Jurisdiction Pack - Nunavut

This is the Nunavut pack of Part 10: this preface, followed by the Nunavut section of every topic page listed in the 00 Jurisdiction Index. The sections are generated from the topic pages, so the pack and the topic pages always say the same thing, and both state the law as researched to 2026-10-23. It is general information, not legal advice: check every requirement against the official consolidation before you rely on it.

A Nunavut fire department works under the Safety Act as it applies in Nunavut and the Occupational Health and Safety Regulations, in force since 2016-03-29, which are substantively identical to the Northwest Territories regulations and use the same section numbers, including Part 32 for firefighters (Safety Act [NU], 1988; Occupational Health and Safety Regulations [NU], 2021, ss. 476-488). The Workers’ Safety and Compensation Commission, shared with the Northwest Territories, enforces both and administers compensation; incidents are reported to its 24-hour line, 1-800-661-0792, with the employer’s report through its online service, and its Code of Practice for firefighters has applied in Nunavut since 2017-12-21 (WSCC, 2025b; WSCC, 2017). The Fire Safety Act, formerly the Fire Prevention Act, makes the fire chief a local assistant to the Fire Marshal, who advises on establishing, organizing and equipping fire departments and on training programs, and a hamlet council may establish a fire protection service by bylaw (Fire Safety Act [NU], 1988, ss. 3, 5; Hamlets Act [NU], 2024, s. 97). The firefighter presumptions are in the Workers’ Compensation Act and the Firefighters’ Presumption Regulations (Workers’ Compensation Act [NU], 2021, s. 14.1; Firefighters’ Presumption Regulations [NU], 2021).

• The Northwest Territories regulations, under Nunavut numbers, with a volunteer exemption likely to be used. Part 32 covers firefighters, volunteers included, and at the Fire Marshal’s request the Chief Safety Officer may exempt a volunteer fire department from any Part 32 provision for no more than a year, which matters where most services are hamlet volunteer brigades (Occupational Health and Safety Regulations [NU], 2021, ss. 476-477). Section 476 still refers to the “Fire Prevention Act” although the statute was renamed.
• The response plan is the legal core. With the committee or representative, or the firefighters where there is neither, the employer writes a plan setting the firefighting functions, the minimum firefighters for each based on written procedures, the vehicles and firefighters for the initial response and the total complement by incident type, alarm and response times and arrival sequence, an incident management system and a personnel accountability system (Occupational Health and Safety Regulations [NU], 2021, s. 478).
• Teams inside, a rescue team outside, PASS tested monthly. Firefighters in interior structural firefighting work in teams with a suitably equipped rescue team readily available outside, PASS devices are tested at least monthly and before each use, and IDLH entry uses positive-pressure SCBA rated at least 30 minutes with a second trained worker and rescue available (Occupational Health and Safety Regulations [NU], 2021, ss. 93, 486-487).
• Volunteers are workers. A worker includes a person working “with or without remuneration”, so volunteers count toward the thresholds and may sit as worker members of the committee (Safety Act [NU], 1988, s. 1).
• Refusal is limited to “unusual danger”. The right covers a danger that does not normally exist in the work, or one under which a person in that work would not normally carry it out, with investigation by the committee or a Chief Safety Officer delegate within 24 hours and an appeal to the Chief Safety Officer (Safety Act [NU], 1988, s. 13).
• Respirator rules suit emergency-only SCBA. Fit testing in an approved manner, a capability assessment, refresher training every six months where devices are used only in emergencies, monthly and after-use inspections, and records kept while the worker is employed (Occupational Health and Safety Regulations [NU], 2021, ss. 91-92).
• An SCBA failure is a dangerous occurrence. Serious bodily injuries and dangerous occurrences, including a structural collapse or the failure of an atmosphere-supplying respirator, are reported as soon as reasonably possible and investigated jointly with the committee (Occupational Health and Safety Regulations [NU], 2021, ss. 1, 8-9, 28). The employer’s compensation report within three days also covers exposures to hazardous substances (Workers’ Compensation Act [NU], 2021, s. 18).
• Program, committee and policies. A written program with 11 elements, reviewed every three years, at 20 or more workers; a committee where 20 or more work more than 90 days, meeting at least every three months after the first four meetings, inspecting every three months and answering recommendations in writing as soon as reasonably possible; a representative below 20; and written harassment and impairment policies for every employer, with a violence policy reviewed every three years where violence could reasonably occur (Occupational Health and Safety Regulations [NU], 2021, ss. 21, 34-35.1, 37-52).
• Officers must complete a familiarization course. Supervisors are separate duty-holders and must have completed an approved regulatory familiarization program (Occupational Health and Safety Regulations [NU], 2021, s. 16).
• Older-style presumptions and no PTSD presumption. Fourteen cancers with service minimums of five to 25 years and a cardiac arrest within 24 hours of an emergency response are presumed; there is no PTSD presumption in force or pending (Workers’ Compensation Act [NU], 2021, s. 14.1; Firefighters’ Presumption Regulations [NU], 2021). The 2025 amendments restructure benefits and change the lung cancer non-smoking reference date, but are not yet in force (An Act to Amend the Workers’ Compensation Act [NU], 2025).
• Volunteers’ own vehicles are emergency vehicles. A vehicle not ordinarily used for emergencies, driven by a volunteer, part-time or on-call firefighter responding to an emergency, is an emergency vehicle; only red flashing lights are allowed, and exemptions apply with siren and lights (Traffic Safety Act [NU], 1988, ss. 1, 132(3), 240). The 2019 text has no move-over rule, and later amendments were not read. Apparatus with three or more axles need a Class 3 licence, and air brakes only where the licence permits them (Driver’s Licence Regulations [NU], 2026).
• Brigades rest on hamlet bylaws. A hamlet establishes its fire protection service by bylaw and may make agreements on the use of firefighting staff and equipment, which is the basis for mutual aid; volunteers are not liable for good-faith acts unless dishonest, grossly negligent or wilful, and a court weighs population, geography, volunteer status and revenues in judging the standard of care (Hamlets Act [NU], 2024, ss. 97, 99, 170.2, 170.9). Fire protection plans that could bring minimum training and equipment standards were not in force in 2019 (Fire Safety Act [NU], 1988, s. 5.01).

