Media Release: New Occupational Health and Safety Regulations Coming this Year

15th Apr 2015

New Occupational Health and Safety Regulations Coming this Year

Yellowknife, NT (April 16, 2015) – The Worker’s Safety and Compensation Commission (WSCC) is excited to announce that the New Occupational Health and Safety Regulations will become law in the Northwest Territories on June 1, 2015. They will become law in Nunavut later in 2015, following changes to their Safety Act.

The new Regulations give workplaces a modern framework that is relevant to Northern operations today, and closes any gaps that once existed between the Northwest Territories, Nunavut, and other Canadian jurisdictions. This ensures Northerners have clear, complete direction, and workers and employers operating in more than one territory or province have increased familiarity with OHS requirements.

“It is very important for organizations to thoroughly review the new Regulations to see how the changes will affect their operations.” says Dave Grundy, President & CEO of the WSCC. “One of the major highlights of the new Regulations is the increased support for an Internal Responsibility System (IRS), which allows employers and workers to ensure safe workplaces together.”

These Regulations apply to most businesses operating in the Northwest Territories and Nunavut*. They’re the result of hard work and commitment by the Ministers’ Safety Advisory Committee, who participated in extensive engagement opportunities with Northerners to bring these Regulations to where they are today.

The new Regulations are available for download at OHSRegs.ca.

*The Occupational Health and Safety Regulations remain proposed in Nunavut.

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Kim Walker
Manager, Communications
T: (867) 920-3846
TF: (800) 661-0792 ext. 3846