Mandatory Training for Ontario Employees
In Ontario, employers have an obligation to provide mandatory training to employees on certain topics, including occupational health and safety and accessibility. Providing required training helps employers meet their legal obligations and gives employees the knowledge they need to work safely, understand their responsibilities, and support an accessible workplace.
Failing to provide mandatory training in Ontario may result in significant financial and legal consequences for employers. Without required training, employees may be exposed to preventable risks, while employers may face increased workplace accidents, lost productivity, financial costs, and compliance consequences. Through training, employees can learn important information about workplace risks and hazards, procedures, rights, and responsibilities. Employers should understand which training requirements apply to their workplace and ensure employees receive the appropriate training and instruction.
Key takeaways
- Most Ontario workers and supervisors must complete basic occupational health and safety awareness training.
- Employers must provide workers with training on workplace violence and harassment policies and programs.
- Organizations subject to Ontario’s accessibility requirements must provide applicable AODA accessibility training.
- WHMIS training is required for workers who work with or may be exposed to hazardous products.
- Additional training specific to a role, workplace, or sector may apply, including working at heights, JHSC certification, or first aid.
What training is mandatory for employees in Ontario?
Mandatory training for employees in Ontario includes basic occupational health and safety awareness training, workplace violence and harassment information and instruction, and WHMIS training for employees who work with or may be exposed to hazardous products. Additional training requirements may apply depending on the employee’s role, workplace hazards, industry, and responsibilities. Under Ontario’s Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005 (AODA), employers must also provide employees with training on the accessibility standards, how to interact with people with various types of disabilities, and human rights related to disabilities.
Employers should identify which training requirements apply to each role, ensure required training is completed within any prescribed timeframe, and keep training records where the law requires them. Refer to our Compliance Centre to keep on top of changing legal requirements for your jurisdiction.
Some of the most common Ontario training obligations are outlined below.
At a glance: mandatory training in Ontario
| Training | Whom it commonly applies to | Key employer note |
| Basic occupational health and safety awareness training | Workers and supervisors covered by Ontario’s Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA). | Workers must complete awareness training as soon as practicable; supervisors have a separate awareness requirement. |
| AODA accessibility training | All employees and volunteers, anyone involved in developing an organization’s policies, and anyone who provides goods, services, or facilities on behalf of an organization. | Training should cover applicable accessibility requirements, including accessible customer service and the Human Rights Code as it relates to people with disabilities. |
| Workplace violence and harassment training | Workers who are covered by Ontario’s OHSA. | Employers must provide employees with appropriate information and instruction on their workplace violence and harassment policies and programs. |
| Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS) training | All employees who use, handle, or may be exposed to hazardous products in the workplace. | Training must reflect the hazardous products and procedures found in the workplace. |
| Role- and sector-specific training | Employees whose job or work performed triggers additional training requirements. | Examples can include working at heights training, joint health and safety committee (JHSC) training, and first aid training. |
Basic occupational health and safety awareness training
Ontario Regulation 297/13 under the OHSA requires employers to ensure workers complete basic occupational health and safety awareness training as soon as practicable. Supervisors must also complete occupational health and safety awareness training within one week of performing work as a supervisor. Employers must also keep records of the required training, subject to the regulation’s exemptions and recognition of qualifying previous training.
For employers reviewing mandatory health and safety training requirements in Ontario, this basic awareness training is an important starting point.
AODA accessibility training
AODA training is mandatory for every employee, volunteer, anyone who helps develop your organization’s policies, and all other persons who provide goods, services, or facilities on behalf of your organization. The training must cover accessible customer service, the requirements of the accessibility standards that apply to the person’s work, and Ontario’s Human Rights Code as it relates to people with disabilities. It must also be appropriate to each person’s duties.
Ontario’s Human Rights Code and the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005 work together to protect people with disabilities from discrimination and ensure they can participate fully and equally in society.
Workplace violence and harassment information and instruction
Under Ontario’s Occupational Health and Safety Act, employers must provide workers with appropriate information and instruction on the contents of workplace violence and harassment policies and programs. The law does not prescribe one standardized course for every workplace, so the information should reflect the organization’s policies, reporting procedures, risks, and employee responsibilities.
Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS) training
In Ontario workplaces covered by the Occupational Health and Safety Act, employers must provide WHMIS education and workplace-specific instruction to workers who work with or may be exposed to hazardous products, including the basic principles and main components of WHMIS, hazard identification, pictograms, labelling, safety data sheets, and more.
Amendments to the federal Hazardous Products Regulations and Schedule 2 to the Hazardous Products Act came into force on December 15, 2022. The three-year transition period ended on December 14, 2025. Since the transition period ended, employers should ensure their WHMIS training reflects current hazard classifications, labels, safety data sheets and other applicable WHMIS requirements. The government of Canada provides details on the amended regulations, and Citation Canada offers current WHMIS training and resources for employers.
Other mandatory health and safety training in Ontario
Some Ontario workplaces may have additional training obligations based on the work being performed by employees or the size of the workplace. Examples include:
- Working at heights: Mandatory for certain workers on construction projects who use specified fall-protection systems.
- Joint health and safety committee certification: Where a JHSC is required, certification requirements may apply to designated committee members.
- First aid training: Organizations covered by the Workplace Safety and Insurance Act must have at least one trained first aider available onsite at all times during working hours.
These examples are not exhaustive. Industry-specific regulations, equipment, job hazards, and professional requirements can create additional training obligations.
Cost-effective training solutions
Organizations without dedicated resources can struggle to manage and maintain training programs. Creating and maintaining training takes time and resources, especially when legislation changes. A centralized approach can make it easier to assign courses, track completions, and keep records organized.
Citation Canada offers live HR support, a secure human resources information system (HRIS), and hundreds of courses in our online training library. There is something for every organization and every jurisdiction in our growing course catalogue. Our library includes jurisdiction-specific courses designed to support compliance and employee development, while our platform makes it easier to assign training and track completion records.
Frequently asked questions
What training is mandatory for employees in Ontario?
Basic occupational health and safety awareness training, AODA accessibility training, workplace violence and harassment information and instruction, and WHMIS training for employees who work with or may be exposed to hazardous products in the workplace. Other training may apply based on the job, workplace size, sector, and hazards.
There is no single Ontario course legally called “mandatory HR training for employees.” In practice, HR teams often coordinate required accessibility, workplace violence and harassment, health and safety, WHMIS, and role-specific training. Which courses are legally required depends on the workplace, role, and applicable legislation.
Is WHMIS training mandatory for every employee in Ontario?
No. WHMIS training is required for employees who use, handle, or may be exposed to hazardous products in the workplace. Employers should assess which employees require training and ensure the training reflects the products, hazards, and procedures in their own workplace.
How often should mandatory training be refreshed in Ontario?
There is no single refresher schedule for every type of training. Some requirements have specific timing or recordkeeping rules. For example, Ontario employers must review their WHMIS worker education program at least once a year and whenever changes make a review necessary. Employers should check the rule that applies to each course rather than assume all training must be renewed annually.
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Free guide to mandatory employee training in Ontario
This guide lists mandatory employee training in Ontario, along with our recommendations for effective skills development. These recommendations include industry- and workplace-specific training, too. You’ll also learn how to track training progress and maintain training records.
Download our employer’s guide to mandatory training in Ontario here.
Use the guide as a starting point, then confirm which requirements apply to your workplace, your employees, and the work they perform.