British Columbia Basic Security Training Practice Exam

What is required of employers according to the Occupational Health & Safety Act?

1. Provide body armour to employees

2. Provide a reasonably safe and healthy work environment

3. Provide higher pay rates in riskier work environments

4. Ensure that two guards are assigned to a site at night time

The correct answer is: Provide a reasonably safe and healthy work environment

The Occupational Health & Safety Act is comprehensive legislation in Ontario, Canada that sets out the general rights and duties of all parties in the workplace. Its main purpose is to protect workers against risks and dangers at work. One of the key requirements for employers under the Act is to provide a reasonably safe and healthy environment for all workers. This signifies employers must take adequate measures to prevent accidents or injuries arising out of, linked with, or occurring in the course of employment. This can encompass a wide range of actions such as providing appropriate training, teaching safety procedures, ensuring machinery and equipment are safe and well-maintained, monitoring health and safety conditions in the workplace, and setting up robust procedures for dealing with on-job accidents and emergencies. While the Act may include specific safety protocols and procedures for certain job roles (like providing body armor to employees etc.), the given answer choice is a broad, all-encompassing principle that is applicable to all employers under the Act. Hence, it stands as the correct answer.