Announcements

The Ontario government has announced measures to reward safe businesses and provide additional health and safety supports for workers.

1. Starting in February 2025, eligible employers will receive a one-time Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) surplus funds rebate.
   
2. In 2025, the average WSIB premium rate for Ontario businesses will be reduced from $1.30 to $1.25 per $100 of insurable payroll, without a reduction of benefits.
   
3. Beginning in 2025 and open to businesses of all sizes, a new Safe Business Bonus will be available to WSIB Health and Safety Excellence program members, offering an extra $1,000 every time they create a new workplace health and safety action plan in the program.
   
4. The development of WSIB heath and safety programs focused on mental health, preventative and chronic injury care and recovery. This includes the expansion of WSIB’s partnership with 11 public hospitals and their networks of community-based service providers across Ontario to ensure workers have access to mental health care programming.
   
5. Removing the $150 fee for apprentices taking their first Certificate of Qualification exam.

Workplace Safety & Prevention Services (WSPS) is an approved provider of WSIB’s Health & Safety Excellence program. We help participants achieve success by offering them access to exclusive tools, resources and networking opportunities, as well as providing dedicated support from our team of experts. Learn more about how we can help you.

On October 28, 2024, the Working for Workers Five Act, 2024 (Bill 190) received Royal Assent.

Several statutes are impacted:

• Occupational Health and Safety Act
• Workplace Safety and Insurance Act, 1997
• Employment Standards Act, 2000
• Fair Access to Regulated Professions and Compulsory Trades Act, 2006
• Building Opportunities in the Skilled Trades Act, 2021
• Ontario Immigration Act, 2015

Learn more.

Incidents of workplace violence and harassment at retail businesses are on the rise. To provide guidance and keep people safe, Workplace Safety & Prevention Services partnered with the Ontario Association of Chiefs of Police, the Retail Council of Canada and Toronto Police Service on the development of a Retail Safety & Security Guide.

Suitable for businesses both big and small, this toolkit aims to help Ontario retail businesses prevent and reduce incidents of crime, as well as keep customers and staff safe.

Based on consultations with retailers, security organizations and police services, and industry best practices, the Guide:

• Outlines methods to prevent and address the most common and severe forms of retail crime, including robbery, break & enter, fraud, and shoplifting.
• Reviews techniques to address abusive customers, suspicious individuals, intoxicated individuals, as well as individuals experiencing a mental health crisis.
• Provides measures to address or prevent violence in the workplace between customers or customers and staff.
• Provides checklists and risk assessment tools to help businesses action the advice given.

Access the Retail Safety & Security Guide.

On November 6, 2024, grade 9 students from across Ontario will visit workplaces as part of the national Take Our Kids to Work Day initiative. This career exploration event is a formative experience, helping shape a young workers vision for their future.

Knowing new and young workers are at an increased risk of injury, Workplace Safety & Prevention Services is encouraging workplaces to include health and safety information in their Take Our Kids to Work Day agenda and is offering to help; hosting two free virtual Health & Safety Awareness Presentations (HSAP) on November 6, 2024.

Targeted to young workers, HSAP helps foster a safety-conscious mindset that will serve them well as they walk your facility – and enter the workforce in years to come.

Appropriate for all industries, HSAP uses games, videos and group discussions to teach your young guests:

• common workplace hazards;
• how to deal with health & safety issues at work;
• their worker rights & responsibilities; and
• the rights & responsibilities of their employers.

Multiple timeslots are available. All that is needed is an internet connection and a monitor; we’re handling the rest.

Learn more.

Front-line workers, supervisors and employers in the automotive manufacturing industry have identified the top health and safety risks facing their workers by conducting an integrated risk assessment.

Workshop discussions led to a consensus on the top ten risks, with inadequate control of hazardous energy during routine operations rising to the top spot.

An infographic of the top 10 risks is available and a toolkit of resources to help the automotive industry mitigate them has been developed.

Identifying the root causes

A root cause analysis exercise to explore the main causes behind inadequate control of hazardous energy in the industry has recently been conducted, with the intention of developing additional support resources.

Learn more.

On September 13 at WSPS’ Annual General Meeting, a new Board Chair was elected.

• Lori Cornwall – Board Chair
  Lori is an experienced commercial and regulatory lawyer and an active volunteer. Her legal career has spanned almost 30 years and concluded with her retirement from her role as Associate General Counsel with Enbridge Gas Distribution in Toronto. During her years at Enbridge, Lori was a strong advocate of safety in the workplace. She believes that a safe working environment is a fundamental human right.
  
  Prior to joining Enbridge, Lori was a partner in the Competition and Foreign Investment Review practice group at Davies, Ward Phillips & Vineberg LLP. And prior to that, spent several years as a criminal defense lawyer in Toronto.
  
  As a volunteer, Lori spent four years on the board of the Ontario Association of Engineering Technicians and Technologists and has taken on a variety of smaller volunteer roles with the Bride’s Project and Sherbourne Health.
  
  Lori holds a Law Degree and an MBA from the University of Ottawa as well as an honours undergraduate degree in Criminology.

In addition, five new members were welcomed to the team.