1. Citing Northwest Territories instrument numbers. The text is the same but the instruments are not (Occupational Health and Safety Regulations [NU], 2021; Workers’ Compensation Act [NU], 2021). Fix: cite Nu. Reg. 003-2016 and C.S.Nu., c. W-70 in every Nunavut document. See J01 OHS Legislation, Regulator and Enforcement.
2. No register of Part 32 exemptions. Fix: record each exemption, its renewal date and the Part 32 duties that still apply, and remember that respirator, IDLH, fall protection, confined space and traffic rules are outside it (Occupational Health and Safety Regulations [NU], 2021, s. 477). See J11 Volunteer Firefighters.
3. No section 478 plan. Fix: write the service level and minimum staffing in the s. 478 form with the committee or representative, or the firefighters where there is neither (Occupational Health and Safety Regulations [NU], 2021, s. 478). See J12 Fire Service OHS Rules and Fireground Operations.
4. Checking PASS devices only before use. Fix: a monthly PASS test log (Occupational Health and Safety Regulations [NU], 2021, s. 487). See J13 Firefighter PPE and Protective Equipment.
5. Not reporting an SCBA failure. It is a dangerous occurrence (Occupational Health and Safety Regulations [NU], 2021, ss. 1, 9). Fix: phone the 24-hour line and investigate with the committee. See J08 Incident Reporting and Investigation.
6. Assuming a PTSD presumption exists. Nunavut has none (Workers’ Compensation Act [NU], 2021, s. 14.1). Fix: peer support, critical incident debriefing and a record of traumatic exposures for each member, which also support ordinary claims. See J32 Workers' Compensation and Firefighter Presumptions.
7. Members responding in their own vehicles with no authorization or standard. Their vehicles count as emergency vehicles when responding (Traffic Safety Act [NU], 1988, s. 1). Fix: authorization, driving standards, red light and siren rules and driver abstracts for every responding member. See J30 Emergency Vehicles, Drivers and Licensing.
8. A brigade with no establishing bylaw and verbal mutual aid. Fix: establish the service by bylaw and put mutual aid in writing, since the service level policy is also a legal defence document (Hamlets Act [NU], 2024, ss. 97, 99, 170.9). See J34 Fire Services Legislation and Firefighter Certification.
9. No plan for breathing air in a remote hamlet. Breathing air must meet approved purity requirements (Occupational Health and Safety Regulations [NU], 2021, s. 93(4)). Fix: a documented air supply and testing plan where no certified fill station exists. See J14 Respiratory Protection, Fit Testing and Breathing Air.
10. Officers without the familiarization course. Fix: record the approved course for every officer, acting officer and incident commander (Occupational Health and Safety Regulations [NU], 2021, s. 16(1)(c)). See J02 Duties of Employers, Supervisors, Workers and Contractors.

Each row is a legal obligation, so it belongs in Stage 1; a row for a specialty service applies only where the department provides that service. The topic page gives the detail.

The chapters of this book are written once for every Canadian fire department: where a requirement comes from territorial law, a chapter states it generically and links the topic page that holds each jurisdiction’s version. This pack collects Nunavut’s section from every one of those topic pages, so a Nunavut department can read its whole legal layer in one place and use the checklist above as the legal overlay for its gap assessment and audit. Adopt nothing from this pack without checking the official text of the statute or regulation and taking the advice of your own counsel.

Each section below is copied from the topic page it names; the topic page also shows every other jurisdiction for comparison.

Law. Safety Act, R.S.N.W.T. (Nu.) 1988, c. S-1 (Safety Act [NU], 1988); Occupational Health and Safety Regulations, Nu. Reg. 003-2016, in force 2016-03-29, including Part 32 (Occupational Health and Safety Regulations [NU], 2021). The regulator is the same Workers’ Safety and Compensation Commission.

What must be covered.

• Reporting line. The WSCC 24-hour Incident Reporting Line, 1-800-661-0792, and the Employer’s Report of Incident on WSCC Connect (WSCC, 2025b).
• Posting, directions and appeals. The Nunavut Act carries the same structure as the Northwest Territories Act: Act and regulations kept available (Safety Act [NU], 1988, s. 6), directions arising out of inspections (s. 12), appeal to the Chief Safety Officer within 30 days (s. 16) and then to a judge (s. 17).
• Offences. Employer up to $500,000 or one year; worker up to $50,000 or six months; a worker who condoned the offence up to $25,000 or one month; supplier up to $500,000 or one year (s. 22); limitation under s. 24.
• Administrative penalties. None under the Safety Act.

Fire-service nuance.

• The regulations are substantively identical to the Northwest Territories’, with the same section numbers, and the WSCC firefighter code of practice applies in Nunavut from 2017-12-21; see J12 Fire Service OHS Rules and Fireground Operations.

Status. Partly verified: the regulations (official consolidation to 2021-09-28, with 2025 amendments) were read; the Safety Act consolidation read is current only to 2016-06-19, and a later Legislation Act amendment was not read.

Law. Safety Act, ss. 4 to 6.1 (Safety Act [NU], 1988, ss. 4-6.1); Occupational Health and Safety Regulations, ss. 1, 4(8) and 16 (Occupational Health and Safety Regulations [NU], 2021).

What must be covered.

• Employer, worker and supplier. The same duties as in the Northwest Territories: maintain the establishment safely and take all reasonable precautions (Safety Act [NU], 1988, s. 4); worker duties (s. 5); supplier duties (s. 6.1).
• Supervisor: a separate duty-holder in the regulations, with the same supervisor familiarization requirement (Occupational Health and Safety Regulations [NU], 2021, s. 16).

Fire-service nuance.

• The WSCC firefighter code of practice applies in Nunavut from 2017-12-21 (WSCC, 2017).

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

Law. Safety Act, s. 7 (Safety Act [NU], 1988, s. 7); Occupational Health and Safety Regulations, ss. 21 and 34(4) (Occupational Health and Safety Regulations [NU], 2021).

What must be covered.

• Program and policy. The same as the Northwest Territories: a program at 20 or more workers or on direction, with the 11 elements, reviewed at least every three years (Occupational Health and Safety Regulations [NU], 2021, s. 21); a harassment policy for every employer (s. 34(4)).

Fire-service nuance.

• The WSCC firefighter code of practice 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. 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. Safety Act, s. 7.1 (Safety Act [NU], 1988, s. 7.1); Occupational Health and Safety Regulations, ss. 28 and 37 to 53 (Occupational Health and Safety Regulations [NU], 2021).

What must be covered.

• All elements. The same as the Northwest Territories: committee at 20 or more workers for more than 90 days, equal composition, meetings on the same schedule, minutes posted, quarterly inspections, co-chair training, a reply “as soon as is reasonably possible”, and the same committee duties (Safety Act [NU], 1988, s. 7.1; Occupational Health and Safety Regulations [NU], 2021, ss. 37-53).

Fire-service nuance.

• Volunteers work “with or without remuneration” (Safety Act [NU], 1988, s. 1), so they count and may sit as worker members; the WSCC codes apply in Nunavut (WSCC, 2017, 2018).

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. Occupational Health and Safety Regulations, ss. 21 and 478 (Occupational Health and Safety Regulations [NU], 2021); WSCC firefighter code of practice (WSCC, 2017).

What must be covered.

• Plan and consultation. The same as the Northwest Territories: the written s. 478 plan developed in consultation with the committee, representative or firefighters, and the program training plan (Occupational Health and Safety Regulations [NU], 2021, ss. 21, 478).
• Code of practice. The WSCC firefighter code, including the annual SOP review, is in effect in Nunavut from 2017-12-21 (WSCC, 2017).

Fire-service nuance.

• Part 32 in Nunavut still refers to the “Fire Prevention Act”, although the statute is now the Fire Safety Act; the code refers to the current name.

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. Safety Act, ss. 13 and 22 (Safety Act [NU], 1988, ss. 13, 22).

What must be covered.

• The right and steps. Identical to the Northwest Territories: refusal where there is reason to believe an “unusual danger” exists; investigation by the employer with a worker present; then the committee or a delegate of the Chief Safety Officer within 24 hours; appeal to the Chief Safety Officer (s. 13).
• Reprisal. An offence (s. 22(1)(c)(iv)); the court may order reinstatement and compensation (s. 22(3)).

Fire-service nuance.

• The limit, verbatim. “‘Unusual danger’ means, in relation to any work, (a) a danger that does not normally exist in that work; or (b) a danger under which a person engaged in that work would not normally carry out his or her work” (s. 13(1)). As in the Northwest Territories, normal firefighting dangers fall outside the right; abnormal ones do not.
• Volunteers. Covered as workers “with or without remuneration” (J11 Volunteer Firefighters).

Status. Verified against the official text on 2026-10-23 (consolidation current to 2016-06-19; the later Legislation Act amendment, S.Nu. 2020, c. 15, was not read).

Law. Occupational Health and Safety Regulations, ss. 1, 8, 9, 28 and 29 (Occupational Health and Safety Regulations [NU], 2021, ss. 1, 8-9, 28-29); Workers’ Compensation Act, s. 18 (Workers’ Compensation Act [NU], 2021, s. 18).

What must be covered.

• Same rules as the Northwest Territories, in identical sections. Accidents causing death, likely death or in-patient admission of 24 hours or more are reported as soon as reasonably possible (Occupational Health and Safety Regulations [NU], 2021, ss. 1, 8); dangerous occurrences, including structural collapse and “failure of an atmosphere-supplying respirator”, are reported whether or not anyone is hurt (ss. 1, 9).
• How. The WSCC’s 24-hour line, 1-800-661-0792, then the Employer’s Report of Incident within three business days (WSCC, 2025b).
• Scene and investigation. A fatality scene is held for the safety officer (s. 29); serious injuries and dangerous occurrences are investigated jointly with the committee (s. 28).
• Compensation report. Within three days, including exposures to hazardous substances that could cause injury or disease in the future (Workers’ Compensation Act [NU], 2021, s. 18).

Fire-service nuance.

• As in the Northwest Territories: report exposures to the WSCC, treat an SCBA failure as a dangerous occurrence, and confirm with the WSCC how collapses at fires are to be reported.

Status. Verified against the official text on 2026-10-23 (Regulations official consolidation 2021-09-28 with the 2025 amendments read; compensation Act consolidation 2021-07-01).

Law. Occupational Health and Safety Regulations, ss. 10, 63, 91, 318, 479, 482 and 483 (Occupational Health and Safety Regulations [NU], 2021, ss. 10, 63, 91, 318, 479, 482-483).

What must be covered.

