Safety Bulletin Boards: What to Post and How to Pass an Audit

Every Canadian worksite must display safety information in a central, visible location. Here is what belongs on a compliant bulletin board, and what to keep off it.

Every Canadian worksite is legally required to display specific safety information in a central, visible location. Too often the board becomes a cluttered corkboard of outdated posters and irrelevant handouts, missing the documents an auditor actually looks for. A compliant board is not just a legal requirement - it is a daily signal that safety matters.

What to post

A good board includes the core worker rights, the relevant emergency procedures, and current contact details. The minimum documents to post are:

• Emergency contact numbers.
• The company health and safety policy.
• Joint health and safety committee or representative information.
• The right-to-refuse procedure.
• The most recent safety meeting minutes.
• The relevant provincial and federal OHS posters.
• The site-specific evacuation plan.
• A WHMIS information sheet.

Keep the board audit-ready

• Date-stamp every document so it is clear what is current.
• Use laminated sleeves or clear clips so postings stay readable.
• Remove outdated content monthly - a 2022 inspection checklist still posted is a red flag.
• Label each section clearly, for example Emergency and Worker Rights.

Who owns it

• Workers must know where the board is, how to report an issue, and who their safety representative is.
• Supervisors must check that postings are current and visible, and post new safety meeting minutes promptly.
• Management must ensure compliance with provincial posting laws and assign responsibility for a monthly board check.

The common gaps an auditor finds are expired policies, missing committee names, blank or outdated incident-tracking forms, and a missing WHMIS update. A quick monthly review keeps all of them off your board.