• Graham Browne
  With over 40 years of Human Resources and General Administration experience in highly respected national and global enterprises in the private, public, and not-for-profit sectors, Graham has enjoyed the opportunity to develop skills and insights at both managerial and executive levels about how business is conducted in diverse sectors of the economy. For a significant portion of his career, Graham had either managerial or executive accountability for health and safety management, primarily in the manufacturing and mining sectors.
  
  Graham is also actively involved in his local community, working as a volunteer with two area food banks, and as Chair of the Board of Directors of Community Living Burlington. Over 15 years of board experience in the not-for-profit sector has produced a strong appreciation for the principles of good governance and their practical application.
  
  Graham is currently Principal and Owner of an independent human resources management consulting firm, based in Oakville, Ontario.

• Aimée Israel
  Aimée 30 years of executive experience as the Vice President, Operations and Special Projects at Jack.org, a Canadian charity dedicated to training and empowering young people to revolutionize mental health; a founder and the CEO of a North American, multimillion dollar technology start-up, LifeSpeak Inc.; Corporate Counsel at Cadbury Canada; and as a corporate commercial lawyer at Borden Ladner Gervais LLP. In 2009 she was named one of Canada's Top 100 Women Entrepreneurs by PROFIT Magazine.
  
  Committed to promoting health, wellness and resilience in communities, Aimée has sat on a number of Boards including the Mood Disorders Association of Ontario and Partners for Mental Health. She is currently a Governor of the North York General Foundation Board on which she serves as the Vice Chair of the Governance and Inclusion Committee.
  
  Aimée holds a BA degree from York University and an LL.B from the University of Western Ontario in 1997. She is also a licensee of the Law Society of Ontario.

• Ellen Pekilis
  Ellen is an independent board director with expertise in governance, strategic planning, enterprise risk management and ESG (environment, social and governance).
  
  Ellen served as the Chair of Finance & Audit Committee on the board of Canada’s Drug Agency. She was the Vice Chair of the board and Chair of Governance of the Oikocredit Canada board. She formerly served on the Council (board) of the College of Optometrists of Ontario where she was Chair of the Strategic Planning Committee and the Quality Assurance subcommittee. And was previously Chair of Governance on the board of Endeavour Consulting and has served as a member of two regulatory tribunals.
  
  Ellen was previously General Counsel & Chief Privacy Officer of Canadian Standards Association where she was also accountable for global enterprise risk management, privacy and compliance. She participated in development of standards including the ISO 14001 series of international environmental management system standards, the Model Code for the Protection of Personal Information and Canada’s National Standard on Sustainable Forest Management. Ellen is the editor and author of LexisNexis’ Corporate Governance – Practical Guidance and provides organizational advisory services in relation to corporate governance, compliance and ESG.

• Fariba Rawhani
  Fariba is a seasoned executive with over three decades of leadership experience at top-tier organizations, including EDS, CIBC, Teranet and Home Capital Group. Currently she is the SVP and chief information officer (CIO) at Teranet where she oversees the IT functions, including digital transformation, development and delivery, information security, data governance, and cloud strategy. She integrates emerging technology trends with AI to drive organizational innovation and efficiency. Her leadership bridges the gap between different divisions, ensuring all teams actively participate in the transformation process.
  
  Fariba's leadership style has consistently delivered measurable results through innovation, automation, and the adoption of agile practices. She has optimized complex structures and driven significant financial benefits. Her emphasis on governance and collaboration led to the successful implementation and delivery of numerous complex, multiyear, high-profile programs. As the SVP and CTO at eHealth Ontario, Fariba was instrumental in creating a comprehensive blueprint required for the delivery of the Electronic Health Record (EHR).
  
  Fariba is a strong advocate for leadership and talent development. She firmly believes that consultation and teamwork are vital to driving success and is committed to creating growth opportunities for individuals of all backgrounds. Her active involvement in community and volunteer efforts – particularly those that promote diversity and inclusion – reflects her dedication to those values.
  
  She holds an MBA from the Ivey School of Business and studied computer science and business administration studies at the University of Vienna.
  
  She currently serves on the board of Payments Canada and chairs the human resources and technology committees. She also serves on Metrolinx's Presto Committee. Her past board roles include JusticeNet and the YMCA of Greater Toronto (GTA).

• Michael Quast
  Michael is a strategic leader with over 25 years of experience in branding, marketing, communications, public relations, and award-winning content generation. He combines entrepreneurial drive with a proven track record in business development, successful partnerships, and market share growth. He has experience in multiple sectors, including manufacturing, agriculture, television production and construction, with additional roles in regulation and consumer protection.
  
  Michael’s commitment to community service includes serving on the Board of Directors for a Habitat for Humanity affiliate, where he chaired the Planning & Development Committee. Driven by his passion for supporting the skilled trades, Michael also established a national charity that provided scholarships and bursaries to youth pursuing careers in the trades.
  
  Michael holds a B.A. (Hons) in Political Science from Queen’s University and an M.A. (Econ) in Politics from the University of Manchester. He brings to the Workplace Safety and Prevention Services Board a wealth of experience, a commitment to excellence, and a passion for advancing workplace safety and prevention.

