Corporate

 Workplace Safety & Prevention Services  | 4 When the pandemic was declared, our first priority was to ensure the safety of our employees. Virtually overnight, all staff members, many of whom did not work at home on a full-time basis, were safely set up to do so, and WSPS transformed into a fully remote operation. The Ministry of Labour, Training and Skills Development (MLTSD) soon named WSPS an essential service provider for essential businesses, such as the farms that produce our food; the food manufacturers that get it ready for consumption; and the retail operations that sell it. Working with industry and government, we increased delivery of critical support and the production of pandemic-related resources, as well as a microsite on which to house them. This resulted in WSPS exceeding prior year levels of no-cost services, including: 19% INCREASE in information downloads 32% INCREASE in e-publications 23% INCREASE in awareness sessions (with a 99% INCREASE in participation levels due to transition to a virtual format) 219% INCREASE in e-learning courses (mainly due to COVID-19/ pandemic related e-courses) The past year has presented both difficulties and opportunities, and it has also brought us closer to our customers, employees, partners and stakeholders than ever. 2020/21 has been a challenging time for WSPS and the more than 171,000 businesses who rely on us to help them keep their employees, customers and communities safe. Supporting Ontario businesses during the pandemic When the COVID pandemic affected the ways in which we work here at the Township, I could count on Workplace Safety & Prevention Services to be an instrumental part of our planning. WSPS provided information about COVID transmission and on the use of surgical masks versus facemasks for our workers, including resources to assist with how to wear a face mask properly. This just made implementing our change in policy that much easier for our frontline supervisors, the JHSC and all workplace parties. We were able to attend some of the useful virtual sessions WSPS made available as well. —KEITH ROTHNEY, Corporation of the Town of Fort Erie

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