Searching for Occupational Health And Safety

A free confidential telephone service offering information about workplace health and safety available to all Canadians.

The Occupational Health Clinics For Ontario Workers offers the following services:

• an inquiry service to answer work-related health and safety questions
• medical diagnostic services for workers who may have work-related health problems
• outreach and education to increase of health and safety issues, and promote prevention strategies
• research services to investigate and report on illnesses and injuries

The City of Hamilton can provide employers with supports and programming in areas such as healthy eating, physical activity, smoke-free and quitting smoking supports, workplace stress prevention, alcohol and drugs in the workplace, and sun safety.

A 12 week program to teach construction skill to youth-at-risk. The program provides renovation and construction services to local charities, non-profit groups, and neighbourhood associations.

• Hands-on workshops in Carpentry, Electrical, Drywall and Plumbing
• On-site work experience at a Threshold community building project
• Safety training including Emergency First Aid and Working at Heights
• Employment seminars
• Construction math workshops
• Personal Protective Equipment, tool belts and hand tools supplied

Training services include:

• first aid training, including CPR and AED
• online health and safety, including WHMIS
• mental health training, including emotional first aid
• home and family training, including babysitting instruction and pet first aid

Sells first aid kits, books, and supplies:

• first aid kits, equipment and supplies
• AED and AED Supplies

Offers community programs including:

• car seat safety workshop (in partnership with Burlington Toyota)
• emergency response services
• first aid response services
• therapy dog program
• volunteer opportunities

For more information, refer to website

Training services include:

• first aid training, including CPR and AED
• online health and safety, including WHMIS
• mental health training, including emotional first aid
• home and family training, including babysitting instruction and pet first aid

Sells first aid kits, books, and supplies:

• first aid kits, equipment and supplies
• AED and AED Supplies

Offers community programs including:

• car seat safety workshop (in partnership with Burlington Toyota)
• emergency response services
• first aid response services
• therapy dog program
• volunteer opportunities

For more information, refer to website

Administers and enforces the Employment Standards Act, 2000

Guide to the Employment Standards Act, 2000
Provides for minimum terms and conditions of employment:

• sets out maximum number of hours that can be worked in a day or week, minimum daily, weekly or biweekly rest periods, and rules for overtime pay
• establishes the minimum wage rates
• General rates, Oct 1, 2025 to Sep 30, 2026: $17.60 per hour
• Students under 18 years, Oct 1, 2025 to Sep 30, 2026: $16.60 per hour
• establishes vacation pay and paid public holidays: New Year's Day, Family Day, Good Friday, Victoria Day, Canada Day, Labour Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas Day, Boxing Day
• prohibits unequal pay for equal work on the basis of sex
• prohibits discrimination on bases such as sex, age or marital status in employer-provided benefit plans
• establishes entitlement to various categories of leave such as sick leave, pregnancy and parental leave, caregiver leave, or personal emergency leave
• 8 days unpaid emergency leave per calendar year (3 days for personal illness; 3 days for family responsibilities such as illness of child or spouse; 2 days for bereavement leave)
• forbids lie detector testing
• obliges employers to provide notice of termination or pay in lieu
• obliges employers to provide severance pay to terminated employees when applicable
• permits retail store workers to refuse work on Sunday and public holidays under particular circumstances
• protects the rights of domestic workers and homeworkers

• information on injured workers' rights
• learning how to cope with injuries
• promotes health, safety, and security of injured workers
• advice on dealing with workers' compensation system
• public education about workers' compensation issues

First Aid Training and Services -- training courses for general public interest, school requirements or employee certifications for the workplace including:

• first aid (Emergency & Standard, Advanced Medical First Responder)
• CPR (levels A, C Basic Life Support/Health Care Provider),
• Automated External Defibrillator (AED) certifications
• Mental Health and Wellness
• Home Alone with first aid (9-10 years), babysitting basics for teens (11-14 years)
• New Parent workshops
• Pet First Aid
• Joint Health and Safety Committee Training, Parts 1 & 2

Medical First Response Services - first aid coverage at public and private gatherings upon request

Therapy Dog Visitation Services comfort and companionship visits with therapy dogs and handlers

Outreach and Education Team - educates public on St. John Ambulance services, volunteer programs and safety topics.

• health and safety programs, including workplace Joint Health and Safety Committee certification training, and online and self-paced learning for individuals and groups
• networking and conferences for health and safety professionals

• Advances safe, fair and harmonious workplace practices
• Responsible for occupational health and safety, employment rights and responsibilities, labour relations and internal administration
• Enforces the Employment Standards Act and its regulations and the Occupational Health and Safety Act
• Settles workplace disputes and assists in the settlement of collective agreements.

