What's New
Small Company Health and Safety Program Manual
Responding to the needs of small companies, WSN has developed a new tool to assist these firms with creating effective health and safety programs. To download the Small Company Health and Safety Program Manual click here.
New Online Tool Targets MSDs
The Ministry of Labour has introduced a new tool to help Ontarians find out more about musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs). These injuries occur in the muscles, tendons and nerves as a result of continued exposure to repetitive work, awkward postures and other factors. The online tool lets users click on body parts to get information. For each body part, it highlights tasks that may lead to an MSD. It also recommends ways to reduce potential hazards, such as slouching at your desk. To access the tool, click here.
Together, we're better!
Over the years, Ontario’s prevention system – comprising the Ministry of Labour, the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board and the health and safety associations, including OFSWA – has called on Ontario businesses to change the way they work. The emotional and financial toll of 80 to 100 workplace fatalities each year, and 1,600 lost-time injuries each week, has spurred the prevention system to boldly follow its own advice.
In 2010, the prevention system is undertaking many far-reaching initiatives that will streamline the way we work so that we can improve customer service; provide better and more consistent access to our services throughout the province. Ontario’s 12 health and safety associations have been consolidated to four, pushing resources to the front lines and streamlining support services. The Ontario Forestry Safe Workplace Association (OFSWA) has joined forces with the Pulp and Paper Health and Safety Association (PPHSA) and the Mines and Aggregates Safety and Health Association (MASHA) to serve you better.
Our collective assurance to you during this period of change is to remain committed to our high level of sector-specific service and to assisting you, our members and customers. Our structure may have changed, but the human face of it – our consultants, trainers and support staff – remain in place to provide the products and services you count on.
2009 Health and Safety Awards
Firms are invited to apply for consideration in the 2009 Health and Safety Achievement Awards and Continuous Improvement Award. To participate in the evaluation process for the 2009 awards, firms must fill out a registration form and answer a questionnaire on key indicators of health and safety activity. Our Consultant Trainers are available to help member firms complete the questionnaire and clarify or explain the review criteria. To download the registration form, click here.
Information you need on the H1N1 virus
With the flu season upon us, everyone needs to pay special attention to the hazards of catching and spreading the H1N1 virus. Click on the links below for important, up-to-the minute information on all aspects of H1N1 virus control in the workplace and at home.
Ontario Ministry of Labour
Workplace Safety and Insurance Board
Canadian Center for Occupational Health and Safety
Ontario Agency for Health Protection and Promotion
Latest issue of the The Log
The Fall/Winter 2009 issue of The Log, is available as a PDF download. To access the current issue of The Log or back issues, click on “The Log” link above. To view the latest Industry Alerts as well as our archive of Industry Alerts, click on the “Industry Alerts” link above.
Public consultation on JHSC Certification
The WSIB is reviewing its JHSC certification standards and program to meet the changing needs of workers and employers, and is interested in receiving your feedback. This consultation is your opportunity to help ensure the new Certification Standards and Program reflect current principles in health and safety and adult education and result in effective training for certified members. Details of how to submit your feedback are included in the consultation paper. The deadline for submissions is February 5, 2010.
Toll-free number makes contacting us easy
We now have a toll-free number to facilitate client contact with our North Bay head office and with our field staff throughout the province. All you have to do is dial 1-888-730-7821, followed by the extension of the staff member you wish to reach. To see the list of staff extensions, click here.
2008 forestry statistical review
Our statistical review of the state of health and safety in the forestry WSIB rate groups in 2008 is now online. The purpose of this information is to provide a snapshot of injury trends and of the common types and causes of injuries in forestry workplaces in 2008. This information can help you identify and correct possible weaknesses in your health and safety program. Our statistical review also includes detailed tables with which you can compare your firm’s record of lost-time injuries (LTI) and no-lost-time injuries (NLTI) in 2008 with that of similar-sized firms in your rate group. To access this information, click on “Health and Safety Stats” on the right.
Chief Executive Officer of Workplace Safety North announced
Tom Beegan, Chief Prevention Officer of the Workplace Safety & Insurance Board, has announced the appointment of Candys Ballanger-Michaud as the inaugural Chief Executive Officer of Workplace Safety North, which has been formed to amalgamate the Mines and Aggregates Safety and Health Association (MASHA), the Ontario Forestry Safe Workplace Association (OFSWA), and the Pulp and Paper Health and Safety Association (PPHSA). For the full text of the announcement, click here.
Mandatory classroom training available online
We have launched an online version of the Mechanical Harvesting / Forestry Pit and Road Construction Equipment Operator common core classroom training. This program is the equivalent of the classroom training, so that logging companies – especially those in remote locations that require pre-employment training for employees on an urgent basis – can access the training.
The program can be purchased in either English or French. The program covers all of the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities competency-based standards and related performance requirements for the Mechanical Harvesting Equipment Operator program. The training material applies to the following seven types of mechanical harvesting equipment: grapple skidder, feller buncher, multi-function processor, forwarder, mobile chipper/debarker, delimber and slasher.
The program also includes the necessary content for forestry pit and road construction equipment operators to meet the Mines and Mining Plants Regulation 854 requirements for Surface Miner training for forestry operations. The training material applies to the following seven types of sand/gravel pit equipment used in logging or other related operations: hydraulic excavator, bulldozer, grader, front end loader, haulage truck, fuel truck and service truck in a pit site. For more information on the program, click here.
Ontario’s prevention system – a new direction
For the past several months, the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB), OFSWA and all other partners in Ontario’s prevention system have been working together to redesign the health and safety service delivery structure in Ontario. The goal is to achieve a more aligned and integrated system.
Last December, WSIB Chief Prevention Officer Tom Beegan presented a proposed health and safety system realignment model to the WSIB Board of Directors. To view the WSIB business case and outline of the realigned prevention system, click here.