Thank you

WSPS extends their gratitude to outgoing Board of Director members: Ajay Bhardwaj, Fred Burke, Nicola McGovern, Marjan Pouran and Geeta Sharma, for their years of guidance and leadership. Thank you for helping us grow and evolve to meet the health and safety needs of the Ontario businesses we serve.

About WSPS’ Board of Directors

Our Board of Directors represent a variety of industries and geographies across Ontario. Consisting of 12 independent directors and our CEO, they provide oversight, insight, and foresight to WSPS operations, helping steer us towards achieving our strategic goals and vision: Protecting the potential of Ontario’s businesses and employees by keeping every worker, healthy & safe, every day.

Learn more about our Board of Directors.

On September 13, 2024, WSPS held it’s Annual General Meeting where we presented our 2023 Annual Report. The report highlights some of WSPS’ accomplishments from the past year relating to:

• Newcomers to Ontario
• Young Workers
• Skilled Trades
• Small Business
• High Risk: assisting those who need it most
• Material Handling: managing the hazards
• Electric Vehicle Battery Safety
• Helping businesses achieve health and safety excellence
• Assessing sector-specific risks and determining root causes
• Keeping Ontario workers healthy and safe

To the many individuals, businesses, organizations and community groups we have connected with over the past year, thank you for your advocacy and partnership in bringing every Ontario worker home, healthy and safe, at the end of the workday.

We're excited for the great things 2024 has in store. May we continue to work together to strengthen the health and safety culture in this province.

The Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Members of Workplace Safety & Prevention Services will be held virtually on September 13, 2024, at 11:30 am EST for the following purposes:

• To receive the audited financial statements of WSPS for the year ended March 31, 2024;
• To appoint auditors of WSPS for the ensuring fiscal year and to authorize the directors to fix their remuneration;
• To elect directors of WSPS to fill the positions of directors whose term of office has expired, which directors shall hold office until the third annual general meeting of members after their election;
• To transact such other business as may properly come before the AGM or any adjournment thereof.

Participation and live voting can be accessed September 13, 2024, at 11:30 am EST via www.agmconnect.com/WSPS2024 using the voter ID and meeting access code provided by AGM Connect following registration.

A member wishing to be represented by proxy at the meeting must submit their votes via AGM Connect: https://aap.agmconnect.com on or before September 11, 2024, at 11:30 am EST.’

Not yet registered?
If you want to participate in the AGM – on September 13 or a vote via proxy – but have not yet registered and received an email with your voter ID and meeting access code, please contact AGM Connect before September 11, 2024 at 11:30 am EST by email (support@agmconnect.com) or phone (416) 222-4202.

As of July 1, 2024, under the Employment Standards Act, 2000 (ESA), all temporary help agencies and recruiters require a license to operate in Ontario.

A temporary help agency is defined as a business that employs persons for the purpose of assigning them to work on a temporary basis for another employer. A recruiter is anyone (individual/sole proprietor, corporation or partnership) who, for a fee, finds/attempts to find employment – temporary or permanent) for prospective employees, or finds/attempts to find employees for a prospective employer.

License applications are to be submitted online. A variety of information and documentation is required to complete the application, including proof of compliance with the ESA, Workplace Safety and Insurance Act, 1997 and the Occupational Health and Safety Act.

NOTE:

• Temporary help agencies/recruiters who submitted their application prior to July 1, 2024, and are still awaiting a decision, can continue to operate until the ministry notifies them of their approval/denial of a licence.

Temporary help agencies and recruiters operating without a license are subject to monetary penalties or prosecution. An employer knowingly engaging with or utilizing an unlicensed help agency or recruiter can also be penalized.

More information about this new law and the application requirements can be found at Ontario.ca.

Support for temporary help agencies and recruiters

Workplace Safety & Prevention Services can assist temporary help agencies and recruiters in meeting the Occupational Health and Safety Act component of their applications.

We can help businesses understand their health and safety obligations, roles and responsibilities, and support them in the development of their health and safety program.

Everything you need to support your health and safety journey can be found on our website. Those with an existing safety program may wish to take advantage of a free assessment to identify any gaps in compliance. Those just starting out can access free learning resources, tips, guidelines and more.

Information for businesses who use temporary help agencies and recruiters

As of July 1, 2024, if you utilize a temporary help agency or recruiter to assist with staffing your business, you must ensure they are licensed.

Learn how to check their licence status and other tips for working with temporary help agencies and recruiters.

Beginning July 1, 2024, under the Employment Standards Act, 2000 (ESA) all temporary help agencies and recruiters will require a license to operate in Ontario.

A temporary help agency is defined as a business that employs persons for the purpose of assigning them to work on a temporary basis for another employer. A recruiter is anyone (individual/sole proprietor, corporation or partnership) who, for a fee, finds/attempts to find employment – temporary or permanent) for prospective employees, or finds/attempts to find employees for a prospective employer.

License applications are to be submitted online. A variety of information and documentation is required to complete the application, including proof of compliance with the ESA, Workplace Safety and Insurance Act, 1997 and the Occupational Health and Safety Act.

Temporary help agencies and recruiters operating without a license are subject to monetary penalties or prosecution. An employer knowingly engaging with or utilizing an unlicensed help agency or recruiter can also be penalized.

