Pre-Start Health and Safety Reviews (PSHR) in Ontario – Ensuring Workplace Safety and Compliance

Safety Guarding Newmarket

A PHSR is an engineering safety assessment completed by a professional engineer. PHSR’s are required under the applicable provisions of the Industrial Regulations with the addition or modification of manufacturing equipment.

The report details the measures (steps, actions or engineering controls) necessary to bring the construction, addition, installation or modification into compliance with applicable provision of the Industrial Regulation as listed in the Table at Section 7 of the Industrial Regulation.

While Professional Engineers who undertake PHSR’s are responsible for identifying and addressing issues of compliance with the applicable sections of the Industrial Regulation, Professional Engineers do not bear responsibility for implementing the report recommendations. The employer remains responsible for ensuring that all requirements of the Occupational Health and Safety Act and Regulations are complied with in the workplace. Even where a Pre-Start Health and Safety Review is not required or an exemption from the requirements of Section 7 of the Industrial Regulation applies, the employer must ensure that workers are protected before operating any apparatus, structure, protective element or process in the workplace. A PHSR does not include follow-up to confirm correction of deficiencies or operating compliance with the sections of Regulation 851 referenced in the Table. Although it may be part of the scope of work requested by the owner/lessee/employer, it is not part of the PHSR.

These machine and robotic safety reviews demonstrate due diligence to ensure that workers are protected from workplace hazards. ZCS helps clients identify, document and mitigate hazards in accordance with applicable safety standards.

  • When is a PHSR needed?
  • What is the process and recommended phases of getting a PHSR?
  • What are the benefits of getting a PHSR?
  • Why choose ZCS to perform your PHSR?

In October’ 2000 Ontario made having a Pre-start Health and Safety review mandatory for any equipment in a factory prior to production that satisfies one of the following 8 triggers:

1 Either of the following applies with respect to flammable liquids:
  1. More than 235 litres of flammable liquids are located in a building or room.
  2. Flammable liquids are dispensed in a building, room or area.
2 Any of the following are used as protective elements in connection with an apparatus:
  1. Safeguarding devices that signal the apparatus to stop, including but not limited to safety light curtains and screens, area scanning safeguarding systems, radio frequency systems and capacitance safeguarding systems, safety mat systems, two-hand control systems, two-hand tripping systems and single or multiple beam systems.
  2. Barrier guards that use interlocking mechanical or electrical safeguarding devices.
3 Material, articles or things are placed or stored on a structure that is a rack or stacking structure.
4 A process involves a risk of ignition or explosion that creates a condition of imminent hazard to a person’s health or safety.
5 The use of a dust collector involves a risk of ignition or explosion that creates a condition of imminent hazard to a person’s health or safety.
6 A factory produces aluminum or steel or is a foundry that melts material or handles molten material.
7 Any of the following are used:
  1. A travelling crane, overhead crane, monorail crane, gantry crane, jib crane or other lifting device suspended from or supported by a structure.
  2. A vehicle lift or hoist.
8 A process uses or produces a hazardous biological or chemical agent and uses a ventilation system to limit the exposure of a worker in accordance with any exposure limit set out in Regulation 833 of the Revised Regulations of Ontario, 1990 (Control of Exposure to Biological or Chemical Agents) made under the Act.

Per section 7(14) of Ontario Regulation 851 of OH&S Act, a copy of this report must be readily accessible in the workplace and a copy given to the Joint Health and Safety Committee. Additionally, the OH&S Act requires you implement all of the measures required for safety compliance prior to putting the machine into the production.

A revised PHSR (or Limited-Scope PHSR) is also needed when any changes, electrical or mechanical, are made to an equipment post production. This is a review of only the changes and is amended to the original, full-scope PHSR.

For a PHSR you send us the information about the equipment that requires the review (such as machine serial number and model, pictures, mechanical layout, electrical, pneumatic and/or hydraulic drawings) and we send you a FREE and FAST quote (within 2 business days).

Recommended Phases :

Phase 1 (Design Review) : An evaluation of the design documents prior to construction of the equipment.

