Interpretations, Policies and Guidelines (IPGs)

The Labour Program develops interpretations, policies and guidelines (IPGs) for specific provisions of the acts and related regulations under its responsibility, including the Canada Labour Code the Employment Equity Act and the Government Employees' Compensation Act . IPGs are intended to ensure that legislation is interpreted consistently and that programs are delivered effectively across the country by Labour Program employees trained in interpretation of regulatory requirements. In support of the Government's commitment to reduce regulatory red tape burden for employers, the Labour Program ensures that its IPGs are updated, easily accessible, written in plain language, and based on stakeholder needs and feedback.

Disclaimer: These pages have been prepared for reference only.

Labour Standards IPGs (Employment Standards)

Index of Interpretations, Policies and Guidelines on Labour Standards
Title (HTML) No. PDF
Averaging 802-1-IPG-053 Averaging -Download
(PDF 73 KB)
Compassionate care leave 808-1-IPG-063 Compassionate Care Leave -Download
(PDF 276 KB)
Confidential complaint investigations IPG-073 Confidential Complaint Investigations -Download
(PDF 56 KB)
Constructive dismissal 815-1-IPG-033 Constructive Dismissal -Download
(PDF 27 KB)
Deductions from wages or other amounts due to an employee 817-1-IPG-060 Deductions from Wages or Other Amounts Due to an Employee -Download
(PDF 292 KB)
Determining the employer/employee relationship IPG-069 Determining the Employer/Employee Relationship -Download
(PDF 213 KB)
Determining the "real employer" IPG-068 Determining the Real Employer -Download
(PDF 1.6 MB)
Excluded employees from Division I pursuant to subsection 167(2) of the Canada Labour Code – Part III 802-1/815-1-IPG-049 Clarification on Excluded Employees -Download
(PDF 1 MB)
Group termination of employment 810-1-IPG-029 Group Termination of Employment -Download
(PDF 22 KB)
Hours of work 802-1-IPG-002 Hours of Work -Download
(PDF 20 KB)
Maternity Leave 808-1-IPG-017 Maternity Leave -Download
(PDF 17 KB)
Reasonably practicable 808/
819-IPG-057		 Reasonably Practicable -Download
(PDF 29 KB)
Rejection of complaint 700-10A-IPG-082 Rejection of complaint -Download
(PDF 201 KB)
Reporting pay 802-1-IPG-048 Reporting Pay -Download
(PDF 16 KB)
Survey procedure for ascertaining whether or not there is a prevailing industry practice in a geographical area 700-10-IPG-071 Survey Procedure for Ascertaining Whether or Not There is a Prevailing Industry Practice in a Geographical Area -Download
(PDF 600 KB)
Vacation pay 805-1-IPG-012 Vacation pay -Download
(PDF 20 KB)

