Improving occupational health and safety knowledge and practices

The ministry is focused on making OHS training for workers more accessible and affordable. In 2020-21 it was important to consider the impact of COVID‑19 and to deliver information to a number of sectors. Throughout the pandemic, the ministry regularly reached out to the CPO-approved OHS Training Provider Network (TPN) to understand their concerns. We listened to feedback they shared from clients and worked to support them with the most current COVID‑19 information. We also suggested steps they could take to help ensure training could safely continue.

OHS training modernization and oversight

The Chief Prevention Officer (CPO) met with the CPO-approved OHS TPN in November 2020 and January 2021. These meetings were held to discuss the collection of training data. The CPO launched the Voluntary Data Collection initiative in November 2020.

In February 2021, the Prevention Division developed an online survey to collect information on non-mandated training in three focus areas:

• information on training providers and the data they collect
• data on nine training courses selected by the Division
• information on the development of learning outcomes, quality assurance processes and OHS training prioritization

The Voluntary Data Collection initiative has created opportunities to better assess the effectiveness and to enhance oversight of OHS training. The initiative will support the Prevention Works strategy.

Making OHS training convenient and affordable

Revised CPO Joint Health and Safety Committee (JHSC) Training and Distance Standards

COVID‑19 has shown that we need to understand how people best learn, adapt and retain knowledge. That way, we can then develop health and safety training practices to achieve the greatest results. In 2020–2021, the OHS system adapted to deliver eLearning and distance learning options. In May and June 2020, the CPO established:

• revised JHSC Training Certification Training Program and Provider Standards^{footnote 10[10]}
• a new JHSC Certification Distance Learning Standard^{footnote 11[11]}

Under the new standards, Part One, Part Two and Refresher training can now be completed through distance learning. As of March 31, 2021, over 65,000 individuals have been fully certified as Joint Health and Safety Committee members, meaning they have successfully completed their Part 1 and 2 training. During the 2020-2021 fiscal year:

• over 12,000 people completed their Part One training
• more than 9,800 people completed Part Two training to become fully certified
• over 4,200 people completed Refresher training

This includes real-time instruction delivered through online platforms. Benefits include:

• learners were able to access training and maintain certification during the COVID‑19 pandemic
• training could be delivered while maintaining safe physical distancing
• training providers were able to continue to operate and generate revenue

At the same time the ministry updated their Certification Management System (CMS) Training Provider Application Portal to make it easier for training providers to submit JHSC eLearning and JHSC Distance Learning training program applications. Between April 1, 2020 and March 31, 2021:

• over 158,000 new learner accounts were created
• over 1,000 learners completed training through eLearning^{footnote 12[12]}
• over 110,000 new training course completion records were created
• CMS received over 800 requests for new employer accounts

HSA eLearning and Distance Learning options

In 2020–2021, the Health and Safety Associations (HSAs) developed new ways to allow for continued training during COVID‑19. These included:

• launching their own eLearning courses to make training more convenient
• hosting online webinars to abbress emerging COVID‑19 issues
• providing no-cost resources and services to help businesses understand and abbress COVID‑19

For example, in 2020, the Infrastructure Health and Safety Association (IHSA) launched its own suite of on demand, self-paced eLearning courses. These included the new Trenching Safety certificate course and the new Preventing Falls in Trucking course. IHSA also introduced virtual training options. A total of 9,895 learners enrolled in IHSA's eLearning services. That was up 34% from the prior year.

Likewise, the Workers Health and Safety Centre (WHSC) began hosting webinars on emerging COVID‑19 issues. They also launched virtual classrooms for globally harmonized WHIMIS training. In 2020–2021 the WHSC trained a total of 35,157 participants. Approximately half of this training was delivered in virtual classrooms.

Workplace Safety & Prevention Services (WSPS) also developed a Prevent COVID at Work free mobile app. This app aimed to support individuals, colleagues and the community in several ways. It provided information on what the workplace should be doing during COVID‑19. It also provided information on rights and responsibilities under the Occupational Health and Safety Act. Workers could access timely, relevant and trustworthy guidance in plain language. They could also share content with peers.

WSPS conducted 819 virtual sessions (including training, consulting, conferences, webinars, etc.). A total of 22,047 people participated. Overall, customer satisfaction for virtual sessions remained high at 4.61 out of 5.00.

Occupational Health and Safety Training Initiative

COVID‑19 also highlighted the need to improve access to OHS training. On July 3, 2020, the ministry launched the Occupational Health and Safety Training Initiative. This initiative committed $3 million to provide a suite of 10 free online health and safety training courses for up to 100,000 jobseekers through Employment Ontario. Goals of the initiative included:

• remove financial barriers to completing health and safety training
• support the safe reopening of businesses

Total registration across all training providers was 23,114. More than 9,850 people completed courses, with an overall completion rate of 43%. The ministry collected feedback from program participants. Most indicated they felt that the training helped them learn about the course topic, that they would be able to use what they learned on the job, and that they felt safer at work as a result of the training.

Recognizing out-of-province training

Newfoundland and Labrador fall protection training

To further improve access to OHS training, the ministry amended the OHS Awareness and Training regulation. As of January 2021, Ontario recognized fall protection training from Newfoundland and Labrador as an acceptable alternative to Ontario’s Working at Heights training. This change supports the mobility of workers trained on fall protection in Newfoundland and Labrador who want to work at heights in Ontario.