Policy Statement

The City of Toronto will provide and maintain safe and healthy working conditions for all employees in keeping with the legislative requirements of the Occupational Health and Safety Act. To fulfill this commitment, the City will:

  1. comply with the Occupational Health and Safety Act and all associated regulations and agreements;
  2. meet or exceed health, safety and ergonomics standards; applying the precautionary principle, as needed;
  3. recognize the importance of supporting joint health and safety committees and representatives in meeting their legislative obligations and of consulting and co-operating with joint health and safety committees and representatives when developing and implementing health and safety policies, programs and procedures;
  4. acknowledge that the vehicle for maintaining its ongoing commitment, communication and co-operation is the Internal Responsibility System;
  5. provide all City employees with training and education specific to job requirements; and
  6. ensure supervisory staff are competent, as defined by the Occupational Health and Safety Act.

Application

This policy applies to all City of Toronto employees. Contractors hired to perform work for the City must also comply with the Occupational Health and Safety Act and all associated regulations.

Principles

The following principles will guide the development and implementation of all health and safety policies, programs and procedures:

  1. Protecting the health and safety of all employees is a commitment of the highest priority.
  2. The Internal Responsibility System will function through mutual collaborative efforts between all parties.
  3. Due diligence will be demonstrated in the implementation of health, safety and ergonomics standards.
  4. Management will take an active leadership role in promoting a safe and healthy work environment.
  5. Supervisors will ensure that safe and healthy work conditions are maintained, in accordance with legislative requirements, in their assigned work areas.
  6. Employees will work safely, in accordance with legislative requirements and City safe work procedures and practices.
  7. Senior managers will allocate appropriate resources to manage and support health and safety program initiatives.
  8. Management, employees and unions share the responsibility for reducing work-related injuries and illnesses by ensuring jobs are performed in a safe and healthy manner.
  9. Health and safety procedures will focus on the prevention of injuries and illnesses and be based on scientific principles, best practices and recognized industry standards.
  10. Information about health and safety programs will be made accessible to employees.
  11. Employees will be advised of all known health, safety and ergonomic hazards in their work and of appropriate measures to address these hazards.
  12. Programs and policies will be monitored to ensure they are in keeping with legislative and corporate requirements.

Implementation

This policy statement is intended to provide direction for the development of all health and safety programs and policies.

Reviewed and re-approved by Occupational Health and Safety Coordinating Committee (OHSCC)

September 26, 2023

Approved

  • October 30, 2001
  • December 6, 2016
  • September 27, 2017
  • December 12, 2018
  • October 15, 2019
  • September 24, 2020
  • September 21, 2021
  • November 21, 2022
  • September 26, 2023

Effective

January 1, 2024 – December 31, 2024

Related links

Occupational Health and Safety Act