Occupational Health and Safety IPGs

Index of Interpretations, Policies and Guidelines on Health and Safety Issues
Title (HTML) No. PDF
Availability of Safety Data Sheets (SDS) 985-1-IPG-037 WHMIS 2015 Availability of Safety Data Sheets (SDS) -Download
(PDF 61.25 KB)
Bomb Threats - Right To Know 937-1-IPG-003 Bomb Threats - Right To Know -Download
(PDF 21 KB)
Building Safety (Door Release) 922-1-IPG-044 Building Safety -Download
(PDF 31 KB)
Complaint is Trivial, Frivolous, Vexatious or Made in Bad Faith 920-1-IPG-083 Complaint is Trivial, Frivolous, Vexatious or Made in Bad Faith -Download
(PDF 44 KB)
Criteria for Reasonably Practicable, and Reasonably Possible 920-1-IPG-055 Criteria for Reasonably Practicable, and Reasonably Possible -Download
(PDF 18 KB)
Criteria for Reasonably Practicable - Levels of Sound 927-1-IPG-054 Criteria for Reasonably Practicable - Levels of Sound -Download
(PDF 22 KB)
Danger as a Normal Condition of Employment 920-1-IPG-070 Danger as a Normal Condition of Employment -Download
(PDF 57 KB)
Definition of Danger 905-1-IPG-062 Definition of Danger -Download
(PDF 30 KB)
Employer's Obligation to Keep Supplier Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDSs) Up to Date 985-1-IPG-050 Employer's Obligation to Keep Supplier Material Safety Data Sheets Up to Date -Download
(PDF 33 KB)
Employer requirement to keep supplier safety data sheets (SDS) up to date (three years) 985-1-IPG-050 WHMIS 2015 Employer requirement to keep supplier safety data sheets (SDS) up to date (three years) -Download
(PDF 71 KB)
Fall-Protection Systems for Mobile Elevated Work Platforms 932-1-IPG-065 Fall-Protection Systems for Mobile Elevated Work Platforms -Download
(PDF 88 KB)
Fall-Protection Systems for Vehicles 932-1-IPG-064 Fall-Protection Systems for Vehicles -Download
(PDF 58 KB)
Fire Protection Systems in Primary Grain Elevators 950-1-IPG-026 Fire Protection Systems in Primary Grain Elevators -Download
(PDF 20 KB)
Instruction and Training of Employees in the Location, Use and Operation of Fire Protection Equipment 937-1-IPG-038 Instruction and Training of Employees in the Location, Use and Operation of Fire Protection Equipment -Download
(PDF 23 KB)
Instruction and Training of Employees Who Have Supervisory or Managerial Responsibilities in Health and Safety 104-2-IPG-061 Instruction and Training of Employees Who Have Supervisory or Managerial Responsibilities in Health and Safety -Download
(PDF 31 KB)
Interns IPG-088 Interns -Download
(PDF 78 KB)
Investigations of Motor Vehicle Accidents on Public Roads IPG-066 Investigations of Motor Vehicle Accidents on Public Roads -Download
(PDF 64 KB)
Investigations of non-work related fatalities IPG-067 Investigations of Non-work Related Fatalities -Download
(PDF 55 KB)
Labelling requirements for hazardous products in laboratories 985-1-IPG-027
WHIMS 2015		 Labelling requirements for hazardous products in laboratories -Download
(PDF 101.96 KB)
Labelling requirements for laboratory controlled products 985-1-IPG-027 Labelling Requirements for Laboratory Controlled Products -Download
(PDF 36 KB)
Levels of sound - Canada Occupational Health and Safety Regulations, Part VII IPG-074 Download
(72.8 KB)
Machine-readable version of supplier Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDSs) 985-1-IPG-037 Machine-readable Version of Supplier Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDSs) -Download
(PDF 27 KB)
Means of egress 922-1-IPG-032 Means of Egress -Download
(PDF 14 KB)
Measurement of lighting levels in the work place - Canada Occupational Health and Safety Regulations, Part VI - IPG-039 928-1-IPG-039 Measurement of Lighting Levels in the Work Place -Download
(PDF 128 KB)
Participation of the Safety and Health Committee or Representative 935-1-IPG-004 Participation of the Safety and Health Committee or Representative -Download
(PDF 15 KB)
Health and Safety Committee Meetings – Payment of Wages and Alternative Means of Holding Meetings 907-1-IPG-005 Payment of Wages and Powers of Committee -Download
(PDF 88 KB)
Selection of Safety and Health Committee Members and of Representatives Using "Managerial Functions" as a Criterion 907-1-IPG-006 Selection of Safety and Health Committee Members and of Representatives Using Managerial Functions as a Criterion -Download
(PDF 17 KB)
Section 137, Work Place Health and Safety Committees and Representatives 907-1-IPG-051 Section 137, Work Place Health and Safety Committees and Representatives -Download
(PDF 47 KB)
Substance use in the work place, Canada Labour Code, Part II IPG-080 Substance use in the work place, Canada Labour Code, Part 2 -Download
(PDF 52 KB)
Interpretation of "Work Space" in the non-smokers' Health Act 907-1-IPG-075 Interpretation of Work Space in the Non-smokers' Health Act -Download
(PDF 23 KB)
Powers of the health and safety officer to enter any defence establishment, work for defence or materiel 700-5-IPG-040 Powers of the Health and Safety Officer to Enter Any Defence Establishment, Work for Defence or Materiel -Download
(PDF 33 KB)
Reacting to non-compliance within the public service 700-5-IPG-035 Reacting to Non-Compliance Within the Public Service -Download
(PDF 87 KB)
Refusals to work and medical certificates 905-1-IPG-031 Refusals to Work and Medical Certificates -Download
(PDF 13 KB)
Role of the canada health and safety officer before CLRB and PSSRB hearing 905-1-IPG-030 Role of the Canada Health and Safety Officer Before CLRB and PSSRB Hearing -Download
(PDF 140 KB)
Violence prevention in the work place 943-1-IPG-081 Violence Prevention in the Work Place -Download
(PDF 492 KB)
Workers working alone at a workplace under the control of the employer 905-1-IPG-059 Workers Working Alone at a Workplace under the Control of the Employer -Download
(PDF 54 KB)

Workers' Compensation IPGs

Index of Interpretations, Policies and Guidelines on Compensation Issues
Title (HTML) No. PDF
Delegation of Ministerial Powers 613-1-IPG-018 Delegation of Ministerial Powers -Download
(PDF 14 KB)
Dependants 610-6-IPG-025 Dependants -Download
(PDF 13 KB)
Education - GECA 619-1-IPG-009 Education - Government Employee Compensation Act -Download
(PDF 21 KB)
Employees Locally Engaged Outside Canada 602-5-IPG-022 Employees Locally Engaged Outside Canada -Download
(PDF 15 KB)
Subrogation - Claims Outside Canada 610-2-IPG-021 Subrogation - Claims Outside Canada -Download
(PDF 16 KB)

Workplace Equity IPGs (Employment Equity)

Index of Interpretations, Policies and Guidelines on Employment Equity
Title (HTML) No. PDF
Construction industry IPG-084 Constructive industry -Download
(PDF 49 KB)
Dual Jurisdiction Employers IPG-087 Dual Jurisdiction Employers -Download
(PDF 50 KB)
Joint Venture Suppliers IPG-086 Joint Venture Suppliers -Download
(PDF 40 KB)
Standing Offers and Supply Arrangements IPG-085 Standing Offers and Supply Arrangements -Download
(PDF 54 KB)
Report a problem or mistake on this page

Privacy statement

The information you provide through this survey is collected under the authority of the Department of Employment and Social Development Act (DESDA) for the purpose of measuring the performance of Canada.ca and continually improving the website. Your participation is voluntary.

Please do not include sensitive personal information in the message box, such as your name, address, Social Insurance Number, personal finances, medical or work history or any other information by which you or anyone else can be identified by your comments or views.

Any personal information collected will be administered in accordance with the Department of Employment and Social Development Act, the Privacy Act and other applicable privacy laws governing the protection of personal information under the control of the Department of Employment and Social Development. Survey responses will not be attributed to individuals.

If you wish to obtain information related to this survey, you may submit a request to the Department of Employment and Social Development pursuant to the Access to Information Act. Instructions for making a request are provided in the publication InfoSource, copies of which are located in local Service Canada Centres.

You have the right to file a complaint with the Privacy Commissioner of Canada regarding the institution’s handling of your personal information at: How to file a complaint.

When making a request, please refer to the name of this survey: Report a Problem or Mistake on This Page.

Please select all that apply:

Thank you for your help!

You will not receive a reply. For enquiries, contact us.

Date modified: