If you employ people on your farm operation whether it is seasonal or permanent there are some important regulatory issues that may affect your business.
There are three provincial Acts you need to be familiar with if you are employing workers on your farm, these are:
- The Workplace Safety and Insurance Act,
- The Occupational Health and Safety Act, and
- The Employment Standards Act
This checklist will provide you with a simple and practical understanding of the Acts so that your farming operation will be in compliance with the Acts. It is not intended to replace or supplement the Acts themselves but rather should be used as a resource that explains your responsibilities as a farm employer.
View the checklist below or you can download the printable version.
You can find all of the required postings for WSIB, OHSA and ESA on the checklist resources page.
If you have any questions about this checklist or would like to provide comments, please contact peter.sykanda@ofa.on.ca.
Duties and Responsibilities under the Workplace Safety and Insurance Act (WSIA) and the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB)
What is the WSIA?
The purpose of the WSIA is to promote health and safety in workplaces; to ensure compensation and other benefits are provided to injured workers and to the survivors of deceased workers; and to facilitate the return to work and recovery of workers who are injured on the job or who suffer from an occupational disease.
Who is the WSIB?
The WSIB is responsible for administering the WSIA and delivers no-fault workplace insurance for employers and workers in Ontario. Funding for the WSIB, for disability benefits, and for programs to assist workers injured on the job return to work, comes from premiums paid by employers on behalf of their employees.
Who is an Employee?
According to WSIA, an employee is anyone who provides labour on your farm in exchange for a wage (money). This includes all relatives, friends, neighbours, students, etc.; and it doesn’t matter if they are full time, part time, on-call, or only few hours a week – if there’s a wage involved, they are an employee.
Custom Work and Contractors
If you are planning on hiring a custom operator to work on your farm, you must provide proof to the WSIB – even if you are not a client – that the operator is independent of your farm so that you will not be responsible for their insurance premiums. For more information on this, refer to Custom Farm Work Fact sheet, and call WSIB. Another option is to use the new internet-based eClearance system available through the WSIB website.
Getting Started
The WSIB has a number of Factsheets available on their website to help get you started. Please refer to the factsheet: System Overview for Employers.
Compliance
Agricultural employers are required by law to provide insurance coverage to their employees through the WSIB. The premium rate is determined by the job classification. No other coverage is acceptable for an employee. If you do not have an existing account with the WSIB, you are required to open one within 10 days of your new employee’s first day of work. If you have an existing account, you must report payroll on a quarterly basis. Also, if your employee is injured at work or gets sick as a result of their job, you must report it using a Form 7 to the WSIB within three days of learning about it. This is the law.
The law also requires employers provide workers with a first aid box on the farm. It needs to be easily accessible and fully stocked with specific items. Regulation 1101 details what items need to be in the box, as well as the inspection, documentation, and training requirements for first aid.
Voluntary Registration Policy
If you currently have employees and do not have an account, the WSIB has a Voluntary Registration Policy that means you will not be penalized for not reporting or prosecuted under the Provincial Offences Act at the time of registration. You will only be required to pay retroactive premiums, up to 12 months from the date of registration, depending on when you register.
Short-term Workers
If you hire workers on a short-term, irregular, or unknown basis, a common practice is to open a WSIB account for the year to ensure your employees are covered. There is a $100 minimum to maintain an account with the WSIB, and you simply report payroll to WSIB when needed.
Consequences
Farm employers who do not register employees with the WSIB can face significant financial and legal penalties if they are discovered during WSIB audits and investigations. You should know that the WSIB has an information sharing agreement with the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) to facilitate these investigations.
