To promote workers’ health and safety, the CNESST will implement on April 6 a new temporary measure regarding prevention and participatory practices in the workplace.
What is the objective of this measure?
The objective is to increase the employer’s responsibility of taking charge of health and safety. Therefore, this new program will require the involvement of all companies, depending mainly on the field of activity of the organization and its size.
Why temporary?
This measure is temporary as the legislation will only come into effect officially later this year. However, the measures announced today must be put in place by April 6 to ensure their efficiency over the following months.
Don’t worry. If you follow directions exactly, the measures you will deploy at the beginning of April will comply with the official government legislation arriving in a few months. Do you need assistance in implementing and integrating those measures? Contact our experts today.
Who is this measure for?
Everyone has a role to play in workers’ safety and prevention. However, the new measure doesn’t involve the same elements as for other types of industries. See the different priority groups below to better understand the measures applicable to your work situation.
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Group 2 |
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Group 3 |
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Group 4,5 and 6 |
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Prevention mechanism according to the priority group
For priority groups 1, 2 and 3, a prevention program is mandatory for the CNESST, and it must be maintained until the legislation takes effect.
As for groups 4, 5 and 6, the measures put in place depend on the number of people on the worksite.
If your workplace has less than 20 people:
- It is mandatory to identify and document your workers’ occupational health and safety risks.
If your workplace has more than 20 people:
As for all companies with less than 20 workers, you must identify and document workers’ occupational health and safety risks in the workplace. Also, you must carry out a risk analysis to categorize them according to their priorities to manage the most urgent risks first.
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The participatory measures according to priority groups
These measures refer to concrete actions to ensure rigorous monitoring of occupational risks. For example, establishing a health and safety committee at work.
Does my company need to have an OHS committee?
Any company with more than 20 workers must form an OHS committee that will ensure the identification and analysis of preventive and participatory measures under the new interim system.
If no prior agreement is reached with the employer, the committee must meet at least once every three months to have a finger on the pulse regarding the company’s overall OHS actions and measures.
Did you know?
Your Health and Safety Committee must consist of two to six representatives, depending on your organization’s total number of workers. Here’s how to find the exact number according to your situation.
- Between 20 and 50 workers: 2 representatives
- Between 51 and 100 workers: 3 representatives
- Between 101 and 500 workers: 4 representatives
- Between 501 and 1000 workers: 5 representatives
- 1001 and more: 6 representatives
If your company has less than 20 workers, an OHS committee is not required, but you must designate an OHS liaison officer to ensure an ongoing follow-up on the workplace, both with the employer and the CNESST. Do you need assistance or support in the process?
