Canadian Standards

Duties of Employers and Other Persons
The various Occupation Health and Safety Acts impose duties on those who have any degree of control over the workplace, the materials and equipment in the workplace, and the direction of the work force. There is a general duty on employers to take all reasonable precautions to protect the health and safety of workers. In addition, the Act and regulations set out many specific responsibilities of the employer. For example, there are duties that specifically relate to toxic substances, hazardous machinery, worker education, and personal protective equipment. There is a duty on all officers and directors of corporations to ensure that their corporations comply with the Act and regulations. The duties of workers are generally to work safely, in accordance with the Act and regulations.

Resources
There is also a national Canadian Standards Association (CSA) that sets safety standards which are voluntary and represent best practices. CSA standards may be enforced by law when referenced in provincial, territorial or federal legislation or regulations. These standards are designed to be complem-entary to the actions of government in tackling the issue of worker safety and can provide tools to help organizations comply with regulations and demonstrate due diligence.