J04 Hazard Assessment and Workplace Inspections

Law. Occupational Health and Safety Regulations, ss. 21 and 49 (Occupational Health and Safety Regulations [NU], 2021); WSCC firefighter code of practice (WSCC, 2017).

What must be covered.

• Hazard duty and inspections. The same as the Northwest Territories: a hazard recognition program inside the program, and committee or representative inspections at least once every three months with a written report (Occupational Health and Safety Regulations [NU], 2021, ss. 21, 49).

Fire-service nuance.

• The WSCC firefighter code of practice, including its written-assessment expectation for stations and training grounds, applies in Nunavut from 2017-12-21 (WSCC, 2017).

Status. Partly verified: the regulations (official consolidation to 2021-09-28) were checked against the Northwest Territories text; the Safety Act consolidation read is current only to 2016-06-19.

Law. Workers Compensation Act, ss. 21(2)(a)-(b) and 36(h) (Workers Compensation Act [BC], 2019); Occupational Health and Safety Regulation, ss. 2.2, 3.3(b), 3.5 to 3.11 (Occupational Health and Safety Regulation [BC], 2026).

What must be covered.

• Hazard duty. The employer must remedy workplace conditions that are hazardous and make workers aware of all known or reasonably foreseeable hazards (Workers Compensation Act [BC], 2019, s. 21(2)(a)-(b)); all work must be carried out without undue risk of injury or occupational disease (Occupational Health and Safety Regulation [BC], 2026, s. 2.2). The regulation has no single general written hazard assessment; risk assessments are required by specific Parts, such as workplace violence (s. 4.28), working alone (ss. 4.20.1-4.22) and confined spaces, where a qualified person assesses each space (ss. 9.9-9.11).
• Inspections. “Every employer must ensure that regular inspections are made of all workplaces, including buildings, structures, grounds, excavations, tools, equipment, machinery and work methods and practices, at intervals that will prevent the development of unsafe working conditions” (s. 3.5). A special inspection is made when required by malfunction or accident (s. 3.7). Inspections include members of the committee or the representative where feasible (s. 3.8). Unsafe conditions found are remedied without delay (s. 3.9), and anyone who sees an unsafe condition or act reports it to a supervisor or the employer, who investigates and corrects it (s. 3.10).
• Program and committee. The program provides for regular inspection of premises, equipment, work methods and practices at appropriate intervals (s. 3.3(b)); the committee must ensure that regular inspections are carried out and take part in them (Workers Compensation Act [BC], 2019, s. 36(h)-(i)).
• Emergencies. Where emergency action is needed to correct an immediate threat, only qualified and properly instructed workers may be exposed, and every effort is made to control the hazard (Occupational Health and Safety Regulation [BC], 2026, s. 3.11).

Fire-service nuance.

• Part 31 requires test and inspection records for firefighting equipment to be kept at the workplace for officers and the committee (s. 31.9); see J15 Equipment Inspection, Ladders and Aerial Devices.
• Section 3.11 is the regulatory basis for limiting exposure at incidents to qualified, instructed members; the department’s incident-type assessments show how it does that.

Status. Verified against the official text on 2026-10-23 (Act current to 2026-10-13; regulation to 2026-10-20). Section numbers, thresholds and amounts re-checked against the same consolidations on 2026-10-24.

Law. Occupational Health and Safety Act, ss. 8.1(1)(d), 9(2)(a.1), (b), 9(3) and 15 (Occupational Health and Safety Act [NB], 1983).

What must be covered.

• Hazard duty. Where the program is required (20 or more employees), it includes a hazard identification system with evaluation of the place of employment to identify potential hazards, procedures and schedules for inspections, and procedures for reporting, prompt follow-up and control of hazards (s. 8.1(1)(d)). Every employer acquaints employees with the hazards of tools, equipment and agents (s. 9(2)(b)).
• Monthly inspection. Every employer must “ensure that the place of employment is inspected at least once a month to identify any risks to the health and safety of its employees” (s. 9(2)(a.1)), under an inspection program developed with the committee or representative, and must share the results of each inspection with them (s. 9(3)).
• Committee. The committee may participate in the identification and control of hazards and in all inspections, inquiries and investigations (s. 15(b), (j)).

Fire-service nuance.

