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Mandatory health and safety awareness training in Ontario: workers and supervisors

Written for Ontario employers. Reviewed October 4, 2026.

Do Ontario employers have to give workers and supervisors health and safety awareness training?

Yes. Under O. Reg. 297/13, an Ontario employer must ensure every worker completes a basic occupational health and safety awareness training program as soon as practicable, and every supervisor completes a supervisor program within one week of starting work as a supervisor. The requirement applies regardless of sector or business size, and the employer must keep a record of the training completed.

Who it applies to

The Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development states that the requirement applies to all workplaces covered by the Occupational Health and Safety Act, regardless of sector, whether the work is on a construction project, in a retail store, a factory or elsewhere.

Workers and supervisors both need the training. A supervisor completes the supervisor program and also the worker program. Self-employed persons are not required to comply with O. Reg. 297/13.

This awareness training does not replace other specific training required under the Act and its regulations, such as working at heights training on construction projects.

The deadlines and the facts table

Basic awareness training in Ontario: the essentials

Governing regulation
O. Reg. 297/13, Occupational Health and Safety Awareness and Training, under the OHSA
Worker deadline
As soon as practicable (s. 1(1))
Supervisor deadline
Within one week of performing work as a supervisor (s. 2(1))
Prior training
Not required again if the person provides proof of earlier completion and the employer verifies it meets the content requirements (s. 1(2), s. 2(2))
Expiry period
O. Reg. 297/13 sets no expiry or refresher period for basic awareness training
Employer records
The employer must keep a record of the training completed (s. 4(1))
Free ministry programs
Available, but using them is not mandatory; other programs that meet the content requirements are acceptable

What the training must cover

The regulation lists minimum content. The worker program must include instruction on:

  • The duties and rights of workers under the Act
  • The duties of employers and supervisors under the Act
  • The roles of health and safety representatives and joint health and safety committees
  • The roles of the Ministry, the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board and designated entities in occupational health and safety
  • Common workplace hazards
  • The WHMIS requirements for information and instruction on hazardous products
  • Occupational illness, including latency

What supervisors must cover instead

The supervisor program shares the first four topics above and then replaces hazard and WHMIS content with how to recognize, assess and control workplace hazards and evaluate those controls, plus sources of information on occupational health and safety.

The ministry also notes that employers must appoint a competent person as supervisor, so a supervisor may need further training beyond the awareness program.

Records the employer keeps

  • A record of the awareness training completed by each worker and supervisor.
  • A record of any worker or supervisor for whom the employer relies on an exemption under section 3.
  • On request, written proof of completion for the worker or supervisor, including within six months after they stop working for the employer.

Where the authority sits. Syon Safety is not a certifying or inspecting body. The requirements in this guide are set by the Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development under the Occupational Health and Safety Act, and its inspectors enforce them. This guide is general information, not legal advice.

Frequently asked questions

Does health and safety awareness training apply to small businesses in Ontario?

Yes. The requirement applies to all workplaces covered by the Occupational Health and Safety Act, regardless of sector. O. Reg. 297/13 contains no exemption based on the number of employees.

How soon must a new worker complete awareness training?

A worker must complete it as soon as practicable. A supervisor must complete the supervisor program within one week of performing work as a supervisor.

Does awareness training expire?

O. Reg. 297/13 does not set an expiry date or refresher period for basic awareness training. Other training, such as working at heights, has its own validity period.

Can a new hire use awareness training from a previous employer?

Yes, if the worker provides proof of completion and the employer verifies that the earlier training meets the content requirements in the regulation.

Do employers have to use the free ministry training?

No. The ministry programs are free and can be used to comply, but employers may use their own or external training if it meets the minimum content requirements in O. Reg. 297/13.

Sources

Every regulatory claim above is taken from the body that sets the requirement, listed here so you can check it yourself rather than take our word for it.

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