Safety Laws and Regulations

Every employer and worker in Nova Scotia must follow safety laws. These laws set the rules for equipment, the work environment, and how jobs are done. They help prevent injuries and keep people safe.

This page gives the basics, and links you to the official details on Nova SAFE. Use Nova SAFE to find the exact rules that apply to your workplace.

What are regulatory requirements?

Regulatory requirements are legal rules that employers and workers must follow to keep work safe. They can change by task, equipment, and work setting. If people do not follow them, workers can be put at risk—and employers may face orders, penalties, or prosecution.

Who must follow them?

Everyone at work.

  • Employers must make sure the workplace meets legal safety standards.
  • Workers must follow safe work procedures and use required equipment.
  • Supervisors must ensure rules are followed and address hazards.

These duties are outlined in the Occupational Health and Safety Act and Regulations (PDF).

Types of safety regulations

Nova Scotia’s safety rules are generally grouped into two categories:

Occupational Health & Safety

Applies to people, workplaces, and procedures—things like:

  • Safety training
  • Personal protective equipment (PPE)
  • Workplace hazard assessments

Technical Safety

Applies to specialized equipment and systems—things like:

  • Elevators and lifts
  • Pressure vessels and boilers
  • Gas and fuel systems
  • Electrical systems

Both help ensure workplaces remain safe—from the environment workers are in, to the tools they use.

Where to find the rules

To find the exact requirements for your workplace tasks, equipment, or industry, visit: Nova SAFE.

It’s the official source for Nova Scotia’s safety laws, guidance, and compliance information. Information on Nova SAFE is written in plain, easy-to-understand language.

Browse safety topics A–Z on Nova SAFE.

A few examples you’ll find on the site:

  • Lockout / Tagout — controlling hazardous energy during equipment service
  • Confined Spaces — extra protections in high-risk areas with limited entry/exit
  • Fall Protection — systems and procedures to prevent falls from heights or reduce injury if a fall occurs

Each topic contains links directly to the legislation that applies.

Need help or see something unsafe?

Text on the image reads as: Call -800-9LABOUR for workplace and public space safety issues, concerns and regulations.

If you have a safety concern at work, report it so it can be addressed:

Nova Scotia Department of Labour, Skills and Immigration OHS Division

Phone: 1-800-952-2687 (24/7 for serious incidents)

If someone is in immediate danger, call 911.