WSIB registration for Ontario restaurants: do you need it, and when to register

Kitchens are among the more dangerous workplaces: knives, hot oil, wet floors, heavy lifting and long shifts. Ontario's Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) runs the no-fault insurance system that pays for workers' treatment and lost wages after a workplace injury, and employers pay for it through premiums. For most restaurants, registering is not optional. This guide covers the basics for an owner who is hiring a first employee. It summarizes public information and is not legal advice. The WSIB's own registration pages are the authority.

Does your restaurant need to register with the WSIB?

The WSIB says most Ontario businesses that have employees, including family members and sub-contractors in some cases, must register. Do not guess. Use the WSIB's "do you need to register" check, which asks about your business activity, and call the WSIB if the answer is unclear.

When do you have to register?

The WSIB sets a short deadline for registering after you hire your first employee, so check it on the WSIB site. Register before the first shift to avoid the question. Late registration can lead to penalties and back premiums.

What should you have ready when you register?

Your legal business name and any operating name, a plain description of your activity (for example, a full-service restaurant, a café or a takeout counter), your start date, the number of staff you expect to hire and an estimate of your payroll for the year. Having these ready keeps the call short and helps you be classified correctly. Ask the WSIB to confirm your classification in writing, and keep that confirmation with your payroll records so you can show what you were told.

What do premiums cover?

Premiums fund the insurance that pays for health care and wage replacement for workers injured on the job, and they protect you from most lawsuits by an injured worker. Rates depend on your industry classification and on your insurable earnings, which are payroll amounts up to a maximum. The WSIB publishes the current rate for restaurants, and the amount changes yearly.

Sources differ on whether owners can or must be covered. Ask the WSIB about your own situation, including partners and directors who work in the business.

What do you have to do when someone is hurt?

1. Make sure the worker gets care, first aid or medical attention.
2. Record the injury in your first aid log with date, time, place and what happened.
3. Report it to the WSIB within the required time. If a worker needs health care beyond first aid or loses time from work, the WSIB expects a report. The deadlines are short, so check the current rule when you register.
4. Cooperate with the return to work. Offer suitable modified duties if you can. The WSIB expects employers to help workers return safely.

Do not discourage a worker from reporting an injury. Hiding injuries leads to more serious problems later.

What about your health and safety duties?

Ontario's Occupational Health and Safety Act applies to restaurants. It requires you to take reasonable precautions to protect workers, to train them, and to have a health and safety policy once you reach a certain size. Basic items include:

• Non-slip footwear and clean, dry floors.
• Safe handling of knives, slicers and hot surfaces.
• Proper lifting and storage.
• Training on cleaning chemicals, including labelling.
• A first aid kit and a trained person where required.
• A process for reporting hazards and harassment.

The Ministry of Labour also inspects, and young workers need particular care.

What happens if you do not register?

The WSIB can assess you for premiums back to the day you started, apply penalties, and prosecute in serious cases. If an uninsured worker is hurt, you may face the cost of treatment and lost wages yourself, together with penalties. The savings from not registering are small compared with that risk.

How do you keep the cost under control?

• Classify correctly. Make sure your business activity is described accurately.
• Report payroll accurately and on time.
• Prevent injuries. Training, equipment and housekeeping reduce claims, and claims affect your cost over time.
• Return injured workers to work early where it is safe.
• Ask about experience rating programs that reward good safety records.

What records should you keep?

Payroll records, your first aid log, incident reports, training records and copies of WSIB reports. Keep them for the period the law requires.

Where to start?

Visit the WSIB's registration page, answer the questions, and register online. If you have a bookkeeper or an accountant, ask them to put the WSIB filing dates in your calendar.

More guides for your business:

• AODA website rules for Ontario restaurants: who must meet WCAG 2.0 AA and what to fix first
• Using the Foodland Ontario and Buy BC logos on a restaurant menu: what to know
• Hiring restaurant staff in Toronto: Ontario's 2026 job posting rules

More in the Canadian guides for food businesses.