On Prince Edward Island, the Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) Act and its regulations set out the minimum standards that employers and workers must follow to help prevent injuries and illnesses on the job, as well as general safety principles for Island workplaces.
The OHS Act is built on the idea of shared responsibility. This is known as the Internal Responsibility System and means that both employers and workers have a part to play in keeping workplaces safe. By understanding your rights and responsibilities, you can help create a healthier, safer workplace for everyone.
Your responsibilities as an employer include:
- Providing a safe and healthy workplace
- Making sure workers are properly trained to do their job safely, and informed about workplace hazards
- Maintaining equipment and providing personal protective equipment
- Providing appropriate supervision
- Taking action when a worker or supervisor tells you about a potentially hazardous situation.
- Establishing and maintaining an occupational health and safety program, and written health and safety policy where required
- Supporting the safety committee, safety representative, and workers in their health and safety activities.
- Reporting serious incidents to the WCB.
Learn more about your duties as an employer.
Workers also have responsibilities in workplace safety. They include:
-Reporting unsafe conditions and all injuries to their employer;
-Working safely and following health and safety rules;
-Asking for training if needed;
-Using personal protective equipment as required; and
-Cooperating with the health and safety representative or committee.
If a work-related injury or illness occurs, employers must:
- Provide the worker with first aid if treatment is required for the injury
- Arrange and pay for immediate transportation to a doctor or medical facility, if necessary
- Report the work-related injury or illness to the WCB within three days of being notified of its occurrence
- Report all serious work-related injuries and explosions immediately to the Occupational Health and Safety 24-hour emergency line: 902-628-7513
Employers can report a work-related injury or illness using the WCB’s Online Services, or by completing and submitting an Employer's Report form to the WCB.
Learn more about reporting an injury.
An employer’s role in worker recovery and return-to-work
Employers, workers, and health care providers have a responsibility to facilitate a safe and timely return to suitable and available work.
Employers should stay connected with the injured worker and be an active and cooperative participant in the worker’s return to work plan. A worker does not have to be able to perform pre-injury duties to return to the workplace.
Employers can:
- Arrange an ease-back program or find alternative or modified work until the worker can return to full duties
- Provide appropriate accommodations to allow a timely and safe return to work, which can help workers achieve better health outcomes than recovering entirely at home.
Return to work planning is a team effort. Learn more about how the WCB can work with you and the injured worker to develop a return-to-work plan and monitor recovery progress.
Explore more information about your role in worker recovery and return to work.