• Same rules as the Northwest Territories, in identical sections. Medical confidentiality (s. 10); respirator records while employed (s. 91(5)); first aid register three years (s. 63); firefighter training and vehicle records (ss. 479, 482-483); exposure-incident reports to exposed workers (s. 318).

Fire-service nuance.

• As in the Northwest Territories, no general exposure-record period exists; adopt this system’s periods.

Status. Verified against the official text on 2026-10-23 (official consolidation 2021-09-28 with the 2025 amendments).

Law. Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act, ss. 2 and 42.1 (Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act [NU], 2024, ss. 2, 42.1).

What must be covered.

• Access and privacy. “Public body” includes a municipality only if “designated in the regulations” (s. 2); municipalities are exempt from privacy impact assessments (s. 42.1(3)). The regulations’ Schedule A (current to 2016-05-13) lists no municipality.
• Health information. No stand-alone health information statute was found.

Fire-service nuance.

• No statutory regime for municipal departments. Member and patient information is protected only by policy, contracts and the OHS confidentiality rules.

Status. Partly verified on 2026-10-23 (ATIPPA official consolidation 2024-05-31; Schedule A to 2016-05-13). Later regulation amendments (2020, 2025) were not read.

Law. Safety Act, s. 1 (Safety Act [NU], 1988, s. 1); Workers’ Compensation Act, ss. 4(1)(b), 8(4)-(5) and 14.1 (Workers’ Compensation Act [NU], 2021, ss. 4, 8, 14.1); Firefighters’ Presumption Regulations (Firefighters’ Presumption Regulations [NU], 2021).

What must be covered.

• OHS status. “Worker” includes a person working “with or without remuneration” (Safety Act [NU], 1988, s. 1), so volunteers count and may sit as worker members.
• Refusal and reprisal. As in the Northwest Territories: the “unusual danger” right and reprisal as an offence (Safety Act [NU], 1988, ss. 13, 22).
• Compensation. Deemed workers (Workers’ Compensation Act [NU], 2021, s. 4(1)(b)); the Government of Nunavut is the deemed employer unless the municipality pays the cost (s. 8(4)-(5)).
• Presumptions. A cardiac arrest within 24 hours after attendance at an emergency response, and the same 14 cancers and minimum periods as the Northwest Territories (s. 14.1; Firefighters’ Presumption Regulations). There is no post-traumatic stress presumption and none pending.

Fire-service nuance.

• Nunavut has not followed the 2027 Northwest Territories changes; check each year whether it does.

Status. Verified against the official text on 2026-10-23 (Safety Act consolidation to 2016-06-19; compensation Act consolidation 2021-07-01; presumption regulations with the 2016 and 2021 amendments).

Law. Safety Act (Nunavut), s. 4 employer duties (Safety Act [NU], 1988, s. 4); Occupational Health and Safety Regulations, Part 32 “Additional Protection for Firefighters”, ss. 476 to 488, with ss. 31 and 93 (Occupational Health and Safety Regulations [NU], 2021, ss. 31, 93, 476-488); Code of Practice: Firefighters, in effect in Nunavut from 2017-12-21 (WSCC, 2017).

What must be covered.

• Part 32 is identical in text and numbering to the Northwest Territories: the volunteer department exemption at the Fire Marshal’s request for up to one year (s. 477); the written plan with an incident management system and a personnel accountability system (s. 478); training and records (s. 479); vehicles and inspections (ss. 480-483); seats and belts with the 20 km/h wildland exception (s. 484); approved PPE (s. 485); teams with a rescue team readily available outside (s. 486); PASS tested monthly and before each use (s. 487); ropes and harnesses (s. 488).
• IDLH entry needs positive-pressure SCBA rated for at least 30 minutes, a standby worker and rescue personnel (s. 93); restricted visibility needs effective communication (s. 31).
• The Code of Practice applies in Nunavut as described for the Northwest Territories: minimum-staffing SOP, a rescue team assigned solely to rescue firefighters, accountability policy, annual SOP review, and NFPA as guidance only (WSCC, 2017).

Fire-service nuance.

• Section 476 still defines “Fire Marshal” by reference to the “Fire Prevention Act”, although Nunavut renamed the statute the Fire Safety Act in 2017; the code refers to the Nunavut Fire Safety Act.
• The WSCC administers both territories and shares the codes of practice; the same refusal limit (“unusual danger”) applies (Safety Act [NU], 1988, s. 13).
• Volunteers are workers (“with or without remuneration”); see J11 Volunteer Firefighters.

Status. Verified against the official text on 2026-10-23 (regulations official consolidation 2021-09-28 plus 2025 amendments; key sections compared line by line with the Northwest Territories text).

Law. Safety Act (Nunavut), s. 5 (Safety Act [NU], 1988, s. 5); Occupational Health and Safety Regulations, ss. 89, 90, 94, 97, 100 and 485 (Occupational Health and Safety Regulations [NU], 2021).

What must be covered.

• The text and numbering are the same as in the Northwest Territories: approved PPE supplied free, trained, maintained and removed from service when damaged (s. 90(1)); approved head, eye and foot protection with no CSA edition named (ss. 94, 97, 100); approved firefighter PPE appropriate to the hazards (s. 485); PASS for anyone entering a structure (s. 487).
• The WSCC code of practice applies in Nunavut (WSCC, 2017).

Fire-service nuance.

• The 2025 amendments to the Nunavut regulations do not change these sections.

Status. Verified against the official text on 2026-10-23 (official consolidation 2021-09-28 with 2025 amendments).

Law. Occupational Health and Safety Regulations, ss. 91 to 93 (Occupational Health and Safety Regulations [NU], 2021, ss. 91-93); Code of Practice: Firefighters (WSCC, 2017).

What must be covered.

