Harmonized H&S standards on the horizon

Governments across the country are aiming to synchronize requirements in a bid to make things easier for interprovincial employers.

Health and safety compliance could be about to get significantly easier for some employers as governments across Canada consider harmonizing provincial requirements.

Late last week, provincial and territorial labour ministers gathered for an annual meeting with federal Labour Minister MaryAnn Mihychuk to discuss the contentious topic.

British Columbia's Labour Minister Shirley Bond says many companies do business across provinces and struggle to meet the unique health and safety regulations in each jurisdiction.

According to Bond, provincial ministers presented the federal government with a working plan of how to move forward on creating harmonized regulations.

Mihychuk confirmed a two-year plan to unify standards was being considered but said the government wanted to speed up the process.

Labour ministers also discussed developing a more co-ordinated approach to addressing mental-health issues such as post-traumatic stress disorder in the workplace.
  • Written with contribution from the Canadian Press
Recent stories:

Finance giant sacks 5,000 over fraudulent bonuses

How to handle a badly-behaved CEO

How “kissing up” impacts new employees
 

Recent articles & video

Employee-employer trust gap widening – here’s what HR can do

Alberta launches new compensation model for doctors

Court orders city government to lift ‘nasty and wrong’ ban on contractor

Canadian military doctors, nurses set to work in Yukon hospitals

Most Read Articles

What does an employer have to report after a workplace harassment investigation?

Quebec teacher fired for joining ‘Survivor’ reality series

Nearly three-quarters of middle managers in Canada experiencing burnout: survey