More information about this new law and the application requirements can be found at Ontario.ca.

Support for Temporary Help Agencies and Recruiters

Workplace Safety & Prevention Services can assist temporary help agencies and recruiters in meeting the Occupational Health and Safety Act component of their applications.

We can help businesses understand their health and safety obligations, roles and responsibilities, and support them in the development of their health and safety program.

Everything you need to support your health and safety journey can be found on our website. Those with an existing safety program may wish to take advantage of a free assessment to identify any gaps in compliance. Those just starting out can access free learning resources, tips, guidelines and more.

Most people hope for early retirement, but Rob Ellis says he’s on the “freedom 93 plan.”

In honour of his son, who died in a manufacturing tragedy on his second day reporting for duty, he's dedicated his life to educating teens and young adults on workplace safety. Sharing his story of loss and promoting the need to ask questions, he hopes to prevent future tragedies.

Learn more.

Looking for young workers? Chances are you'll find them employed in the service sector; it's where most begin their employment journey. It's also where the majority of workplace injuries sustained by young workers occur.

It's time we acknowledge that these jobs - although seemingly safe - have risks too.

Take it from Elisa Kilbourne. In this article, she shares the story of her son Jeremy and the lessons she is trying to impart to others since his workplace death.

Read it here.

Farming is one of the oldest and most dangerous professions in Canada. Farmer and WSPS health and safety consultant Ryan Dick shares his experiences and expertise in this eye-opening article, aimed at educating parents and protecting the health and safety of young agricultural workers.

Read it here.

Heat stress effects thousands of Canadian workers every year and due to climate change, extreme temperatures are becoming more frequent. Concerns about heat stress and resulting occupational illness are on the rise.

To support employers and workers in their efforts to prevent heat stress, Occupational Health Clinics for Ontario Workers (OHCOW), in collaboration with the Centre for Research in Occupational Safety & Health (CROSH), have launched a comprehensive Heat Stress Toolkit.

The toolkit resources promote the dangers of working in heat and can guide workplaces in creating their own heat stress emergency response plan. It includes:

• 3 Guides:
  • The Updated Heat Stress Awareness Guide
  • A New Prevention Tools & Strategies Guide
  • A New Physiological Monitoring Guide
• Posters & Infographics
• Videos
• An updated Online Heat Stress Calculator

The basis of the toolkit is the Heat Stress Awareness Guide developed by the Occupational Health and Safety Council of Ontario (OHSCO) in 2009. With the support of Ontario health and safety prevention system (through the Occupational Illness Prevention Steering Committee) and local labour unions, it was enhanced to include and address items specifically identified as needing improvement/revision.

Access the toolkit.

Each year the Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development (MLITSD) schedules proactive health and safety campaigns/initiatives to raise awareness of workplace hazards and promote compliance with the Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA) and its regulations.

The 2024/25 MLITSD compliance initiatives have been announced and are underway.

Their plans can be found on the Ontario.ca website.

Three initiatives impacting agriculture and industrial operations are running this year.

• Material Handling (April 1, 2024 – March 31, 2025)
  * workplace inspections have begun
  
  
• Exposure to Chemical Agents (April 1, 2024 – March 31, 2025)
  * workplace inspections begin July 2, 2024
  
  
• WHMIS Training (April 1, 2024 – March 31, 2025)
  * workplace inspections begin July 2, 2024

Learn more.

An additional focused inspection has also been announced: Southwestern Ontario Steel Industry Inspection Initiative. WSPS is partnering with the MLITSD to provide educational webinars to impacted businesses.

Over the last few years, the steel and heavy manufacturing sector in southwestern Ontario has experienced a number of critical workplace injuries and fatalities. Inspections revealed that three major occupational health and safety infractions were involved: material handling, guarding and lockout.

To prevent future workplace injuries, the Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development (MLITSD) will be conducting a proactive inspection campaign in the southwestern Ontario region (Hamilton, Niagara areas), focused on workplaces within the steel and heavy manufacturing sectors. Specifically, inspectors will visit:

• businesses with a high rate of Workplace Safety & Insurance Board lost-time injury claims;
• companies with a history of right to refuse calls or concerns made to the ministry;
• workplaces that have not been visited in the last five years; or
• new unregistered workplaces.

Inspections run April 1 – September 30, 2024.

Free webinars

In support of this initiative, Workplace Safety & Prevention Services (WSPS) is partnering with the MLITSD to deliver a series of webinars aimed at educating and empowering employers with information to strengthen their health and safety programs.

Following each presentation there will be a live Q&A session with representatives from the MLITSD and WSPS.

These events are virtual and offered at no cost. Registration is required.

• Supervisor Responsibilities in the Steel Industry (live event held April 26, 2024; recording now available)
  This session will cover key supervisor responsibilities, and how the role of the supervisor fits into the Internal Responsibility System. Additionally, the hazard control process (RACE) will be discussed to assist supervisors in recognizing, assessing, controlling and evaluating hazards in their workplace.

