PHS Language Guide
A definitive directory of the terms and standards shaping Canadian workplace mental health and OHS compliance.
Actionable Check-In
A proactive outreach fulfilling the legal Duty to Inquire. This philosophy is embedded in The Working Mind training via the Mental Health Continuum. Read More about how to use the Mental Health Continuum model in the workplace
Administrative Controls
Changes to the way work is done (policies, training, schedules) used to mitigate psychosocial risks. Read More about administrative controls and psychosocial risk mitigation
ALGES Framework
The standard for Mental Health First Aid (MHFA), including the critical focus on Self-Care for the First Aider. Read More
Authority Hub
Strategic PHS pillar content providing deep-dive guide on PHS compliance (in progress). Read More
Bill 132 Schedule 4 (Ontario)
Legislation mandating written programs for workplace harassment and sexual harassment. Read More about the full text of Bill 132 at the Legislative Assembly of Ontario
Bill 41 (British Columbia)
The Workers Compensation Amendment Act which mandates a "Duty to Cooperate" and a "Duty to Maintain Employment." This requires employers to actively support the return-to-work process for staff affected by workplace violence or psychological injuries. Read More about the formal text of Bill 41 on the BC Laws website
Bill C-65 (Federal)
The Federal framework defining harassment and violence as a single spectrum of behaviour. It mandates that all federally regulated employers must provide mandatory training, conduct joint risk assessments, and follow a strict resolution process for occurrences. Read More about the requirements for employers under Bill C-65 at Canada.ca
Burnout
State of exhaustion caused by excessive stress, recognized as an occupational phenomenon.
Canada Labour Code (Part II)
Mandatory OHS requirements for federally regulated workplaces, including the protection of psychological health and the prevention of workplace harassment and violence. Read More about federal occupational health and safety requirements on the Canada.ca website
Compassion Fatigue
Emotional exhaustion found in frontline crisis and victim services professionals due to the nature of their work.
Continuous Improvement
The commitment to regularly reviewing the PHS-IMS (Integrated Management System) to ensure effectiveness and adapt to changing workplace needs.
CSA Z1003
The National Standard of Canada for Psychological Health and Safety in the Workplace; the definitive framework for compliance and a voluntary set of guidelines, tools, and resources. Read More about the CSA Z1003 Standard on the Accessible Canada website
Documentation Trail
Recorded evidence of training and check-ins required for regulatory audits.
Due Diligence
The legal "defense" an employer uses to prove they did everything reasonably possible to prevent an injury. In this context, it means having a paper trail for mental health, not just physical safety. Read More about the PHS due diligence checklist for OHS inspectors
Duty of Care
The moral and legal obligation to ensure the safety or well-being of others. In the workplace, this means taking all reasonable steps to prevent foreseeable psychological or physical harm. Read More about the legal principle of Duty of Care in the workplace
Duty to Accommodate
Requirement to modify work duties to support employees with disabilities.
Duty to Inquire
The legal obligation for a manager to check in on an employee if they suspect a mental health issue is affecting their work, fulfilling the obligation to support or accommodate rather than just firing for poor performance.
Elimination
The highest level of the Hierarchy of Controls; removing a psychosocial hazard entirely (e.g., stopping after-hours emails) rather than expecting individuals to cope with it. Read More about elimination strategies in the hierarchy of psychosocial controls
Factors (14 Psychosocial)
The 14 elements from CSA Z1003 that impact employee mental health. Read More about the 14 psychosocial factors of the National Standard
Foreseeability
The legal principle used to determine if an employer should have reasonably anticipated a psychological injury. In a PHS context, a hazard becomes "foreseeable" when there are clear indicators—such as high absenteeism, toxic culture, or a known trauma event—triggering the organization's legal Duty to Inquire and Duty of Care. Read More about the legal principle of foreseeability in workplace mental health
Frontline Services
High-risk roles requiring specialized PHS support due to trauma exposure. In Canada, there is presumptive legislation, which assumes a PTSD diagnosis is work-related unless the employer can prove otherwise. These laws are provincial, so while Manitoba and Saskatchewan cover all workers, most other provinces specifically cover first responders, nurses, and correctional officers.
General Duty Clause
The foundational "catch-all" legal obligation requiring employers to take every precaution reasonable in the circumstances to protect the health and safety of workers. Across Canada, this duty (specifically Section 25(2)(h) in Ontario and Section 124 of the Canada Labour Code) serves as the primary enforcement mechanism for psychosocial hazards; it mandates proactive risk mitigation even in the absence of a specific regulation for a given hazard. Read More about the General Duty Clause under Section 124 of the Canada Labour Code
Green Zone (Healthy)
The target state for a PHS compliant workplace; characterized by normal functioning, effective coping, and high employee engagement.
Guarding Minds at Work (GMAW)
A comprehensive and validated survey tool designed to measure the 13 Psychosocial Factors within an organization. It provides the data-driven foundation necessary to assess, protect, and improve psychological health and safety in the workplace. Read More about the Guarding Minds at Work assessment resources and tools
Hazard Register
A living document tracking identified mental health risks and mitigation actions.
Hazards (Psychosocial)
Factors in how work is designed or managed that increase the risk of psychological injury.
Hierarchy of Controls
A system prioritizing Elimination over Individual coping to address root causes of stress. Read More about the hierarchy of controls for psychosocial hazards
Human Resources Development
Process of building organizational capacity to support a psychologically safe culture.
Internal Data Points
The specific organizational metrics—such as absenteeism rates, short-term disability (STD) claims, turnover, and EFAP utilization—used to identify hidden psychosocial hazards. These data points provide the objective evidence required to prioritize interventions and measure the effectiveness of a PHS management system.
Integrated Management System (PHS-IMS)
A strategic framework embedding Psychological Health and Safety into core business governance, risk operations, and organizational culture. Read More about the Psychological Health and Safety Integrated Management System (PHS-IMS)
Integration Framework
The roadmap illustrating how PHS is embedded for long-term compliance, ensuring mental health is managed with the same rigor as physical safety.
IRS (Internal Responsibility System)
The foundational philosophy of Canadian OHS law, stating that everyone in the workplace shares responsibility for health and safety.
ISO 45003
International guidelines for managing psychosocial risks; the global companion to CSA Z1003.
Internal Data Points
The specific organizational metrics—such as absenteeism rates, short-term disability (STD) claims, turnover, and EFAP utilization—used to identify hidden psychosocial hazards. These data points provide the objective evidence required to prioritize interventions and measure the effectiveness of a PHS management system.
Integrated Management System (PHS-IMS)
A strategic framework embedding Psychological Health and Safety into core business governance, risk operations, and organizational culture.
Integration Framework
The roadmap illustrating how PHS is embedded for long-term compliance, ensuring mental health is managed with the same rigor as physical safety.
IRS (Internal Responsibility System)
The foundational philosophy of Canadian OHS law, stating that everyone in the workplace shares responsibility for health and safety.
ISO 45003
International guidelines for managing psychosocial risks; the global companion to CSA Z1003.
Judgement (Reasonable)
The standard used to determine if a leader took every reasonable precaution to protect a worker, often evaluated against industry standards like CSA Z1003.
Just-in-Time Support
Rapid-response mental wellness resources and crisis intervention provided to staff immediately following a critical incident.
Leadership Training
Programs equipping managers with the psychological literacy to identify early warning signs, lead check-ins, and manage accommodations effectively.
Liability (Psychosocial)
The legal and financial risk an organization faces when it fails to protect workers from foreseeable psychological harm.
Management System Audit
A systematic review of the organization’s PHS compliance against the CSA Z1003 Standard.
Mental Health Commission of Canada (MHCC)
The national body responsible for driving evidence-based psychological health and safety (PHS) frameworks across the country. They lead the development of programs such as The Working Mind, Mental Health First Aid and Workplace Psychological Health and Safety through their Opening Minds branch. Read More about the Mental Health Commission of Canada's national initiatives and programs
Mental Health Continuum Model
A validated tool standardizing early intervention language using colour-coded zones (Green, Yellow, Orange, Red). Read More about how to use the Mental Health Continuum model in the workplace
Mental Health First Aid (MHFA)
The initial help provided to a person developing a mental health problem, experiencing a worsening of an existing mental health problem, or in a mental health crisis. Just like physical first aid, the goal is to provide support until professional help is received or the crisis is resolved. Read More about Mental Health First Aid training and courses offered by iMindify
Moral Injury
Psychological distress resulting from actions that violate core moral beliefs; a specific high-frequency hazard for frontline crisis services.
National Standard of Canada (CSA Z1003)
The definitive framework for Psychological Health and Safety in the Workplace. This voluntary set of guidelines provides the tools for organizations to identify hazards and fulfill the legal to protect for psychological harm with the same rigor as physical harm.
Non-Adversarial Interview
A fact-finding approach focused on system failures and hazard identification rather than individual blame.
OHS / OHSA (Occupational Health and Safety Acts)
The provincial or federal laws across Canada mandating that employers protect workers from hazards.
