Ontario Launches Canada’s First Occupational Exposure Registry to Protect Workers

Ontario has launched Canada’s first Occupational Exposure Registry (OER)—a secure digital tool that allows workers to track and document exposure to hazardous substances throughout their careers. The voluntary, easy‑to‑use self‑tracker enables workers to anonymously record exposure to 11 designated substances, including asbestos, silica, lead and mercury, along with details on how the exposure occurred and what protective measures were in place.

Occupational illnesses are often difficult to diagnose due to long delays between exposure and symptoms. By helping workers build a personal exposure history that follows them across jobs, the registry aims to support prevention, early detection, and future medical assessments. Information collected will also help inform provincial workplace health and safety initiatives, while remaining confidential and not used for enforcement.