• Material Handling in the Steel Industry (live event held May 16, 2024; recording now available)
  This session offers a deep dive into material handling hazards specific to the steel industry. It will introduce a broad spectrum of material handling topics, from pedestrian safety and proper racking procedures, to improper movement of materials and working near lifting devices.

• Lockout Tagout (LOTO): Insights in the Steel Industry (live event held June 13, 2024; recording coming soon)
  This session will outline common tasks where lockout is required, and discuss the importance of creating machine-specific lockout instructions instead of relying on generic practices.

Ontario is looking to fill gaps in its labour market by welcoming newcomers to the province at historic levels.

This, in addition to temporary foreign workers, means tens of thousands of new Canadians will be entering our workforce, bringing with them a varied understanding of health and safety rights, responsibilities, and workplace hazards. Language barriers may also complicate their ability to integrate into the workforce safely.

Knowing this, WSPS has developed multilingual learning resources to support the high-risk sectors of agriculture and manufacturing. Each aims to reduce injuries and fatalities by raising worker safety awareness and provides simple instructions for staying safe on the job.

Optimized for viewing on mobile devices, these tips and short, animated videos target hazards that can cause serious harm and were developed in languages identified by industry stakeholders as an area of need.

The new agriculture resources include:

• Ladders and heights

• Safely working with machines

• Safely working with tractors

And are available in

• Spanish

• Thai

• Vietnamese

Access the agricultural worker safety resources.

The new manufacturing resources include:

• Loading and unloading trailers safely
• Lockout tagout: Staying safe with hazardous energy
• Machine and conveyor safety
• Racking
• Pedestrian safety: Safety around cars, vans and trucks
• Safe lifting
• Slips, trips and falls

And are available in

• French
• Mandarin
• Punjabi
• Spanish
• Tagalog

Access the manufacturing worker safety resources.

Employers are encouraged to share these resources to help their workers better understand how to protect themselves on the job and make workplaces safer.

They may also wish to download and display the following QR code poster in their workplace, so workers can scan the code and quickly access the resources they need in their language of choice.

• Agriculture Multi-language Worker Safety Resources Poster
• Manufacturing Multi-language Worker Safety Resources Poster

With knowledge of their rights and responsibilities, new Canadians, temporary foreign workers and others who identify English as their second language can become advocates for health and safety and a resource to coworkers and their community.

WSPS is simplifying complex safety requirements for small businesses. Introducing the Health & Safety Handbook Generator, your one-stop solution for simplifying occupational health & safety compliance at your small business within minutes.

The Orientation Handbook provides an overview of health and safety legislation in Ontario, outlining the responsibilities of the employer, supervisor, and worker as defined in the Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA). From your responsibilities under the OHSA to providing essential safety policies and procedures, our handbook has got you covered.

The Health & Safety handbook is completely customizable and compliance-friendly, and all at no cost to you.

Say goodbye to confusion and hello to clarity with just 3 simple steps:

1. Click on the link.
2. Enter your information and save.
3. Download your tailor-made handbook.

Get Started.

The electric vehicle (EV) market is growing, and Ontario is fast becoming a leader.

While some have a good understanding of EV battery safety (e.g. battery and vehicle manufacturers), it is a relatively new hazard for many, including auto parts suppliers, auto repair shops, collision and body service providers and auto recyclers.

To address this, WSPS collaborated with industry groups and associations to identify the hazards associated with working on or around electric vehicle lithium-ion batteries. Our findings are captured in two new resources, intended to help businesses and employers anticipate and manage risks in their workplace.

• Plugged into safety: A primer on the hazards of working with battery electric vehicles
  Intended as a starting point for critical conversations in the workplace, this white paper includes general information about lithium-ion batteries, the hazards of working on or around them, existing legislation that can help mitigate these hazards and insights from subject matter experts.
• Checklist: Electric Vehicles: Safety Hazards Associated with Working On or Around the Battery
  A checklist to support employers with identifying hazards associated with working on or around electric vehicle batteries, as well as legislative references and recommended controls.

An extension of WSPS' 2020-2023 roadmap, WSPS is proud to announce its 2024-2026 Strategic Plan.

Aligned with our core mandate, we're looking to expand our reach and will be focused on

🔹 Helping those who need us the most.

🔹 Using technology to improve how critical health and safety is delivered.

🔹 Advocating for cultures that prioritize the prevention of harm.

Give it a read.

On April 8, 2024, North America will experience a total solar eclipse; the Moon will pass between the Sun and the Earth, completely blocking the face of the Sun from our view. This will cause the sky to darken as if it were dawn or dusk. The event will occur between 2 and 4 p.m., depending on your location.

Although eclipses occur about every 18 months somewhere in the world, this is a relatively rare event for Ontario – the most recent occurring in Northern Ontario in 1979 – and as such, there is a lot of interest. However, looking directly at the Sun can cause temporary or permanent damage to the eyes without the use of specialized eyewear.

As this event takes place during the traditional workday, safety needs to be top of mind. Employers have a duty to inform workers who work outside about the risks.