• The text is the same as the Northwest Territories: fit testing “in an approved manner” with no interval and no CSA Z94.4 edition named (s. 91(1)(a)(iv)); a capability assessment to an approved standard (s. 91(2)(d)); a semi-annual refresher for emergency-use devices (s. 91(4)) and monthly inspection (s. 92); records kept while the worker is employed (s. 91(5)); IDLH entry with positive-pressure SCBA rated for at least 30 minutes, a standby worker and rescue (s. 93); breathing air of “approved purity” (s. 93(4)).
• The code’s expectation that every firefighter be fit tested applies in Nunavut (WSCC, 2017).

Fire-service nuance.

• Commercial breathing air testing laboratories are far away; plan sample shipping and the test interval together (department practice).

Status. Verified against the official text on 2026-10-23 (official consolidation 2021-09-28, compared with the Northwest Territories text).

Law. Occupational Health and Safety Regulations, ss. 22, 24, 175(2), 198, 199, 259, 482 and 483 (Occupational Health and Safety Regulations [NU], 2021); Code of Practice: Firefighters (WSCC, 2017).

What must be covered.

• The text and numbering are the same as in the Northwest Territories: regular examination and maintenance of equipment (ss. 22, 24); competent-person inspection of firefighting equipment with signed records (s. 482) and qualified repairs (s. 483); aerial devices, including aerial ladders, to an approved standard or engineer certification, with a record tag (ss. 198-199); portable ladder limits (s. 259).
• The code’s records checklist applies (WSCC, 2017).

Fire-service nuance.

• The 2025 amendments do not touch these sections.

Status. Verified against the official text on 2026-10-23 (official consolidation 2021-09-28 with 2025 amendments).

Law. Occupational Health and Safety Regulations, the same sections as the Northwest Territories (Occupational Health and Safety Regulations [NU], 2021, ss. 103-122, 175, 198, 488).

What must be covered.

• Trigger. 3 m, or less where there is a risk of injury (s. 119(1)); guardrails at permanent sites for falls of 1.2 m to 3 m (s. 119(2)).
• Written plan. At 3 m or more without guardrails, with rescue procedures (s. 120).
• Equipment, aerial devices and rope. As in the Northwest Territories: “approved” equipment, a personal fall arrest system on any aerial device (s. 198(2)(h)) and approved firefighters’ ropes and harnesses (s. 488).

Fire-service nuance.

• No emergency-services relief. The s. 477 volunteer exemption covers Part 32 only.
• The WSCC Firefighters code of practice applies in Nunavut from 2017-12-21 (WSCC, 2017).

Status. Verified against the official text on 2026-10-23 (official consolidation 2021-09-28 with later amendments, compared section by section with the Northwest Territories text).

Law. Occupational Health and Safety Regulations, the same sections as the Northwest Territories (Occupational Health and Safety Regulations [NU], 2021, ss. 273-282, 403, 479).

What must be covered.

• Entry plan, atmosphere and rescue. As in the Northwest Territories: a written entry plan (s. 279); oxygen of 19.5 to 23 percent (s. 280(1)(a)(ii)); no entry above 20 percent of the LEL (s. 403(1)); an attendant at the entrance (s. 281(4)) and rescue personnel and equipment readily available (s. 281(7)).

Fire-service nuance.

• The same exemption from the LEL entry ban for a firefighter trained under s. 479 (s. 403(2)); no exemption from Part 18.

Status. Verified against the official text on 2026-10-23 (official consolidation 2021-09-28, compared with the Northwest Territories text). Schedule O values were not extracted.

Law. Occupational Health and Safety Regulations, Part 17, identical to the Northwest Territories (Occupational Health and Safety Regulations [NU], 2021, ss. 7, 263-272).

What must be covered.

• Trigger, engineer, spoil and access. As in the Northwest Territories: protection at more than 1.2 m; spoil at least 1 m from the edge (s. 266(1)(c)); an engineer for trenches more than 6 m deep in soil types 1 to 3 or more than 4 m in type 4 (s. 270(3)); a ladder within 8 m (s. 270(6)); notice for excavations more than 5 m deep (s. 7(1)(b)).

Fire-service nuance.

• No firefighter exemption. Permafrost and seasonal thaw affect wall stability; plan rescue shoring with that in mind.

Status. Verified against the official text on 2026-10-23 (official consolidation 2021-09-28, compared with the Northwest Territories text).

Law. Occupational Health and Safety Regulations, the same sections as the Northwest Territories (Occupational Health and Safety Regulations [NU], 2021, ss. 145-148, 460, Sch. Y).

What must be covered.

• Lockout and guarding. A written lockout process (s. 147) and guarding (s. 145).
• Limits of approach. Schedule Y column 3: 3 m up to 25 kV, 4.6 m at 72 kV to 138 kV, 6.1 m at 230 kV (s. 460).

Fire-service nuance.

• No emergency relief.
• Electrical and gas installations fall under territorial protection statutes not read for this page.

Status. Verified against the official text on 2026-10-23 (official consolidation 2021-09-28, compared with the Northwest Territories text). Code adoption was not checked.

Law. Occupational Health and Safety Regulations, ss. 25, 68 to 79, 127 to 130, 254 to 256 and 394 (Occupational Health and Safety Regulations [NU], 2021); Fire Safety Act, ss. 1 and 23(2) (Fire Safety Act [NU], 1988).

What must be covered.

• The premises sections have the same numbering and substance as in the Northwest Territories: sanitation, travelways, handrails, guardrails, openings, lighting, ventilation, the fire safety plan, change rooms, showers and eating areas, and the duty to build and maintain pressure vessels properly (s. 25).
• Codes. The fire statute’s “code” means the National Fire Code as adopted, and regulations adopt a prescribed edition (Fire Safety Act [NU], 1988, ss. 1, 23(2)); a separate building code statute applies. The codes board lists the 2015 national codes adopted in full, in force 2018-09-08 (an archived federal page gives 2018-09-01), with the 2020 dates to be confirmed (CBHCC, n.d.).

