Topic: Health and Safety Responsibilities and the Internal Responsibility System (IRS)
Summary
A successful Health and Safety workplace culture is based on a collaborative model, where every member of the workplace shares the responsibility for their own safety as well as that of their co-workers, and where every member has an opportunity to provide input and contribute to an effective safety program and safe workplace.
Ontario’s Occupational Health and Safety Act establishes rights for every worker and specific responsibilities for all workplace parties, including workers, supervisors, employers, owners, directors and others. This system of rights and responsibilities within an organization is commonly referred to as the Internal Responsibility System, or IRS.
The objective of the IRS is to ensure that everyone understands their role in maintaining a healthy and safe workplace. This system promotes cooperation among workers, supervisors, and employers, which is fundamental to maintaining health and safety standards in the workplace.
For more information please review the Trent University Health and Safety Roles and Responsibilities Procedure
Roles and Responsibilities of Workplace Parties
Employers;
Are persons who employ one or more workers. Trent University’s Board of Governors has delegated the responsibilities of Employer to the President and Vice-Presidents.
Responsibilities of the employer include:
- Complying with all regulations made under OHSA;
- Ensuring that equipment, materials and protective equipment are maintained in good condition;
- Providing information, instruction and supervision to protect worker health and safety;
- Taking all reasonable precautions to protect the health and safety of workers.
Supervisors;
Are workers who have charge of a workplace and / or authority over other workers. Trent University recognizes supervisors as university workers who have a duty and effective power to ensure that one or more workers comply with the OHSA or safety related policies and procedures.
Supervisors have the same responsibilities as any other worker, with additional supervisory duties including:
- Ensuring that workers work in compliance with the OHSA and its regulations;
- Advising workers of the existence of any potential or actual workplace hazards of which the supervisor is aware;
- Ensuring that workers use any personal protective equipment (PPE) or clothing the employer requires;
- Providing workers with written instructions as to the measures and procedures to be taken for protection of the worker (where required by regulation), and
- Taking every precaution reasonable in the circumstances for the protection of an worker(s).
Workers;
Are persons who are paid to perform work or supply services. This includes students doing unpaid work as part of an approved secondary or post-secondary program.
Workers must act in compliance with the OHSA and its regulations, which includes:
- Using any personal protective equipment (PPE) required by the employer;
- Informing the employer or supervisor about any defective equipment that may be dangerous;
- Reporting any known workplace hazard or violation of the OHSA to the employer or supervisor;
- Attending mandatory training to learn, know, understanding and follow established health and safety rules, safe work practices and procedures;
- Promptly reporting to their supervisor any incident, injury, or occupational illness that may arise.
- The Act also requires a Joint Health and Safety Committee, an advisory committee who’s responsibilities include monitoring the IRS and making recommendations for the improvement of health and safety
- Ontario’s Ministry of Labour is the external agency responsible for the promotion and enforcement of health and safety legislation. Negligence is an offense under Canada’s Criminal Code, so police may also be involved in the investigation of serious workplace incidents (External Responsibility System, or ERS).
For more information see:
Ministry of Labour, The Internal Responsibility System
Occupational Health and Safety Act, especially s. 23 – 32 , 54 – 65
Additional Resources:
Internal Responsibility System, Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety
Last Revised: May 25, 2023