Our prevention system partners, Infrastructure Health & Safety Association, offer the following tips:

• Deliver a safety talk to inform workers of the health risks that come with looking at the sun, including during an eclipse.
• Complete a hazard analysis that accounts for the change in conditions and tasks being completed during the eclipse. Review the analysis with workers.
• A total eclipse creates temporary darkness. Ensure the jobsite is adequately lit and that workers wear high-visibility clothing.
• Inform workers of safe ways to view the eclipse, emphasizing the importance of using approved eye protection, not makeshift filters.
• Set up a designated eclipse-viewing area—with proper equipment such as ISO-approved solar viewers or pinhole cameras—where interested workers can observe the event safely.
• Let workers know to seek immediate medical help if they experience health issues during the eclipse
  

Additional information on the eclipse:

• Ontario Ministry of Labour, Training and Skills Development
• National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
• Royal Astronomical Society of Canada
• Canadian Space Agency
• Canadian Association of Optometrists

Watching your child head off to work can be exciting. It can also be scary. And with good reason.

Young workers aged 15 to 24 are at an increased risk of getting hurt on the job.

In 2022 alone, close to 35,000 were injured at work (Workplace Safety and Insurance Board) and 13 died on the job (Association of Workers’ Compensation Boards of Canada, National Work Injury/Disease Statistics Program).

In addition, they’re at a greater risk of having their employment rights violated, are more likely to feel pressure to perform, are reluctant to ask questions and fearful of raising concerns.

But it isn’t all bad news. With the right knowledge, teens can enter the workforce and take on new responsibilities safely.

And you can play a big part in making this happen.

First Job, Safe Job

Introducing First Job, Safe Job – a new blog designed to support parents and caregivers in their quest to keep the young workers in their lives safe on the job.

With a focus on making safety relevant, relatable, and interesting, First Job, Safe Job provides health and safety information and practical advice, along with creative ways to pass on these important messages.

Learn more.

Workplace Safety & Prevention Services (WSPS) provides health and safety services and solutions for Ontario’s manufacturing, agriculture and services sectors.

If you represent a business in one of these sectors (and are therefore, a “member”) and would like to be notified of your option to attend WSPS’ Annual General Meeting (AGM), please complete and submit this form. Doing so will allow WSPS to send you meeting invitations electronically.

Please note that, due to environmental considerations, WSPS will be seeking legal approval to abstain from sending out print invitations to the AGM every year. If approval is not granted, print invitations will continue to be mailed out.

Thank you. If you have any questions, please contact AGM@wsps.ca.

Workplace Safety & Prevention Services is pleased to announce that Patricia Perez will be joining the association as Vice President, Corporate Services and Chief Financial Officer on January 15, 2024.

Patricia brings 18 years of progressive experience with the Government of Ontario, most recently in the position of Chief Administrative Officer/Assistant Deputy Minister with the Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development. In that role, she provided leadership and strategic advice to two Deputy Ministers and ministry senior executive teams on a broad range of corporate service functions and initiatives. She obtained her MBA from York University and her Bachelor of Science from Queen’s University.

A collaborative and inclusive leader, Patricia places a priority on developing positive team culture and professional development and growth.

We look forward to welcoming her to WSPS.

The Ontario government is introducing new legislation, that if passed would provide additional protections for Ontario workers.

Elements of the Working for Workers Four Act, 2023 legislation:

• Require employers to disclose salary ranges in job postings.
• Require employers to disclose if artificial intelligence is used during the hiring process.
• Ban the use of Canadian work experience as a requirement in job postings or application forms.
• Strengthen wage protections for restaurant and hospitality workers by banning unpaid trial shifts, disallow employers from deducting an employee’s wages in the event of customer theft.
• Require employers to post in the workplace if they have a policy of sharing pooled tips.
• Require employers who pay tips using direct deposit to allow employees to select the account tips are deposited into.
• Enable “super indexing” increases to Workplace Safety and Insurance Board benefits above the annual rate of inflation.
• Restrict the use of Non-Disclosure Agreements in cases of workplace sexual misconduct.
• Improve cancer coverage for firefighters and fire investigators by lowering the duration of employment needed to receive presumed (automatic) compensation prior to diagnosis with esophageal cancer from 25 to 15 years.

Find out more.

Workplace Safety & Prevention Services set out to identify the top health and safety risks facing the food and manufacturing industry, with a goal to develop the solutions and controls needed to protect workers and reduce lost time injuries (LTIs) across this high-risk sector.

A group of industry insiders were brought together to conduct this important work, including food manufacturing management and worker representatives. Using an integrated risk management methodology introduced by the Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development (MLITSD), they guided the process with their experiences, insights and perspectives.

Identifying top health and safety risks in food manufacturing

In October 2022, a risk assessment workshop was held to identify the top occupational health and safety risks to workers in the industry. Sixty were identified. Each were reviewed and ranked based on likelihood and severity of potential consequences. The top 10 are outlined in this infographic. The number one threat to worker safety was inadequate or improper lockout/tag out (LOTO).

Finding and identifying the root causes

In February 2023, industry experts were brought together again for a root-cause analysis exercise to better understand the underlying causes of inadequate LOTO. In addition, they generated ideas for practical and effective solutions for employers, workers, industry associations and government related to this hazard.

