Bill 160 is expected to pass this Summer!
Following the recommendations of the Expert Advisory Panel on Occupational Health & Safety published in December 2010, sometimes referred to a ‘The Tony Dean Report, Bill 160, Occupational Health and Safety Statute Law Amendment Act, 2011 was drafted to address those recommendations.
Lively debate occurred during the first and second readings but the draft Bill was passed by a total of 73 to 6 votes. The Standing Committee will meet to consider Bill 160 which they describe as “ An Act to amend the Occupational Health and Safety Act and the Workplace Safety and Insurance Act, 1997 with respect to occupational health and safety and other matters.” The Committee will hold public hearings in Toronto commencing today, April 11, 2011.
As drafted this new law will remove responsibility for workplace safety from the WSIB and place it in the Ministry of Labour. It will also change the rules regarding how those responsible for Health & Safety in Ontario are trained:
- Employers with 6-19 employees will be required to appoint a Health & Safety Representative who will also require formal training.
- This training must be given by an ‘Approved Provider’. Although there is no information on how this approval is to be obtained, we have been an approved provider for other training programs under the existing regulations for 10 years.
What should you do?
Online Learning Enterprises is uniquely postioned to provide on-line training modules which conform to the training of Health & Safety Representatives. We expect to have these ready by the time the new requirements become law.