Fire-service nuance.

• Stations built or renovated now may be designed to newer codes than those formally adopted; confirm the edition with the territorial fire marshal’s office before design.

Status. Partly verified: regulations read in the official consolidation (2021-09-28) and the Fire Safety Act consolidation (2019-03-11); code adoption dates conflict.

Law. Occupational Health and Safety Regulations, Parts 21, 22 and 24, the same in substance and numbering as the Northwest Territories (Occupational Health and Safety Regulations [NU], 2021, ss. 314, 322-338, 368). Spill reporting falls under the environmental protection legislation as it applies in Nunavut, which was not read for this page.

What must be covered.

• WHMIS training. Training developed with the committee (s. 325); no review interval is stated. R-041-2025 added emergency disclosure of confidential product information to nurses (s. 338).
• Release reporting. Report to the 24-hour spill line, 867-920-8130 (Environment and Climate Change Canada, 2023).
• Asbestos record. The same written record of asbestos-containing material as the Northwest Territories (s. 368).

Fire-service nuance.

• Many communities hold fuel in large tank farms; the department’s spill procedure should cover its own fuel and the response role it plays for others.

Status. Partly verified: the regulations checked against the Nunavut text through the research (consolidated to 2021-09-28 with later amendments). The spill legislation was not read.

Law. Occupational Health and Safety Regulations, s. 74 and Part 21 (s. 314, Schedule O), the same in substance and numbering as the Northwest Territories (Occupational Health and Safety Regulations [NU], 2021, ss. 74, 314, Sch. O).

What must be covered.

• Basis of limits and long hours. As in the Northwest Territories: Schedule O contamination limits, and a written procedure where workers work more than eight hours a day or 40 hours a week (s. 314).
• Heat and cold. The general thermal conditions duty (s. 74).

Fire-service nuance.

• Extreme cold warnings in parts of Nunavut are issued at much colder thresholds than in the south, so a department should set its own warm-up triggers rather than wait for a warning (Environment and Climate Change Canada, n.d.-a).

Status. Partly verified: provisions checked against the Nunavut text through the research (consolidated to 2021-09-28); Schedule O not read.

Law. Occupational Health and Safety Regulations, Part 8 (ss. 111-117), the same in substance and numbering as the Northwest Territories (Occupational Health and Safety Regulations [NU], 2021, ss. 111-117).

What must be covered.

• Limit and tests. 85 dBA Lex; protectors, training and an audiometric test at least once every 24 months where exposure cannot be brought below 85 dBA Lex or an area below 90 dBA (s. 116); a hearing conservation plan where 20 or more workers are exposed (s. 117).

Fire-service nuance.

• Arranging audiometry in remote communities takes planning; schedule tests with medical travel or visiting clinics.

Status. Partly verified: checked against the Nunavut text through the research (consolidated to 2021-09-28).

Law. Occupational Health and Safety Regulations, Part 5, rewritten by Nu. Reg. 003-2021 and identical to the Northwest Territories (Occupational Health and Safety Regulations [NU], 2021, ss. 54-67).

What must be covered.

• Same rules as the Northwest Territories. CSA Z1220-17 kits and Z1210-17 training (s. 1); risk assessment (s. 57); kits per Schedules B-D; attendants per Schedule H (2-10 workers: 1 intermediate, or 1 advanced at a high-risk site); certificates no more than three years (s. 60.1); first aid room at isolated sites with 100 or more workers (s. 62); register three years (s. 63); Type 2 kit in worker-transport vehicles (s. 64).

Fire-service nuance.

• Nearly every Nunavut community is an isolated workplace for transport purposes, so the transport plan (including air) is part of the first aid program.

Status. Partly verified: checked against the Nunavut text through the research (consolidated to 2021-09-28).

Law. Occupational Health and Safety Regulations, s. 88, the same in substance and numbering as the Northwest Territories (Occupational Health and Safety Regulations [NU], 2021, s. 88).

What must be covered.

• Exposure control plan. As in the Northwest Territories, reviewed at least every two years.
• Source testing. No statute found.
• Medical first response. Not researched.

Fire-service nuance.

• Post-exposure evaluation may require medical travel; the protocol should name the health centre contact and the travel arrangement.

Status. Partly verified: provision checked against the Nunavut text through the research (consolidated to 2021-09-28). Other items not researched.

Law. Occupational Health and Safety Regulations, s. 35, as replaced by Nu. Reg. 013-2021 (Occupational Health and Safety Regulations [NU], 2021, s. 35); Safety Act (Safety Act [NU], 1988).

What must be covered.

• The same rule as the Northwest Territories: a written policy where violence has occurred or could reasonably be expected, with the same elements, paid counselling and training time, and review at least every 3 years (s. 35).
• Cannabis-related sites were added to the presumed list in s. 35(2)(j).

Fire-service nuance.

• Hamlet fire departments meet the “reasonably expected” test on medical and crowd calls. Volunteers are workers under the Safety Act and are covered (J11 Volunteer Firefighters).
• The impairment policy, including fatigue, applies as in the Northwest Territories (s. 35.1).

Status. Verified against the official text on 2026-10-23 (Regulations consolidated to 2021-09-28, with the 2025 amendments read).

Law. Occupational Health and Safety Regulations, s. 34 (Occupational Health and Safety Regulations [NU], 2021, s. 34); the same Code of Practice: Harassment, in effect in Nunavut from 2019-03-29 (WSCC, 2019).