• The monthly rule applies to each place of employment, so each station needs a monthly inspection record; a volunteer station that meets weekly can fold it into a training night.
• Reg 91-191 Part VII.1 sets equipment rules but no fire-specific hazard assessment; see J12 Fire Service OHS Rules and Fireground Operations.

Status. Verified against the official consolidation (to 2024-06-07) on 2026-10-23. Section numbers, thresholds and amounts re-checked against the same consolidations on 2026-10-24.

Law. Occupational Health and Safety Code, Part 2, ss. 7 to 10 (Occupational Health and Safety Code [AB], 2025, ss. 7-10); Occupational Health and Safety Act, s. 13(6) (Occupational Health and Safety Act [AB], 2020, s. 13(6)).

What must be covered.

• Hazard assessment. The employer must assess a work site and identify existing and potential hazards before work begins or before a new work site is built (Occupational Health and Safety Code [AB], 2025, s. 7(1)), and prepare a report of the results and of the methods used to control or eliminate the hazards, recording the date it is prepared or revised (s. 7(2)-(3)).
• Repeating it. The assessment is repeated at reasonably practicable intervals to prevent unsafe and unhealthy conditions, when a new work process is introduced, when a process or operation changes, and before significant additions or alterations to the work site (s. 7(4)).
• Worker participation. The employer must involve affected workers in the assessment and in controlling or eliminating the hazards (s. 8(1)); the committee’s duties include “participation in the employer’s hazard assessment” (Occupational Health and Safety Act [AB], 2020, s. 13(6)(b)).
• Controls. Eliminate the hazard, or if that is not reasonably practicable control it, first with engineering controls, then administrative controls, then PPE, or a combination where that gives a greater level of safety (Occupational Health and Safety Code [AB], 2025, s. 9).
• Emergencies. Where emergency action is needed, only competent workers, and the minimum number necessary, may be exposed; the written report requirements “do not apply to an emergency response during the period that emergency action is required” (s. 10).
• Inspections. No fixed frequency; the committee reviews “the employer’s work site inspection documentation” (Occupational Health and Safety Act [AB], 2020, s. 13(6)(d)).

Fire-service nuance.

• Section 10(2) is the clearest statement in Canada of how hazard assessment works at incidents: write the assessments for each incident type in advance, act during the emergency, and record the review afterwards.
• Stations and training grounds get ordinary written, dated assessments under s. 7.

Status. Verified against the official consolidations (Act to 2025-06-11; Code to 2025-03-31) on 2026-10-23. Section numbers, thresholds and amounts re-checked against the same consolidations on 2026-10-24.

Law. The Saskatchewan Employment Act, s. 3-8 (The Saskatchewan Employment Act [SK], 2013, s. 3-8); The Occupational Health and Safety Regulations, 2020, ss. 3-11, 3-12, 3-17, 32-3 and 32-7 (The Occupational Health and Safety Regulations, 2020 [SK], 2021).

What must be covered.

• Hazard duty. The general duty to ensure, insofar as reasonably practicable, workers’ health, safety and welfare (The Saskatchewan Employment Act [SK], 2013, s. 3-8). Identification of existing and potential risks and the control measures is a program element (The Occupational Health and Safety Regulations, 2020 [SK], 2021, s. 3-11(1)(b)), but programs are required only at listed places, which do not include fire services unless ordered; see J03 OHS Policy and Program.
• Fire-specific plan. The employer, in consultation with the committee, develops a written plan for emergency response that identifies standard firefighting functions, the minimum firefighters for each, the vehicles and firefighters for the initial and total response by incident type, a typical operation, an incident management system and a personnel accountability system (s. 32-3).
• Inspections. The employer must let committee members or the representative “inspect a place of employment at reasonable intervals determined by the committee or the representative and employer” (s. 3-17(1)). On written notice of an unsafe condition or contravention, the employer takes immediate steps to protect workers, corrects it as soon as possible, and tells the committee or representative in writing what it did or why it did nothing (s. 3-17(2)). Plant is regularly examined, and unsafe conditions corrected (s. 3-12).
• Fire equipment. Firefighting vehicles and equipment are inspected by a competent person as often as necessary, with a signed written record kept at the place of employment and available to the committee (s. 32-7).

Fire-service nuance.