• Oversees Ontario's workplace safety education and training system
• Administers the province's no-fault collective liability insurance and access to industry-specific health and safety information for employers
• Provides loss of earnings benefits and health care coverage for workers
• Monitors the quality of health care
• Assists in early and safe return to work for workers who are injured on the job or contract an occupational disease

For a list of online services and contacts, visit the Contact Us page on the website

Promotes workplace health and safety

• administers no-fault workplace insurance for employers and their workers
• disability benefits for workers who are injured on the job or contract an occupational disease, or who have sustained sudden, traumatic mental stress or chronic stress injury that is the result of a work-related stressor (conditions apply, call for details)
• facilitates return to work
• administers survivor benefits for spouse, child or other dependant of a worker who died as the result of workplace injury or disease
• financial incentives for safe employers

Investigations - make a confidential report online or email [email protected] to report suspected cases of fraud or non-compliance

Administers and enforces the Employment Standards Act, 2000

Guide to the Employment Standards Act, 2000
Provides for minimum terms and conditions of employment:

• sets out maximum number of hours that can be worked in a day or week, minimum daily, weekly or biweekly rest periods, and rules for overtime pay
• establishes the minimum wage rates
• General rates, Oct 1, 2025 to Sep 30, 2026: $17.60 per hour
• Students under 18 years, Oct 1, 2025 to Sep 30, 2026: $16.60 per hour
• establishes vacation pay and paid public holidays: New Year's Day, Family Day, Good Friday, Victoria Day, Canada Day, Labour Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas Day, Boxing Day
• prohibits unequal pay for equal work on the basis of sex
• prohibits discrimination on bases such as sex, age or marital status in employer-provided benefit plans
• establishes entitlement to various categories of leave such as sick leave, pregnancy and parental leave, caregiver leave, or personal emergency leave
• 8 days unpaid emergency leave per calendar year (3 days for personal illness; 3 days for family responsibilities such as illness of child or spouse; 2 days for bereavement leave)
• forbids lie detector testing
• obliges employers to provide notice of termination or pay in lieu
• obliges employers to provide severance pay to terminated employees when applicable
• permits retail store workers to refuse work on Sunday and public holidays under particular circumstances
• protects the rights of domestic workers and homeworkers

Enforces Occupational Health and Safety Act and Regulations including construction, industrial and mining health and safety, and health care and residential facilities workplace safety

• inspects work sites
• investigates refusals to work under unsafe conditions
• investigates fatalities and serious accidents
• promotes education and prevention

No in-person services

• advice and representation
• advocacy
• research and consultation for individuals
• community education
• law reform
• referrals to union organizers
• outreach, particularly to small workplaces with immigrant workforces
• funded by Legal Aid Ontario

COVID19 -- Call or visit hospital website for updates on entryway restrictions, current visitor policies and appointment cancellations


Acute care hospital

• cancer care
• critical care and trauma
• diabetes comprehensive care; kidney/metabolism program
• Elders' Clinic providing comprehensive geriatric assessments
• gynecology and obstetrics, neonatal care; pediatrics
• heart and vascular disease
• multiple sclerosis; neurosurgery
• Occupational Medicine Clinic
• palliative care
• Positive Care Clinic for HIV
• regional stroke centre
• sleep

Rapid Access to Addiction Medicine (RAAM) Clinic

• urgent care drop in service for individuals with substance use problems
• Mon-Fri 9 am-11 pm
• register at reception, 17 CC Cardinal Carter Wing or call either 416-864-3082 or Coordinated Access to Addiction Services at 1-855-505-5045 , see separate listing

Additional Mental health and addictions, see separate entry

• an inquiry service to answer work-related health and safety questions
• assessing whether work accidents or exposures have caused a health condition
• outreach and education to increase awareness of health and safety issues, and promote prevention strategies
• research services to investigate and report on occupational illnesses and injuries

• Workplace Assessment

Provides information and answers to inquiries about workplace health and safety issues* Offers information about the property and effects of substances found in the workplace, common diseases and injuries in a client's work field, methods for reducing risk of exposure to or eliminating effects of hazards to your body, and recent medical articles

Information, education and support services across Ontario, including counselling, family support and advocacy

• individual peer support
• peer support and facilitation training
• youth, young adult and student awareness campaigns
• workplace awareness programs
• Peer Talk speakers bureau, workshops
• online guides, fact sheets, videos
• resource and reference library

Telephone Information and Peer Support (TIPS) Warmline

• ​416-486-8046, 1-888-486-8236; no crisis services

Recovery programs

• Wellness Recovery Action Plan (WRAP) 8-week program
• Laughing Like Crazy, 2SLGBTQ+ peer support group

Family Programs

• Family Matters peer support and recovery
• early intervention

Administers and enforces the Employment Standards Act, 2000

Guide to the Employment Standards Act, 2000
Provides for minimum terms and conditions of employment:

• sets out maximum number of hours that can be worked in a day or week, minimum daily, weekly or biweekly rest periods, and rules for overtime pay
• establishes the minimum wage rates
• General rates, Oct 1, 2025 to Sep 30, 2026: $17.60 per hour
• Students under 18 years, Oct 1, 2025 to Sep 30, 2026: $16.60 per hour
• establishes vacation pay and paid public holidays: New Year's Day, Family Day, Good Friday, Victoria Day, Canada Day, Labour Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas Day, Boxing Day
• prohibits unequal pay for equal work on the basis of sex
• prohibits discrimination on bases such as sex, age or marital status in employer-provided benefit plans
• establishes entitlement to various categories of leave such as sick leave, pregnancy and parental leave, caregiver leave, or personal emergency leave
• 8 days unpaid emergency leave per calendar year (3 days for personal illness; 3 days for family responsibilities such as illness of child or spouse; 2 days for bereavement leave)
• forbids lie detector testing
• obliges employers to provide notice of termination or pay in lieu
• obliges employers to provide severance pay to terminated employees when applicable
• permits retail store workers to refuse work on Sunday and public holidays under particular circumstances
• protects the rights of domestic workers and homeworkers

• training for local and migrant agricultural workers on Health & Safety and Labour Rights
• assistance in obtaining open work permits for vulnerable workers, getting access to Workers' Compensation, Employment Insurance benefits and Canada Pension Plan