Healthcare Section 21

Health Care Section 21 Committee

The objective of the Health Care Section 21 Committee is to advise and make recommendations to the Minister of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development (Minister) on matters relating to the occupational health and safety of all health care and community care workers in Ontario. This includes, but is not limited to, all clinical staff who work directly with patients/residents/clients, all laboratory staff, and all non-clinical staff such as receptionists, ward clerks, administrative staff, maintenance staff, housekeeping staff, food services staff, etc. The Section 21 Committee reviews existing and or emerging occupational health and safety issues related to health care workers that have a provincial impact.

Membership

The Healthcare Section 21 Committee is facilitated by the Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development (MLITSD) and made up of members representing organized labour and employers as well as observers.

Access Health Care and Community Care Guidance Notes

The intent of guidance notes is to assist health care and community care workplace parties  (and other healthcare collaborators with decision-making responsibilities that may impact OHS in the sector ) in achieving compliance with the Occupational Health and Safety Act, clarify responsibilities as well as share good practices and emerging issues applicable to the prevention of illness and injury to health care workers. The following Guidance Notes have been prepared and approved by the members of the Health Care Section 21 Committee:

• Guidance Note 1: Effective Communication Processes for Occupational Health and Safety
  Provides information on the importance of establishing clear, effective communication channels in healthcare settings to support occupational health and safety. It emphasizes protocols for sharing critical safety information and ensuring consistent communication among workplace parties.
   
• Guidance Note 2: Pandemic
  Provides guidance on preparation, prevention, and response strategies during pandemics. It includes measures to protect healthcare workers from infectious agents, outlines infection control protocols, and describes procedures to maintain safe working conditions.
   
• Guidance Note 3: Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) Education and Training
  Provides information and guidance on the requirement for comprehensive OHS training for healthcare workers. It includes topics such as hazard identification, safe work practices, and emergency response training tailored to healthcare settings.
   
• Guidance Note 4: Safety-Engineered Medical Sharps (SEMS) (recently updated)
  Addresses the safe use of medical sharps with safety-engineered devices to reduce the risk of needlestick injuries and bloodborne pathogen exposure, promoting the adoption of safer medical devices and practices.
   
• Guidance Note 5: Application of Hazard Control Principles, including the Precautionary Principle to Infectious Agents
  Guides healthcare employers and workers on using hazard control principles to prevent exposure to infectious agents, including the application of the precautionary principle when scientific evidence is uncertain.
   
• Guidance Note 6: Occupational Injury and Illness Reporting Requirements
  Outlines the mandatory reporting processes for occupational injuries and illnesses. Provides instructions on documentation and reporting to ensure compliance with legal requirements and to support workplace safety improvements.
   
• Guidance Note 7: Right to Refuse
  Explains the right of healthcare workers to refuse work they believe may endanger themselves or others. Provides guidance on the legal context, procedures for refusal, and how employers address these situations.
   
• Guidance Note 8: Workplace Violence (recently updated)
  Focuses on preventing and managing workplace violence in healthcare. It includes strategies for risk assessment, staff training, and creating a safe environment for healthcare workers facing potential violence from patients or the public.
   
• Guidance Note 9: Slips, Trips and Falls
  Provides guidance to prevent slips, trips, and falls, which are common causes of injury in healthcare. This guidance note emphasizes hazard identification, proper housekeeping, and the use of slip-resistant materials and footwear.
   
• Guidance Note 10: Internal Responsibility System (IRS)
  Explains the Internal Responsibility System, which encourages all workplace parties to actively participate in health and safety. This note outlines the roles and responsibilities of employers, supervisors, and workers in maintaining a safe work environment.

Section 21 Committee Overview

Section 21 Committees are formed by the Minister of Labour, Training and Skills Development under section 21 of the Occupational Health and Safety Act to give sector-specific advice to the Minister on health and safety issues.

Currently, there are eight Section 21 committees:

• Provincial Labour-Management Health and Safety Committee – Construction
• Provincial Labour-Management Safety Committee – Electrical & Utilities
• Mining Legislative Review Committee
• Ontario Police Health and Safety Advisory Committee
• Film and Television Section 21 Advisory Committee
• Fire Service Section 21 Advisory Committee
• Health Care Section 21 Advisory Committee
• Paramedic Services Section 21 Committee

Many of the committees also produce guidance materials to help the sector to comply with legislation, clarify the sector’s legislative responsibilities, and exchange information and advice on emerging issues. They may also develop subcommittees to address sub-sector health and safety needs. To ensure that employer and worker needs are met, all Section 21 committees must have equal representation from labour and management.