Ontario Launches Canada’s First Occupational Exposure Registry to Protect Workers
February 20, 2026
New digital portal will help track workers’ exposure, prevent occupational disease and build a healthier, more resilient workforce
February 20, 2026
Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development
Table of Contents
- Content
- Quick Facts
- Quotes
- Additional Resources
- Related Topics
TORONTO — As part of its plan to protect Ontario workers and their long-term health, the Ontario government is launching Canada’s first Occupational Exposure Registry (OER). This new secure digital portal includes an easy-to-use self-tracker that allows workers to record and track exposure to hazardous substances in the workplace. The portal builds on the government’s work to strengthen workplace health and safety by taking action to increase awareness and reduce harmful exposures, while giving workers a secure record they can reference throughout their careers.
“Ontario’s future depends on our workforce, and this tool represents an important step in protecting workers’ health on the job,” said David Piccini, Minister of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development. “This first-in-Canada Occupational Exposure Registry will give workers the ability to securely track and better understand their exposure risks, helping inform prevention efforts and stop occupational disease before it starts.”
Starting today, workers can securely and anonymously submit exposure information through the online self-tracker in just a few minutes for one of 11 designated hazardous substances, such as asbestos, lead, mercury and silica. Workers can record details such as how their exposure occurred and what protective measures were in place, such as ventilation, training or personal protective equipment. Each submission generates a confirmation email and a record that can be downloaded. Having better information about harmful workplace exposures will help increase awareness and empower workers to better understand hazards and take steps to protect themselves.
Occupational illnesses are often underreported or difficult to diagnose due to long latency periods between exposure and the onset of symptoms. By giving workers the tools to track their own exposures over the course of their careers, the registry can also support medical assessments if symptoms arise years later.
“Our government is taking bold and innovative action to make it easier for Ontarians to stay safe and healthy in the workplace and beyond,” said Sylvia Jones, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health. “The launch of Canada’s first Occupational Exposure Registry is one more way we are protecting Ontario workers and communities for years to come.”
The Occupational Exposure Registry was first committed to in the Working for Workers Act, 2023, and builds on Ontario’s broader work to protect workers by strengthening workplace health and safety. It also responds directly to recommendations from Ontario’s 2023 Occupational Disease Landscape Review by improving data collection, tracking exposure trends over time and providing an accessible digital tool to support workers, healthcare providers and disease prevention partners.
Quick Facts
- Ontario has been consistently strengthening workplace safety under our seven Working for Workers legislative packages, with measures such as requiring properly fitting personal protective equipment (PPE) for women and workers with diverse body types, mandating automated external defibrillators (AEDs) on construction projects with 20 or more workers expected to last three months or longer, and requiring naloxone to be available in workplaces where there is a risk of opioid overdose.
- Ontario’s Supporting Ontario’s Safe Employers (SOSE) program is a voluntary recognition initiative for employers who go beyond compliance and demonstrate strong occupational health and safety management. With 101 employers now recognized, the program highlights organizations that have invested significantly in health and safety. Recognized employers have earned more than $4.5 million in WSIB incentives to date, helping build safer workplaces and supporting a stronger, more competitive provincial economy.
- An occupational illness is a condition that results from exposure to a physical, chemical or biological agent in the workplace to the extent that the worker’s health is impaired.
- In 2025, there were close to 580,000 construction workers in Ontario.
- Between 2010 and 2019, occupational illnesses accounted for approximately 76 per cent of workplace fatalities in Ontario.
- According to the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB), there were 20,886 allowed occupational disease claims in 2025.
- In Working for Workers Six our government directed WSIB to invest $400 million in health and safety programs for workers and employers, focusing on mental health, preventative and chronic injury care and recovery to ensure workers have the supports they need to return to work safely and quickly.
Quotes
“Every day at a mine starts with one priority: safety. That same commitment to putting workers first guides everything we do. Canada’s first Occupational Exposure Registry is a smart, proactive step to better protect their health — giving workers more control over their exposure history and helping us prevent occupational illness before it starts. This is another strong example of how our government is taking action to safeguard workers and build a stronger future for Ontario.”
– Stephen Lecce
Minister of Energy and Mines
“This landmark initiative sets the stage for raising awareness of occupational illness and the importance of prevention efforts to protect worker health and safety. This tool can be used to support those important discussions between workers and their employers, and between workers and their health care providers. For the ministry, it gives us insights to further understand the landscape of occupational illness and exposures in Ontario. This integral part of identifying potential challenges and opportunities will help us as we continue our plans for prevention efforts.”
– Dr. Joel Moody
Chief Prevention Officer and Assistant Deputy Minister, Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development
“This is a big step forward. More information and data about what people are exposed to will help improve prevention and could lead to faster access to WSIB services and supports for people with occupational disease claims.”
– Jeff Lang
President, WSIB
“All workers deserve to know that their health is being protected not just today, but throughout their entire career. The Occupational Exposure Registry puts workers first by giving them a secure way to track exposures and take an active role in protecting their long-term health. By empowering workers with better information, we’re helping to prevent occupational illnesses and ensuring that workers can build strong careers and return home safely to their families.”
– Marc Arsenault
Business Manager and Secretary-Treasurer, Provincial Building and Construction Trades Council of Ontario
“Occupational exposure remains one of the most serious and persistent health risks firefighters face. The launch of Ontario’s Occupational Exposure Registry is a meaningful step forward — acknowledging those risks, supporting earlier detection of occupational illness, and strengthening long-term health protections. It demonstrates a clear commitment to protecting firefighters and workers across the province.”
– Greg Horton
President, Ontario Professional Firefighters Association
“As mechanical insulators and asbestos abatement specialists, our members understand firsthand the serious risks that can come with occupational exposure. Whether installing mechanical insulation systems or safely maintaining and removing hazardous materials like asbestos, protecting our members has always been at the core of our skilled trade. Ontario’s leadership in launching Canada’s first Occupational Exposure Registry marks a major step forward in preventing occupational disease before it starts. By giving workers the ability to track exposures throughout their careers, this registry will help bridge critical gaps in reporting and early detection. We commend the province for establishing this registry and strongly believe it will strengthen accountability, improve long term health, and build a safer, more resilient workforce across the country.”
– David Gardner
Business Manager, Insulators Local 95
“Each year, approximately 10,000 cancer cases in Canada are caused by exposure to cancer causing substances in the workplace. These are cancers that in many cases can be prevented though action to reduce exposures. Too many workers continue to encounter harmful substances, sometimes as part of their everyday responsibilities, and other times in situations they never expected. An occupational exposure registry is a strong step forward to ensuring workers have the knowledge, tools, and protections they need to stay safe.”
– Dr. Stuart Edmonds
Executive Vice President, Mission, Research & Advocacy, Canadian Cancer Society
“Recognizing and documenting hazardous exposure is an essential component of prevention, especially for cancer and other chronic diseases that can develop many years after exposure. I look forward to the launch of this initiative and its continuing enhancement!”
– Dr. Paul A. Demers
Scientific Director, Occupational Cancer Research Center, Ontario Health; Professor, Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto
“A clear understanding of exposure history is an important part of protecting workers and strengthening prevention efforts. A well-designed registry can support better clinical communication and long-term health monitoring. CECCO looks forward to working closely with the Ministry to ensure the registry’s implementation is transparent, avoids unnecessary duplication, and provides clarity for both workers and employers on how information will be used in practice.”
– Adam Melnick
Executive Director, Construction Employers Coordinating Council of Ontario
Additional Resources