There are many hazards across workplaces and sectors. Some hazards are higher risk than others and can result in more occupational injuries, illnesses and fatalities. The OHS system continues to generate and use the best evidence to target and focus our prevention, compliance and enforcement initiatives and measure their impacts.

The effort to gather evidence was led by the four sector-based health and safety associations, also called safe work associations (SWAs). They conducted risk assessmentsfootnote 13 and identified the root causesfootnote 14 of workplace injuries, illnesses and fatalities at the sector level. Sectors included mining, corrugating, forestry, and food manufacturing (see Appendix C for details).

The key performance indicator (KPI) set for Objective 1 will measure the degree to which SWA services are informed by root cause analyses. This is to understand whether the OHS system is addressing the highest priority risks and hazards.

Objective 1 key performance indicator: Percent of SWA servicesfootnote 15 that are informed by root cause analysis

Starting at: To be determined

Target: 50% by 2026

The ministry has begun collecting data for this KPI in 2023-2024. The goal is that half of all SWA services will be informed by root cause analysis by 2026.

Evidence-Informed Proactive Compliance Strategy

In 2022-2023, the ministry conducted proactive compliance initiatives that were chosen using a risk-based process. This process considered injury, illness and fatality data, enforcement data, health and safety research, and more. Please see Prevention Works Objective 3 for a list of the initiatives and their results.

Also in 2022-2023, extensive planning was completed for the outreach and enforcement aspects of the 2023-2024 proactive campaigns. This work included data collection and analysis on the highest-risk hazards for the construction, industrial, health care and mining sectors. Based on evidence, the ministry’s proactive campaigns for 2023-2024 were chosen and are listed below. Results will be reported in the 2023-2024 annual report.

2023-2024 proactive compliance campaigns

Construction program campaigns:

  • fall from heights in single-family residential projects
  • struck-by-equipment in specific settings

Health care program campaigns:

  • prevention of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs)

Industrial program campaigns:

  • material handling

Mining program campaigns:

  • training (common core and specialty modules)

Specialized and professional services (occupational hygienists) campaigns:

  • respiratory protection
  • asbestos in building structures

Funded research

In 2022-2023, the ministry provided $9.9 million to six Research Centres that conducted research in several critical OHS-related areas (see Appendix C for more details).

Research Day

The ministry partnered with the WSIB to facilitate an online Research Day series. The event took place on May 4 and 11, 2022. Its goals were twofold:

  • to inform participants from across the OHS system about funded research projects from both the ministry and WSIB
  • to receive feedback on future research priorities

A combined 487 people attended, with 87 responses to the evaluation survey. Results included:

  • 93% indicated that their knowledge about new OHS evidence had increased
  • 85% indicated the information presented was relevant to their work
  • 83% indicated the information they heard would be useful to their future work

Data, Evidence and Knowledge Mobilization Committee

Formed in 2023 by the ministry, this Committee is made up of researchers and experts from across the OHS system. Together they will gather and review evidence on high-risk hazards, compile the best available data and provide guidance on interventions to mitigate risks and reduce hazards in the workplace.

The Committee has begun the process of reviewing research findings from the ministry-funded Research Centres and other sources to provide strategic advice to the ministry.

Footnotes

  • footnote[13] Back to paragraph Sector risk assessment workshops involve a volunteer group of industry subject matter experts – including workers, supervisors and employers from large and small companies – who identify, discuss and rank hazards from highest to lowest risk. The next step is to identify the root causes of the highest priority risks.
  • footnote[14] Back to paragraph Root cause analysis workshops involve a volunteer group of industry subject matter experts – including workers, supervisors, and employers from large and small companies – who determine the root causes of the priority risks and develop critical controls and specific activities that can be put in place to help mitigate risk.
  • footnote[15] Back to paragraph Services are defined as materials, educational events, training sessions and consultations completed by the SWAs.