Health and Safety Information and Resources
Do you fall under the jurisdiction of the CLC Part II? The purpose of the Canada Labour Code Part II (CLC Part II) is to "prevent accidents and injury to health arising out of, linked with or occurring in the course of employment".
Certification is a legislated two-part process that includes Basic training (part I) and Workplace-specific training (part II).
A JHSC is an advisory group required under s.9 of the Occupational Health & Safety Act (OHSA). The committee is made up of management and worker representatives who work together to identify health and safety problems and recommend solutions.
WSPS' Legislation Tracker will keep you and your business up-to-date and informed on Federal and Ontario OHS legislative changes. Learn about emerging employer responsibilities and worker rights to ensure you are in compliance.
The Ministry of Labour's proactive inspection initiatives focus on specified hazards, and are designed to raise awareness and increase compliance with health and safety legislation.
Effective July 1, 2014, employers must ensure all workers and supervisors have completed a basic occupational health and safety awareness training program.
Ontario's Occupational Health & Safety Act (OHSA) requires employers to prepare, and review at least annually, a written occupational health and safety policy, and to develop and maintain a program to implement that policy
Under the Occupational Health & Safety Act (OHSA) workers and employers share responsibility for occupational health and safety. Ideally, the internal responsibility system involves everyone in health and safety, from the company chief executive officer to the worker.
Workplace Safety & Prevention Services (WSPS) is now the health and safety provider for the agriculture industry sector. We offer innovative and cost-effective solutions to meet the unique needs of agriculture operators.
Growing, processing, distributing and retailing cannabis products brings potentially serious workplace hazards including biological, chemical and physical hazards that need to be managed and controlled.
Companies often hire contractors to perform jobs where they lack in-house expertise, however these jobs are often high risk. Many incidents involving contractors occur because roles and responsibilities are not clearly identified and understood. Here are the roles, responsibilities and regulations under the Ontario Occupational Health and Safety Act.
To assist businesses in keeping workers safe and adapting to challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, we have curated a list of helpful resources.
The COVID-19 pandemic is creating unique challenges for business and individuals around the world. This page will be a source for information, resources and updates to equip employers to face the months ahead.
Having a plan in place to deal with emergency situations can help stabilize your company's operations during a turbulent period. It will also ensure that your workers, premises, equipment and stock are kept safe and the disruption to your business minimized.
Find a wide range of information and resources that will help you with your health and safety program and to keep you in legal compliance.
October is Global Ergonomics Month and WSPS is pleased to participate, along with our health and safety system partners, in this month long initiative to raise awareness of ergonomics and musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) in the workplace.
Implement a safeguarding strategy that aligns with stringent food and beverage safety requirements and quality control measures.
Greenhouse workers face specific hazards in the course of their work day. The Greenhouse Risk Assessment Project, a multi-year initiative undertaken by the Ontario Ministry of Labour in coordination with Workplace Safety & Prevention Services and greenhouse industry stakeholders.
Did you know that building health and safety into your Northern business can save you time and money? Connect with your WSPS health and safety north team member to learn how.
A workplace can only be considered healthy if three key elements/avenues of influence are addressed - the physical environment, personal health resources, and the organizational culture.
WSPS supports the prevention of injury and illness as they relate to workplace impairment including marijuana (cannabis) use.
A workplace inspection is the act of examining, first-hand, a work location for evidence of unsafe or unhealthy conditions.
Landscaping employers must deal with unique challenges in managing their business. The seasonal nature of the work creates an annual need to recruit, train and supervise new workers as well as long hours in peak season when the weather is good or for snow removal in winter. In addition, landscaping crews must be mobile moving staff and equipment to multiple locations each day often dealing with inclement weather conditions.
Organizational culture consists of attitudes, values and beliefs that are demonstrated in the workplace on a daily basis and affect the mental and physical well-being of employees.
An OHSMS helps business owners align health and safety with the organization's overall strategic planning. It is a proven system of procedures and processes that employers implement to continually improve health and safety, reducing the risk of injury and illness and holding senior leaders accountable.
The very complex logistics of the performance industry and the often tight deadlines and time pressures, can lead to serious problems if, you as an employer, are not vigilant when it comes to health and safety.
Personal protective equipment is any device worn by a worker to protect against hazards. Some examples are respirators, gloves, ear plugs, hard hats, safety goggles, and safety shoes or boots.
Working in the restaurant and food services industry can be demanding. To provide exceptional customer service, you need efficiency and quality in both the back and front of the house.
Return to Work is a work reintegration program for injured workers that maintains the dignity and productivity of the injured worker, and contributes to the injured worker's rehabilitation and recovery.
Resources to make remote work a productive experience for both workers and employers.
The WSIB Health and Safety Excellence program is a performance-based incentive program integrating the strengths of the previous WSIB Small Business, Safety Groups and Workwell programs.
Start your health and safety program and stay connected to changing legislation with our Small Business Centre.
Well-trained supervisors are your organization's best asset.
WSPS is a Chief Prevention Office (CPO) approved training provider. We now offer virtual training via Adobe Connect to ensure that every Ontario worker has access to the training they require to stay safe, every day.
The landscape of how we learn is evolving. We, like many businesses across the world, have had to rethink our overall strategy due to COVID-19. To continue to serve you, and ensure that every Ontarian has access to the health and safety training they require, WSPS is making our traditional in-class training available virtually.
