Small businesses make up a significant portion of the Service Sector in Ontario. Occupational Health & Safety legislation defines small business as having fewer than 20 employees.
OSSA has discovered that there are some additional qualities that differentiate small business. As such we define small business in the following way:
An enterprise that usually operates out of one location, where the owner/operator is on site, performs many or all of the business roles, and staff report directly to him or her.
These qualities are what make small business so flexible and dynamic, but can also present some Health & Safety management challenges. The challenges faced by small businesses are not defined by the number of employees or the size of the payroll. In addition to the typical Health & Safety challenges faced by all employers in the Service Sector, small businesses often deal with others that can include lack of knowledge of legal responsibilities, limited resources, lack of formal procedures, high turnover, lack of training for new/existing staff, young workers and those with low comprehension of English language, and most importantly a low perception of risk.
You invest time, effort and money in your employees through hiring and training; you want to protect that investment by making Health & Safety everyone's priority. Accidents cost money, disrupt production and affect employee's morale; which impacts on customer service and client satisfaction. Employers in Ontario also have legal obligations to protect Health & Safety of their employees.
The most effective way to protect your employees and your business is to integrate Health & Safety into your normal business practices, not as a separate activity. For example integrating Health & Safety into your orientation program allows you to establish expectations at the start of employment. You are investing time in teaching your staff how to do their job, why not teach them how to do it safely as well.
In setting expectations early in the employment relationship, you are able to lay the foundation for Health & Safety to be approached as a team effort. Employers, supervisors and employees need to work together to ensure a healthy and safe workplace. As an employer you have the legal obligation to take every precaution reasonable to protect your workers. However, workers too have obligations that include following all company rules, reporting hazards to the employer and using the protective equipment provided.
Although your business may not appear to be particularly hazardous, every workplace has potential hazards and may include lifting, cleaning chemicals, electrical equipment and others. Not only is it important to recognize the potential hazards in your workplace, but their assessment and control are also key in ensuring a safe and healthy workplace.
You must also develop a written policy that reflects your values and expresses your commitment to the Health & Safety of your employees. This document must be posted, reviewed annually, dated and signed by the owner.
Every workplace with 6-19 workers must have a worker Health & Safety representative, who is responsible for inspecting the workplace on a monthly basis, reporting hazards, making recommendations to management and reviewing the Health & Safety program. For workplaces with 20 or more employees a Joint Health & Safety Committee must be set up, performing similar duties as the Health & Safety representative.
While the minimum age for workers is 15 in a factory, the minimum age requirement for employment behind a counter (in a store, for example) is 14 years of age.