Objective 2: improve occupational health and safety (OHS) knowledge and practices
In 2022-2023, the OHS system delivered high-quality training to thousands of Ontarians on a variety of OHS topics and issues. Sessions included training that is required under the Occupational Health and Safety Act for Working at Heights and Joint Health and Safety Committees delivered by approved training providers. The OHS system also delivered resources and information in several formats. This was to support all workplace parties to have the knowledge and skills they needed to do their jobs safely.
Objective 2 key performance indicator: Percent of workers who report that everyone has the tools and/or the equipment they need to complete their work safely
Starting at: 87% (average from 2017–2022)
Target: 90% by 2026
The KPIs for Prevention Works Objective 2 measures the percentage of workers who report that everyone in their workplace has the tools and/or equipment they need to work safely (Source: WSIB Health and Safety Index). This is to understand whether the OHS system is meeting the OHS knowledge needs of workers, and whether workers are translating that knowledge into practice.
CPO approved training: Working at Heights and Joint Health and Safety Committee certification training
The number of learners trained across both programs has increased over the last fiscal year. Numbers shown in the charts below are well above historical averages.
| Program | Number of learners trained in 2022-23 | Number of learners trained in 2021-2022 | Increase from last year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Working at Heights | 220,640 | 190,631 | 15.8% |
| Joint Health and Safety Committee certification training | 48,583 | 38,650 | 25.7% |
| 2022-2023 Working at Heights (WAH) | Number of learners trained |
|---|---|
| WAH Full | 131,849 |
| WAH Refresher | 88,791 |
| Total WAH training | 220,640 |
| 2022-2023 Joint Health and Safety Committee (JHSC) certification training | Number of learners trained |
|---|---|
| JHSC Part One | 23,080 |
| JHSC Part Two* | 18,530 |
| JHSC Refresher | 6,973 |
| Total JHSC certification training | 48,583 |
* Since 2016, JHSC members who successfully complete both Part One and Part Two of an approved training program within the required timeframe are eligible to be certified by the CPO and act as certified JHSC members
According to the Institute for Work and Health, the WAH training has been successful:
- The introduction of a mandatory training standard for construction workers using fall protection equipment is associated with an almost 20% reduction in lost-time claims due to falls targeted by the intervention.
- The largest reductions are among very small employers — those with fewer than five full-time equivalent employees.
- Training providers indicate the new WAH training is generally more comprehensive and practical than the earlier training provided.
- Most of the 630 learners report they gained “a lot” or “some” new knowledge from the training (52% and 34% respectively).
- Most learners perceived the new information as ‘‘useful” or ‘‘very useful” (38% and 51% respectively).
In 2022-2023, the ministry continued the process of modernizing both the WAH and JHSC Certification Training Programs and Provider Standards. Please see Appendix C for details.
Highlights of Workplace Naloxone Program
April 11, 2022: The Occupational Health and Safety Act was amended to require that effective June 1, 2023, naloxone be available in some workplaces in case a worker has an opioid overdose.
December 2022: The ministry launched the Workplace Naloxone Program. This supports employers who are required to keep naloxone kits in their workplaces by providing a) free training to eligible workplaces to equip workers to recognize and safely respond to a worker opioid overdose and b) free nasal spray naloxone kits to eligible workplaces at risk of a worker opioid overdose.
March 31, 2023: A total of 792 workplaces have benefited from the program in its first 3 months. A total of 632 learners were trained and 666 kits distributed.
Basic Occupational Health and Safety Awareness Training for Workers and Supervisors
By law, Ontario employers must ensure that all workers and supervisors complete a basic OHS awareness training program. To help employers comply, the ministry offers free online training and guidance materials:
- Worker Health and Safety Awareness Training in Four Steps
- Supervisory Health and Safety Awareness in Five Steps
Over 350,000 unique users accessed these eLearning modules between April 1, 2022 and March 31, 2023.
Empowering Temporary Foreign Worker Projects
The Occupational Health Clinics for Ontario Workers (OHCOW) Temporary Foreign Worker Engagement and Empowerment Projects continued in 2022-23. These projects deliver OHS services and resources across the province, with a focus on migrant agricultural workers across the Southwest, South Central, Eastern Regions, Ottawa and Thunder Bay. Over the course of the year, OHCOW:
- contacted more than 3,000 workers at community events
- provided more than 30 workshops on subjects like rights and responsibilities, eye safety and air cleaning
- distributed thousands of print and digital resources on these and other subjects.
Basics of Supervising two-day training course (Infrastructure Health and Safety Association)
This course was delivered to over 4,800 participants in 2022-2023. The program ensures supervisors are competent in health and safety by:
- describing their duties and responsibilities under occupational health and safety legislation and how to carry out their role as a manager
- exploring how supervisors can meet their health and safety responsibilities and ensure a productive workplace
Please see Appendix C for details on resources and training delivered.
Footnotes
- footnote[16] Back to paragraph The WSIB has been surveying Ontarians as part of their Health and Safety Index since 2016. Data for this indicator was sourced from the WSIB.