What must be covered.

• The same rule as the Northwest Territories: a written policy for every employer with the eight elements in s. 34, made available to workers, under the same definition.
• No training or review cycle in the regulation; the code of practice recommends training.

Fire-service nuance.

• Hamlet fire departments are covered, and their volunteers are workers under the Safety Act (Safety Act [NU], 1988).

Status. Verified against the official text on 2026-10-23 (Regulations consolidated to 2021-09-28).

Law. Safety Act (Safety Act [NU], 1988); Occupational Health and Safety Regulations, ss. 1 and 35.1 (Occupational Health and Safety Regulations [NU], 2021).

What must be covered.

• In the statute. The same as the Northwest Territories: “injury” includes impairment of the mental condition (Occupational Health and Safety Regulations [NU], 2021, s. 1).
• Psychosocial duty. The same impairment policy, including fatigue (s. 35.1), and the violence and harassment rules.
• Crisis resources. 9-8-8 (Public Health Agency of Canada, 2026). A territorial line was not confirmed on the research date.

Fire-service nuance.

• Nunavut has no PTSD presumption and none pending (J32 Workers' Compensation and Firefighter Presumptions), so early support and treatment carry the whole load. The Hope for Wellness line serves Inuit callers 24 hours a day.
• The shared firefighter code of practice, in effect in Nunavut since 2017-12-21, lists an incident stress procedure (WSCC, 2017).
• CSA Z1003-13 is voluntary here.

Status. Partly verified: the Regulations (consolidated to 2021-09-28) were read; the territorial crisis line was not confirmed.

Law. Occupational Health and Safety Regulations, Part 20 (Occupational Health and Safety Regulations [NU], 2021, ss. 290-296).

What must be covered.

• Medical. An annual medical to CSA Z275.2-11 Appendices A and B, now by a medical practitioner or nurse practitioner (s. 293, amended by R-041-2025).
• Team and plan. A standby diver, crew and dive plan as in the Northwest Territories (s. 296).

Fire-service nuance.

• No public safety diving provisions and no emergency relief.

Status. Verified against the official text on 2026-10-23 (official consolidation 2021-09-28 with R-041-2025). Crew numbers were not extracted.

Law. Traffic Safety Act (formerly the Motor Vehicles Act, as it applies in Nunavut), ss. 1, 132, 230-231, 240-241; Driver’s Licence Regulations; Occupational Health and Safety Regulations, s. 484 (Traffic Safety Act [NU], 1988, ss. 1, 132, 230-231, 240-241; Driver’s Licence Regulations [NU], 2026; Occupational Health and Safety Regulations [NU], 2021, s. 484). Amendments after 2019 not read.

What must be covered.

• Emergency vehicle. Includes “a vehicle used by a fire department” and “a vehicle not ordinarily used for emergency purposes that is operated by a volunteer, part-time or on-call fire-fighter or emergency medical responder for the purpose of responding to a fire, medical or other emergency” (s. 1).
• Lights and exemptions. Red flashing lights only (s. 132(3)); exemptions with siren and lights (s. 240); yield and stop (s. 241); following, parking and hose rules (ss. 230-231).
• Move-over. No slow-down provision in the 2019 consolidation; later amendments were not checked.
• Seat belts. As in the Northwest Territories (Occupational Health and Safety Regulations [NU], 2021, s. 484).
• Licence. Class 3 covers a single vehicle with three or more axles; air brakes only where “specifically permitted in the licence”, after an additional written test.

Fire-service nuance.

• Nunavut’s definition makes a volunteer’s personal response vehicle an emergency vehicle, which brings both the exemptions and the emergency driver’s duty of care; authorize and train those drivers.

Status. Partly verified: the 2019 consolidation read through the research; later amendments not read.

Law. Occupational Health and Safety Regulations, s. 139 (Occupational Health and Safety Regulations [NU], 2021, s. 139); Traffic Safety Act (consolidated to 2019) (Traffic Safety Act [NU], 1988).

What must be covered.

• Traffic control and apparel. As in the Northwest Territories: high-visibility clothing and a written traffic control plan where workers are at risk from traffic (s. 139).
• Move-over. No slow-down provision in the 2019 consolidation; amendments since 2019 were not checked.

Fire-service nuance.

• Many community roads are unpaved and unlit; lighting and apparel matter more than signage.

Status. Partly verified: s. 139 read in the official consolidation (to 2021-09-28) on 2026-10-24; the Traffic Safety Act consolidation to 2019-12-06 has no slow-down provision, and amendments after it were not read.

Law. Workers’ Compensation Act, ss. 4(1)(b), 8(4), 8(5), 12, 13 and 14.1 (Workers’ Compensation Act [NU], 2021); Firefighters’ Presumption Regulations, Schedule replaced by Nu. Reg. 005-2016 and amended by Nu. Reg. 014-2021 (Firefighters’ Presumption Regulations [NU], 2021); An Act to Amend the Workers’ Compensation Act, S.Nu. 2025, c. 20 (An Act to Amend the Workers’ Compensation Act [NU], 2025). Board: Workers’ Safety and Compensation Commission.

What must be covered.

• Board administration. Check contractors’ standing before work and payment.
• Presumptions (s. 14.1): cardiac arrest within 24 hours after attendance at an emergency response, and the same 14 cancers and minimums as the Northwest Territories: leukemia 5 years; brain and breast 10; multiple myeloma, bladder, colorectal, lung, prostate, skin and ureter 15; non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, kidney and testicular 20; esophageal 25.
• Lung. A smoke-free period of 6 to 28 years by consumption; since R-014-2021 only tobacco products count.
• PTSD. No presumption, and none pending.
• Other mental stress. Labour-relations stress excluded (s. 12(b)); cumulative events compensable (s. 13(1)(d)).
• Volunteers. Deemed workers (s. 4(1)(b)); the territorial government is the deemed employer unless the municipality pays the cost (s. 8(4)-(5)).