Opening Minds
The branch of the Mental Health Commission of Canada (MHCC) dedicated to reducing structural and social stigma. They develop specialized programs for workplaces, healthcare providers, and first responders to change behaviors and foster supportive organizational cultures. Read More about the Opening Minds initiative and stigma reduction programs
Orange Zone (Injured)
A state of functional decline characterized by persistent distress, often triggering the legal Duty to Accommodate.
PHS (Psychological Health and Safety)
A workplace strategy focused on preventing mental injury and promoting well-being. Think of it as "mental OHS."
Plan-Do-Check-Act (PDCA)
The iterative four-step management cycle used for the continuous auditing and adjustment of a PHS system. This framework ensures that psychological safety measures are not just implemented once, but are consistently evaluated for effectiveness and improved over time. Read More about the PDCA cycle and the PHS due diligence checklist
Psychological Contract
The unwritten expectations between employer and employee (e.g., respect for boundaries). When broken, it becomes a major psychosocial hazard.
Psychological Safety
A culture where employees feel safe to speak up, ask questions, or report mistakes without fear of punishment; the bedrock of interpersonal risk-taking.
Psychosocial Hazards
Factors in how work is designed or managed that can cause mental harm (e.g., extreme workload, bullying).
Psychosocial Hazard Register
A living document listing every identified mental health risk and its controls; the primary "Proof of System" for OHS compliance.
Psychosocial Risk Assessment
The systematic process of evaluating workplace factors to reveal hidden hazards.
Quality Management
Ensuring that mental health initiatives deliver measurable results and meet National Standard benchmarks.
Quantifiable Risk
The process of assigning a numerical value to psychosocial hazards (frequency x severity) to prioritize intervention.
Reasonably Practicable
The legal standard for balancing the severity of a psychosocial risk against the time, effort, and cost of control measures. It requires employers to prove they have implemented every control possible, unless the effort to do so is grossly disproportionate to the risk.
Reasonable Care
The proactive level of caution and attention an employer must exercise to protect employees from foreseeable psychological harm. Read More about the standard of Reasonable Care in workplace mental health
Red Zone (Ill)
The state representing severe functional impairment, requiring immediate medical or professional intervention.
Role Ambiguity
Confusion about job responsibilities due to poor communication; a significant organizational stressor.
Root Cause Analysis
A systematic process for identifying underlying causes of a mental health incident to prevent recurrence.
Self-Care for the First Aider
The final "S" in the ALGES action plan; essential for responder sustainability and preventing vicarious trauma.
Standardized Tool
Scientifically validated surveys (e.g., GMAW) used to measure organizational culture against the National Standard.
Stigma (Workplace)
Negative beliefs leading to discrimination or silence regarding mental health; a primary barrier to safety.
Systemic Safety Net
Interlocking layers of PHS-IMS (policy, training, controls) designed to prevent psychological injuries.
The Working Mind (TWM)
An evidence-based, MHCC-accredited training program specifically designed to reduce stigma and provide practical tools for maintaining mental wellness in the workplace. It features the Mental Health Continuum Model to help employees and leaders identify changes in their own health and support others effectively. Read More about The Working Mind training and certification offered by iMindify
Tiered Response Model
A strategic approach prioritizing primary prevention before secondary intervention and tertiary clinical support.
Trauma-Informed Leadership
A management approach recognizing trauma impact to avoid re-traumatization in policies and daily interactions.
Triad of Accountability
Shared responsibility between Employer, Union, and Employee to maintain a safe environment.
Underlying Cause
Systemic issues leading to injury (e.g., poor training) rather than just the immediate trigger.
Undue Hardship
The limit to which an employer must accommodate before it becomes dangerously expensive or disruptive to operations.
Vicarious Trauma
The profound shift in worldview that occurs from exposure to the traumatic stories of others.
Victim Services Training
PHS support tailored for professionals working on the frontlines of crime and trauma response.
Workers Compensation Act (BC)
The primary framework for OHS in British Columbia. Recent amendments via Bill 41 mandate a Duty to Cooperate in the return-to-work process for workers injured by workplace violence or mental health stressors. Read More about BC WorkSafeBC policies on bullying and harassment
Work-Life Balance
Managing work demands so that employees have time for personal lives, reducing conflict and stress.
Workplace Harassment (Bill 132)
Ontario legislation requiring employers to have policies to handle harassment as a health and safety issue.
Yellow Zone (Reacting)
The stage characterized by nervousness or irritability; ideal for a check-in before injury occurs.
Youth MHFA
Mental Health First Aid training specifically adapted for adults who interact with young people.