident investigation and your three rights.
• Hazard basics for your first shifts: Safety Awareness for New Employees, about 45 minutes. Slips and falls, tools and machinery, electrical safety and lockout, PPE, fire and emergencies.
• Industrial sites: Industrial Safety Orientation (ISTS), about 3.5 hours, with a certificate and wallet card valid for 3 years. Adds equipment hazards, confined space, excavation, and WHMIS and TDG overviews.
• Supervisors: Due Diligence for Supervisors, about 50 minutes. Covers the internal responsibility system, what due diligence means and how to respond to incidents. In Ontario, OHS Laws & Regulations for Supervisors (about 75 minutes) focuses on supervisor duties under the Ontario OHSA.
• Leading a crew: Building a Lasting Culture of Safety, a 1-hour video series on communicating safety, emergency drills and handling workers who won't work safely.

• An online course covers general knowledge. Your employer still has to train you on the hazards, rules and emergency procedures at your own workplace.
• In Ontario, O. Reg. 297/13 lists the topics basic awareness training must cover. Check a course's outline against that list before using it for the requirement.
• Hazard-specific training is separate. If you work with hazardous products, you also need WHMIS training.