To help communicate the results of this work, the following were developed:

• Top 10 Root Causes of Inadequate Lockout/Tag Out in Food Manufacturing (infographic)
• Health & Safety Risks and Opportunities in the Food Manufacturing industry: By the industry, for the industry (white paper)
  Delve into the findings of the Root Causes Analysis workshop to learn about top health and safety risks and opportunities in the food manufacturing industry, as identified by industry insiders.
• Manufacturing Root Causes Analysis Inadequate Lockout/Tag Out (technical paper)
  A deep dive into the methodology and finding so the Food Manufacturing Risk Assessment and Root Cause Analysis research project, facilitated by WSPS and led by industry leaders.

Supporting workplaces to address health and safety risks

Food manufacturers looking to improve their health and safety practices can make use of these newly developed toolkits.

• Toolkit: Food Manufacturing Common Hazards & Solutions
  Get access to current resources and workplace bet practices to address the top 10 risks in food manufacturing.
• Toolkit: Food Manufacturing Root Causes Analysis Inadequate Lockout/Tag Out
  Get current resources to address inadequate lockout/tag out in food manufacturing.

A gap analysis is underway to identify potential opportunities for WSPS to develop new solutions and controls informed by the results of the Risk Assessment and Root Cause Analysis.

Learn more.

By law (Occupational Health and Safety Act, section 25.2 and O. Reg. 559/22), businesses at risk of a worker opioid overdose are required to have at least one naloxone kit available onsite and staff trained in its use.

To support the compliance of this legislation, Ontario’s Workplace Naloxone Program was established, providing eligible employers free naloxone training for up to two workers and one free nasal spray naloxone kit per workplace.

The program launched with two training providers; however, to increase training access to employers, there are now eight official training providers in total.

For more information about this program, visit Ontario.ca.

To better understand the naloxone in the workplace legislation and its application, WSPS offers the following free learning resources:

• Naloxone Awareness (free 30-minute eCourse)
• Safety Connection – Naloxone Kits: Understand how it Impacts your Workplace (recorded webinar)
• New naloxone kit requirement: 7 things you need to know now (article)
• New naloxone requirements: Do you need to comply? Your top questions answered (article)
• Naloxone Kits in the Workplace (Safety Tip Video Series)
• Small Biz Safety Podcast – Episode 24: New naloxone requirements. Will they impact your business?
• Naloxone kits and addiction in the workplace: balancing privacy with responsibility (article)

The Ontario government has committed to creating Canada’s first-ever Occupational Exposure Registry. This Registry will help address many of the 41 recommendations resulting from the Occupational Disease Landscape Review (released October 10, 2023).

The Registry will:

• track harmful exposure levels.
• help diagnose workplace diseases faster.
• improve worker compensation.
• reduce costs to the healthcare system.

The Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development (MLITSD) will work with the Occupational Cancer Research Centre to collect and analyze data from existing Ministry industrial hygiene records, as well as work with healthcare providers and industry associations to gather new data and catalogue past and current occupational exposures across Ontario workplaces.

In addition, an Occupational Illness Leadership Table will be created. Composed of industry experts, worker advocates, medical professionals and workplace health and safety groups, this group will guide the implementation of the report’s recommendations.

The Registry is expected to be ready in 2025.

An occupational illness is a condition that results from exposure to a physical, chemical or biological agent in the workplace to the extent that normal physiological mechanisms are affected, and the health of the worker is impaired.

Learn more.

The Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training, and Skills Development (MLITSD) is seeking feedback from workplaces on two potential additions to the Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA):

Heat Stress: Proposed New Regulation Consultation

The MLITSD is proposing a stand-alone heat stress regulation under the OHSA. This new regulation would apply to all workplaces that fall under the OHSA. These new regulations would:

Introduce heat stress exposure limits based on the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH) method.

Provide for the use of other methods to assess a worker’s risk of exposure to heat stress.

Require employers to identify and implement measures and procedures to control heat exposures based on the “hierarchy of controls”.

Require employers to provide workers with information and instruction on recognizing the signs and symptoms of heat-related illnesses and the measures to protect themselves.

The MLITSD is asking workplaces for comments and feedback about the anticipated costs and benefits of implementing these proposed amendments. Comments are due by September 18, 2023.

Find out more about the consultation & submit feedback.

Poor Outdoor Air Quality and Workplace Health & Safety Consultation

Currently, the OHSA does not specifically address poor outdoor air quality. Under the OHSA, employers have a general duty to take every precaution reasonable in the circumstances for the protection of a worker, including protecting workers from the hazards associated with poor outdoor air.

The MLITSD is seeking feedback from businesses on whether poor outdoor air quality is an issue for them, and if the OHSA and/or its regulations may need to be changed. Comments are due by September 18, 2023.

Find out more about the consultation & submit feedback.

The number of wildfires Canada has experienced to date this year is well above average (Natural Resources Canada. June 28, 2023. National Wildland Fire Situation Report).

These wildfires have prompted special air quality statements for much of the province of Ontario.

The Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development: Fair, Safe and Healthy Workplaces Division, has developed an updated Q&A document to address workplace air quality concerns and provide information on the mitigation of risk to workers. This replaces a previous version circulated in June 2023.

NOTE: The information provided in this document is intended for general workplaces which may be encountering poor air quality due to wildfire smoke or other causes; not firefighters or other workers who regularly work close to active fires.

