Internal & External Agencies That Effect Workplace Health and Safety

There are both internal and external agencies that provide information to employees and employers about the proper health and safety procedures. The Internal Responsibility System (IRS) is a system that ensures employers, employees, and supervisors take personal responsibility for safety.

There is also a Joint Health and Safety Committee (JHSC) and they are mandatory with workplaces that has 20 employees or more. They are made up of representatives of managers and union or workers, they have the responsibility of ensuring that health and safety is taken seriously in the workplace. There are four principle functions the JHSC is responsible for:

1. Identifying potential hazards
2. Evaluate the potential hazards
3. Recommend corrective action
4. Follow up implemented recommendations

The main goal of the Joint Health and Safety Committee is to work with management and create a safer working environment, having a JHSC could greatly reduce WSIB and Ministry of Labour claims. At least one member on the committee must be certified under the Occupational Health and Safety Act (Kelloway & Francis, 2011, p.30). 

The Ministry of Labour is the external agency responsible for investigating workplace accidents, they may enter the workplace without prior notice, and they have more power than police officers, custom officers, and the RCMP. As an employee you can get charged a maximum of $25,000 and the organization could receive a max fine of $500,000, just for not following the Occupational Health and Safety Act.


http://www.labour.gov.on.ca/english/hs/topics/construction.php

The above link will guide you if you are a construction worker or employer, it has regulations and guidelines for working with hazardous materials, specific construction jobs, as well as, case studies of events that have happened in the past. It also has publications for different areas of construction. For example, if employees are working with asbestos there are regulations implemented by the Ministry of Labour in 2007, these include:

• Clean air testing
• Proper Training and personal protective equipment 
• Procedures for the use of glove bags
• Maintenance of air quality 

There are many resources available to anyone working in construction in Ontario, they are free and beneficial to every employee and employer. All it takes to work in a safe environment is being educated and aware of the dangers associated with construction.