Is your workplace hiring new and young workers this summer? If so, are you aware of significant employer obligations to protect their safety and health, including training?
Beginning May 1, 2018, Ministry of Labour (Ministry) inspectors will commence a health, safety and employment standards enforcement blitz of retail establishments, restaurants, tourist-related businesses and other
workplaces that typically hire seasonal summer staff.
Among many employer obligations the Ministry will seek to confirm employers have
provided mandatory training and competent supervision. Existence and functioning of joint health and safety committees or health and safety representatives plus proper measures and procedures to control work hazards will also be part of this enforcement initiative.
The Ministry performed a similar blitz in 2017 visiting almost 1,800 workplaces and issued 6,828 orders for violations of the Occupational Health and Safety Act and its regulations. More than 1,000 of these
orders related to non-compliance with
violence and harassment provisions of the Act, including requirements for policies and programs and worker training. In addition, over 750 orders were issued for failure to provide basic health and safety awareness training to
workers and
supervisors. Other common orders related to fire safety, machine guarding, material handling and housekeeping.
For new workers, many of whom are young, compliance with these and other basic protections, including training, is particularly important given they are
three times more likely to be injured in the first month compared to those with more than one year of experience.
Research demonstrates newness to the job combined with uncontrolled hazards is at the root of these injuries.
Need to get into compliance fast? WHSC can help
WHSC offers a host of training programs to assist workplaces seeking to comply with their extensive obligations to provide information, instruction and supervision to workers to protect worker safety and health. Good places to start include
Awareness Training for Workers,
supervisory competency,
violence and harassment, and
GHS WHMIS trainingg.
Beyond these programs, WHSC offers a
comprehensive catalogue of training to assist workplaces in meeting many additional specific training obligations, including, but not limited to:
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Safe Lockout-Tagout
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Confined Space Entry
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JHSC Certification Part I & II
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Certification Refresher
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Working at Heights training
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Working at Height Refresher
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Transportation of Dangerous Goods
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Mobile Equipment Operator Competency.
To learn more call 1-888-869-7950 and ask to speak to a training service representative or email
contactus@whsc.on.ca.
*Source: Workers Health & Safety Centre E-Bulletin, April 17, 2018