Fire-service nuance.

• S.Nu. 2025, c. 20 (assented 2025-09-18, in force on a day to be fixed) restructures benefits and moves the lung-cancer non-smoker reference date to “the day the disease occurred”; it adds no presumption.
• The Northwest Territories’ 2026 changes do not apply in Nunavut, which will then be the only jurisdiction with no PTSD presumption.

Status. Verified against the official text on 2026-10-23 (Act official consolidation 2021-07-01; Regulations and amendments read; 2025 amending Act read).

Law. Workers’ Compensation Act (Workers’ Compensation Act [NU], 2021); Occupational Health and Safety Regulations, s. 35.1 (Occupational Health and Safety Regulations [NU], 2021, s. 35.1); Human Rights Act (Human Rights Act [NU], 2003); Labour Standards Act.

What must be covered.

• Return to work. No statutory employer return-to-work or re-employment duty was found.
• Accommodation. The Human Rights Act governs; its sections were not read on the research date. The three-step test governs any job standard (British Columbia (Public Service Employee Relations Commission) v. BCGSEU, 1999).
• Fatigue. The same impairment rule and written policy as the Northwest Territories, fatigue included (Occupational Health and Safety Regulations [NU], 2021, s. 35.1).
• Hours of work. The Labour Standards Act was not read.

Fire-service nuance.

• Hamlet fire departments with volunteer members should rely on the impairment policy for call-out fatigue, since no statutory hours rule for volunteers was found.

Status. Partly verified: the compensation Act and Regulations were read; the human rights and labour standards statutes were not.

Law. Fire Safety Act (renamed from the Fire Prevention Act in 2017), ss. 3, 5, 5.01 and 23 (Fire Safety Act [NU], 1988); Hamlets Act, ss. 97 to 99, 170.2 and 170.9 (Hamlets Act [NU], 2024).

What must be covered.

• Establishing a department. Council “may, by by-law, provide for the establishment and operation of a fire protection service” (Hamlets Act [NU], 2024, s. 97); fire districts (s. 98); “a municipal corporation may enter into agreements respecting the use of fire-fighting staff and equipment” (s. 99), the basis for mutual aid.
• Liability. Volunteer workers, fire members included, are not liable for good-faith acts unless dishonest, grossly negligent or wilful (s. 170.2(3)-(4)); the court’s standard of care for fire protection weighs population, geography, volunteer status and revenues (s. 170.9).
• Fire Marshal. Keeps records, investigates and inspects, advises the Minister on establishing, organizing, equipping and training fire departments (Fire Safety Act [NU], 1988, s. 3(1)(f)(i)), and may give municipalities training, equipment and funding under agreements (s. 3(2)).
• Chief. Ex officio local assistant to the Fire Marshal (s. 5(1)).
• Fire protection plans. Every municipality must make a Fire Marshal-approved fire protection plan, and regulations may set “minimum standards for training, equipment, and supplies” (ss. 5.01, 23(1)(d.1), (1.1)); these provisions were not in force in 2019 and their status in 2026 was not confirmed.
• Certification. No mandatory standard is in force.

Fire-service nuance.

• Once in force, the fire protection plan duty would be Nunavut’s equivalent of a community risk assessment and service-level declaration; departments can prepare one now.
• A territorial fire training strategy with courses co-ordinated by the Fire Marshal’s office was reported in search results.

Status. Partly verified: Fire Safety Act consolidation current to 2019-03-11 and Hamlets Act official consolidation 2024-11-07 read; later amendments and the in-force status of s. 5.01 not confirmed.

Law. A Forest Protection Act is listed among Nunavut’s laws, with forest officer roles assigned to the Department of Environment; Occupational Health and Safety Regulations, s. 484(3) (Occupational Health and Safety Regulations [NU], 2021, s. 484).

What must be covered.

• No territorial wildland fire agency program or burn permit rule was found. Grass and tundra fires near communities fall to community fire departments.

Fire-service nuance.

• The same 20 km/h riding exception as the Northwest Territories applies at wildland fires (s. 484(3)).
• Firefighters who fight only forest fires are excluded from the presumptions (see J32 Workers' Compensation and Firefighter Presumptions).

Status. Not verified: the Nunavut Forest Protection Act was not read.

Law. No statute requires external verification. The Safe Workplace Program covers both territories (WSCC, n.d.).

What must be covered.

• Same as the Northwest Territories. Safe Workplace and Advanced Safe Workplace designations, with COR or ISO 45001 accreditation based on Nunavut legislation for the advanced level; COR through the Northern Safety Association, whose expansion is funded for both territories (WSCC, 2025a).
• Grants. No territorial grant program for fire department equipment was found.

Fire-service nuance.

• As in the Northwest Territories, the shared firefighter code of practice is the benchmark an external review will use.

Status. Partly verified on 2026-10-23 (commission pages cover both territories). Grant programs not found.

Canadian Board for Harmonized Construction Codes [CBHCC]. (n.d.). Provincial and territorial adoption. https://cbhcc-cchcc.ca/en/provincial-territorial-adoption/

Environment and Climate Change Canada. (n.d.-a). Criteria for public weather alerts. https://www.canada.ca/en/environment-climate-change/services/types-weather-forecasts-use/public/criteria-alerts.html

Workers’ Safety and Compensation Commission [WSCC]. (n.d.). Safe Workplace Program. Northwest Territories and Nunavut. https://connect.wscc.nt.ca/Help/OHS-e-Services/Safe-Workplace-Program