Step by step, Canada is becoming more accommodative and truly multicultural by adopting and adapting laws, rules and regulations to the needs of the growing multi-religious, multi-cultural population, from across the world, which has made Canada their new home. Sikh workers, who heretofore faced many challenges of inclusivity on health and occupational grounds are in for better times, says World Sikh Organisation appreciating the latest amendments to the Occupational Health and Safety regulations at WorkSafeBC, which will likely lead to Sikh workers to keep their turbans intact at workplaces. WSN reports.

The World Sikh Organization of Canada has welcomed the amendments to Part 8 of the Occupational Health & Safety Regulation (OHSR) relating to safety headgear. Section 8.11 of the OHSR required safety headgear to be worn in any work area where there is a danger of head injury however the regulation was being applied as a blanket requirement resulting in Sikh workers who wear the dastaar -turban being excluded from workplaces, even where accommodation was possible.

The amendments open the door to dastaar-wearing Sikh workers being accommodated on worksites where the risk of head injury can be removed. As the OHSR clarifies that employers must conduct a risk assessment and attempt to remove and eliminate any risks before requiring hardhats on worksites.

Appreciating the amendments, WSO legal counsel, Balpreet Singh, said, “The amendments by WorkSafeBC to the OHS regulations are a welcome step forward towards the accommodation of the dastaar on BC worksites.”

The amendments by WorkSafeBC to the OHS regulations are a welcome step forward towards the accommodation of the dastaar on BC worksites.

Balpreet Singh, Counsel, WSO

“These changes will benefit not just Sikhs but all workers in BC as employers must now work to eliminate the risk of injury with engineering and administrative controls and not simply try to minimize injury through the use of PPE,” he added. 

“We appreciate that these amendments will be a change for both employers and workers and the period between now and the effective date of September 1, 2021 will be critical. We look forward to working with WorkSafeBC and other stakeholders to ensure that the necessary training and resources are made available to make the rollout of these new regulations a success.”

Advocacy organisation WSO has regularly advocated for the accommodation of turbaned Sikhs as part of the initial presentation to the BC Government in 2018.

Title Photo Courtesy: The Remi Network