Ontario Mandates Workplace Heat Safety Standard

Summary#

This bill would add a new heat safety standard to Ontario’s workplace health and safety law. Its goal is to protect workers from dangerous heat by setting clear rules for cooling, breaks, training, and monitoring.

Key changes:

• The province must create and update a Worker Heat Protection Standard, post it online, and consult with worker health experts.
• Employers must reduce heat risks using safer work methods and equipment, and provide paid breaks, cool water, and protective gear when needed.
• Workers and supervisors must get heat-stress training approved by the province; health and safety reps and committee members must complete extra training.
• Employers must create and review a heat-stress policy and program, assess heat risks regularly, and share results with the health and safety rep or committee.
• All required training and notices must be in plain English and French, and also in another language workers understand.
• The Minister must report yearly for five years on heat-related illnesses, deaths, and enforcement.

Timing:

• The Act takes effect 12 months after it becomes law. The new standard must be in place within 12 months after that.

What it means for you#

• Workers

  • You would get paid time for heat-related rest breaks, training, and any needed medical removal from hot work (for example, temporary reassignment or time away due to heat symptoms).
  • You would get training to recognize heat illness and what to do in an emergency.
  • You would have easy access to cool drinking water near your work area.
  • Safety information and training must be in plain language and in a language you understand.

• Supervisors

  • You would receive training on tracking heat conditions and forecasts, spotting signs of heat illness, and responding quickly.
  • You would help adjust work practices (like schedules, pace of work, or rotations) to limit heat exposure.

• Employers

  • You must lower heat risks using the “hierarchy of controls” (start with safer methods like ventilation, insulation, shade, air conditioning, or barriers; then adjust work practices; then use personal protective gear).
  • You must provide, at your expense, cooling gear when needed (like cooling vests or heat-reflective clothing) and ensure paid heat breaks.
  • You must create and update a Heat Stress and Protection Policy and Program at least once a year.
  • You must assess heat risks on a regular basis and share results with your joint health and safety committee or representative.
  • You must ensure training is approved by the province and provided by approved trainers.
  • All required materials must be in plain English and French and in other languages your workers understand.

• Joint Health and Safety Committees/Health and Safety Reps

  • You must be consulted on the employer’s heat policy and program.
  • You must receive results of heat-risk assessments.
  • You must complete specific, approved training on heat stress.

• Government (Ministry of Labour)

  • Must create, publish, and update the heat standard at least annually and consult named worker health bodies.
  • Must approve training programs and providers, and report each year for five years on heat illnesses, deaths, and enforcement actions.

Expenses#

No publicly available information.

• Employers would likely face costs for cooling equipment or ventilation, paid heat breaks, protective clothing, water provision, assessments, and training time.
• The province would have costs to design and update the standard, approve and oversee training, inspect workplaces, and publish annual reports.
• Workers would be paid for heat-related breaks, training, and medical removal time at their regular rate.

Proponents' View#

• This will prevent heat-related illnesses and deaths as summers get hotter, especially for outdoor and non-air-conditioned indoor workplaces.
• Clear, province-wide rules make expectations simple and fair across industries.
• Paid breaks, water access, and training reduce mistakes and medical emergencies, which can also prevent lost work time.
• Regular updates keep the standard aligned with new science and technology.
• Language access helps newcomers and lowers risk by making safety rules easy to understand for everyone.
• Reporting on illnesses and enforcement improves transparency and accountability.

Opponents' View#

• Compliance could be costly for employers, especially small businesses, due to equipment, training, and paid downtime.
• A one-size-fits-all standard may not fit every workplace or season and could reduce flexibility in scheduling or operations.
• Frequent updates and approved-training requirements may add administrative burden and training backlogs.
• Measuring heat and deciding when to slow or stop work could lead to disputes and inconsistent enforcement.
• Some sectors already follow strong heat protocols; new rules might duplicate efforts or create overlap with existing standards.