Regulatory review targets harassment, violence, and injury reporting
The Saskatchewan government has launched a comprehensive review of occupational health and safety regulations, marking the first substantive examination of workplace safety standards since 2006.
The government is seeking feedback on the Occupational Health and Safety Regulations, 2020, emphasizing the importance of keeping rules current with modern workplace conditions.
“This review is an important way to ensure that these regulations remain relevant and meet the needs of both employees and employers,” Deputy premier and labour relations and workplace safety minister Jim Reiter announced. “We look forward to hearing insights from organizations and individuals.”
Workplace changes over two decades
The review addresses significant workplace changes over nearly two decades, including technological advances and evolving work practices. Recent amendments to occupational health and safety provisions in the Saskatchewan Employment Act necessitate regulatory updates to maintain alignment.
The government has structured the review in three phases, with the first covering parts one through five of the regulations. Stakeholders have until Nov. 30 to submit feedback on these initial sections, which address notification requirements, youth employment, occupational health and safety programs, accident investigations, and first aid requirements.
Key areas under consideration include updating hospital admission thresholds for serious injury reporting. Part 2 of The Occupational Health and Safety Regulations, 2020 (the regulations) outlines the requirements for the employer and/or contractor to notify the ministry of a serious injury, fatality, dangerous occurrence and high risk asbestos processes.
Current regulations require 72-hour hospital admissions to classify injuries as serious, but modern healthcare protocols have reduced admission lengths, potentially excluding genuinely serious injuries from required reporting.
The review also examines youth employment protections. Workers under 25 represented 15% of accepted injury claims in 2024, with 2,689 cases reported to the Workers’ Compensation Board. Current regulations restrict workers under 16 from high-risk environments including construction sites, confined spaces, and meat processing plants.
Additional topics include harmonizing first aid requirements with other Canadian jurisdictions under the Canada Free Trade Agreement, updating harassment and violence provisions, and reviewing requirements for occupational health committees in workplaces with 10 or more workers.
