First Week PPE Checklist for Job Sites and Warehouses

On most Canadian job sites you need CSA Grade 1 safety boots (green triangle), a hard hat, safety glasses and, near traffic, a high-visibility vest. In Ontario and most provinces the boots are usually yours to buy; hard hats, glasses and gloves are often supplied, but ask before day one. Quebec employers must supply required PPE free of charge.

The law sets the standard, but it rarely says who pays

Canadian safety law tells you what must be worn and is much quieter about who buys it. CCOHS says the law "is not always clear about who is responsible for paying for the PPE itself", and Ontario uses the word "provide" without defining it (CCOHS, Designing an Effective PPE Program). Its fact sheet on who pays adds that even where legislation says "provide", "that statement does not mean it must be provided without cost to the worker" (CCOHS, Who Pays for PPE?).

Safety footwear is the item most often left to the worker. Here is what that fact sheet and the Quebec statute say. A collective agreement can give you a better deal than the law, so read it.

Province	What the source says about PPE cost
Ontario	Regulations say "provide" or specify use only; no rule on who pays. Boots are usually the worker's purchase in practice.
Quebec	Employer must "provide the worker, free of charge, with all the individual protective means and equipment" selected by the committee or set by regulation (Act respecting occupational health and safety, s. 51(11)).
British Columbia	Workers are responsible for general items "such as work gloves, appropriate footwear, and a hard hat"; the employer pays for other required PPE.
Manitoba	Workers are responsible for "headwear and protective footwear"; the employer supplies other equipment free of charge.

One thing is the same everywhere: PPE is the last line of defence. CCOHS is direct that it "cannot be the first protection option" and does not remove the hazard (CCOHS). If a site relies on your boots alone to protect you from a hazard that could have been removed, ask your supervisor about it.

Construction checklist: what Ontario's regulation actually requires

On an Ontario construction project the rules live in O. Reg. 213/91, and they apply from the moment you step onto the project.

Safety boots, always. "Every worker shall wear protective footwear at all times when on a project." The toe cap must be "capable of resisting at least 125 joules impact" and the sole or insole must resist "a penetration load of 1.2 kilonewtons" (O. Reg. 213/91, s. 23). That is the green triangle on a CSA Z195 boot.
Hard hat, always. "Every worker shall wear protective headwear at all times when on a project", with a shell that withstands a dielectric test at 20,000 volts (s. 22). From July 1, 2027, the regulation will also require headwear built to CSA Z94.1 or ANSI Z89.1, Type 2 where side impact is a hazard, and a chin strap where the hat could dislodge (s. 22 as amended by O. Reg. 112/26).
Eye protection when there is a risk (s. 24); most sites make glasses mandatory everywhere. Look for the CSA certification mark on the lenses and frame (CCOHS, Eye and Face Protectors).
Skin protection, in practice gloves, where there is a risk from sharp objects, hot material, noxious liquids or dust (s. 25).
High-visibility garment near traffic. A worker "who may be endangered by vehicular traffic" must wear a garment that is "fluorescent blaze or international orange" with two 5 cm yellow retro-reflective stripes on the front and a diagonal "X" on the back; a nylon vest must tear away, and night work adds reflective stripes on each arm and leg (s. 69.1).
Fall protection, with training first. Where you could fall more than 3 metres, the fall-protection sections apply (s. 26), and you need valid Working at Heights training before using the equipment. See the training section below.

Everything else is hazard-driven. You wear what is "necessary to protect the worker against the hazards to which the worker may be exposed", and your employer "shall require the worker to comply" (s. 21). Your supervisor sets the site rule, and the law backs them up.

Warehouse checklist: fewer fixed rules, more judgment calls

Warehouses, distribution centres and factories in Ontario fall under Regulation 851 (Industrial Establishments), and almost every PPE section there says "appropriate in the circumstances" instead of "at all times". That leaves the policy to the employer, so ask what the site rule is before your first shift.

Foot protection. "A worker exposed to the hazard of foot injury shall wear foot protection appropriate in the circumstances" (Reg. 851, s. 82). Nearly every warehouse with pallets or forklifts treats that as CSA Grade 1 footwear, often the green triangle specifically because pallet nails and strapping are a puncture hazard. An athletic-style safety shoe such as the Tofino is a common choice for order picking on concrete.
Head and eye protection where there is a hazard of injury (s. 80 and s. 81).
Hair, jewellery and loose clothing. Long hair must be confined, and loose clothing or rings must not be worn near rotating shafts, belts or gears (s. 83).
Skin protection where you handle sharp, hot or noxious material (s. 84). Cut-resistant gloves for box cutters are the norm.
Hearing protection. In most jurisdictions the occupational exposure limit for noise is 85 dBA, and protection is needed when exposure is close to or above it (CCOHS, Hearing Protectors).
Forklifts. A lifting device may be operated "only by a competent person, or a worker being instructed who is accompanied by a competent person" (Reg. 851, s. 51(2)). You cannot simply hop on; see the training section.

Slip resistance is not in Regulation 851 by name, but polished concrete and spills make it the most common warehouse footwear complaint; see slip-resistant safety shoes for warehouse workers.

