N.L. updates workplace safety laws for smaller employees, raises threshold to 20 or more employees

The Confederation Building serves as the home of the Newfoundland and Labrador House of Assembly in St. John’s. Photo: Adobe Stock

New requirements for occupational health and safety programs and committees in Newfoundland and Labrador come into effect today following amendments to the Occupational Health and Safety Act passed in the House of Assembly last spring.

These new requirements raise the worker threshold for occupational health and safety programs and committees from 10 or more to 20 or more workers at a worksite.

Employers with fewer than 20 workers at a worksite require an occupational health and safety policy and representative. Where there are fewer than six workers at a worksite, the employer is to appoint a workplace health and safety designate.

“These changes will make it easier for smaller workplaces to comply with the Occupational Health and Safety Act, without compromising the health and safety of their workers,” the province said in a press release. “These amendments will also harmonize the requirements for occupational health and safety committees with most other jurisdictions throughout the country and with the Government of Canada.”

Active occupational health and safety committees in workplaces with between 10 and 19 workers do not need to disband, it said. The Occupational Health and Safety Act sets a minimum standard. The optimal situation is to have a committee with management and labour working together to address safety, it said.

View the amended Occupational Health and Safety Act at https://www.assembly.nl.ca/Legislation/sr/statutes/o03.htm