Each year the Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development (MLITSD) schedules compliance initiatives and/or campaigns to:

• protect workers' rights under the Occupational Health and Safety Act and the Employment Standards Act.
• enhance employers' awareness of their responsibilities.
• raise awareness about hazard in the workplace.

• increase compliance with the Occupational Health and Safety Act and its regulations.

Three initiatives impacting agriculture and industrial operations are running this year. As of July 4, 2023, inspections for all three will be underway.

• Manual Materials Handling (April 1, 2023 – March 31, 2024)
  * workplace inspections have begun and run until March 31, 2024
  
• Respiratory Protection Program (April 1, 2023 – March 31, 2024)
  * workplace inspections run July 4, 2023 – March 31, 2024
  
• Asbestos in Building Structures (April 1, 2023 – March 31, 2024)
  * workplace inspections run July 4, 2023 – March 31, 2024

Supports are available to help businesses prepare.

Learn more.

Several provinces and territories are already enduring a severe wildfire season. These wildfires have prompted special air quality statements for much of the province of Ontario.

The Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development: Fair, Safe and Healthy Workplaces Division, has developed a Q&A document to address workplace air quality concerns and provide information on the mitigation of risk to workers.

NOTE: The information provided in this document is intended for general workplaces which may be encountering poor air quality due to wildfire smoke or other causes; not firefighters or other workers who regularly work close to active fires.

On June 1, 2023, the Occupational Health and Safety Act (Sec. 25.2) will require workplaces at risk of a worker opioid overdose to have at least one naloxone kit available onsite and have staff trained in its use.

An associated regulation, Naloxone Kits (O. Reg. 559/22) also comes into effect, which prescribes the contents of a naloxone kit, and sets out additional requirements related to the kit’s provision and maintenance.

Understanding the responsibilities of your workplace
Although not every workplace will be required to have naloxone onsite, every business should understand the legislation so that they are better equipped to make decisions around this legal requirement.

Free Training & Learning Resources
WSPS offers the following free resources to help businesses understand this new legislation:

• Naloxone Awareness (eCourse)
• Safety Connection – Naloxone Kits: Understand how it Impacts your Workplace (event)
• New naloxone requirements: Do you need to comply? Your top questions answered (article)
• Naloxone Kits in the Workplace (Safety Tip Video Series)
• Naloxone kits and addiction in the workplace: balancing privacy with responsibility (article)

Ontario’s Workplace Naloxone Program

The Ontario government is offering support to employers who are required to comply with these new requirements by providing free naloxone training for up to two workers per workplace and/or one free nasal spray naloxone kit per workplace. Information about this program can be found on their website.

Workplace Safety & Prevention Services is pleased to announce that Jody Young will join the association in the role of President and Chief Executive Officer on June 12, 2023.

Jody is a health and safety leader with over 30 years of experience in both public and private sectors. Most recently, she held the role of Assistant Deputy Minister, Employment and Training Division with the Ontario Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development. In that role, she provided strategic leadership to the transformation of Employment Services in Ontario. Previously, she served as Assistant Deputy Minister for Fair, Safe and Healthy Workplaces in both Ontario and Alberta.

Jody is a Canadian Registered Safety Professional and completed her Honours Bachelor of Science degree at the University of Toronto.

The WSPS team looks forward to helping keep Ontario workers safe under Jody’s leadership.

From April 1, 2023 – March 31, 2024, the Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development (MLITSD) will be conducting a Material Handling Initiative focused on facilities or operations where large or bulky materials, articles or things are lifted, carried, or moved.

Inspections begin May 1, 2023, and the following industries may be visited:

• Farming and Agricultural Services
• Automotive
• Chemical, rubber and plastics
• Food, beverage & tobacco
• Industrial services
• Primary metals
• Pulp & paper
• Transportation
• Wood and Metal Fabrication
  
  

Free Webinars

WSPS is hosting two free webinars in coordination with the MLITSD to help businesses prepare:

• April 17, 2023 (manufacturing focus)
• April 20, 2023 (agriculture focus)

Attendees will learn about key inspection priority areas, locations and types of workplaces, and how to prepare for a focused inspection. Helpful material handling injury prevention information and resources will also be reviewed.

Learn more and register for these events.

In light of the recent decision by our federal and provincial governments to ban the social media platform TikTok from all government employee devices, WSPS has decided to follow suit. In addition, WSPS will be deactivating our TikTok account effective March 31, 2023.

WSPS’ TikTok account was focused on reaching young workers with the health and safety information they need to stay safe on the job. We will continue to creatively provide this knowledge on our Instagram account going forward.

WSPS is active on other social media platforms as well: Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter and YouTube.

The Ontario government is proposing amendments to the Construction Projects Regulation which would require personal protective equipment (PPE) and clothing be properly fitted to women and workers with diverse body types. In addition, this legislation would require all jobsites to have at least one women’s-only washroom.

If approved and filed, the proposed regulatory amendments would come into force on July 1, 2023.

This announcement comes on the heels of a recent CSA Group study which concluded that poor design and fit of PPE was putting women workers at greater risk.

Learn more