Is there a working alone law in Ontario?

There is no separate working-alone regulation. Employers must still take every reasonable precaution under section 25(2)(h) of the OHSA and must have a workplace violence program that includes ways to summon immediate help.

Can a security guard refuse unsafe work in Ontario?

Yes. Under section 43 of the OHSA, a guard may refuse work they have reason to believe is likely to endanger them, including from workplace violence, and must tell their supervisor right away.

How fast must a workplace injury be reported to the WSIB?

Tell your employer as soon as possible. The employer must report within three business days of learning about it, and a worker has six months to report to claim benefits.

Who enforces health and safety law in Ontario?

Inspectors from the Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development. Critical injuries are reported through the Health and Safety Contact Centre at 1-877-202-0008.

Is the certificate accredited or officially recognised?

No. It is a private certificate of completion for knowledge only. It is not recognised, accredited or approved by any government, licensing body, regulator or educational institution, and it does not replace any licence, certification or training required by law.

Ontario Working Alone and Safety Course 2026

Question 1 of 25

Does Ontario have a separate regulation on working alone?

Yes; it sets a 30-minute check-in for lone workers
No; lone workers are not covered by the OHSA
Yes; but it applies only to security guards
No; the OHSA's general duties and violence rules apply

Show answer

Answer: D. No; the OHSA's general duties and violence rules apply

Ontario has no specific working-alone law. The employer's general duty and the workplace violence rules in the OHSA apply.

Question 2 of 25

What does the general duty clause, section 25(2)(h) of Ontario's OHSA, require of employers?

Give each lone worker their own company vehicle
Take every reasonable precaution to protect a worker
Hire only workers who already hold first aid
Pay overtime for every night shift that is worked

Show answer

Answer: B. Take every reasonable precaution to protect a worker

Section 25(2)(h) is the general duty clause: employers must take every reasonable precaution to protect workers.

Question 3 of 25

Under Ontario's OHSA, when must an employer have a written health and safety policy and a program?

When more than five workers are regularly employed
Only when 100 or more workers are employed
Never; a written policy is optional
Only on construction projects

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Answer: A. When more than five workers are regularly employed

Clauses 25(2)(j) and (k) require a written policy, reviewed yearly, and a program where more than five workers are regularly employed.

Question 4 of 25

Which regulation requires basic health and safety awareness training for Ontario workers and supervisors?

O. Reg. 37/08
O. Reg. 297/13
O. Reg. 363/07
O. Reg. 213/07

Show answer

Answer: B. O. Reg. 297/13

O. Reg. 297/13 requires the worker (four-step) and supervisor (five-step) awareness programs.

Question 5 of 25

What must an Ontario workplace violence program include for a guard working alone?

A rule that guards must restrain any attacker
Permission for lone guards to carry a weapon
A written promise that violence will never happen
Measures and procedures to summon immediate assistance

Show answer

Answer: D. Measures and procedures to summon immediate assistance

Clause 32.0.2(2) requires measures and procedures for summoning immediate assistance when workplace violence occurs or is likely to occur.

Question 6 of 25

What must an employer consider when assessing the risk of workplace violence under section 32.0.3?

Only the opinions of regular customers
The home addresses of all workers
Only the number of past police calls to the site
The nature of the workplace, type of work and conditions

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Answer: D. The nature of the workplace, type of work and conditions

The assessment must cover risks arising from the nature of the workplace, the type of work and the conditions of work.

Question 7 of 25

Who must be told the results of a workplace violence risk assessment?

The local newspaper and the local police service
Nobody; the results are kept secret from everyone
The joint committee or representative, or the workers
Only the company's lawyer and its insurance company

Show answer

Answer: C. The joint committee or representative, or the workers

Section 32.0.3(3) requires the results to go to the joint committee or representative, or to workers where there is neither.

Question 8 of 25

How often must the workplace violence risk be reassessed?

Every 10 years, on the same date as the first one
As often as necessary to keep workers protected
Only after a worker has been hurt by violence
Only once, when the business first opens

Show answer

Answer: B. As often as necessary to keep workers protected

Section 32.0.3(4) requires reassessment as often as necessary so the policy and program continue to protect workers.

Question 9 of 25

With six or more workers regularly employed, what must happen to the violence and harassment policies?

Filed with the local police service each year
Kept private and shown only to the managers
Written and posted, or easy to reach electronically
Explained out loud, with no written copy at all

Show answer

Answer: C. Written and posted, or easy to reach electronically

Where six or more workers are regularly employed, the policies must be written and posted or readily available electronically.

Question 10 of 25

After a workplace harassment investigation, how are the worker and the alleged harasser told the results?

On a public notice board
In writing
Only by a phone call
They are not told

Show answer

Answer: B. In writing

Section 32.0.7 requires the worker and the alleged harasser, if a worker of the same employer, to be told the results in writing.

Question 11 of 25

Which three rights does Ontario's OHSA give workers?

The right to sue the employer, to strike and to quit
The right to a company car, a phone and a two-way radio
The right to know, to participate and to refuse unsafe work
The right to choose their own shifts, pay rate and breaks

Show answer

Answer: C. The right to know, to participate and to refuse unsafe work

The internal responsibility system rests on the right to know, the right to participate and the right to refuse.

Question 12 of 25

Under section 43(3), which danger can be a reason for an Ontario guard to refuse work?

Being assigned to a boring post
Having a long commute to the work site
Workplace violence likely to endanger them
A change to the posted shift schedule

Show answer

Answer: C. Workplace violence likely to endanger them

Clause 43(3)(b.1) lets a worker refuse if they have reason to believe workplace violence is likely to endanger them.

Question 13 of 25

What is the first thing a guard must do when refusing unsafe work in Ontario?

Call a reporter to explain the danger
Leave the site and go straight home
Tell their supervisor or employer right away
Keep working until the shift ends

Show answer

Answer: C. Tell their supervisor or employer right away

The worker must promptly tell the supervisor or employer that they are refusing and why, then stay in a safe place nearby.

Question 14 of 25

Who must be present when the employer first investigates a work refusal?

The worker and a worker representative
Nobody; the employer decides alone
Only the employer's lawyer and site manager
A police officer and a WSIB adjuster

Show answer

Answer: A. The worker and a worker representative

Section 43(4) requires the investigation in the presence of the worker and a worker member of the joint committee, a health and safety representative, or a worker chosen by the workers or union.

Question 15 of 25

If the worker still has reasonable grounds after the first investigation, who is called?

The WSIB
A private security consultant
An MLITSD inspector
The fire marshal

Show answer

Answer: C. An MLITSD inspector

In the second stage, the worker or employer notifies a Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development inspector.

Question 16 of 25

Where must a refusing worker wait while the inspector investigates?

At home, until the inspector calls
In the employer's car or truck
At the union hall or a union office
In a safe place near their work station

Show answer

Answer: D. In a safe place near their work station

Sections 43(10) and (10.1) keep the worker in a safe place nearby unless the employer assigns reasonable alternative work.

Question 17 of 25

An Ontario employer disciplines a guard for refusing unsafe work. Where can the guard file a complaint?

The Ontario Labour Relations Board
ServiceOntario
The Office of the Fire Marshal
The Small Claims Court only

Show answer

Answer: A. The Ontario Labour Relations Board

Section 50 forbids reprisals. Workers can file a complaint with the Ontario Labour Relations Board.

Question 18 of 25

At how many regularly employed workers does an Ontario workplace need a joint health and safety committee?

5 or more
10 or more
20 or more
100 or more

Show answer

Answer: C. 20 or more

Clause 9(2)(a) requires a joint health and safety committee where 20 or more workers are regularly employed.

Question 19 of 25

An Ontario workplace regularly employs 12 workers and does not need a joint committee. What does the OHSA require?

A joint committee of at least four members
A ministry inspector on site each month
Nothing, because there are fewer than 20 workers
A health and safety representative

Show answer

Answer: D. A health and safety representative

Subsection 8(1) requires a health and safety representative where more than five workers are regularly employed and no committee is required. A committee is needed at 20 or more.

Question 20 of 25

Under section 28 of Ontario's OHSA, what must a guard do about a hazard they find?

Post it on social media
Fix it with any tools available
Ignore it if it is not in the post orders
Report it to the employer or supervisor

Show answer

Answer: D. Report it to the employer or supervisor

Clause 28(1)(d) requires workers to report hazards and breaches of the Act to the employer or supervisor.

Question 21 of 25

How soon must an Ontario employer report a lost-time injury to the WSIB?

Within three business days of learning about it
Within one year of the date of the injury
Within 30 days of the date of the injury
Only if the injured worker asks for it

Show answer

Answer: A. Within three business days of learning about it

Employers must report to the WSIB within three business days when a worker needs health care beyond first aid, misses work or loses pay.

Question 22 of 25

How long does an Ontario worker have to report a workplace injury to the WSIB to claim benefits?

48 hours
Ten years
Two weeks
Six months

Show answer

Answer: D. Six months

The WSIB says workers should tell their employer as soon as possible and report to the WSIB within six months to claim benefits.

Question 23 of 25

Under section 51, what must an employer do after a worker is critically injured?

Wait until the next business day, then phone the WSIB
Notify an inspector at once, then report in writing in 48 hours
Send a short written report to the ministry within 30 days
Tell only the worker's family and the site supervisor

Show answer

Answer: B. Notify an inspector at once, then report in writing in 48 hours

Section 51 requires immediate notice to an inspector, the committee or representative and the union, and a written report to a Director within 48 hours.

Question 24 of 25

A guard is hurt by workplace violence and needs medical attention, but it is not a critical injury. What does section 52 require?

No notice at all, since it is not a critical injury
Written notice within four days to the committee and union
A notice published in the local newspaper within a week
A phone call to the ministry within one hour of the injury

Show answer

Answer: B. Written notice within four days to the committee and union

Section 52(1) requires written notice within four days to the joint committee or representative and the union.

Question 25 of 25

Which phone line do Ontario employers use to notify an inspector of a critical injury, at any time of day?

911, the emergency line for police, fire and ambulance
The WSIB general inquiries line for employers
The ServiceOntario contact centre for licences
The Health and Safety Contact Centre, 1-877-202-0008

Show answer

Answer: D. The Health and Safety Contact Centre, 1-877-202-0008

Critical injuries are reported to an MLITSD inspector through the Health and Safety Contact Centre at 1-877-202-0008.

Ontario Working Alone and Safety Course 2026

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