Required Workplace Postings
WSIB regulations require one poster to be displayed in a noticeable place on the farm. The most likely place is a farm office, though, an equipment shed, or workshop where your employee will see it is also acceptable:
- Form 82 – 1234 In Case of Injury at Work Poster
Compliance Checklist
- I have contacted WSIB and opened an account if I have, or will have, an employee(s);
- I have paid the WSIB insurance premiums for my employee(s);
- I have printed and posted Form 82 – 1234 In Case of Injury at Work Poster
- I have a first aid box on the farm
- It is stocked with the required items and easily accessible
- My employee(s) knows where the first aid box is located
For More Information:
To set up an account and register your new employee, or inquire about clearance certificates:
Workplace Safety and Insurance Board
Phone: 1-800-387-0750
Fax: 1-888-313-7373
Clearance Certificates: 1-800-387-8638, or fax to: 1-877-849-4882
Do You Need Help Navigating Working With the WSIB?
Do you have a question but are wary of contacting the WSIB?
The Office of the Employer Adviser (OEA) is an independent agency of the Ministry of Labour (MOL) that can provide helpful information, advice, and representation to Ontario employers. Their services are free of charge and confidential. They have published The Employer’s Guide to Workplace Safety and Insurance which provides essential information for non-construction employers.
For more information and contact details for the OEA visit: http://www.employeradviser.ca/
MINISTRY OF LABOUR
Duties and Responsibilities under the Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA)
What is the OHSA?
OSHA is the key piece of legislation in Ontario governing workplace health and safety. The Act is based on the Internal Responsibility System (IRS) and is meant to share responsibility between employers and workers in creating a safe workplace with healthy workers. It sets out a number of rights and duties for employers and workers and establishes a process for enforcing the Act where there is non-compliance.
For most cases in agriculture, the workplace is considered to be the farm property, excluding any personal residences.
Getting Started
There are two important documents that new and existing farm employers should have on hand:
The first is the Occupational Health and Safety Guidelines for Farming Operations in Ontario. The agricultural industry and government have worked together to prepare a set of guidelines to help employers, supervisors and workers recognize common hazards on farms and determine the best ways to lessen their potential impact. This is an important document that can help you when training employees and help prevent injuries on your farm.
The second is the Guide to the Occupational Health and Safety Act for Farming Operations. This document provides information on how the Occupational Health and Safety Act will apply to your farm workplace.
Compliance
All farm operations with one or more paid employees are covered under OSHA. It is important to know that this applies whenever one of your employees is present in the workplace, no matter how short that time might be.
While there are few substantial requirements for farm operations under OSHA, a critical provision in the Act dictates that employers must “take every precaution reasonable in the circumstances for the protection of a worker.”
To achieve this goal, the legislation requires farm employers to provide workers with:
- Information on workplace hazards and toxic substances;
- Instruction and supervision for farm equipment or hazardous locations;
- An opportunity to identify and resolve health and safety concerns; and
- The right to refuse work that they believe is dangerous without fear of employer
Also, it’s important to know that OHSA requires an employer to immediately notify the Ministry of Labour if a worker is fatally or critically injured on the farm.
Consequences
The Act and its regulations are enforced by Health and Safety Inspectors at the Ministry of Labour (MOL). Their role is to both inspect workplaces to check for compliance with the Act, and investigate workplace incidents, complaints, and work refusals. MOL inspectors most often visit workplaces in response to complaints or reports of injuries; however, they will also conduct random inspections and focused blitzes.
If you are found to be in non-compliance, MOL Inspectors can:
- Write compliance orders that carry specific legal requirements;
- Issue “stop work” orders if there is an immediate risk that a worker could be injured;
- Issue tickets or initiate prosecution where a worker has been injured as a result of non- compliance.
Required Workplace Postings and Documents
OSHA requires a few postings and documents to be completed by employers. You can print off your own copies of these postings or get them from Service Ontario.