Check the green triangle, then fix the fit, before day one

The green triangle is the one footwear marking almost every Canadian site asks for. CCOHS describes it as "sole puncture protection with a Grade 1 toecap", intended for heavy industrial work and especially construction where nails or other sharp objects are present (CCOHS, Safety Footwear). A yellow triangle is a Grade 2 toe with puncture protection, and a blue or grey mark is toe protection with no plate. On Ontario construction, "CSA approved" means green triangle in practice, since the regulation requires both the 125 J toe and the puncture-resistant sole.

To check a boot you own or are about to buy, find the CSA Z195 label on the tongue or inside the shaft and look for the green triangle; the full symbol set, including the omega for electric shock resistance, is in CSA safety footwear symbols decoded. Check that the toe cap is not showing through. If the boot has taken a hard impact or a puncture, retire it; CCOHS warns such footwear "may show no visible damage" and recommends replacing it (CCOHS).

Fit matters more than most first-weekers expect. CCOHS advises trying boots on around midday when feet have swelled, in your work socks, with about 12.5 mm of room in front of the toes, laced fully so the heel and ankle sit snugly (CCOHS). On Tiger King's true extra-wide last, a standard-width foot orders half a size down from the measured length (measure a 10, order a 9.5), and a wide foot orders the measured size. The work boot sizing guide walks through measuring at home.

Buy the boots a week or two before you start and wear them on errands; the honest timeline is in how long it really takes to break in work boots. If budget is the worry, CSA Grade 1 metal-free safety shoes under $150 do exist. See the list of metal-free CSA safety shoes under $150 or browse Tiger King's CSA approved safety shoes.

What to put in the bag

Even when your employer supplies PPE, the handout rarely happens in the first hour and the sizes on hand are rarely yours.

Safety glasses with the CSA mark, clear lenses.
Work gloves. Leather or synthetic for construction; cut-resistant for a warehouse. CCOHS says gloves must fit, cover all exposed skin with no gap at the sleeve, and be inspected before use (CCOHS, Gloves).
Foam earplugs. CCOHS notes they should not be used above 105 dBA, where earmuffs are needed (CCOHS, Hearing Protectors).
A hard hat if the site has not confirmed it will issue one. Look for the CSA Z94.1 label; Class E (20,000 V) matches the dielectric rating Ontario construction requires, and replace any hat that has been struck even if no damage shows (CCOHS, Headwear).
A high-visibility vest for any site near roads or forklift traffic, with a label stating CSA Z96 compliance (CCOHS, High-Visibility Safety Apparel).
Spare socks, a water bottle, blister pads, and a photo of every training card you hold.

The training you may be asked for in week one

New workers get hurt early. Ontario's awareness workbook says new and young workers "are four times more likely to get hurt during their first month on the job" (Ontario, Worker Health and Safety Awareness workbook). Some training is legally required before you touch certain work.

Training	Who needs it	What to know
Basic health and safety awareness (Ontario)	Every worker	Your employer must ensure you complete it "as soon as practicable"; if you did it at a previous job, bring proof and you do not repeat it (O. Reg. 297/13, s. 1).
WHMIS	Anyone working with or near hazardous products	Workers "must participate in WHMIS education and training programs". Afterwards you should know a product's hazards, how to protect yourself and what to do in an emergency (CCOHS, WHMIS). Expect site-specific WHMIS even with a general certificate.
Working at Heights (Ontario construction)	Any worker who may use a travel restraint, fall restricting or fall arrest system, safety net, work belt or safety belt	Must come from a provider approved by the Chief Prevention Officer and is "valid for three years from the date of successful completion" (O. Reg. 297/13, s. 7 and s. 8). It follows you between employers while valid; after three years you take a refresher (Ontario, Training for working at heights).
Forklift competency	Anyone operating a powered lift truck	There is no government forklift licence in Ontario. "It is the responsibility of the employer to establish a worker's competence", and employers "may issue certificates" (Ontario, Powered lift trucks guideline: Competency). A past certificate helps; expect the new site to assess you again.

Keep digital copies of every card; Ontario employers must keep a record of your Working at Heights training and produce it for an inspector, so they will ask you for the proof.

FAQ

Do I have to buy my own steel toe boots for a construction job in Ontario? Usually yes. O. Reg. 213/91 requires every worker to wear protective footwear on a project, but Ontario's regulations do not say the employer must pay. Some employers and unions offer a boot allowance, so ask. The toe does not have to be steel; a composite toe that meets CSA Grade 1 is accepted.

What does the green triangle on my boot mean? A Grade 1 toe cap plus a puncture-resistant sole, which CCOHS describes as the rating for heavy industrial work and construction. Ontario's 125 J toe and 1.2 kN sole requirements for construction line up with it.

What should I bring on my first day in a warehouse? CSA safety shoes or boots (confirm green triangle with the employer), cut-resistant gloves, safety glasses, foam earplugs, water, spare socks, and any WHMIS or forklift records you hold. Ask in advance whether the site issues a hi-vis vest.

Does my Working at Heights card transfer to a new employer? Yes. Ontario's training page says workers do not retake the training when changing employers if it is still within its three-year validity. Bring your proof of completion.