The Ontario government has launched Canada’s first Occupational Exposure Registry (OER), a digital portal designed to help workers track and document their exposure to hazardous substances in the workplace.
The new portal includes a self-tracker that allows workers to record and monitor exposure to hazardous substances on the job.
The registry forms part of the province’s broader workplace health and safety initiatives and is intended to support monitoring of occupational exposures while providing workers with a record they can reference throughout their careers.
The development is considered a notable step for occupational health and safety (OHS) in Ontario, particularly for workers exposed to known or suspected carcinogens and other toxic substances, according to HAZMAT Management Magazine.
The registry will collect, secure, and manage data from multiple sources, including the Ontario Health Study, the Occupational Cancer Research Centre, and other existing databases. Researchers and clinicians will also contribute to expanding the system’s data and improving exposure assessment.
Workers can submit exposure information anonymously through the online self-tracker for one of 11 designated hazardous substances, including asbestos, lead, mercury, and silica. Submissions can include details on how exposure occurred and on the protective measures in place, such as ventilation, training, or personal protective equipment.
The registry may also contribute to the documentation used in occupational disease claims. Exposure records collected through the system could be referenced by the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) during the assessment of compensation claims.
The Occupational Exposure Registry will be introduced in phases. The initial phase focuses on tracking exposure to asbestos, silica, and other known carcinogens. Later phases are expected to include additional substances and chemicals.
The registry is being developed in collaboration with workers, employers, safety organizations, and government agencies.
According to the government, occupational illnesses accounted for approximately 76% of workplace fatalities in Ontario between 2010 and 2019, and the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) allowed 20,886 occupational disease claims in 2025.
Health advocates have also pointed to a broader national impact, noting that approximately 10,000 cancer cases each year in Canada are linked to exposure to cancer-causing substances in the workplace, many of which are considered preventable if exposures are reduced.
Sylvia Jones, Ontario’s deputy premier and minister of health, said, “Our government is taking bold and innovative action to make it easier for Ontarians to stay safe and healthy in the workplace and beyond.”
The ministry confirmed that the OER is independent of employers, who will not have access to, or control over, a worker’s individual exposure records. The registry is also not a mechanism for employers to enter or manage exposure data.
The registry’s launch also coincides with a broader provincial push on workplace safety. Ontario’s Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development launched a 2025–2026 occupational hygiene compliance campaign covering all sectors, including construction, manufacturing, mining, and health care.
The campaign focuses on enforcing regulations governing control of exposure to biological or chemical agents and ensuring compliance with the Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS).
