Job Specification

Purpose of Position :

To administer and enforce the Occupational Health and Safety Act and other Acts, regulations, standards in accordance with ministry policies and procedures in workplaces.

Duties / Responsibilities :

Administers and enforces the Occupational Health and Safety Act, and related legislation and is responsible for: Conducting investigations of events, e.g. fatalities, critical injuries, work refusals, work stoppages, complaints (usually without prior notice) to determine compliance with legislated standards, collect and seize evidence (ensure continuity of evidence), interview employer, injured party, worker representatives, and other relevant parties; taking statements, obtain/discuss information on such matters as unresolved health and safety concerns, worker education and training programs; preparing and submitting information/report to Manager (e.g. investigation package containing detailed support for recommendations to or not to prosecute). Conducting physical inspections in a variety of workplaces to observe workplace operations and identify potential hazards; identifying contraventions of provincial and federal legislation; issuing orders, field visit reports and requirements, to follow-up to determine compliance; communicating standards of compliance for specific workplace situations; monitoring health and safety information/trends. Targeting workplaces for inspections; selecting high risk firms using workplace selection methodology. Auditing and promoting the Internal Responsibility System with workplace parties; encouraging self-reliance with workplace parties as appropriate; carrying out provincial and/or regional initiatives and taking appropriate action, in partnership with other organizations (e.g. Workplace Safety & Insurance Board, health and safety associations (HSAs) and construction based groups, sector inter-agency groups (S.I.Gs), regulatory bodies, e.g. CS Association, Electrical Safety Authority, etc. Conducting meetings with worker/employer representatives, conducting follow-up inspections and taking action to ensure compliance; maintaining effective communication with workers/employers (often under very stressful conditions), resolving disputes between workers and employers (e.g.: work refusals, work stoppages and complaints). Performing duties of a Provincial Offences Officer, e.g.: by issuing Certificate of Offence and serving Part 1 Offence Notice and Part I and Part III Summonses and giving evidence in court, serving summonses and summons to witness; acting as an agent of the Ministry in court proceedings such as; assisting in legal actions such as prosecutions related to fatalities, contraventions; assisting in drafting and issuing search warrants, attending first appearances in court (Part 1's); appearing as a witness at prosecutions and inquests; assisting in the preparation of responses to Coroner's Jury recommendations. Responding to enquiries from public, owners, suppliers, workers, union/employer officials, and internal Ministry/Division/government clients, in person, on telephone (e.g.: duty officer), e-mail, explaining application, entitlements, responsibilities and rights under the Act, regulations and related legislation; identifying contentious issues for senior management, providing facts and information for the preparation of briefing and house notes, as required; maintaining knowledge and up-to-date information on matters relating to Occupational Health and Safety. Coaching other staff by sharing knowledge, accompanying them on field visits; participating and representing the ministry on internal and external committees/meetings, as assigned by management. Being available for scheduled on-call duty and after normal working hours and for periodic rotation to operate from different geographic areas, as required.

Staffing and Licencing :

Valid Driver's License (Ontario Class G)

Advanced French oral communication proficiency for designated positions.

Knowledge :

Job requires knowledge of Occupational Health and Safety Act, pertinent regulations, standards and codes, and sections of other relevant provincial or federal statutes and regulations, (e.g.: Hazardous Products Act, Apprenticeship and Certification Act, Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System, Provincial Offences Act, Electrical Utilities Safety Association Rules and Regulations, Canadian Standards Association Standards, building and fire codes), and relevant Ministry/Division and program policies and procedures to conduct inspections and investigations, determine compliance, identify contraventions, issue reports and orders, apply and explain the intent of legislation. Detailed understanding and knowledge of ministry and division quality assurance/quality control (QA/QC); operational and sector programs and Regulator's Code of practice. Job requires knowledge of labour management relations and internal responsibility system to develop and maintain effective relationship with workplace parties, and to resolve Occupational Health and Safety related disputes. Job requires knowledge of ministry and government business plans in order to develop local partnerships with Health and Safety Associations and Workplace Safety and Insurance Board. Job requires knowledge of investigative techniques to carry out inspections/investigations at workplaces, interview worker and employer representatives, and gather all relevant information and evidence. Job requires knowledge of court/inquest procedures, practices and processes to prepare and submit information on possible prosecutions, assist attorneys in legal actions, and to act as an agent of the Ministry in court proceedings. Job requires knowledge of theories, techniques, technical data, reports and drawings, processes, practices, issues, work procedures, equipment, management and operational policies and practices in the Ministry-defined construction industry, window cleaning and asbestos abatement. Job requires knowledge of trends, new developments and biological/chemical/physical hazards in the field of Occupational Health and Safety in order to identify and evaluate safety hazards regarding mechanical processes, chemical, biological and physical agents in the workplace. Job requires knowledge of computer information technology, ministry computer databases and related software packages to use sector and work planning systems, input/access information data systems, (e.g. Inspector Compliance Enforcement (ICE) tool) and prepare documents and to ensure adherence to ministry quality assurance/control programs.

Skills :

Skills are required to: conduct investigations, including carrying out physical inspection of workplace, equipment and machinery, interviewing workers, their representatives and employer representatives, reviewing operating procedures, training programs and a variety of health and safety issues. Job requires analytical and evaluation skills to interpret information collected that may be technical in nature and assess whether employer's operation is in compliance with legislation, regulations, policies and standards, and determine strategies/action(s) to be taken. Job requires investigating and determining probable causes of accidents or nature of complaints, evaluating and/or integrating findings of investigation with relevant legislation, precedents, and policies. Job requires conducting searches and/or gathering information/evidence, analyzing and evaluating observations/findings and assessing situations to determine when to take action such as issuing orders, facilitating resolutions, recommending legal action when contraventions of the legislation occur. Job requires verbal communication skills to interview witnesses, worker and employer representatives, provide information on and application of legislation, regulations, standards, ministry/division program policies and procedures, deliver presentations, and discuss compliance issues with clients, public and other stakeholders, and appear at hearings and court proceedings as a witness. Job requires written communication skills to document and convey information on workplace situations and operations, prepare written decisions re work refusals, designated substances, prepare investigative reports and other information, in accordance with ministry standards, required in legal proceedings. Job requires identifying contentious issues for senior management, providing facts and information for the preparation of briefing notes and house notes. Job requires interpersonal and dispute/conflict resolution skills to resolve issues/disputes (e.g. work refusals, work stoppages or complaints) between labour and management in highly confrontational or adversarial situations.

Freedom of Action :

Job requires working within the context of relevant provincial or federal statutes and regulations related to Occupational Health and Safety, and within the overall context of ministry and division business plans, administrative and program policies and procedures and adherence to Regulator's Code of Practice. Job requires performing work in adherence to ministry quality assurance and control programs, and within operational and sector procedures. Job requires conducting on-site investigations and inspections to determine compliance with legislation, regulations, standards and ministry policies, and identify contraventions and issue reports and orders. Job requires determining if expert/professional advice is required. Job requires making decisions in resolving disputes; issuing orders which can result in costly production and wage losses while corrections are made or can result in capital costs (e.g.: plant shutdowns); or recommending legal action. Work is reviewed through standard reporting processes and assessed for overall results and adherence to legislation, regulations and ministry/division program policies and procedures, quality assurance/control programs. Job requires coordinating own workload, referring situations outside policy and area of expertise that are subject to varied interpretations, unusual or contentious situations and issues to Manager, Regional Program Coordinators or Head Office specialists. Job requires working on-call or outside normal working hours when managerial advice may not be readily available.