Certification Part I
The Workers Health & Safety Centre developed this program to help workplaces meet their legal responsibility to provide the first phase of Certification training to members of joint health and safety committees in Ontario. This program, critical to securing safer, healthier work, is applicable to workplaces in all sectors. Delivered over a three-day period, this program gives participants a complete understanding of occupational health and safety legislation, including rights and responsibilities of workplace parties and certified representatives on joint health and safety committees in particular. This will include a full discussion about the Internal Responsibility System (IRS) and the purpose and requirements of workplace health and safety policies and programs. Equally important, participants learn how to identify, assess and control, or better yet eliminate, workplace hazards. For further details, see our product sheet library.
Certification Part II - General Stream
This program offers a convenient option for Ontario workplaces who want to quickly comply with the second phase of Certification training for members of joint health and safety committees (JHSC). Part II training must address at least six hazards relevant to the JHSC’s workplace. Delivered over two days and now virtually, the general stream for WHSC Certification Part II training explores six of the most common workplace hazards through the following modules: Safety Hazards; Physical Hazards, Chemical Hazards, Ergonomics and MSDs; Biological Hazards; and Psychosocial Hazards and Workplace Mental Health. For each hazard, participants will learn how to identify, assess and control, or better yet eliminate, exposures.
Certification Refresher
Certified members of joint health and safety committees (JHSC) in Ontario must complete a Ministry of Labour (MOL)-approved Refresher program within three years of completing Certification Part II and every three years thereafter. The WHSC Certification Refresher training is MOL-approved. This program revisits key concepts from Certification Training including the information and tools essential for identifying, assessing and controlling, or better yet eliminating, workplace hazards. The program further affords participants the opportunity to share and discuss new or amended legislation/guidelines/standards, current or emerging issues, plus best practices for hazard elimination and control. This program is applicable to all Ontario workplaces.
Confined Spaces
Participants will discuss potential hazards and legal requirements relevant to confined space entry outlined in the Confined Spaces Regulation. They will review and discuss the key elements of a confined space entry program, including testing and monitoring of the atmosphere and the various types of equipment and tools that help to protect workers. The need to develop workplace specific confined space entry procedures with input from joint committees and workers is discussed along with the provision of effective worker training.
NOTE: The WHSC offers a two-day Confined Spaces Plan and Program training designed to help workplace parties understand their legal duties in developing, implementing and maintaining a workplace-specific confined space program. The one-day Confined Spaces Entry and Hazard Recognition training is designed for workers required to enter confined spaces and those who perform related work.
Critical Incident and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
Participants review the many causes of critical incident stress (CIS) and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) including major catastrophes, violent situations and hazardous exposures. How the body responds to stressful situations or events is explored in terms of acute and chronic health effects. Equally important is a focus on primary prevention in order to eliminate or limit exposure to stressors along with methods for coping with CIS and PTSD such as counseling provided through Employee Assistance Programs. Participants will also discuss the development and implementation of policies and programs dealing with CIS and PTSD.
Heat and Cold Stress
Participants explore how the body reacts to temperature extremes and specific situations where workers may be exposed to dangerous levels of heat or cold. The lack of specific legislation protecting exposed workers is discussed along with measures for identifying and assessing potential health risks from temperature extremes. Participants will consider specific methods of controlling worker exposure to temperature extremes and discuss the effectiveness or ineffectiveness of each.
OTM Book 7
This one-day program is designed for worker health and safety representatives, joint health and safety committees and worker trades committees where applicable, along with road construction crew lead hands and supervisors, with either powers or obligations related to ensuring safer traffic control in temporary work zones. There is a “Field Edition” and “Office Edition” of OTM Book 7. The “Field Edition” is intended only as a reference while in the field. The new WHSC OMT Book 7 training explores the “Office Edition” which should be used to design traffic control plans, as it includes relevant details and rationale for design choices aimed at protecting workers and aiding the safe flow of traffic. As such, the new WHSC program equips participants with an understanding of fundamental principles, guidelines, and current best practices critical to the control of traffic and safety of workers in temporary work zones. NOTE: It is recommended participants complete the WHSC Traffic Control and Signal Person program prior to OTM Book 7.
Psychosocial Hazards and Workplace Mental Health
This three-hour program provides a basic understanding of psychosocial work hazards and how they may impact workers’ mental health. It outlines the health effects associated with psychosocial hazards and explores a range of workplace factors from job demands/job control and worker engagement to civility and respect. Equally important, participants will discuss a host of methods to identify and assess psychosocial hazards including policies and programs, physical and cognitive demands analysis and workplace surveys. The program concludes with a discussion on preventative and protective measures for a safer and healthier workplace. The use of video clips and case studies also engages learners and helps them identify and understand contributing and workplace factors and gain a basic understanding of the accommodation process.
Stress in the Workplace
Mounting evidence shows workplace stress is a serious hazard posing significant risk to workers’ health and the financial well-being of businesses. This program is designed to equip participants with information helping them to understand the tell-tale signs in those suffering stress-related health impacts. The many aspects of work that can be stressful to workers are explored along with strategies to eliminate or reduce exposure. This program includes several practical tools participants can use in their workplace for assessing harmful working conditions and related health impacts, including the Copenhagen Psychosocial Questionnaire (COPSOQ).
Supervisor Health & Safety Training
This informative one-day program is designed to help supervisors understand and fulfill all of their legal duties and responsibilities including the consequences of noncompliance. Under Ontario’s Occupational Health & Safety Act and Regulations, employers must ensure supervisors complete basic occupational health and safety awareness training in addition to knowledge and competency-based training specific to the workplace. Participants will learn about the Internal Responsibility System (IRS), the concept of due diligence and the rights and functions of the joint health and safety committee (JHSC). Detailed attention is paid to the supervisor's role in work refusals, Ministry of Labour workplace inspections and JHSC or health and safety representative inspections and investigations, all governed by the Occupational Health and Safety Act. The program also reviews relevant case law and provisions of the Criminal Code to give participants a clear understanding of their duties under this Federal statute.
Traffic Control and Signal Person
This one-day program is aimed principally at workers who perform traffic control and signalling duties along with supervisors overseeing these activities. Worker representatives looking to exercise their right to participate in ensuring safer road work would also benefit from this program. Participants explore the extensive hazards related to road work along with safe work practices and devices designed to control exposure. They are also introduced to Ontario Traffic Manual (OTM) Book 7 (Temporary Conditions) which provides practical guidance regarding the use of traffic control devices in temporary work zones on or beside roads and highways. Hands-on practical exercises further aid in understanding safe work practices and traffic control devices such as three-way communication and directing traffic using stop/slow paddles.
Worker Health and Safety Awareness (3 hours)
This program enables employers to meet a specific legal duty to ensure workers complete basic occupational health and safety awareness training. It further helps employers fulfill their general duty to provide health and safety information and instruction to workers and is an ideal regular review for existing employees. Participants will be introduced to Ontario’s Occupational Health and Safety Act, the rights and responsibilities of employers, supervisors and workers, functions of health and safety representatives, joint health and safety committees and certified committee members and workers’ right to know, to participate and refuse unsafe work. Participants will review the most common workplace hazards and discuss how to apply effective controls based on the hierarchy of controls. Lastly, the program emphasizes the requirement of and need for a policy and program to guide hazard control and protect worker health and safety.
Working at Heights
Employers must ensure workers on construction projects complete an approved working at heights (WAH) training program before a worker uses a fall restricting system, fall arrest system, safety net, work belt or safety belt. This comprehensive program meets and exceeds the required standard. Participants will learn about the hazards of WAH, basic rights and duties along with relevant regulations governing fall arrest hazards, fall protection equipment and WAH projects. They will also be introduced to the use, inspection, limitations, storage and procedures for travel restraint, fall restricting and fall arrest systems. Importantly, the program includes hands-on training on fall protection equipment and systems and key components of a fall rescue plan and emergency procedures too.
Training participants must also complete a written program evaluation as required by the Ministry’s Working at Heights Training Program Standard. * French program available upon request.
Working at Heights Refresher
Employers must ensure construction project workers complete approved working at heights (WAH) training before they start work at heights and use fall protection equipment. Additionally, these workers must complete an approved refresher training every three years thereafter. The WHSC approved Working at Heights Refresher program involves a review of basic awareness ranging from significant employer and supervisor obligations to working at heights-related hazards, along with safeguards and procedures designed to protect workers. This training also involves a review of the functionality and safety aspects of fall protection equipment and systems including a hands-on practicum. Successful completion of this refresher training will re-validate WAH training compliance for three years.
NOTE: The Ministry of Labour requires provincially-issued photo identification (ID) and proof of prior WAH training for all participants of WAH Refresher training. Please bring this ID and proof to the training course. As proof the Ministry prefers your Ministry of Labour-issued Working at Heights training wallet card. However, if you completed your initial training with WHSC and your name and address remains the same as when you first trained with us, WHSC can supply this proof to the Ministry for you. If your initial training was provided by another organization though, then along with your ID, you must bring to training your Ministry of Labour-issued card. If you have misplaced your card, call the Ministry Toll-free at 1-877-202-0008 and ask them to provide you with your Working at Heights learner number. Then bring this number with you to training.
* French program available upon request.
Workplace Violence and Harassment
This program is designed to raise awareness about the serious risk to physical and mental health posed by workplace violence and harassment. It is also intended to help workplace parties understand and comply with the legal requirements mandated by the Occupational Health and Safety Act to address violence and harassment (including domestic violence). Employers, for instance, are required to develop workplace-specific violence and harassment policies and programs. Essential elements of these will be explored including procedures for workers to report incidents along with worker training. Participants will discuss workplace-specific strategies for identifying and assessing potential for workplace violence and harassment and observing for evidence of domestic violence. Also discussed will be specific control measures for eliminating or controlling potential exposure to violence and harassment.