In Ontario, workplaces are governed by the Occupational Health & Safety Act. Health and safety in Ontario is anchored on the principle of each of us doing our part to keep the workplace free of accidents and illness.
Health & Safety Ontario consultants are health and safety professionals, and experts in their field, who bring rich and diverse educational and experiential backgrounds to their roles.
e-Learning refers to learning and supportive resources that are made available through a computer and are usually delivered via the web.
Training takes many forms and may include traditional classroom, on-line or web-based, self-learning applications, informal lunch-and-learn sessions, or on-the-job skill training. The portfolio of courses covers the full range of health and safety issues.
Asbestos refers to a group of naturally occurring minerals once used widely in many building materials. Chrysotile is the most common form of asbestos found in Ontario.
Employees who come to work sick cost employers twice as much in productivity losses than employees who stay home. Taking into consideration both indirect (lost productivity) and direct (doctor visits and medicine) costs of colds, the annual productivity loss is estimated at US$40 billion.
You need to develop a written confined space program for confined spaces in your workplace. There are three parts to a confined space program.
An electrical hazard is a dangerous condition where a worker can or does make electrical contact with energized equipment or a conductor. Employers need to develop and implement a written health and safety program that supports the control of electrical hazards in the workplace.
Fire prevention is an important component of a health and safety program. A fire prevention program combines engineering, work practice and administrative controls. An effective prevention program will provide your employees with the tools and information they need to work safely and protect themselves and your business from the devastation of fire.
A hazard is any practice, behaviour, substance, condition, or combination of these that can cause injury or illness to people, or damage to property. An assessment is the process of identifying hazards so they can be eliminated or controlled.
Hazardous materials are chemicals or physical agents regulated under the provisions of the Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS) and the Transportation of Dangerous Goods and Regulations (TDG) legislation. These are dangerous products that may cause short- or long-term health problems or damage to the environment.
Heat stress is an issue in many workplaces all year round. Heat stress not only affects employees working outdoors, but also those who are exposed to radiant heat or who come in direct physical contact with hot equipment as part of their job.
Proper housekeeping and a preventive maintenance program are critically important in preventing injuries, illnesses, and even fatalities.
The misuse of ladders can result in long-term musculoskeletal disorders, electrical contact, or falls from height. The consequences can range from minor mishaps to death.
Lifting devices are used in thousands of workplaces and their continuing role is a significant cause of serious worker injury and death. A common feature of many of these incidents was a failure to comply with the Occupational Health and Safety Act and its regulations.
Employees work with machines, tools and equipment every day. Workplaces couldn’t operate without them; however, interacting with them has potential for serious injuries or fatalities if they are not used and maintained properly.
Manual material handling is the lifting, carrying or moving of materials, articles or things. Mechanical materials handling is the movement of materials, articles or things by such means as left trucks, conveyors, or cranes and hoists.
Psychological health consists of a person's ability to think, feel and behave in a manner that enables them to perform effectively at work, at home, and in society at large.
In the past 20 years, the number of Ontario citizens who died or were injured as a result of motor vehicle incidents (MVIs) has been trending downwards, making our province a road safety leader in North America.
Musculoskeletal Disorders (MSDs) are injuries that affect muscles, tendons, ligaments and nerves. Injuries can develop when the same muscles are used repetitively, or for a long time without adequate rest. This type of injury increases if the force exerted is high and/or the job requires an awkward posture.
On April 25, 2018, WSPS participated, along with our health and safety system partners in Ontario and across the globe, in International Noise Awareness Day.
Cancers, severe allergic reactions, nervous system impairment and noise-induced hearing loss are just some of the diseases that impact the lives of many Ontario workers and their families each year. These diseases are caused by many workplace health hazards including chemicals, physical agents and biological hazards.
There are many types of potentially hazardous energy moving through your business at any time including electrical, thermal, chemical, pneumatic, hydraulic, mechanical and gravitational. These forms of energy must be locked out, blocked or released to ensure that machinery or equipment does not turn on or move during installation, repair or maintenance.
There are two kinds of falls - same level or from height. Same level falls can be caused by slippery and uneven surfaces, debris and tripping hazards, dark and obstructed pathways, and unsuitable footwear. Falling from heights can be caused by working where there is a chance of falling more than three meters.
The demanding physical work of tree planting presents a variety of hazards and, as this work is often done by young and inexperienced workers with little or no supervision and adequate training, the chance of workers experiencing illnesses, injuries or even dying is significant.
Workplace harassment is defined in the Occupational Health and Safety Act as "engaging in a course of vexatious comment or conduct against a worker, in a workplace, that is known or ought reasonably to be known to be unwelcome."
New and young workers are three times more likely to be injured during their first month on the job than at any other time. Vulnerable workers are those who recently moved to Ontario from another province or country, have just started their first job, or are returning to the workforce after a long absence.
Your customers rely on you to ensure that their products are stored and distributed properly. Every day, you manage logistical processes for the safe operation of your warehouse/distribution centre and control the hazards that could put your workers, your customers' products, and your business at risk.
WHMIS (the Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System) is a Canada-wide hazard communication standard for protecting the health and safety of workers who handle hazardous chemicals. In place since 1988, WHMIS has now been aligned with the Globally Harmonized System for the Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS).
Falls are the leading cause of fatal accidents in the Ontario construction industry and have caused injury and death across Ontario workplaces. If your workers face fall hazards, you're required to provide them with fall-protection training and equipment.