• The s. 32-3 plan is, in practice, the department’s incident-type hazard assessment; write it with the committee and keep it current.
• Because the program duty does not reach fire services, a department should adopt the s. 3-11 elements, including a written inspection schedule, by policy.

Status. Verified against the King’s Printer consolidations (Act to 2025-12-31; regulations to 2021-04-01) on 2026-10-23. Section numbers, thresholds and amounts re-checked against the same consolidations on 2026-10-24.

Law. The Workplace Safety and Health Act, ss. 4(2)(d.1), 7.4(5)(b), (e) and 40(10)(h) (The Workplace Safety and Health Act [MB], 2026); Workplace Safety and Health Regulation, ss. 2.1, 2.4 and 3.2.2 (Workplace Safety and Health Regulation [MB], 2026).

What must be covered.

• Hazard duty. Where there is a risk to a worker’s safety or health, the employer must eliminate it, if reasonably practicable, through the design of the workplace or work process or engineering controls; control any remaining risk the same way and then with safe work procedures; and then provide PPE for any remaining risk (Workplace Safety and Health Regulation [MB], 2026, s. 2.1). Wherever the law requires a risk assessment, a competent person must make it (The Workplace Safety and Health Act [MB], 2026, s. 4(2)(d.1)). At 20 or more workers, the program identifies existing and potential dangers and the measures to control them (s. 7.4(5)(b)).
• Inspections. The employer must ensure “regular inspections of the workplace and of work processes and procedures” are conducted to identify risks, correct unsafe conditions as soon as reasonably practicable, and protect people in the meantime (Workplace Safety and Health Regulation [MB], 2026, s. 2.4(1)). The program includes an inspection schedule (The Workplace Safety and Health Act [MB], 2026, s. 7.4(5)(e)); the committee’s duties include “the inspection of the workplace at regular intervals” (s. 40(10)(h)), and it inspects before each regularly scheduled meeting (Workplace Safety and Health Regulation [MB], 2026, s. 3.2.2), which makes the inspection at least quarterly.

Fire-service nuance.

• Part 42 requires written procedures covering the apparatus and firefighters needed for each emergency type, which serves as the incident-type assessment; see J06 Written Procedures and Committee Consultation.
• Failure of an atmosphere-supplying respirator is a reportable serious incident, so the inspection schedule should include the post-use SCBA check; see J08 Incident Reporting and Investigation.

Status. Verified against the official consolidations (to 2026-10-20) on 2026-10-23. Section numbers, thresholds and amounts re-checked against the same consolidations on 2026-10-24.

Law. Occupational Health and Safety Act, ss. 8(6)-(7), 9(18)(a), 9(23)-(30), 25(2)(d), (h) and 32.0.3 (Occupational Health and Safety Act [ON], 1990).

What must be covered.

• Hazard duty. No general written hazard assessment duty. The employer must acquaint workers and supervisors with any hazard in the work (s. 25(2)(d)) and “take every precaution reasonable in the circumstances” (s. 25(2)(h)). The committee’s function is to “identify situations that may be a source of danger or hazard to workers” (s. 9(18)(a)).
• Workplace violence assessment. The employer must assess the risks of workplace violence arising from the nature of the workplace, the type of work or the conditions of work, considering circumstances common to similar workplaces and specific to its own, give the results to the committee or representative, and reassess as often as necessary (s. 32.0.3); see J26 Workplace Violence.
• Committee inspections. The worker members designate a worker member, if possible a certified member, to inspect the physical condition of the workplace (s. 9(23)-(24)), at least once a month (s. 9(26)); where that is not practical, at least once a year with at least part inspected each month (s. 9(27)), on a schedule set by the committee (s. 9(28)). The employer and workers give the member the information and assistance needed (s. 9(29)), and the member reports hazards to the committee, which considers them within a reasonable time (s. 9(30)).
• Representative inspections. Where there is a representative instead, the representative inspects at least monthly, or yearly with part each month (s. 8(6)-(7)).
• Employer inspections. The Act fixes no employer inspection interval; it is part of the reasonable-precaution duty.

Fire-service nuance.

• Multi-station departments that ask the Minister for one committee covering several workplaces can arrange for a worker who is not a committee member to do the station inspections (s. 9(3.2)); see J05 Joint Committee and Health and Safety Representative.
• The Section 21 guidance notes act as Ontario’s incident-type hazard assessments for many operations; see J12 Fire Service OHS Rules and Fireground Operations.

