Ontario has launched what it describes as Canada’s first Occupational Exposure Registry (OER), a digital portal designed to let workers document exposure to hazardous substances over the course of their careers and support efforts to prevent occupational disease.

Announced by the Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development, the secure online system includes a self-tracking tool that allows workers to record and track exposure to one of 11 designated hazardous substances, such as asbestos, lead, mercury and silica. Workers can enter details about how their exposure occurred and note what protective measures were in place, including ventilation, training or personal protective equipment. Each submission generates a confirmation email and a downloadable record for workers to keep.

Government says new portal will support prevention and earlier detection

“Ontario’s future depends on our workforce, and this tool represents an important step in protecting workers’ health on the job,” said Labour Minister David Piccini.

“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.”

The province says occupational illnesses are frequently underreported and can be difficult to diagnose because of long latency periods between exposure and the onset of symptoms. By giving workers a way to build a personal exposure history that can follow them across jobs and worksites, officials say the registry can support medical assessments if symptoms arise years later.

According to the ministry, workers can begin using the online self-tracker immediately and can submit information securely and anonymously in just a few minutes. Participation in the registry is voluntary and worker-driven; individuals decide whether to register and are responsible for updating their own exposure information over time.

A ministry description of the tool says information entered into the Self‑Tracker will be used by Ontario’s Chief Prevention Officer to support prevention efforts aimed at reducing occupational diseases and improving worker health and safety, including program development and training. The information will remain within the Government of Ontario and, according to the description, will not be used for enforcement purposes. Aggregated and de‑identified data may be used to improve the functionality and user experience of the Self‑Tracker and may also be shared with health and safety partners to help inform prevention strategies.

The registry was first promised in the Working for Workers Act, 2023, and is being presented as part of a broader strategy to strengthen workplace health and safety. It also responds to recommendations from Ontario’s 2023 Occupational Disease Landscape Review, including calls for improved data collection and better tracking of exposure trends over time, as well as more accessible digital tools for workers, health-care providers and disease prevention partners.

“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 Deputy Premier and Health Minister Sylvia Jones. “The launch of Canada’s first Occupational Exposure Registry is one more way we are protecting Ontario workers and communities for years to come.”

Unions, safety advocates and cancer researchers back registry

Several stakeholders in high-risk sectors are backing the initiative. Stephen Lecce, Minister of Energy and Mines, called the registry “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.”

Jeff Lang, president of the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB), said “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.”

Health and research organizations have signalled their support as well. Dr. Stuart Edmonds of the Canadian Cancer Society noted that “each year, approximately 10,000 cancer cases in Canada are caused by exposure to cancer-causing substances in the workplace,” and described the registry as “a strong step forward to ensuring workers have the knowledge, tools, and protections they need to stay safe.”

Employers encouraged to promote self-tracker

The ministry says the OER is independent of employers. Employers will not have access to, or control over, a worker’s individual exposure records, and the registry is not a mechanism for employers to enter or manage exposure data. Officials say workers are reminded of the importance of discussing exposure concerns with their employer, but the tool itself is confidential and worker-focused.

In a statement to Canadian Occupational Safety the ministry says:

“Employers are being encouraged to promote awareness of the registry as part of broader workplace health and safety efforts, but there is no indication at this point of formal incentives or requirements tied to employer promotion or participation.”

The province situates the registry within its series of Working for Workers legislative packages, which have included measures such as requiring properly fitting personal protective equipment for women and workers with diverse body types, mandating automated external defibrillators on certain construction projects and requiring naloxone in workplaces where there is a risk of opioid overdose. The government has also directed WSIB to invest $400 million in health and safety programs focused on mental health, preventive and chronic injury care, and recovery.

According to the government, occupational illnesses accounted for approximately 76 per cent of workplace fatalities in Ontario between 2010 and 2019, and WSIB allowed 20,886 occupational disease claims in 2025.