Anyone visiting our office knows that we at GMA are big fans of adorning our walls with exquisite art, most of it painted by Bob Gardiner’s dad, the late Perce M. Gardiner. 

In keeping with his role of curator of our office/musem, Bob offers this short update on a new posting requirement imposed by the Ministry of Labour, now in force at workplaces across Ontario. 

While the government-mandated posters are hardly masterpieces, no workplace is complete without them.

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Condominium corporations are required to post in their workplace a copy of the poster enitled "Health & Safety at Work – Prevention Starts Here" by October 1, 2012.

That poster, released by the Ministry of Labour, concisely outlines the functions of the Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA) and summarizes the rights, responsibilities and obligations of workers, employers and supervisors pursuant to that legislation.

The expert advisory panel on Occupational Health and Safety reached the conclusion that many employees were unfamiliar with the OHSA, as well as their duties and rights with respect to health and safety in the workplace. Additional written materials explaining the rights and responsibilities of workers, as prepared by the Ministry, must be made available by the employer, both in English and a majority language of the workplace.

You may obtain a copy of the poster written in 17 different languages from the MOL website.  The poster must be at least 8 ½” x 11” in colour or black and white. Failure to conspicuously display the poster may result in an order from an inspector and subject the enployer to the possibility of provincial prosecution and a fine upon conviction.

This is not the only poster that employers must display.  See here for other posting requirements imposed by the Ministry or talk to your lawyers for details.