- A copy of the Occupational Health and Safety Act must be posted in a prominent place – ideally where you have placed your other postings – or have it be available at the
- As of October 1, 2012, all Ontario workplaces must also post the “Health & Safety at Work – Prevention Starts Here” poster. The poster is available in 17 different languages on the Ministry of Labour
- Every employer in Ontario, regardless of the size of the operation or the number of workers, must prepare and review a policy on Workplace Violence and Harassment. A plain language guide, “Workplace Violence and Harassment: Understanding the Law” is available from the Ministry of Labour and provides policy templates for employers in the
- If you have six or more regularly employed workers, you must prepare and post a written and signed Health and Safety policy, and must develop and maintain a program to implement that policy. Even if you have less than 6 employees, it is generally recommended that you complete a Health and Safety Policy for your
- If a workplace report is given to you by an MOL inspector, it must be posted as
Required Health and Safety Awareness Training for Workers and Supervisors
All employers in Ontario are now required to ensure that workers and supervisors have received awareness training about the Occupational Health and Safety Act by July 1, 2014.
All of the materials to provide the training to workers are available for free from the Ministry of Labour.
The Ministry has also provided “A Guide to OHSA Requirements for Basic Awareness Training” that outlines the requirements.
It is important to note:
- A supervisor is anyone who has authority over a worker or a workplace. For small agricultural operations, this generally means the farm owner/operator or manager would be considered the supervisor and must complete the supervisor training;
- You must keep a record of completion for all employees either from the training you provided or from a previous employer;
- As long as a record of training is maintained, this is a onetime training, and does not need to be repeated.
Compliance Checklist
I have fewer than 6 employees:
- I have provided my employees with Health and Safety Awareness training or I have a record that shows they have previously completed the training
- I have posted a copy of the Occupational Health and Safety Act
- I have prepared a violence and harassment policy for the farm, and I have informed my employees of the policy
- I have reviewed the “Guidelines for Farming Operations in Ontario” and the “Guide to the Occupational Health and Safety Act for Farming Operations” documents
- I am aware that should a worker or individual be fatally or critically injured on the farm, OHSA requires that I notify the Ministry of Labour
I have 6 or more employees:
- I have provided my employees with Health and Safety Awareness training or I have a record that shows they have previously completed the training
- I have posted a copy of the Occupational Health and Safety Act
- I have posted a written Health and Safety policy
- I have posted a written violence and harassment policy for the farm
- I have reviewed the “Guidelines for Farming Operations in Ontario” and the “Guide to the Occupational Health and Safety Act for Farming Operations” documents
- I have 6 to 19 regularly employed workers, and they have selected a co-worker as their Health and Safety Representative
- I have posted the name of the employee acting as the Health and Safety Representative in the workplace
- I am aware that should a worker or individual be fatally or critically injured on the farm, OHSA requires that I notify the Ministry of Labour
For More Information
Ministry of Labour Health and Safety Contact Centre Phone: 1-877-202-0008
Website: www.labour.gov.on.ca/english/hs/
Regional Offices: www.labour.gov.on.ca/english/about/reg_offices.php
Unjust Reprisals Services for Employers
The Office of the Employer Advisor (OEA) can also assist employers confronted with allegations from an employee of unjust reprisal raised under the OHSA. The OEA can provide employers with expert confidential legal advice and representation before the Ontario Labour Relations Board, at no cost. For more information for the OEA visit: http://www.employeradviser.ca/.
Employer Responsibilities under the Employment Standards Act, 2000 (ESA)
What is the ESA?
The ESA provides the minimum rights and responsibilities of most employees and employers in Ontario workplaces. It covers a number of employment standards, including the payment of wages, hours of work, and termination of employment. Like WSIB premium rate groups, there are different categories of agricultural workers covered by the ESA, each with their own set of exemptions or special rules.
Getting Started
The Ministry of Labour publishes two guides to help employers understand their responsibilities under the ESA. While not specific to farming, the publications, Your Guide to the Employment Standards Act, 2000, and Complying with the Employment Standards Act (ESA): A Workbook for Employers provide the necessary information for your workplace.
Compliance
There are three major ESA categories that farm employers may hire under: Farm Employees; “Farm Related Exemptions”; and Harvesters of Fruit, Vegetables and Tobacco. As mentioned above, each of these categories carries various exemptions and special rules. Most small farms will hire under the ‘farm employees’ category, but it’s important to refer to the guide to determine which category your employee best fits and make sure you understand the minimum standards.
If you are planning on hiring a student to work on your farm during the summer break, it is important to note that there are special rules and exemptions for student employees. The “student employee” category would only apply on your farm if you are hiring the student for work not related to primary production. If the student is working in primary production on the farm, they will be considered a ‘farm employee’ – basically there’s no special category for “student farm labour.”
Regardless of the ESA job category, all farm employers in Ontario must:
- Keep written records of each employee’s name, address, and employment starting date;
- Establish a regular pay period and a regular payday for employees;
- Provide an employee with a wage statement;
- Provide an employee with either written notice of termination, termination pay or a combination of both when a worker has been employed continuously for more than three months
- Provide an employee with job-protected, statutory leaves of absences
- Provide a qualified employee with severance pay who has his or her employment “severed.”
Consequences
The Act gives the Ministry of Labour the power to investigate infractions and enforce the ESA. The majority of ESA investigations are the result of claims filed by an employee; however Employment Standards Officers also conduct proactive inspections. Officers have the power to issue orders to pay wages, compliance orders or tickets, notices of contravention, or initiate prosecution in severe cases of non-compliance.
Required Workplace Postings and Documents
The ESA requires that employers in Ontario post the What You Should Know About the Ontario Employment Standards Act poster in a prominent place, likely where you have posted WSIB and OHSA documents. You can print the poster on regular letter sized paper or contact Service Ontario Publications.
Compliance Checklist
- I have posted the required What You Should Know About the Ontario Employment Standards Act poster
- I have collected the necessary information from my employee to document their employment
- I have established a regular pay period and pay records for my employee
For More Information
Employment Standards Information Centre Phone: 1-800-531-5551
Website: www.labour.gov.on.ca/english/es/
Key Employer Resources
Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB)
- The Employer’s Guide to Workplace Safety and Insurance
- Custom Farm Work
- First Aid Requirements Factsheet
- Voluntary Registration Policy
- Reporting earnings for workers with irregular hours/work days
Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA)
- Ministry of Labour Farming Operations Resource Page
- Occupational Health and Safety Guidelines for Farming Operations in Ontario
- A Guide to the Occupational Health and Safety Act for Farming Operations
- Developing Workplace Violence and Harassment Policies and Programs:
- Agricultural Safety Audit Program Checklist
- Workplace Safety and Prevention Services– A Health and Safety Ontario Partner
- Information for Farming Operations: Enforcement of the Occupational Health and Safety Act – When Self Compliance Fails
- Information for Farming Operations: Role of the Ontario Ministry of Labour Health and Safety Inspector
Employment Standards Act (ESA)
- Your Guide to the Employment Standards Act, 2000
- Complying with the Employment Standards Act (ESA): A Workbook for Employers – first stop for information on the ESA
Conclusion
This checklist presents only a small portion of the situations and questions that may arise from employing workers in your farm business. It is the intention of the authors to provide you with a simple guideline and framework for seeking additional information when your situation dictates.
Disclaimer
This checklist is not intended to be used as a substitute or replacement for the Acts described herein. It does not cover all situations or circumstances when you have employees on your farm. If your business is setup as a corporate entity there may be different or additional obligations.
This checklist is intended to provide the farm owner with a simplified overview of the regulations contained in these Acts and to provide resources should you require further information.
Professional advice should always be sought from your legal representative or accountant when looking for an interpretation of the legislation.
Authors
This checklist list was co-authored by Peter Sykanda, Policy Advisor for the Ontario Federation of Agriculture and Gary Mawhiney, former Human Resource Management Program Lead for the Ministry of Agriculture Food and Rural Affairs.