MACHINE SAFETY REGULATIONS FOR ONTARIO

All employers and workers in Ontario are required to comply with the requirements of the Ontario Occupational Health and Safety Act. Depending on the sector in which you operate, additional Health and Safety Regulations may apply. For example:

If you are working in a factory, Regulation 851 for Industrial Establishments applies.
In construction, Regulation 213 for Construction Projects applies.
In healthcare, Regulation 67 for Health Care and Residential Facilities applies.

Other regulations may apply to specific tasks, such as window cleaning, handling designated substances, WHMIS, or controlling exposure to biological or chemical agents. These requirements may be relevant across various environments, including factories, healthcare facilities, and construction sites.

While machinery is most commonly associated with factory settings, and therefore subject to Ontario Regulation 851 for Industrial Establishments, it is important to recognize that the definitions of “industrial establishment” and “factory” under the Occupational Health and Safety Act are broad. These definitions may also encompass operations such as laundries, logging, warehousing, office buildings, arenas, shops, and more.

A wide range of machine safety standards have been developed through collaboration among manufacturers, users, and stakeholders. While these standards are not legally binding, they are frequently referenced by the Ministry of Labour to assess whether employers have taken “every reasonable precaution to protect their workers” as required by the Occupational Health and Safety Act. In Ontario, the primary standards referenced are those published by the Canadian Standards Association (CSA). Additional current applicable standards from the United States, Europe, or international organizations may also be cited, depending on the situation. SESI performs Pre-Start Health and Safety Reviews as mandated by Section 7 of Ontario Regulation 851.