Who is a supervisor?ĭetermining if a person is a supervisor is an objective test based on the person's actual powers and responsibilities. More information about the different duties of the employer, supervisor and worker can be found in the Ministry of Labour, Training and Skills Development's Guide to the Occupational Health and Safety Act. Workers also have duties that support the supervisor in his/her role, for example, to work safely and in compliance with the OHSA and regulations, and, to report any workplace hazards and contraventions of the law to the supervisor or employer. He or she must also be familiar with the OHSA and any regulations under it that apply to the workplace, and, know about any actual or potential health and safety hazards in the workplace.Įmployers have other significant duties related to supporting a supervisor, including acquainting workers or supervisors with any hazards in the workplace providing and maintaining equipment and protective devices and, taking every precaution reasonable in the circumstances to protect workers. To be competent, a supervisor must have enough knowledge, training and experience to organize the work and how it is to be performed. When appointing a supervisor, the employer must ensure the person is competent. The OHSA gives employers and workers duties that help support the role of the supervisor.
tell workers about any workplace health and safety hazards that the supervisor is aware of.make sure that workers use any equipment, protective devices or clothing the employer requires.make sure that workers work in compliance with the OHSA and its regulations.The specific duties of a supervisor under section 27 of the OHSA are to: Because employers have the most authority in the workplace, they have the greatest responsibility for health and safety of workers. What the OHSA requiresĮveryone in the workplace, from the employer to the newest worker, has different but important duties to keep the workplace safe. Health and safety inspectors apply and enforce these laws based on the facts they find in the workplace.
This resource does not replace the Occupational Health and Safety Act ( OHSA) and its regulations and should not be used as or considered legal advice. Workplace parties may wish to obtain legal advice regarding a specific situation in their workplace. This document was prepared to clarify the duties and responsibilities of a supervisor, as defined in the OHSA, and to guide workplace parties (employers, supervisors and workers) and the Ministry of Labour, Training and Skills Development ( MLTSD) when assessing which individuals in the workplace are supervisors under the Act.
In general, "charge of a workplace" refers to broad control over the planning of work and how it is carried out, while "authority over a worker" can be seen as a more specific power to ensure a worker's compliance with directions. Having either charge of a workplace, or authority over a worker, is sufficient for a person to be a supervisor. The definition of supervisor has two separate parts. This is a broad definition that can apply to many different people in a workplace, including people in management, on the shop floor, in a bargaining unit, and individuals whose job title does not include the word "supervisor". The Occupational Health and Safety Act ( OHSA) defines a supervisor as a person who has charge of a workplace or authority over a worker.