Few questions produce more confusion than workplace-insurance responsibility for assignment workers. The framework is clearer than its reputation — and worth understanding before an incident, not after.
The agency is the employer of record
For agency workers, the staffing firm registers with WSIB, pays the premiums, and manages claims. That coverage travels with the worker to your site — it is part of what the hourly bill rate buys.
Your site duties do not transfer
Under the Occupational Health and Safety Act, the client controls the workplace — so orientation to site hazards, provision of site-specific PPE, equipment safety, and supervision are yours. "The agency should have trained them on our machine" does not hold up; site-specific training is site responsibility.
What good practice looks like
- Give assignment workers the same safety orientation as new hires — documented.
- Report any incident to the agency the same day; we handle the claim mechanics.
- Include agency workers in safety talks and near-miss reporting; excluded workers are your least-informed and highest-risk people.
Why worker screening matters here
Every Firm Staffing candidate completes WHMIS certification and safety orientation before their first shift, and we verify certifications for equipment roles — the front line of incident prevention is who walks in the door.