Final answer:
In Ontario, regulatory obligations that protect workers from health and safety hazards on the job are set out under the Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA). Similar mandates exist in the US under agencies like OSHA. This regulatory framework is enforced by various federal agencies to protect workers, consumers, and the environment.
Step-by-step explanation:
In Ontario, regulatory obligations are set out under the Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA), which is designed to protect workers from health and safety hazards on the job. It specifies general health and safety regulations that workplaces must adhere to, including the employer's duty to inform their employees about any job-related hazards to ensure a safe working environment.
Regulatory agencies such as the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) in the United States have similar mandates. They are authorized to enact standards that mandate how employers must protect workers from various hazards, through a process that includes significant public engagement, notice, and commentary before a standard can be issued.
The complex regulatory framework involves various federal agencies in the U.S. that provide oversight across many sectors, from worker and food safety to environmental and consumer protection, with the aim to prevent businesses from engaging in practices that could harm individuals or the environment. In contrast, overly stringent regulations can act as informal trade barriers, discouraging companies from entering markets with less restrictions.