Phase 2 (Preliminary PHSR) : A preliminary assessment at the build shop before the equipment is shipped.

Phase 3 (Final PHSR) : A final review of the equipment at the installation site prior to it being put into production.

The most obvious benefit of getting a PHSR is that non-compliances to the relevant safety standards will be identified and you will have an opportunity to address them.

You will have fewer workplace accidents causing injuries to your employees. The government mandates that any accidents need to be report to the Ministry of Labour within 48 hours to 4 days of occurrence depending on the severity of the injuries incurred. Unsafe practices leading to accidents usually end up with machines being locked out by the Ministry leading to loss of money, reputation and employee morale. Doing a timely PHSR the employer ensures removal of such hazards prior to production preventing any future losses

The ZCS-team includes electrical engineers, mechanical designers, Tuv Certified Functional Safety Engineers, Laser Safety Officer and licenced electricians allowing us to take a multi-disciplinary approach to machine safety reviews (PSHR) ensuring a thorough and accurate analysis.

We are experts in machine safety design and help machine builders & robotic integrators across the world design safety systems to be compliant with CSA-Z432 & CSA-Z434 which includes use of futuristic technologies such as Area Scanners, AGVs, ABB Safemove, Dual Check Safety (DCS) & Collaborative Robots to name a few.

In terms of volume, ZCS likely completes more safety reports in Ontario, Quebec & USA each year then most of our smaller competitors combined giving our team experience on thousands of different types of equipment ranging from robotic cells, presses to CNC machines & assembly lines. Proprietary software application (developed in house) used for report generation ensure consistency across the board even as reports are generated by different professional engineers.

Dedicated project management & sales support (independent of the engineering team) ensures excellent customer service & high levels of client satisfaction. Site reviews can be booked via email or our 1800 number and are generally scheduled within 2-3 business days of a request. Reports are generally delivered within 5 business days of completing a site visit. We have assisted numerous customers with Ministory of Labour Orders and helped them get back to production.

We can provide our clients with references from various machine builders, integrators & manufacturing plants if required.

Contact ZCS - safety engineering business for a wide range of machine safety services across Ohio, California, Cambridge, Michigan, Mississauga, Brampton, Burlington, Kitchener, Barrie, Oakville, Vaughan, Richmond Hill, Aurora, Newmarket, Guelph & the surrounding areas.

When it comes to protecting your employees and business operations, Pre-Start Health and Safety Reviews (PSHR) in Ontario play an essential role. For manufacturing plants and industrial workplaces across the province, PSHRs are not just a legal formality but a vital part of your commitment to creating a safe work environment. Our team specializes in delivering thorough, reliable Pre-Start Health and Safety Reviews designed to keep your machinery compliant and your workers protected.

Understanding and implementing Pre-Start Health and Safety Reviews in Ontario ensures your equipment meets stringent safety standards before operation. This proactive safety step minimizes risks, avoids costly downtime, and builds confidence among your workforce and clients alike. If you’re a business owner or safety manager in Ontario, you deserve a trusted partner to guide you through PSHR compliance efficiently and accurately.

FAQs

What are Pre-Start Health and Safety Reviews (PSHR) in Ontario, and why are they required?

Pre-Start Health and Safety Reviews (PSHR) in Ontario are mandatory assessments to ensure machinery and processes meet safety regulations before operation, protecting employees and ensuring compliance.

Who is responsible for conducting Pre-Start Health and Safety Reviews in Ontario?

A qualified engineer must perform the Pre-Start Health and Safety Review (PSHR) in Ontario, assessing equipment against legal safety standards before use.

How often should Pre-Start Health and Safety Reviews be performed in Ontario?

PSHR in Ontario must be conducted before new equipment starts operation and whenever significant modifications or process changes affect safety.

What are the risks of not completing Pre-Start Health and Safety Reviews in Ontario?

Failure to conduct PSHR in Ontario can result in workplace accidents, fines, legal liabilities, and increased operational downtime.

How can your company help with Pre-Start Health and Safety Reviews in Ontario?

We provide expert PSHR in Ontario, guiding you through assessments, documentation, and compliance to keep your workplace safe and legally compliant.

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