The existing legislations in Canada make employers legally bound to provide employees with a healthy and safe work environment.  This is a proactive approach that ensures nobody is injured in the workplace.  It is obviously easily understood that prevention is better than cure.  To ensure preventing any injury in the workplace, an employer has to take every precaution reasonable in the circumstances to protect the health and safety of its employees.  This is commonly referred to as "due diligence".

The prevention of workplace injuries and illnesses is enforced by the Ministry of Labour in Ontario (MOL). The necessary provisions required to enforce prevention are outlined in the Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA) - the legal instrument that the Inspectors from the Ministry of Labour use in workplaces for enforcement purposes. 

Prevention not only relies on the due diligence of employers but also on the roles and responsibilities of all employees and workplace parties.  Therefore, the Ministry of Labour Inspectors can bring charges against anyone in the workplace who breaches any health and safety rules.

The content of the Occupational Health and Safety Act is as follows:

• Application
• Administration
  
• Duties of Employers and Other Persons
  
• Codes of Practice
  
• Toxic Substances
  
• Right to Refuse or to Stop Work Where Health or Safety in Danger
  
• Reprisals by Employer Prohibited
  
• Notices
  
• Enforcement
  
• Offences and Penalties
  
• Regulations

For a detailed description of the above provisions in the Act, please click at this link.

There are about 36 (as of December 2007) detailed technical specifications (called 'Regulations') made under the OHSA.  A list of the Regulations can be found at the following link: