OHSA

Health and safety at work

Ontario's Occupational Health and Safety Act gives workers the right to know about hazards, participate in safety, and refuse unsafe work when the legal test is met.

Cleaning work changes from home to home, so hazard reporting matters. If a task feels unsafe, pause and contact Lisa or the shift lead before continuing.

Back to Resources Worker Awareness

Hearth & Home team member wiping a kitchen counter

Report hazards early

Wet floors, pets, damaged tools, blocked exits, and unknown chemicals are worth a pause.

Worker Rights

Know, participate, refuse

Know about hazards and the safe way to do the task.
Participate by raising hazards, asking questions, and suggesting safer methods.
Refuse work you believe is unsafe, following Ontario's refusal process.
Report injuries, near misses, and hazards as soon as practical.
Use required PPE and follow written or verbal safety instructions.

Common Hazards

Cleaning-specific watch list

Slips from wet floors, entryways, stairs, snow, or loose rugs.
Cuts from glass, razors, sharp metal, broken ceramics, or garbage.
Chemical exposure from unlabeled, mixed, or overused products.
Muscle strain from awkward lifting, repetitive scrubbing, or heavy vacuums.
Pets, unsecured rooms, client illness, pests, or aggressive behaviour.

Requirement Checks

Review rules as staffing changes

Current basics

Keep worker awareness training, hazard reporting, PPE, WHMIS, first aid, and basic safety procedures current. Written policies are useful for keeping expectations clear.

Staffing changes

Health and safety representative, written policy, and posting requirements can change as staffing changes. Confirm the current rule before relying on a threshold.

Official Sources

Ontario health and safety links

Start with Ontario's basic awareness training guide, worker awareness course, supervisor awareness course, and health and safety representative rules.