The ministry and its partners continued to shift towards a more evidence-based, measurable and accountable OHS system throughout 2020–2021. This can be seen in Prevention Works, the 2021–2026 Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) Strategy.

Additional feedback on Prevention Works

Prevention Works was developed based on extensive research and province-wide consultations in 2019. In 2020, the ministry added COVID‑19 considerations to the strategy. To prepare for the launch of the strategy, the ministry sought stakeholder buy-in and support. The Prevention Division at the ministry presented the draft strategy to more than 20 audiences in 2020–2021. These included businesses and labour associations, as well as internal partners. Feedback received from these discussions was positive. The ministry used their suggestions to create a truly collaborative and evidence-based strategy.

Building system capacity to conduct risk assessments and identify root causes of workplace injuries, illnesses and fatalities

Back in 2018, the ministry formally adopted a method of conducting risk assessments. The goal was to ensure consistency in the way that the OHS system:

  • focuses on high-risk hazards
  • shares results of risk assessment workshops with stakeholders
  • identifies and analyzes risks in the workplace

The Prevention Division has led work in this area by using a “train the trainer” approach. This allows the OHS system to build capacity in identifying leading OHS risks. It also empowers OHS system partners to conduct their own risk assessments to reduce Ontario’s critical injuries, illnesses and fatalities in the workplace.

From August 2020 to March 31, 2021, the ministry delivered four “train the trainer” sessions to the Health and Safety Associations (HSAs). These sessions prepared the HSAs to develop their own Risk Assessment and Root-Cause Analysis workshops for their sectors. For example:

  • Workplace Safety North (WSN) completed a virtual Pulp and Paper Root Cause Analysis workshop in Fall 2020.
  • The Infrastructure Health and Safety Association (IHSA) completed a Transportation Yard Safety Root Cause Analysis workshop in January 2021.

As these workshops continue, the resulting evidence and data will help the OHS community make informed decisions that will help reduce workplace-related injuries, illnesses and fatalities in Ontario.

Working with our system partners to develop new ways of collecting and managing data

OHS System Data Strategy

The ministry worked with system partners to develop the OHS System Data Strategy. The strategy was accepted by the OHS Data Community in September 2020. Goals included:

  • improve data sharing across the system
  • align data governance and improve data quality rules, methodologies and practices
  • ensure adequate IT infrastructure throughout the system
  • apply existing data and identify new data for analytics and decision making

Over the 2020-2021 fiscal year, the ministry conducted an inventory of all major datasets held by each of the OHS partners. The ministry shared this inventory with all partners in August 2020. This was an important first step towards future common governance rules. The ministry will continue to work with the OHS Data Community to align with outcomes of Prevention Works.

Broadening evidence to target sectors, evaluating programs and collecting outcome-based performance data

Chief Prevention Officer (CPO) directed programs

In 2019 the CPO launched the CPO-directed program for Ontario’s four Safe Workplace Associations (SWAs). This required the SWAs to set aside at least 10% of the yearly budget they receive from the province to address the most dangerous and high-risk sectors. Some of these priority sectors include forestry, mining, agriculture, construction, transportation and young workers in manufacturing. In addition, the SWAs were also asked to address the issue of work-related mental health. This important issue cuts across all sectors.

In 2020-2021, the following programs continued to be implemented or were approved by the CPO:

Public Services Health & Safety Association

This is a two-year program approved in 2020–2021.

Infrastructure Health & Safety Association

  • Supporting Health and Safety Management Systems in the workplace:

    • This is a three-year program approved in 2020–2021 for year one.

    Through 2020–2021, WSPS continued work on the three CPO-directed programs that were approved in 2019:

    To increase system oversight, the Prevention Division is currently developing a performance-based funding model for the Health and Safety Association (HSA) program that will focus on the achievement of performance and outcomes to determine funding levels. This work is ongoing and will align with the performance measurement framework that is being developed for the new Prevention Works Strategy.

    OHS research

    In 2020–2021, the ministry continued to modernize its approach to funding research. The focus was on reporting and transparency requirements with OHS Research Centres (RCs). Goals include:

    • Improve oversight of funding.
    • Increase transparency on provincial and other funding.
    • Align more closely with Prevention Works

    During 2020–2021, our research partners have been actively engaged to ensure that state-of-the-art evidence supports OHS decisions, policies and initiatives. More than 50 research projects were completed.

    Examples of the research our funded partners have led include:

    We also expanded the outreach of ministry-funded research. Several research summaries have been shared and made publicly available on our funded partners’ websites. These include:

    • the Institute for Work and Health
    • the Centre for Research in Occupational Safety Health
    • the Centre for Research Expertise in Occupational Disease
    • the Centre of Research Expertise for the Prevention of Musculoskeletal Disorders
    • the Occupational Cancer Research Centre (housed under Ontario Health)

    Funded research has been translated into at least 28 book chapters and 250 published and in-press articles in 2020-21. At least 30 PhD, postdoctoral and practicum students and junior faculty members received research funding to support occupational health and safety research in the province.

    Our funded partners have further established strategic partnerships with research partners and users of research. In 2020-21, these partnerships included at least 75 think tanks, universities, health and safety associations, hospitals, business associations, professional associations and insurance boards within and beyond Ontario. Close collaboration and partnerships with research partners and users of research is expected to enhance the use of evidence to inform OHS decisions. This will ultimately help make Ontario workplaces healthier and safer places to work.

    In the 2020-2021 fiscal year, the MLITSD funded OHS research by investing a total of $1.22 million in Prevention Grants and $7.93 million in the Research Centres. This was an increase of $1.08 million investment from the 2019–2020 fiscal year.

    Working at Heights five-year standards review

    The Prevention Division also began a review of the Working at Heights (WAH) program. These training standards were established in 2015footnote 9. The standards include a CPO commitment to review the standards at least every five years. Most workers on construction projects who may use specified methods of fall protection must take this training.

    This review is to help ensure the standards:

    • are relevant and effective
    • reflect modern best practices in content and delivery so that workers, learners, and employers can have continued confidence in the training.

    The review began in 2020 and included the posting of a public consultation paper for feedback between January 25, 2021 to March 25, 2021. In addition, a learner survey was sent to 2,000 WAH training participants. The ministry also held virtual meetings with key stakeholders. The ministry received 32 written responses to the public consultation paper and 280 responses to the learner survey. Analysis of the feedback received from consultations were considered along with:

    • other key relevant research and data
    • Coroner Jury Reports and Recommendations
    • best practices for training delivery and assessment.

    Recommendations for revisions to the standards were made to the CPO in the fall of 2021. Updated standards will be published in early 2022.

    Footnotes