Status. Verified against the official text on 2026-10-23 (Act from 2025-11-27 to the e-Laws currency date). Section numbers, thresholds and amounts re-checked against the same consolidations on 2026-10-24.

Law. Act respecting occupational health and safety, ss. 51(5), 59, 61.2, 78(6) and 90 (Act respecting occupational health and safety [QC], 2026); Regulation respecting prevention and participation mechanisms in an establishment, ss. 5 and 6 (Regulation respecting prevention and participation mechanisms in an establishment [QC], 2026, ss. 5-6).

What must be covered.

• Hazard duty. The employer must “use methods and techniques intended for the identification, control and elimination of risks” (Act respecting occupational health and safety [QC], 2026, s. 51(5)). The prevention program (20 or more workers) sets out “the identification and analysis of the risks”, including chemical, biological, physical, ergonomic and psychosocial risks (s. 59(1)); the action plan for smaller establishments sets out the identification of the same risks (s. 61.2(1)).
• Controls and review. Measures follow a six-level hierarchy: elimination at the source, substitution, engineering controls, warning systems, administrative controls such as training and safe work methods and procedures, and protective equipment (Regulation respecting prevention and participation mechanisms in an establishment [QC], 2026, s. 6). The program or action plan is updated every year (s. 5).
• Participation. The committee participates in identifying and analyzing risks (Act respecting occupational health and safety [QC], 2026, s. 78(6)); the health and safety representative identifies dangerous situations and takes part in risk identification and analysis (s. 90(3), (9)).
• Inspections. The representative’s first function is “to inspect workplaces” (s. 90(1)); the Act fixes no frequency. The program sets the supervision and follow-up measures (s. 59(3)).

Fire-service nuance.

• Psychosocial risks are part of the legal identification duty, so the assessment must cover critical incident exposure and workload; see J28 Psychological Health and Safety.
• The representative’s monthly release time under the regulation is what makes regular inspections possible; see J05 Joint Committee and Health and Safety Representative.

Status. Verified against the LégisQuébec consolidations (Act to 2026-08-12; regulation to 2026-07-01) on 2026-10-23. Section numbers, thresholds and amounts re-checked against the same consolidations on 2026-10-24.

Law. Occupational Health and Safety Act, ss. 3(r), 13(1)(d), 28(2)(e)-(f), 31(a), (d) and 50 (Occupational Health and Safety Act [NS], 1996).

What must be covered.

• Hazard duty. At 20 or more employees, the program includes a hazard identification system with (i) evaluation of the workplace to identify potential hazards, (ii) procedures and schedules for regular inspections, (iii) procedures for reporting hazards and for the accountability of those responsible for correcting them, and (iv) the circumstances in which the employer reports hazards to the committee or representative (s. 28(2)(e)), plus a system for monitoring, prompt follow-up and control of hazards (s. 28(2)(f)). Every employer ensures employees, and particularly supervisors and foremen, are made familiar with the hazards they may meet (s. 13(1)(d)). Since 2025-09-01, “health and safety” includes psychological health and safety (s. 3(r)).
• Inspections. The Act fixes no frequency; the program’s procedures and schedules set it (s. 28(2)(e)(ii)). The committee’s functions include “the co-operative identification of hazards to health and safety” and participation in inspections, inquiries and investigations (s. 31(a), (d)), and an employee member may accompany an officer’s inspection on paid time (s. 50).

Fire-service nuance.

• This system’s default schedule is a monthly station inspection by a management and worker pair, the whole workplace covered within 12 months, a quarterly committee walk-through, and an annual competent-person equipment inspection.
• Equipment must be inspected by the user before each use and by a competent person annually (Workplace Health and Safety Regulations [NS], 2025, s. 1.12); see J15 Equipment Inspection, Ladders and Aerial Devices.

Status. Verified on 2026-10-23 against the consolidated Act (to 2025-09-01) and Workplace Health and Safety Regulations (to NS Reg 163/2025), read in a reproduction of the official consolidation because the Legislature’s site could not be reached. Section numbers, thresholds and amounts re-checked against the same consolidations on 2026-10-24.

