Ontario. Occupational Health and Safety Division

• Occupational Health and Safety Division

This division was established on October 26, 1976. Many of the functions of the Occupational Health Protection Branch of the Ministry of Health were transferred to the Ministry of Labour effective December 17, 1976. These functions formed the core of the newly-formed Occupational Health and Safety Division of the Ministry of Labour, although the division also assumed some of the responsibilities of the defunct Labour Services Division.

At creation, it oversaw the activities of the Mines Engineering Branch, the Occupational Safety Branch, and the Occupational Health Protection Branch. It was also responsible for the administration of the South West Regional Pilot Project, which was discontinued sometime in 1977. Many branches were subsequently added to the division. In 1977 the Special Studies and Services Branch and the Standards and Programs Branch were formed and, in August 1978, the Occupational Safety Branch was divided into the Construction Health and Safety Branch and the Industrial Health and Safety Branch. From 1978 until 1987, the structure of the branch was not altered. In 1987-88, the Special Studies and Services Branch and the Standards and Programs Branch were disbanded. They were replaced in part by the newly created Policy and Regulations Branch and the Health and Safety Support Services Branch. Also in 1987-88, the position of Executive Director of Operations was created. This person, who reported to the Assistant Deputy Minister, was responsible for overseeing the operations of all the branches with the exception of the Policy and Regulations Branch.

In 1991 the functions of the Occupational Health and Safety Division were incorporated into the newly established Operations Division, Occupational Health and Safety Branch.

The Occupational Health and Safety Division had overall administrative responsbibilty for programs related to the ensuring of worker health and safety at the place of employment. The Division was overseen by an Assistant Deputy Minister.

RAD: Rules for Archival Description, 2nd edn (2008)

2026-11-16: migrated to AtoM

KWIC Index to Governemnt Services 1977-1978; RG 7 inventory

Archivist(s):
John Dirks