The Saskatchewan government has launched a comprehensive review of its occupational health and safety regulations — the first major update since 2006 — to ensure workplace safety standards align with today’s evolving work environments.
Deputy Premier and Labour Relations and Workplace Safety Minister Jim Reiter emphasised that the review will help keep regulations relevant and reflective of modern needs. “We look forward to hearing insights from organisations and individuals,” he said.
The review responds to nearly two decades of workplace change, driven by technological advancements and shifting work practices. It also follows recent amendments to the occupational health and safety provisions of the Saskatchewan Employment Act, prompting regulatory updates for consistency.
The review will unfold in three phases, beginning with sections one to five of the Occupational Health and Safety Regulations, 2020. Stakeholders have until 30 November to submit feedback on these sections, which address notification requirements, youth employment, occupational health and safety programmes, accident investigations, and first aid provisions.
Among the key topics under consideration is the threshold for reporting serious injuries. Current regulations require a hospital stay of at least 72 hours for an injury to qualify as serious — a standard that may no longer reflect modern healthcare practices. Other areas of focus include youth employment protections, as workers under 25 accounted for 15% of accepted injury claims in 2024, with 2,689 cases reported to the Workers’ Compensation Board.
Additionally, the review will explore harmonising first aid requirements with other Canadian jurisdictions under the Canada Free Trade Agreement, updating harassment and violence provisions, and reassessing occupational health committee requirements for workplaces with 10 or more employees.
