We often hear employers say things like, “I know health and safety training is important,” or “I know it’s a requirement, but the first day is so busy. We’ll make sure the new employee gets it done sometime this week.”
This comes with quite a few risks.
Occupational Health and Safety legislation aims to protect workers from occupational injuries or illnesses. It sets out the duties and responsibilities of all workplace parties and establishes procedures to identify, report, and control hazards in the workplace. Non-compliance with the legislation can result in penalties, fines, and/or jail terms in some cases. That is why it is critically important for relevant workplace parties to know and understand their legal obligations under the legislation.
Employers are legally required to ensure that workers are trained on hazards in the workplace, including hazardous products before they use them.
Without proper training, employees may fail to recognize or understand the hazards associated with products they are handling, or the job duties they are performing. This increases the likelihood of accidents, injuries, and even fatalities.
Even on an employee’s first day, without adequate training and in the event of an accident or injury, the employer may be held liable for not providing the necessary training to the employee. This can result in potential lawsuits and increased insurance premiums. That is why it is crucial to ensure that all employees receive WHMIS and Health and Safety training promptly to maintain health and safety compliance in the workplace.
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