Law. Occupational Health and Safety Act, ss. 12(1)(d), 23(3)(e)-(f) and 25(7) (Occupational Health and Safety Act [PE], 1988).

What must be covered.

• Hazard duty. At 20 or more workers, the program includes a hazard identification system with evaluation of the workplace, procedures and schedules for regular inspections, hazard reporting and accountability, and the circumstances in which hazards are reported to the committee or representative, plus monitoring and follow-up (s. 23(3)(e)-(f)). Every employer ensures workers and supervisors are familiar with the hazards (s. 12(1)(d)).
• Inspections. No fixed frequency; the program sets the schedule. The committee co-operates to identify hazards and participates in inspections, inquiries and investigations (s. 25(7)(a), (c)).

Fire-service nuance.

• With no fire-specific rules, the program’s hazard identification system is where incident-type assessments belong; see J12 Fire Service OHS Rules and Fireground Operations.

Status. Verified against the official consolidation (to 2023-08-01) on 2026-10-23. Section numbers, thresholds and amounts re-checked against the same consolidations on 2026-10-24.

Law. Occupational Health and Safety Act, ss. 5(c), (f.3) and 39(a.1) (Occupational Health and Safety Act [NL], 1990); Occupational Health and Safety Regulations, 2012, ss. 12(1)(g), 15 and 18 (Occupational Health and Safety Regulations, 2012 [NL], 2026).

What must be covered.

• Hazard duty. At 20 or more workers, the program includes a system for the recognition, evaluation and control of hazards: evaluation and monitoring of the workplace to identify hazards and the associated risks, procedures and schedules for regular inspections “by management and committee members”, hazard reporting and correction, prompt investigation, reporting to the committee and accountability (Occupational Health and Safety Regulations, 2012 [NL], 2026, s. 12(1)(g)). Every employer makes workers and supervisors familiar with hazards (Occupational Health and Safety Act [NL], 1990, s. 5(c)). Work alone or in isolation needs a risk assessment and a written check-in procedure (Occupational Health and Safety Regulations, 2012 [NL], 2026, s. 15).
• Inspections. “Regular inspections of all buildings, excavations, structures, machinery, equipment, work practices and places of employment shall be made by the employer or the employer’s representative at intervals to ensure that safe working conditions are maintained”, and unsafe conditions found are remedied without delay (s. 18(1)). The employer consults the committee, representative or designate about scheduling the inspections the regulations require and ensures they take part (Occupational Health and Safety Act [NL], 1990, s. 5(f.3)); the committee “shall participate” in them (s. 39(a.1)).
• Emergencies. Where emergency action is needed, only qualified and properly instructed workers may be exposed (Occupational Health and Safety Regulations, 2012 [NL], 2026, s. 18(3)).

Fire-service nuance.

• Committee participation in required inspections was made mandatory in the 2024 rewrite; schedule station inspections so a committee member can attend.

Status. Verified against the official consolidations (Act through SNL 2023, c 15; regulations to NLR 48/26) on 2026-10-23. Section numbers, thresholds and amounts re-checked against the same consolidations on 2026-10-24.

Law. Workplace Health and Safety Regulations, ss. 1.03.01 and 1.04 (Workplace Health and Safety Regulations [YT], 2022); Workers’ Safety and Compensation Act, ss. 44(3)(e) and 45 (Workers’ Safety and Compensation Act [YT], 2021).

What must be covered.

• Hazard assessment, every employer. Conduct hazard assessments for each workplace to identify existing and potential hazards and the extent of the risk of injury, considering previous experience in the workplace and in similar workplaces, the location and circumstances of the work, and the likelihood that each hazard presents a risk (Workplace Health and Safety Regulations [YT], 2022, s. 1.03.01(1)-(2)).
• Who takes part. In consultation with the committee or representative where one is required, or otherwise the workers (s. 1.03.01(3)); under 20 workers, with the workers or the representative (Workers’ Safety and Compensation Act [YT], 2021, s. 45).
• When it is repeated. As often as required to prevent hazards from developing; as soon as practicable after a significant change in location, circumstances, interactions or layout; after an incident or injury involving a hazard already identified; and when the board orders it (Workplace Health and Safety Regulations [YT], 2022, s. 1.03.01(4)).
• Controls. All reasonable precautions: eliminate hazards where possible; control them through engineering and administrative procedures; develop safe work procedures; and provide information, training and PPE where hazards cannot be eliminated or controlled (s. 1.04).
• Inspections. The health and safety management system includes an inspection schedule (Workers’ Safety and Compensation Act [YT], 2021, s. 44(3)(e)); the law read fixes no interval.

Fire-service nuance.

• The repeat triggers suit a fire department well: review the station and training-ground assessments after any injury or near miss involving a known hazard, and after any renovation.
• Firefighters give the fire chief a written PPE inspection report each month under Part 11 (Workplace Health and Safety Regulations [YT], 2022, s. 11.07); see J13 Firefighter PPE and Protective Equipment.

Status. Partly verified: the regulations were read in the board’s official rendering on 2026-10-23; the Act in the consolidation captured 2024-12-25 (later amendments not checked).

Law. Occupational Health and Safety Regulations, ss. 21(2)(b), (f) and 49 (Occupational Health and Safety Regulations [NT], 2024); WSCC firefighter code of practice (WSCC, 2017).

What must be covered.

• Hazard duty. At 20 or more workers, the program identifies hazards “through a hazard recognition program” and the control measures (Occupational Health and Safety Regulations [NT], 2024, s. 21(2)(b)-(c)). The WSCC’s firefighter code of practice states that all employers must conduct and document hazard assessments, that “a written hazard assessment prior to the start of emergency work at an incident is not practical”, and that areas where work is not of an emergency nature, such as the firehouse and the training field, “require a formal written hazard assessment” (WSCC, 2017).
• Inspections. The employer must ensure that the committee or representative “performs an inspection of the work site not less than once every three months” and submits a written report of each inspection to the employer (Occupational Health and Safety Regulations [NT], 2024, s. 49); the program includes an inspection schedule (s. 21(2)(f)).

Fire-service nuance.

• The code names the incident management system and personnel accountability as the administrative controls that carry fireground hazard control (WSCC, 2017); see J12 Fire Service OHS Rules and Fireground Operations.
• The code refers to a separate WSCC hazard assessment code of practice for method, which was not read.

Status. Verified against the Justice consolidation of the regulations (to 2024-09-26), read through the laws.opennwt.ca mirror, and the WSCC firefighter code on 2026-10-23. Section numbers, thresholds and amounts re-checked against the same consolidations on 2026-10-24.

Law. Canada Labour Code, ss. 125(1)(z.11)-(z.12) and 135(7)(k) (Canada Labour Code [CA], 1985); Canada Occupational Health and Safety Regulations, ss. 19.1 to 19.7 (Canada Occupational Health and Safety Regulations [CA], 2026).

What must be covered.

• Methodology. The employer develops a hazard identification and assessment methodology, taking into account hazardous occurrence reports, first aid and minor injury records, workplace inspection results, employee hazard reports and committee reports, among others; it sets the steps and time frame for identifying and assessing hazards, a record of the hazards, and a time frame for reviewing the methodology (Canada Occupational Health and Safety Regulations [CA], 2026, s. 19.3).
• Assessment. Hazards are identified and assessed according to that methodology, considering the nature of the hazard, the level, frequency and duration of exposure, its effects and the measures in place (s. 19.4).
• Controls. Preventive measures in order of priority: elimination (including engineering controls), reduction (including isolation), PPE, then administrative procedures; a preventive maintenance program; no measure may itself create a hazard; newly identified hazards are addressed expeditiously (s. 19.5).
• Participation and review. The whole program is developed, implemented and monitored with the participation of the policy committee or the work place committee or representative (s. 19.1(1)) and evaluated at least every three years (s. 19.7). Copies of hazard reports go to the committees (Canada Labour Code [CA], 1985, s. 125(1)(z.11)).
• Inspections. The employer must ensure “that the work place committee or the health and safety representative inspects each month all or part of the work place, so that every part of the work place is inspected at least once each year” (s. 125(1)(z.12); s. 135(7)(k)).

Fire-service nuance.

• The federal monthly inspection rule applies to an airport fire hall and its apparatus bays; the airport’s aviation safety management system adds its own hazard reporting.

Status. Verified against the Justice Laws consolidations (current to 2026-09-30) on 2026-10-23. Section numbers, thresholds and amounts re-checked against the same consolidations on 2026-10-24.